if we're gonna talk about picks we'd rather have I would have MUCH rather gotten the Bengal's Tight End they drafted in 2013... And no, not an after the fact thing, felt like Heath had already been taking too much of a pounding by age 30 and we needed a replacement sooner than later.
- Guile

Marc Sanchez for Antonio Brown and a 5th

You know, I just want to say that the whole trading Crosby thing won't happen. He's the one player in the league that cannot be traded unless he came out and asked for one. He means too much to the fan base and the Penguins' brand to be traded.

Edit: To the person who said Florida wouldn't do Ekblad + 1st for Malkin, you are a crazy fellow.
- jmatchett383

If the Pens are rebuilding they should definitely do Malkin for Ekblad and a 1st.

If the Pens are rebuilding they should definitely do Malkin for Ekblad and a 1st.
- jfkst1

If you look at it from a simple on-ice (i.e. NHL16) standpoint, it favors the Penguins. However, if that deal is proposed, and the Florida GM says no, he'd better hope the owner never hears it was offered.

Despite being in the NHL for going on 22 years (yes, TWENTY-TWO YEARS), the Panthers cannot draw. They have never had a premier superstar to put on billboards. They've had over-the-hill guys like Bure and they had Luongo, but they never had the hot name. Evgeni Malkin is that name, the guy that will put people in seats. And those people in the seats will buy popcorn and sodas, and they will park, and they will bring their friends and families. Evgeni Malkin can make the owner money, and in the end, that is what 90% of NHL owners want.

If the Pens are rebuilding they should definitely do Malkin for Ekblad and a 1st.
- jfkst1

If I were the Pens I'd do it in a heartbeat. Florida might go for it straight up but I doubt they'd give up a first with him too. Ekblad is 19 and one of the top D men in the league. He is also built like a tank. Basically a young version of Shea Weber who will probably be a better player in the long run.

If you look at it from a simple on-ice (i.e. NHL16) standpoint, it favors the Penguins. However, if that deal is proposed, and the Florida GM says no, he'd better hope the owner never hears it was offered.

Despite being in the NHL for going on 22 years (yes, TWENTY-TWO YEARS), the Panthers cannot draw. They have never had a premier superstar to put on billboards. They've had over-the-hill guys like Bure and they had Luongo, but they never had the hot name. Evgeni Malkin is that name, the guy that will put people in seats. And those people in the seats will buy popcorn and sodas, and they will park, and they will bring their friends and families. Evgeni Malkin can make the owner money, and in the end, that is what 90% of NHL owners want.
- jmatchett383

Ok...giving up a 19 year old 1D for a 29 year old 1C isn't smart at all and would demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the modern NHL. But maybe you're correct from a fan attraction standpoint.

This team needs to play a full 60 minute game. You know, like that other Pittsburgh team did last night!
- powerhouse

The Steelers played a full game yesterday? I'm pretty sure they were putrid in the 1st half and were trailing 27-13 at halftime before playing an amazing 2nd half and winning the game.

Ok...giving up a 19 year old 1D for a 29 year old 1C isn't smart at all and would demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the modern NHL. But maybe you're correct from a fan attraction standpoint.
- jfkst1

Yeah, on white paper, it's a stupid move. On green paper, it's a good move.

Ok...giving up a 19 year old 1D for a 29 year old 1C isn't smart at all and would demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the modern NHL. But maybe you're correct from a fan attraction standpoint.
- jfkst1

What fundamental understanding of the modern NHL would be misunderstood?

What fundamental understanding of the modern NHL would be misunderstood?
- jaydogg1974

Salary cap. Malkin is at the end of his prime. Ekblad hasn't even entered his.

What fundamental understanding of the modern NHL would be misunderstood?
- jaydogg1974

The modern NHL take is that the #1 asset is an elite 6-tool D and that youth is king. So, all things equal, trading a 19-year-old player who's already and elite defenseman with a year left on his ELC for a 29-year-old elite center is not a good on-ice move. But when you need a draw, it makes all the sense in the world.

Ok...giving up a 19 year old 1D for a 29 year old 1C isn't smart at all and would demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the modern NHL. But maybe you're correct from a fan attraction standpoint.
- jfkst1

Crosby has the big time name recognition for the casual/non-traditional market fan, not Malkin. That would have been like Edmonton trading Messier to LA back in the day instead of Gretzky. LA fans would have yawned

Crosby has the big time name recognition for the casual/non-traditional market fan, not Malkin. That would have been like Edmonton trading Messier to LA back in the day instead of Gretzky. LA fans would have yawned
- Davewn

I'd probably be fine with Crosby for Ekblad and a 1st too.

On Jagr:

In the 3 seasons bookending the 04/05 lockout, Jagr average 78 games and 35 goals (his 05/06 total of 54 is probably inflated due to time off, but whatever).

In the 3 seasons bookending his 3 KHL seasons (prorating 12/13 for his 78 game average), using a moving average of 3 seasons on each end, he would score 30, 28, and 27 goals, respectively. A full 78 games in 12/13, were his production to continue, give him 16 more goals.

Using the same method for 12/13 for 94/95, Jagr would have averaged 76 games bringing his total from 32 to 50.

Assuming he stayed healthy, we have added 18 (50-32), 35, 30, 28, and 27 goals (80, 81, and 81 games) to his total, a grand total of 138 more goals, bringing him to 870 goals, leaving him 24 shy of Gretzky.

Now, chances are he doesn't played 80, 81, and 81 games in 08/09-10-11, and his production in 12/13 probably doesn't stay consistent. Still, he'd probably be within 50 goals had he not missed all of that time.
- jmatchett383

so are you saying if he had stayed in the nhl for those three years he would have more nhl career goals? Interesting very interesting

The modern NHL take is that the #1 asset is an elite 6-tool D and that youth is king. So, all things equal, trading a 19-year-old player who's already and elite defenseman with a year left on his ELC for a 29-year-old elite center is not a good on-ice move. But when you need a draw, it makes all the sense in the world.
- jmatchett383

I agree with the part about elite 6 tool Defenseman being the # 1 asset but the rest is most personal preference not modern NHL understanding. The whole youth is king nonsense is completely fan/media driven, every year we see good to great young players moved for older vets that fill an immediate void/need, we see players like Duclair moved to acquire Yandle, we see players like Saad & Hamilton moved because their clubs don't want to or can't make the financial commitment to them because of the salaries of older players they want to keep.

The fundemental understanding in the NHL hasn't changed in a long time, do anything you can within the rules to try to win both short and long term. I'm not saying Malkin for Ekblad would accomplish that but it certainly wouldn't be misunderstanding any fundamental principles of the modern NHL is they did make the move.

I was joking as well.
- dbell646

Oh yeah well I'm joking too..but I don't know about what

Salary cap. Malkin is at the end of his prime. Ekblad hasn't even entered his.
- jfkst1

Florida has plenty of cap space so I'm sure they could easily find a way to make that work. As for the part about 1 entering their prime and the other being near the end I'm not sure how that translates into any type of fundamental understanding of the modern NHL.

so are you saying if he had stayed in the nhl for those three years he would have more nhl career goals? Interesting very interesting
- HamiltonHawk

Did you not read the Mike Kelly twitter quote at the bottom of the blog?

if we're gonna talk about picks we'd rather have I would have MUCH rather gotten the Bengal's Tight End they drafted in 2013... And no, not an after the fact thing, felt like Heath had already been taking too much of a pounding by age 30 and we needed a replacement sooner than later.
- Guile

Tyler Eifert is my second favorite ND player of all time after Jeff "The Shark" Samardzija.

I guess I just like those tall white boys with flow that catch balls

Florida has plenty of cap space so I'm sure they could easily find a way to make that work. As for the part about 1 entering their prime and the other being near the end I'm not sure how that translates into any type of fundamental understanding of the modern NHL.
- jaydogg1974

Because with a salary cap, allocating the finite resources available to a player that will be in their prime for the maximum number of years is superior to one that is existing his prime. They won't have much cap space if they become contenders for a lengthy period of time.

Because with a salary cap, allocating the finite resources available to a player that will be in their prime for the maximum number of years is superior to one that is existing his prime. They won't have much cap space if they become contenders for a lengthy period of time.
- jfkst1

Many clubs have internal budgets that fall well short of the cap, a foreign concept to Pens and Hawks fans, lol.

Because with a salary cap, allocating the finite resources available to a player that will be in their prime for the maximum number of years is superior to one that is existing his prime. They won't have much cap space if they become contenders for a lengthy period of time.
- jfkst1

So then by that principle then moving Crosby straight up for a young defenseman like Ristolainen or Krug would be a slam dunk for the Pens because they'd be getting rid of a player nearing the end of their prime and would be adding a top young defenseman?

Again you are talking about something that is a personal preference not some fundamental understanding of the modern NHL that needs to be followed like the 10 Commandments. How each team moves forward after the move would be more impactful than the move itself and it could easily be a great move for both or a bad move for both depending on how the handle the franchise moving forward after the trade.

Many clubs have internal budgets that fall well short of the cap, a foreign concept to Pens and Hawks fans, lol.
- Davewn

I'm well aware. I also don't think any of those teams can be legit SC contenders for any lengthy period of time as I originally stated.

He didn't play very good (by his standards) yesterday honestly.
A lot of Panthers fans were hoping he was going to fall to our pick in the 2014 draft.
- jfkst1

OBJ roasted Norman a few times yesterday, he should have caught that touchdown early in the game but he dropped it. He left Norman in the dust.. those cheap shots from both sides were uncalled for, and I hope he isn't suspended for next game... That's championship week in fantasy football. I just need 14.7 points in a PPR league tonight from Tim Hightower and I'm in

So then by that principle then moving Crosby straight up for a young defenseman like Ristolainen or Krug would be a slam dunk for the Pens because they'd be getting rid of a player nearing the end of their prime and would be adding a top young defenseman?

Again you are talking about something that is a personal preference not some fundamental understanding of the modern NHL that needs to be followed like the 10 Commandments. How each team moves forward after the move would be more impactful than the move itself and it could easily be a great move for both or a bad move for both depending on how the handle the franchise moving forward after the trade.
- jaydogg1974

Eklbald is a true franchise cornerstone player. Ristolainen isn't at that level yet and Krug isn't even close.

I agree with the part about elite 6 tool Defenseman being the # 1 asset but the rest is most personal preference not modern NHL understanding. The whole youth is king nonsense is completely fan/media driven, every year we see good to great young players moved for older vets that fill an immediate void/need, we see players like Duclair moved to acquire Yandle, we see players like Saad & Hamilton moved because their clubs don't want to or can't make the financial commitment to them because of the salaries of older players they want to keep.

The fundemental understanding in the NHL hasn't changed in a long time, do anything you can within the rules to try to win both short and long term. I'm not saying Malkin for Ekblad would accomplish that but it certainly wouldn't be misunderstanding any fundamental principles of the modern NHL is they did make the move.
- jaydogg1974

Well... The Yandle trade was panned by just about everyone the second it was made, if Bickle were moveable Saad would still be a Hawk, and the Hamilton decision was made by a club with a track record of zero tolerance for youthful egos (Seguin) deciding that Hamilton's head had grown to big for his body and that trade was emidiately panned as well.

Those aren't the three best examples in the world.