The only difference-maker for PIT over BOS was that the BOS offer was a conditional first... has nothing to do with class
- BigDre

Conditional/Unconditional means nothing when Iginla has a NMC. It will come out, like it already is starting to that he was going to be a Pen all along:

@DarrenDreger: Some believe Iginla's choice to play with the Penguins was made long before the decision and trade was made final last night.

Actually TSN reported it as a first, then changed it to a conditional first...true story
- The-O-G

But then changed it back to a non conditional first today!

Yes but Crosby was the last of 5 lotto picks in a row....of which two were firsts and two were seconds (even though that one second was like a 1b)...
- Iggysbff

I didn't say Pittsburgh didn't get good players. Granted it would be hard to have missed with Crosby and Malkin but go look at the Oilers drafts since their Finals appearance. Almost every draft provided nothing (judging up until 2009 as the jury is close enough to being out on that draft but you can grade 06-08). They had 3 first rounders in 07 and only now does Gagner look like even a serviceable second line center. They got one really good player in that time (Eberle), a decent player (Gagne), and a depth forward or defensemen here or there (I'm not sure if Petry is a definite second pairing guy). In all those picks. If you include 09-today, they got a few scoring forwards so far.

And it's not like Pittsburgh hit on everything either or even made the best selections when they got a useful player. I stated that Staal was not a second pick in that draft. He did wind up being better and more useful than I thought, but he still wasn't the guy anyone should have taken second overall considering who else was available in that draft in 06.

The fact is to an extent, the Oilers have drafted poorly and built the team poorly over time which is causing their rebuild to take much longer. No right minded individual is saying their talent level or all their players and picks are horrible. They just haven't been efficient at all with their rebuild attempt. Their front office hasn't been that good when all things are considered.

Ty Rattie and a First kind sir
- The-O-G

Rattie is the guy I really hate to part with, but at this point I'm ready to pull the trigger.

Done.

Send me the paperwork.

I didn't say Pittsburgh didn't get good players. Granted it would be hard to have missed with Crosby and Malkin but go look at the Oilers drafts since their Finals appearance. Almost every draft provided nothing (judging up until 2009 as the jury is close enough to being out on that draft but you can grade 06-08). They had 3 first rounders in 07 and only now does Gagner look like even a serviceable second line center. They got one really good player in that time (Eberle), a decent player (Gagne), and a depth forward or defensemen here or there (I'm not sure if Petry is a definite second pairing guy). In all those picks. If you include 09-today, they got a few scoring forwards so far.

And it's not like Pittsburgh hit on everything either or even made the best selections when they got a useful player. I stated that Staal was not a second pick in that draft. He did wind up being better and more useful than I thought, but he still wasn't the guy anyone should have taken second overall considering who else was available in that draft in 06.

The fact is to an extent, the Oilers have drafted poorly and built the team poorly over time which is causing their rebuild to take much longer. No right minded individual is saying their talent level or all their players and picks are horrible. They just haven't been efficient at all with their rebuild attempt. Their front office hasn't been that good when all things are considered.
- suppaman

Hence...the reason why Edmontons cupboards were bare and they fired the entire scouting staff.

Oilers fans laugh at the Kessel trade...yet even without a single first overall pick these past long years...we are in a playoff spot while having the 2nd youngest team. Oh and Kadri is leading the Leafs into the playoffs. How's Hall doing? Maybe they should have picked Seguin. Idiot gm.
- Allstarzz

How is Hall doing? hmm

Taylor Hall, 29gp, 8g, 22a, 30pts.

Tyler Seguin, 32gp, 11g, 14a, 25pts.

You're a Leafs fan, you have no say in anything.

But then changed it back to a non conditional first today!
- Iggysbff

haha was that before or after they found out the deal was done/not done.......

Doesn't matter anyway....Iggy blocked the deal. Pitt was the only choice all along, and the Flames used the list to get what they could out of Pitt.

I love the idea of the Sens getting J Bo, for say Bishop and a pick or something like Bishop and Shane Prince. The return will be less for J bo because he has contract left.

Ottawa's defense next 2 years would be stellar
Methot - Karlsson
Cowen - J Bo
Phillips - Weircoch

Calgary does need to keep some pieces, guys like Tanguay and Giordano shouldn't be traded. The best move Ottawa made during their retool, was keeping guys like Neil and Phillips. Good luck Flames fans!

Fixed
- BigDre

Please tell me what i've said that has been unreasonable?

I didn't say Pittsburgh didn't get good players. Granted it would be hard to have missed with Crosby and Malkin but go look at the Oilers drafts since their Finals appearance. Almost every draft provided nothing (judging up until 2009 as the jury is close enough to being out on that draft but you can grade 06-08). They had 3 first rounders in 07 and only now does Gagner look like even a serviceable second line center. They got one really good player in that time (Eberle), a decent player (Gagne), and a depth forward or defensemen here or there (I'm not sure if Petry is a definite second pairing guy). In all those picks. If you include 09-today, they got a few scoring forwards so far.

And it's not like Pittsburgh hit on everything either or even made the best selections when they got a useful player. I stated that Staal was not a second pick in that draft. He did wind up being better and more useful than I thought, but he still wasn't the guy anyone should have taken second overall considering who else was available in that draft in 06.

The fact is to an extent, the Oilers have drafted poorly and built the team poorly over time which is causing their rebuild to take much longer. No right minded individual is saying their talent level or all their players and picks are horrible. They just haven't been efficient at all with their rebuild attempt. Their front office hasn't been that good when all things are considered.
- suppaman

Really depends on the way you look at it.

If you consider it as one continuous re-tooling period from the moment they lost game 7 until today, it's been a failure.

If you look at the time that they replaced their entire scouting staff, had a fire-sale of as many assets as they could, appointed a new GM and started talking about committing to building through a draft as a semi-clear indicator of when a different approach started, then I say we've haven't seen that approach run its course enough to know how it's working. Anecdotally speaking, I'd say it's a little behind where I'd like it to be. I'd like to see them move on to a phase of more aggressive buying from the approach that they began in 09-10

How is Hall doing? hmm

Taylor Hall, 29gp, 8g, 22a, 30pts.

Tyler Seguin, 32gp, 11g, 14a, 25pts.

You're a Leafs fan, you have no say in anything.
- Derek

Kadri 35 points in 34 games played, +18 while getting lower minutes than both of those players. As a Leafs fan I'll take Kadri over them. So yes I do have a say in this. Haha Kadri will be a better player than Hall. Book it. He hits like Hall but he's not dirty. Just check out Kadri trying to hit Chara 3 times in the bruins game. He got him in OT. Chara was mad.

haha was that before or after they found out the deal was done/not done.......

Doesn't matter anyway....Iggy blocked the deal. Pitt was the only choice all along, and the Flames used the list to get what they could out of Pitt.
- The-O-G

This is what should really bother Boston and all fans....If Pitt was really the only option all along, then how is it that Boston was SO sure he was going there and it was a done deal? Shenanigans for sure...

Kadri leading the leafs to the playoffs. Hall...is getting suspensions and leading the Oilers into 12th spot. Well it is an upgrade over last year at least.

The guy Feaster wanted for Iggy, was Subban. He was picked 3 picks later. He really isn't that smart.
- Allstarzz

And you talk to Feaster, so you know this as fact? Oh ya, you are a Leafs fan and the world revolves around you.

Kadri leading the leafs to the playoffs. Hall...is getting suspensions and leading the Oilers into 12th spot. Well it is an upgrade over last year at least.
- Allstarzz

Yes but Crosby was the last of 5 lotto picks in a row....of which two were firsts and two were seconds (even though that one second was like a 1b)...
- Iggysbff

At the time OV was the obvious first overall pick, but to do it over again knowing how things turned out, I think most people would pick Malkin

flames should be trading most of what they can.

According to TSN it was NOT conditional...It was a first.
- Iggysbff

Didn't see that, I only heard it was conditional

it's always been the same length, you idiots are just too stupid to know anything about hockey
- SpoiledByOil

Technically, shouldn't, at the very least, you count from when the team made moves at the deadline that put them in the position to aquire Hall. That would make it, at least, 3 years.

Conditional/Unconditional means nothing when Iginla has a NMC. It will come out, like it already is starting to that he was going to be a Pen all along:

@DarrenDreger: Some believe Iginla's choice to play with the Penguins was made long before the decision and trade was made final last night.
- GSDIV

It does if the NMC says that Iggy has to provide a list of teams he would accept to go to.

Colin Dambrauskas: Move Iginla - Check...Who's Next? Bouwmeester to Ottawa/Boston?
- Colin Dambrauskas

Bouwmeester for Phaneuf

If what Chiarelli is saying in his press conference is true then the NHL should step in and fine or punish Feaster and the Flames. Feaster has (frank)ed up big time yet again. Cant see how any fan can defend him.

At the time OV was the obvious first overall pick, but to do it over again knowing how things turned out, I think most people would pick Malkin
- BigDre

Sure. But it's not like Ovie does bad in the playoffs. He has great stats. 700 points already and 350 goals and he's only 27.

This is what should really bother Boston and all fans....If Pitt was really the only option all along, then how is it that Boston was SO sure he was going there and it was a done deal? Shenanigans for sure...
- Iggysbff

ya I agree....it looks as the though list was nothing more than a bargaining tool to work against Pitt...too bad we will probably never know. Or it could have just been a case of Iggy changing his mind at the last minute.

Im sure after Pitt got Morrow and Murray (which was AFTER iggy gave his list), this cause Iggy to want to go there even more.

If what Chiarelli is saying in his press conference is true then the NHL should step in and fine or punish Feaster and the Flames. Feaster has (frank)ed up big time yet again. Cant see how any fan can defend him.
- Iggysbff

Here comes another Feaster defense: "That's not the way OUR lawyers interpreted it"