More talented, Bigger, more physical, yeah. My comparison to Leino was that Leino was the last impact playmaker on the wing we really had. I think if you put him with any of our centers G, Schenn, Briere, you'd get something really special as most of our centers like to shoot. Plus he uses his size to crash the net when needed. He & Read have been our best consistent forwards all year.
- flyler

I really like what I've seen from Jake so far. He started slow but he's playing very well now. It really adds another dimension to the offense when he and Giroux click.

Yeah, all he does is score goals, hustle, get into the gritty areas and kill penalties. What can't you use him for? I like them both but I'd take Reed.
- mayorofangrytown

Read has played good on any line they tried him with this year. No sophmore slump for him.

Peak implies that a player no longer improves (statistically) after 25. I wholeheartedly disagree.
- jak521

It means that's when most players put up their best season.

A lot of guys are very productive well into their 30's, but they're rarely setting career highs anymore.

I'd consider Couturier to get Pietrangelo. Problem is, you'd have to give up more, and I'm not even sure I'd want to do it straight up.
- jmatchett

I'd drive Couturier to St. Louis myself for Pietrangelo straight up.

Only 2 of the top 100 goal scorers of all time had a career best season beyond age 30.

37 of the top 100 set their career high in goals at (or before) age 23.

Gretzky's last 40+ goal season was at age 29. Only broke the 30 goal plateau twice after that.

Guys like Selanne and Esposito are/were true anomalies.
- bradleyc4

I try not to look at eras gone by, only because players are more protected now and they've made strides at cleaning up the game plus equipment and medicine are much better. Guys in the 70s, 80s, etc. were most likely wore down faster than the players of today. Plus guys with concussions and such would play through them and the injuries that ended guys careers are a lot less threatening nowadays.

It means that's when most players put up their best season.

A lot of guys are very productive well into their 30's, but they're rarely setting career highs anymore.
- bradleyc4

Still an 8 year deal only takes Giroux up to age 34. That's in the midst of decline, but it also means they don't have to worry about a new deal when he's 29, coming off a monster season.

not nearly as user friendly.
- jak521

The Hockey IQ on there is extremely low.

I'd drive Couturier to St. Louis myself for Pietrangelo straight up.
- MJL

i'll give you hartnell, but not read. i think jake is better.
- OrangeBlack27

Hartsy been hurt this year so it's tough to say. But Read has been really solid. Even when the team is falling apart I'll occasionally see a line that's working and getting pressure, and 9 times out of 10 Matt Read is out there hustling. I know we throw around the subject of 'Heart' a lot but that kid's got Heart, and good Hockey sense. I see Read as an Umberger type, but smarter and with higher motivation. Read plays like every shift could be his last. Sometimes I worry that Philly does not know what they have in Matt Read, but were he to leave Philly, I could see him being a future captain somewhere.

Still an 8 year deal only takes Giroux up to age 34. That's in the midst of decline, but it also means they don't have to worry about a new deal when he's 29, coming off a monster season.
- Jsaquella

Good point. And even if Giroux is getting paid $8.5 million or so to be a good two-way center putting up 80 or so points at age 33, that's fine by me.

Still an 8 year deal only takes Giroux up to age 34. That's in the midst of decline, but it also means they don't have to worry about a new deal when he's 29, coming off a monster season.
- Jsaquella

How much more than $8 million/year are you going to pay him? Even after a hypothetical monster season at age 29?

i'd sit any member of yesterday's fourth line and knuble in favor of mcginn.
- OrangeBlack27

I like Knuble, but he'd probably be the guy I sat if I were Lavi. PK is clicking so I don't mess with Fedotenko. I also like what Zolniercek brings when he is in the lineup. He reminds me a lot of Upshall. I assume Talbot was a 4th liner too yesterday (only saw the last 6 mins of the game) and there is no way he sits, again PK. I'd like to see McGinn in but I suspect Lavi goes with what worked yesterday.

I like Knuble, but he'd probably be the guy I sat if I were Lavi. PK is clicking so I don't mess with Fedotenko. I alos like what Zolniercek brings when he is in the lineup. He reminds me a lot of Upshall. I assume Talbot was a 4th liner too yesterday (only saw the last 6 mins of the game) and there is no way he sits, again PK. I'd like to see McGinn in but I suspect Lavi goes with what worked yesterday.
- Lexington Flyer

I would prefer McGinn over Knuble as well. I like Harry Z's speed in the lineup.

Hartsy been hurt this year so it's tough to say. But Read has been really solid. Even when the team is falling apart I'll occasionally see a line that's working and getting pressure, and 9 times out of 10 Matt Read is out there hustling. I know we throw around the subject of 'Heart' a lot but that kid's got Heart, and good Hockey sense. I see Read as an Umberger type, but smarter and with higher motivation. Read plays like every shift could be his last. Sometimes I worry that Philly does not know what they have in Matt Read, but were he to leave Philly, I could see him being a future captain somewhere.
- flyler

I don't know how many times I see his name as a throw in on a deal on here.

"Yeah, well maybe throw in Read or a second rounder."

I'd drive Couturier to St. Louis myself for Pietrangelo straight up.
- MJL

Crosby took a huge discount. I'm not sure if Giroux will do the same, and that's not a knock on G's character. Also, G can't sign a 12 year deal like Crosby.
- NickTheKid87

Exactly. I'm thinking there is a possibility of the first double digit cap hit. Like 8 years, 80M.

I would prefer McGinn over Knuble as well. I like Harry Z's speed in the lineup.
- NickTheKid87

I like when Zolnierczyk does something that makes the NHL on the Fly crew try to pronounce his name. If he does nothing else I'll always remember him for that.

Jake's a lot more talented than Leino as well. He's got a ton of upside and I would trade him straight up for Carter 8 days a week. Even this year, Carter has 6 goals and an assist in 13 games while Voracek has 3 goals and 12 assists in 17 games. Plus Jake's a great tweeter.
- NickTheKid87

I can't go with you on that one. If I had to choose between Carter and Voracek. Carter all the way.

How much more than $8 million/year are you going to pay him? Even after a hypothetical monster season at age 29?
- bradleyc4

I don't think it's about the AAV at that point. It would be more about length. I think going 8 years to start and then 3 or 4 after would be better than the other way around because I think you'll be paying him more in the latter scenario.

I like when Zolnierczyk does something that makes the NHL on the Fly crew try to pronounce his name. If he does nothing else I'll always remember him for that.
- mayorofangrytown

The players and presidents thing was absolutely moronic, plz mispronounce names at will but cut that poop out.

- Scoob

He might drive him to the airport but don't kid yourself, he's not driving all the way to St. Louis for a hockey trade.

I can't go with you on that one. If I had to choose between Carter and Voracek. Carter all the way.
- MJL

Really? Solely based on the player or are you taking the team into account? Obviously Jake fits better with the team right now based on position.

Exactly. I'm thinking there is a possibility of the first double digit cap hit. Like 8 years, 80M.
- MJL

Actually Jeremy Welsh had a $17.945 million cap hit last year.

http://www.capgeek.com/fa...my-welsh-s-cap-hit-a-typo

It means that's when most players put up their best season.

A lot of guys are very productive well into their 30's, but they're rarely setting career highs anymore.
- bradleyc4

There is a pretty big list of names... Iginla, Datsyuk, both Sedins, Marleau, Thornton, Briere, Sharp, Ribeiro, Kunitz, Saku Koivu, Dupuis, Hossa, Tanguay, Boyes, McDonald, Brad Richards... all "peaked after 25"

Again, i dont think "peak" is a good word for these types of players... they enter a prime.. starting around 25. I honestly think the upper players are the exceptions. The Crosby's, Giroux's, etc.. Lesser players probably do peak around that age, but the upper players often exceed and continue to thrive well into their 30's.

It means that's when most players put up their best season.

A lot of guys are very productive well into their 30's, but they're rarely setting career highs anymore.
- bradleyc4

But what that doesn't mean is that the player isn't worth his contract or salary past that so called peak age. That's where the mistake is being made.