Why is everyone and their grandma eager to trade Murthy? He was the best defenseman last year after coming from injury on this squad. What is his fault?
Instead we would play Oli Maata who is younger version of Seabrook and Pens were super hyped to finally get rid of him? And we would consider our defense improved from last year somehow?
I think this board gives SB too much credit mostly due to Strome playing well and forgets that for every successful trade there was Runblad, Danault, etc GM fiascos.
- vshun

I will never forget, or forgive him for the Danault trade

Do you honestly believe Bowman makes all these decisions in a vacuum?
- vabeachbear

When it comes to dmen i honestly don't know, is Nylander that good of a prospect? We'll see but Joki showed promise and I'd rather let him marinate in the system than just give up on him, top 4 guys are hard to come by.

Option one for me.
- L_B_R

*Full disclosure: I really don’t like the trade today*

If we group the two moves, then it really depends on how Maatta recovers for me. If we get the version that played on the Stanley Cup teams in Pittsburgh, I take option 2 & Olli.

Those teams, especially the 2017 Pens, had limited defensive depth. Maatta had to be a true, “top 4” guy, because those teams would have been exposed otherwise. An otherworldly Matt Murray does help, but they also lost Letang for the whole ‘17 playoffs.

When it comes to dmen i honestly don't know, is Nylander that good of a prospect? We'll see but Joki showed promise and I'd rather let him marinate in the system than just give up on him, top 4 guys are hard to come by.
- BetweenTheDots

What if he and his agent didnt want to marinate anymore and explored trade options?

Obviously not. He and McD run a couple focus groups, eh?
- mohel

What if he and his agent didnt want to marinate anymore and explored trade options?
- PatShart

I don't buy it, part of me believes something is going on behind the scenes that we are not aware of. It's the only way this makes any sense to me.

Yeah. Though, I think both Schamltz and Strome will end up putting up similar numbers in their careers. Strome definitely bring his effort every game but Schmaltz is miles better defensively right now. That is an area Strome needs to improve. seems willing so hopefully getting another year of off-season conditioning helps.
- Elbows15

If the Hawks would've kept Schmaltz, given him the contract that AZ did, and then he got hurt, how bad to you think they'd be getting ripped here for that?

He did have similar questions. Whether it's a similar situation remains to be seen. But many can see the future here.
- mohel

Not really, though. Strome did have success at the A level. Nylander hasn't done anything at that level.

When it comes to dmen i honestly don't know, is Nylander that good of a prospect? We'll see but Joki showed promise and I'd rather let him marinate in the system than just give up on him, top 4 guys are hard to come by.
- BetweenTheDots

Can't argue with that. Thought it was weird when I heard about the trade myself.

I've honestly never seen Nylander though, so I can't really comment.

I don't buy it, part of me believes something is going on behind the scenes that we are not aware of. It's the only way this makes any sense to me.
- BetweenTheDots

This

If the Hawks would've kept Schmaltz, given him the contract that AZ did, and then he got hurt, how bad to you think they'd be getting ripped here for that?
- vabeachbear

Schmaltz got that contract after he was injured, not before.

Didnt they also recommend Strome, Panarin, Kahun?

Who exactly has Botterill uncovered? He traded O'Reilly for garbage, let Lehner go, just gave Skinner 9mil....
- PatShart

European scouts recommended Panarin and Kahun. Smith mostly on Panarin. So different group.

I don't buy it, part of me believes something is going on behind the scenes that we are not aware of. It's the only way this makes any sense to me.
- BetweenTheDots

There were. He wasnt happy with getting sent down last year and not called up...when the D sucked. Then this year, they acquire 2 guys for the NHL roster, further blocking him. He and his agent were not happy

On the BUFF side, Nylander and his agent have not been happy with them for their reasons.

I love how opponents of the trade paint the darkest picture when combining this trade and previous trade. The question is: would you rather have Kahun and Jokiharju or Maatta and Nylander? Why not: would you rather have Forsling, Forsberg and Jokiharju or de Haan and Nylander? Cuz, that one doesn't sound too bad so it doesn't play to the narrative?

European scouts recommended Panarin and Kahun. Smith mostly on Panarin. So different group.
- Elbows15

And did these European scouts recommend Nylander over Joki?

So what is Bowman going to say? Stay tuned tuned in.

Late add: this trade is about Gus' role
Hmm.
- jhawk59

Thought some more about the trade. Try to digest the following:

Schmaultz deemed too soft just wasn't going to work out here and he was due for a new contract. Not worth what he would be asking for.

So isn"t skill wise both Schmaultz and Nylander very similar players.

Um....cough....how exactly then is Nylander going to fit in here?

I noticed that Stan looks to grab these under the radar prospects as if he is hitting a home run (hopes to anyway). Well ok Boqvist was no secret highly visible. Edjsell was maybe a hidden gem. Yeah had some nice qualities but overiding concern was his weaknesses. Some signings/additions are indicative of solid scouting. Entwhistle. I really am intrigued by both Hagel and Reece Johnson. Kubalik might be a steal of greater proportion than Kahun. Just to name some examples

Also have Kempny, Rutta
Koekkoek
Runsblad

Nylander.
What the heck is Stan going to say. Something just doesn't add up. Ok understand he thinks he has a top skill.forward in Nylander but Jokiharju was most.advances of prospects.....Derek King raves about [his performance]. Ao trafe him for Nylander? What don't you like about Jokiharju, Stan? You loved drafting Joki ao i guess that you really love Nylander even more?

There were. He wasnt happy with getting sent down last year and not called up...when the D sucked. Then this year, they acquire 2 guys for the NHL roster, further blocking him. He and his agent were not happy

On the BUFF side, Nylander and his agent have not been happy with them for their reasons.
- PatShart

If that's all it takes now, then i guess. If it was then that's a shame, too bad they couldn't unload 7s contract with him

If that's all it takes now, then i guess. If it was then that's a shame, too bad they couldn't unload 7s contract with him
- BetweenTheDots

It happens quite often actually

And did these European scouts recommend Nylander over Joki?
- PatShart

Since both have been playing in NA for the last 3 years, at least. Doubtful.

Not really, though. Strome did have success at the A level. Nylander hasn't done anything at that level.
- Elbows15

Yeah, the Strome comp is a little weak to me, honestly. I mean, anything is possible but Strome was better at every level than Nylander. Like Strome had 50+ more points in the OHL his draft season than Nylander did and then Strome was over a PPG in the AHL while Nylander has been at best a .6 something.

I think Nylander can be much better offensively than his AHL numbers show, he's has good vision and his hands are top-notch, but there's a lot of consistency issues with his play, his pace is weirdly slow for being a good skater, and he's been a perimeter type of player at every level so far.

It was interesting that someone on here said the Hawks were looking to get bigger with this trade but they're pretty much the exact same size, though Jokiharju is probably stronger and is def more physical than Nylander.

Other than nothing, that has what to do with this trade?
- kwolf68

NO it attest to their player development ,it horrible

When it comes to dmen i honestly don't know, is Nylander that good of a prospect? We'll see but Joki showed promise and I'd rather let him marinate in the system than just give up on him, top 4 guys are hard to come by.
- BetweenTheDots

This.
That's right.

There were. He wasnt happy with getting sent down last year and not called up...when the D sucked. Then this year, they acquire 2 guys for the NHL roster, further blocking him. He and his agent were not happy

On the BUFF side, Nylander and his agent have not been happy with them for their reasons.
- PatShart

Nylander was happy about the trade today, he has a twitter video with our home jersey with his dads number on it. He did the bottle cap challenge.

Hey Hillrod go get some help(therapy)or midol for your brain cramps. Like I said before dumbass people breed dumbass people or in your specific case its inbreeding. Go kick Rocks you jagoff.
- BGKarras

If you two keep this up, we are gonna end up with a regular ref in here again, and believe me...nobody needs that nonsense.

Not really, though. Strome did have success at the A level. Nylander hasn't done anything at that level.
- Elbows15

I believe the comparison was that both teams were "giving up" on a high pick, with whispers about their game. Not a comparison of the players careers to date.