That is impressive. Like I said, he does a ton aside from scoring that definitely warrants consideration. I just thought he had a few more points is all.
- jmatchett383

...and that's why he's always considered a candidate to leave Sid's wing, every year (and the fact that he's not the best stick handler). There's always talk about bringing a winger to Sid but he always seems to rise to the occasion and plays better. Keep in mind he NEVER gets PP time. He scores on even strength and SH.

That is impressive. Like I said, he does a ton aside from scoring that definitely warrants consideration. I just thought he had a few more points is all.
- jmatchett383

He did not have the luxury of playing on the power play.

Only 4 power play points in last two years, 4% of his production.

Dupuis has probaly been the best value in the NHL. However at 34, his skills and speed will decline and eventually Pens fans will start crying for Shero to get Sid a true talent to play with.

Neal is a player I question. He cant play D, all he is is a shot. I watch Hossa and he is a complete 2 way player with tremendous skill. Althoug hes starting to gert up there and that concussion affected his game.

I love Seabrook, he scores clutch goals, but he's been injured. Even healthy though he's not overall better than Letang. Kane gets the edge over Dupuis, but i still think Dupuis could play on a line with Toews and produce big time and for a slightly cheaper price. Letang would help our PP big time too. That said, its so close to me, id probly still keep Kane and Seabs, but i was just curious...
- SimpleJack

I am going to have to respectfully disagree with you here. Already having Keith, I think Seabrook is more valuable to your team than Letang as he is better defensively as well is a HUGE part of that lockerroom. Kane is worth lightyears more than Dupuis and you could get a kings ransom for him.

Also your PP problems are the assistant coach who you guys brought in's fault. He made LA's PP terrible and then he made your guys bad too.

Dupuis has probaly been the best value in the NHL. However at 34, his skills and speed will decline and eventually Pens fans will start crying for Shero to get Sid a true talent to play with.

Neal is a player I question. He cant play D, all he is is a shot. I watch Hossa and he is a complete 2 way player with tremendous skill. Althoug hes starting to gert up there and that concussion affected his game.
- sammy87

Hossa is a much complete player. Neal is mind boggling. He can make you jump out of your couch with awesome snap shots but skates in mud, can't play D and don't back check enough. He has tons to work on....hope he does!

I am going to have to respectfully disagree with you here. Already having Keith, I think Seabrook is more valuable to your team than Letang as he is better defensively as well is a HUGE part of that lockerroom. Kane is worth lightyears more than Dupuis and you could get a kings ransom for him.

Also your PP problems are the assistant coach who you guys brought in's fault. He made LA's PP terrible and then he made your guys bad too.
- Meeqsb

Letang's defensive play is so underrated. If he played in Toronto he'd be like a king there. Bylsma's system and lin juggling doesn't help at all.

Letang's defensive play is so underrated. If he played in Toronto he'd be like a king there. Bylsma's system and lin juggling doesn't help at all.
- Orpik44

I agree, how often does he keep the puck in the zone on the PP when he's not even in the frame on the TV....HD included. His speed can break up plays, I think everyone is undervaluing him. The Pens are much more noticably worse when he's out than anyone else. Despress will not be able to fill his skates for a long time. IF they move him, the return needs to be big.

Dupuis is about as versatile a player as you can get and he can score with or without Crosby.

He is the perfect (until he loses a step or two) guy to play in Bylsma's system.

I think he's clearly worth 3-4M under the current landscape...if you ASSUME he continues to play as often and produce as he has.

Dupuis got that many points because he CAN play with Crosby. He plays the game at such a fast pace many players are not able to keep up and it has been frequently documented. I am not saying give the guy over 4, but considering he was a "throw in" in the hossa deal you guys really hit the jack pot.
- Meeqsb

See Kevin Stevens and what he did after he left Mario.

Dupuis is so underrated. Would love to see the Caps or Leafs get him!!

Kessel is on that list. Shows how good he is.

Kessel is on that list. Shows how good he is.
- Smurfs-A-Joke

Kessel has always been a good player. His reputation is tied to a trade he had no control over.

Kessel has always been a good player. His reputation is tied to a trade he had no control over.
- Ryan_Wilson

I don't know what the whole trade was but he's better than Seguin and a 1st round pick. I guess there were a few more picks thrown in the deal, what made it look bad.

Edit: OK. Found it:

Leafs acquire:

Phil Kessel

Bruins acquire:

Leafs 2010 1st rounder – Tyler Seguin
Leafs 2011 1st rounder – Dougie Hamilton
Leafs 2010 2nd rounder – Jared Knight

The deal breaker here was D.Hamilton I guess. If it was only Kessel for Seguin/Knight, I'd take Kessel.

Letang's defensive play is so underrated. If he played in Toronto he'd be like a king there. Bylsma's system and lin juggling doesn't help at all.
- Orpik44

No doubt it is underrated. I just think he isn't as good in his own end as Seabrook is, although there is no real quantifiable way to accurately show it. Letangs defensive strength comes from a great transition game a lot like keith, which is why the already unbalanced trade made even less sense.

Just a random thought cuz i know its hypathetical and impossible, but would Pens fans be down for a Letang and Dupuis swap for Kaner and Seabrook?
- SimpleJack

If that trade and around and the Blackhawks didnt just laugh and hang up on shero I would be very surprised.....that being said yes do the swap

I don't know what the whole trade was but he's better than Seguin and a 1st round pick. I guess there were a few more picks thrown in the deal, what made it look bad.

Edit: OK. Found it:

Leafs acquire:

Phil Kessel

Bruins acquire:

Leafs 2010 1st rounder – Tyler Seguin
Leafs 2011 1st rounder – Dougie Hamilton
Leafs 2010 2nd rounder – Jared Knight

The deal breaker here was D.Hamilton I guess. If it was only Kessel for Seguin/Knight, I'd take Kessel.
- Orpik44

When the original deal happened Burke didn't expect to give away 2 top 5 picks, including the #2 overall. While Jared Knight most likely wont develop into an NHL player, Chiarelli took Burke to school on that trade. Kessel is a great player, but Burke gave up 2 cornerstone players for a player that publicly wanted out of Boston.

I don't know what the whole trade was but he's better than Seguin and a 1st round pick. I guess there were a few more picks thrown in the deal, what made it look bad.

Edit: OK. Found it:

Leafs acquire:

Phil Kessel

Bruins acquire:

Leafs 2010 1st rounder – Tyler Seguin
Leafs 2011 1st rounder – Dougie Hamilton
Leafs 2010 2nd rounder – Jared Knight

The deal breaker here was D.Hamilton I guess. If it was only Kessel for Seguin/Knight, I'd take Kessel.
- Orpik44

If you are starting a nhl team tomorrow you are taking seguin over kessel. Seguin is still young and only going to get better and he is already pretty darn good.

If you are starting a nhl team tomorrow you are taking seguin over kessel. Seguin is still young and only going to get better and he is already pretty darn good.
- Genev21

haha I never said "if I was starting a franchise now". Kessel is a better player IMO and I would take him over Seguin to play for the Penguins. Btw, just my opinion: Seguin is one of the most overrated Cs in the league. I'd take Duchene or Couture over him.

haha I never said "if I was starting a franchise now". Kessel is a better player IMO and I would take him over Seguin to play for the Penguins. Btw, just my opinion: Seguin is one of the most overrated Cs in the league. I'd take Duchene or Couture over him.
- Orpik44

I'd take couture over him but not duchene. And the argument of who is errrr really goes out the window when you trade an established nhl player for a prospect or pick its really just a wait and see how the young guy turns out and at the rate seguin will be a better player than kessel. Also you have to look at it from a franchises perspective it would be better to have a seguin than a kessel for the long term future of your franchise and on top of that the leafs also had the other pick in Hamilton who looks promising for Boston. Very poor trade for the leafs.

I'd take couture over him but not duchene. And the argument of who is errrr really goes out the window when you trade an established nhl player for a prospect or pick its really just a wait and see how the young guy turns out and at the rate seguin will be a better player than kessel. Also you have to look at it from a franchises perspective it would be better to have a seguin than a kessel for the long term future of your franchise and on top of that the leafs also had the other pick in Hamilton who looks promising for Boston. Very poor trade for the leafs.
- Genev21

Yeah, I agree. As somebody said, the Leafs traded 2 TOP 5 first round picks Bad judgement by Burke. He never thought that bringing Kessel still wouldn't help them out of the bottom. As I said, I'd take Kessel over Seguin/Knight. Adding Hamilton is another story. I really like Duchene.

I'd take couture over him but not duchene. And the argument of who is errrr really goes out the window when you trade an established nhl player for a prospect or pick its really just a wait and see how the young guy turns out and at the rate seguin will be a better player than kessel. Also you have to look at it from a franchises perspective it would be better to have a seguin than a kessel for the long term future of your franchise and on top of that the leafs also had the other pick in Hamilton who looks promising for Boston. Very poor trade for the leafs.
- Genev21

Ohhhh man if you only saw Duchene play last season he is a flat out star and I would take him over Couture and Seguin.

He trained with Crosby over the offseason and when Crosby told Duchene to shorten his stick and change his skating stride my god was he amazing. Even with the awful season the Avs had Duchene grew into a dominant 1st line center.

Ohhhh man if you only saw Duchene play last season he is a flat out star and I would take him over Couture and Seguin.

He trained with Crosby over the offseason and when Crosby told Duchene to shorten his stick and change his skating stride my god was he amazing. Even with the awful season the Avs had Duchene grew into a dominant 1st line center.
- Meeqsb

Yea truthfully I haven't watched a lot of the avs. I do remember him looking very good when I did see them. He's one of my favorite characters, I remember his first all star game in the skills competition they had him mid'd up and he didn't know it was on and he said he felt like vodka from last night.

Yea truthfully I haven't watched a lot of the avs. I do remember him looking very good when I did see them. He's one of my favorite characters, I remember his first all star game in the skills competition they had him mid'd up and he didn't know it was on and he said he felt like vodka from last night.
- Genev21

43 points in 47 games (26th overall 8th best in the west) with an awful Avs team in Sacco's incompetent offensive system.

Since the day Sakic left I have never seen a player play as well as Duchene did. He flat out dominated like only a Superstar in this league can and he bleeds burgundy and blue.

I can't view the chart at work for some reason, but Dupuis' low salary is exactly what makes him valuable. I still contend that players that can have the type of impact he has had are a dime a dozen (i.e. "environment is everything"), but players that can do it for that little money are hard to find. If the guy even looks to double his salary, it's still most likely decent value. If he starts looking in the $4-5 million range, which someone just might give him given the weak free agent crop this year, the Penguins are better off looking elsewhere. What makes the most effective 2nd-3rd tier type players so effective is motivation. Those are usually found with shorter and cheaper contracts. Give them long term security, and they seem to disappear, be it due to a decrease in motivation or the fact that the guy never really had the talent to match the expectations that came along with the big contract in the first place.
- buffalofan19

There is absolutely no doubt that environment plays a huge role. The Penguins through their high draft picks and player friendly culture have created a good environment that breeds success out of a player like Dupuis. Dupuis has benefited from that environment which is the reason he speaks so positively about PIttsburgh, that isnt lost on him.

But, like when assessing any player, you have your limits on what you are willing to pay to retain his services.

I thought Buffalo had a great opportunity to start building a different environment two years ago and Pegula dropped the ball by sticking with the R & R duo. Should have been a fresh start and a new culture, but I don't need to tell you that.

Buffalo is a great place and I look forward to when Regier is canned so that the proper environment can return to Western NY. Western NY hockey community is second to none, and yes I am biased.

Yea truthfully I haven't watched a lot of the avs. I do remember him looking very good when I did see them. He's one of my favorite characters, I remember his first all star game in the skills competition they had him mid'd up and he didn't know it was on and he said he felt like vodka from last night.
- Genev21

Matt Duchene
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVTMYEElGpI