Which is great, because if you can get a few more years out of Spezza, it gives you some pretty solid depth down the middle.

I'm still a little confused as to why Ottawa drafter Zib and acquired Turris to fill essentially the same role, but depth at centre certainly hasn't hurt the top teams in the NHL.
- Morris

agreed. if turris and zibby continu to progress as they have been, in a couple of years the sens could be a scary team down teh middle.

i think they realized that zibby was probably still a couple of years away from being a legit top six center. he's good now, playing on teh 4th line against bottom pair D, not sure he's be as good on teh 2nd line. and, like i said, i think zibby's game is more suited to a 3rd line roll, similar to what staal was playing in pitt.

I think the point he was trying to make was that our 3rd and 4th lines are more or less a void offensively and used in the defensive zone, so expecting some offensive production at even strength from someone like Paajarvi isnt a good bet.
- Jack-artist

I am just being a jerk... Paajarvi has had the opportunity to play 1 and 2nd line minutes, but you are right before he was sent down last year and as well this year he has played mostly 3 and 4th. He seem to be one of the guys that just does not use his size... I scream at my TV similiar to Penner for him to crash the net, get dirty and he just doesn't have it in him. Frustrating cause I think he has great skill, good size, just needs to use it....

That's what I thought too, until I saw him play the game.

Last two games he's been the best Sens forward bar none. Be interesting to see if he can keep it up once the thrill of breaking into the league wears off a bit.

My point wasn't to refer to him as a PPG player, morbo, it was to say that he *forced* Paul McLean and Murray to keep him up in the bigs with his play. Something MPS hasn't managed to do in 2 full seasons in NA.
- TommyDeVito

If two games is all it takes for Zib to force his way into the NHL, perhaps the more intuitive inference to make is that the Oilers have a different standard for claiming a spot on the big club than McLean and Murray do.

You've also got your counting wrong. MPS stuck with the bigs for his full rookie season. This is his third north American season and he's likely to play the majority of it for the Oilers. We'll see if Zibanejad not only sticks with the Sens all year, but also next year and the full year after that. Then you can start making claims about what he is and MPS isn't.

I am just being a jerk... Paajarvi has had the opportunity to play 1 and 2nd line minutes, but you are right before he was sent down last year and as well this year he has played mostly 3 and 4th. He seem to be one of the guys that just does not use his size... I scream at my TV similiar to Penner for him to crash the net, get dirty and he just doesn't have it in him. Frustrating cause I think he has great skill, good size, just needs to use it....
- TSTER

He lacks some focus around the net especially with finishing, that's always been the knock on him (Paajarvi). He's "soft" but not to point where he doesn't get involved, as he's good at covering guys, stick-checking, back-checking., etc.

Not gonna lie, reading these last four pages was more brutal than watching a Flyers/Caps game...

- Deadmau55

Alen Eagleson?

Comming from an Oilers fan who likes MP I think you have overestimated the return you would get from MP.

MP's value is very low. So the Oiler wouldn't get enough back for him to make it worthwhile to trade him.

MP's upside has definatly took a turn for the worst but I and I would hope Oilers management see this guy as an effective 3-4 liner for years to come. He isn't there yet and truely there is no way to know if he ever will get there. But I think it is safe to say there is a less than 1% chance this guy can put up even half of Naslunds or even Sharps points.

Comming from an Oilers fan who likes MP I think you have overestimated the return you would get from MP.

MP's value is very low. So the Oiler wouldn't get enough back for him to make it worthwhile to trade him.

MP's upside has definatly took a turn for the worst but I and I would hope Oilers management see this guy as an effective 3-4 liner for years to come. He isn't there yet and truely there is no way to know if he ever will get there. But I think it is safe to say there is a less than 1% chance this guy can put up even half of Naslunds or even Sharps points.
- Aerchon

I think eventually he'll bounce back to the 35ish points he got in his rookie year. 45-50 one season here or there if the team really starts clicking

Not gonna lie, reading these last four pages was more brutal than watching a Flyers/Caps game...
- Flyfreaky

Be fair now.......NOTHING is more painful than watching that

Not gonna lie, reading these last four pages was more brutal than watching a Flyers/Caps game...
- Flyfreaky

Devils v Wild before the 2 line pass was abolished.

Be fair now.......NOTHING is more painful than watching that
- sensarmy_11

Please take a moment and back read...You'll die and think you've gone to hell by page 3...

Devils v Wild before the 2 line pass was abolished.
- glove_was_stuck

Please read page 4 and adjust your comment accordingly...

Please read page 4 and adjust your comment accordingly...
- Flyfreaky

*drinks bleach*

I think eventually he'll bounce back to the 35ish points he got in his rookie year. 45-50 one season here or there if the team really starts clicking
- Morris

I think the only way he could put up over 40 points in his career is if injuries land him on the top line with RNH. Which 40 points on the top line with RNH is not good.

I watched every Barons game this year. MP's rookie year points looks like a fluke at the moment. Player developement can be erratic but its really hard to see him even matching his 15 goals 34 points from his rookie year... ever again.

Not gonna lie, reading these last four pages was more brutal than watching a Flyers/Caps game...
- Flyfreaky

Luongo is better than Scheider. If I am Van, I see my Stanley Cup window closing fast. I trade Schneider for a huge return (#1D?) to help the team win now. It's a risk, but if they don't win now, it could be a long rebuild. Maybe it's too late though, if Luongo already wants out.
- Cimo

cuz Lu has proven to be such a BIG GAME player right ?

Man, this Lu situation is like breaking up with a girl but still living with her cause you have to make rent. Its an uncomfortable arrangment that is accepted by all parties till they can get out of it. But like lots of other losers in that situation they may just kiss and make up based on apathy

Can anyone name a goalie who had a great season early in his career, was well below average for three or four seasons after that and then turned it around and became elite again?

No GM who values his job should be giving up anything more than a 7th round pick for Steve Mason.
- chadrock

José Théodore comes to mind... he went from winning both the Vezina + Hart in the same season to losing his net to the likes of Huet and Budaj. Now, he's a pretty serviceable #1 again, and putting up decent numbers despite playing behind some pretty spotty defenses. Not elite, but still very good.

Believe it or not, Mason's still the 5th youngest goaltender in the league. That's younger than guys like Bishop, Schneider, Reimer that are regarded more for their potential than their actual NHL accomplishments.

Well, Yandle isn't just a one time all-star, but two time all star. Utterly ludicrous of someone saying a kid six games into his pro career is better than Keith Yandle.

It's an Edmonton club you are dealing with. Remember ... Hemsky and MPV should net you Claude Giroux. Logic is their mindset.
- Oneonta Penguin

Hemmer and MPS for Giroux ? We may have to juggle some cap space but I accept your trade proposal...

Lol ok buddy, when Schultz finishes his rookie year with more points per game than Yandles career year you can eat your words
- SpoiledByOil

This will be the best way to judge. For now it all just buzz.

Okay now quick: fight the reasonable urge to treat us as a loose collective people with different ideas and opinions who happen to cheer for the same team.

HIVE MIND! HIVE MIND! HIVE MIND!
- Morris

This Spring - Enders Game the movie. gonna be great

Pajaarvi for Ellerby then?

Badda bing badda boom.
- Scruffton

Blech, no thanks. He would give Peckham and Hordichuk some compititon for team goon but is no more functional defensively than those 2 bums

I'd like to add Matt Walker to the mix.
- He can lead your AHL team in PIM.
- He has a last name starting in "W" which is sort of rare.
- He can tie his own skates unlike some amateur players.
- He can buy drinks and cigarettes for the younger guys on the team.

I'd say he could bring 2 or 3 1sts, maybe 3 1sts and a 2nd.

I would offer up Franson for Paanjarvi. Good for both teams and Eakins could work wonders with Paanjarvi.

i agree with you, i also think PRV is bashed a little too much. my earlier post wasn't meant to bash his overall game, but simply pointing out the fact that due to his lack of performance early in the year, it makes the decision to send him down a little easier. that being said, i was unaware of the horcoff situation, and needign a center.

i'd take PRV on my team anyday. i dont' think his value in a trade is what it used to be, which is where i think people get frustrated with clouts, who still thinks PRV could land a top pairing d-man.
- sensarmy_11

Good post

Edmonton is a 9th place team....
- TSTER

Check the post I was quoting it was referring to the last few years. In which case it would be 30th, 30th, and 29th best in the NHL.