Quick poll to throw out here:

Everyone always point to the 2006 draft as a reason why you never take a defenseman first overall. The big dilemma was deciding between Erik Johnson and Jordan Staal as the first overall. Although picks 3-5 were probably all better (Toews, Backstrom, Kessel) and there were some good picks further down (Giroux, Grabner, Nodl), who would you take right now between those 2? Johnson's been considered a bust as a #1 which is fair, but I've been a fan and would actually take him, right now, over J Staal. How about you guys?
- jmatchett383

I think that right now, Toews would be the 1st pick, followed by Kessel, Backstrom, Staal, Giroux and Lucic before Johnson.

I still wonder if a trade comes this week. Still a few desperate teams to do business with.
- Jsaquella

i don't know that that solves anything. it's like making a trade because they've run out of options and can't find a way to play any better. have lost trust in their plan, whatever that is. i'd rather they stay the course. with the flyers though, anything is possible.

They are, but the Edmonton game is the first time they really put together a good, sixty minute effort and didn't let adversity cause them to stumble. It was a good sign, but it wasn't against a dangerous opponent.
- Jsaquella

Yup, take at least 4 out of 6 points in the next 3 games and then I'll start believing that they are coming out of this funk.

i don't know that that solves anything. it's like making a trade because they've run out of options and can't find a way to play any better. have lost trust in their plan, whatever that is. i'd rather they stay the course. with the flyers though, anything is possible.
- hammarby31

Cosign. I really don't want to move anyone right now. I want Raffl gone though.

Brad Marsh has a wonderful remembrance of Pelle today in the top section of HB. Erik Marsh is in the process of writing one of his own.

Quick poll to throw out here:

Everyone always point to the 2006 draft as a reason why you never take a defenseman first overall. The big dilemma was deciding between Erik Johnson and Jordan Staal as the first overall. Although picks 3-5 were probably all better (Toews, Backstrom, Kessel) and there were some good picks further down (Giroux, Grabner, Nodl), who would you take right now between those 2? Johnson's been considered a bust as a #1 which is fair, but I've been a fan and would actually take him, right now, over J Staal. How about you guys?
- jmatchett383

Johnson
He's still a legit top 4 dman, and I'll take that over a 2 way center.

Brad Marsh has a wonderful remembrance of Pelle today in the top section of HB. Erik Marsh is in the process of writing one of his own.
- bmeltzer

Thanks Bill. I've been digging Brad's blogs thus far.

i don't know that that solves anything. it's like making a trade because they've run out of options and can't find a way to play any better. have lost trust in their plan, whatever that is. i'd rather they stay the course. with the flyers though, anything is possible.
- hammarby31

I'm thinking of a move that actually addresses needs. Regardless of anything else, they need a more natural goal scoring winger and really need a mobile top pair defenseman, moving forward.

I'm not talking about a straight up move to make a move. But if they can deal one of the plough horse defensemen and get a more mobile one, or get a more natural goal scoring winger that doesn't have to rely on grinding it out to get goals.

Cosign. I really don't want to move anyone right now. I want Raffl gone though.
- Pixote Andolini

I want him on the 4th line, playing ahead of Rosehill or Rinaldo.

Brad Marsh has a wonderful remembrance of Pelle today in the top section of HB. Erik Marsh is in the process of writing one of his own.
- bmeltzer

Thanks Bill! Brad wrote a very moving piece.

I want him on the 4th line, playing ahead of Rosehill or Rinaldo.
- Jsaquella

Something like this?

Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
Schenn-Lecavalier-Simmonds
Downie-Couturier-Read
Raffl-Hall-Rinaldo

I want him on the 4th line, playing ahead of Rosehill or Rinaldo.
- Jsaquella

Cosign (since that seems to be the word of the day)

I'm thinking of a move that actually addresses needs. Regardless of anything else, they need a more natural goal scoring winger and really need a mobile top pair defenseman, moving forward.

I'm not talking about a straight up move to make a move. But if they can deal one of the plough horse defensemen and get a more mobile one, or get a more natural goal scoring winger that doesn't have to rely on grinding it out to get goals.
- Jsaquella

I agree with you on both needs. I think it will most likely be easier to acquire the scoring winger. There are teams out there looking for grit in their forward lines and I would think a package of Simmonds, plus a prospect and a 2nd round pick could land them a quality scorer. While I would also love to swap Nik Grossmann for a speedy puck mover, I just can't see anyone making that type of deal without adding a lot to our offer, maybe a 1st and a top prospect like Laughton.

Something like this?

Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
Schenn-Lecavalier-Simmonds
Downie-Couturier-Read
Raffl-Hall-Rinaldo
- Feanor

Yep. Pretty much.

I like having a guy like Downie that can plug in anywhere and be competent. Unfortunately Raffl, despite showing good skating ability and smarts, seems unable to bury one.

Something like this?

Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
Schenn-Lecavalier-Simmonds
Downie-Couturier-Read
Raffl-Hall-Rinaldo
- Feanor

I'd be fine with that and they can always replace Rinaldo with Rosehill when they want a heavyweight in the lineup.

I agree with you on both needs. I think it will most likely be easier to acquire the scoring winger. There are teams out there looking for grit in their forward lines and I would think a package of Simmonds, plus a prospect and a 2nd round pick could land them a quality scorer. While I would also love to swap Nik Grossmann for a speedy puck mover, I just can't see anyone making that type of deal without adding a lot to our offer, maybe a 1st and a top prospect like Laughton.
- BiggE

They might be able to package something together to fill both needs. I'd be really open to a deal that could land them Yakupov and Petry from Edmonton, but that will definitely be an expensive proposition.

I think that right now, Toews would be the 1st pick, followed by Kessel, Backstrom, Staal, Giroux and Lucic before Johnson.
- Jsaquella

Agreed. But of the 2, Johnson or Staal, who would you have taken?

They might be able to package something together to fill both needs. I'd be really open to a deal that could land them Yakupov and Petry from Edmonton, but that will definitely be an expensive proposition.
- Jsaquella

I want no part of moving Laughton or a 1st this year. Basically, my top-return movers are pretty much Simmonds, B Schenn, and L Schenn. If Lauridsen looks like he's ready (haven't been able to see him at all this year), then Grossmann could (COULD, not IS) become expendable.

They might be able to package something together to fill both needs. I'd be really open to a deal that could land them Yakupov and Petry from Edmonton, but that will definitely be an expensive proposition.
- Jsaquella

I'd like that as well, but I would guess Edmonton would want Coburn, Simmonds, Couturier and a 1st coming back which is more than I would part with. Adding Petry but losing Coburn is not much of an upgrade, with that being said I would give them the choice of:
Grossmann, Simmonds, Laughton a 2nd in 14 and a 1st in 15
or
L Schenn, Simmonds, Laughton, a 2nd in 14 and a 2nd in 15
or
L Schenn, Simmonds and B. Schenn

I'd like that as well, but I would guess Edmonton would want Coburn, Simmonds, Couturier and a 1st coming back which is more than I would part with. Adding Petry but losing Coburn is not much of an upgrade, with that being said I would give them the choice of:
Grossmann, Simmonds, Laughton a 2nd in 14 and a 1st in 15
or
L Schenn, Simmonds, Laughton, a 2nd in 14 and a 2nd in 15
or
L Schenn, Simmonds and B. Schenn
- BiggE

You think L Schenn has more value than Grossmann right now?
Also, I wouldn't move Laughton and high picks. Laughton's an absolute beast right now, and if we move him, we shouldn't be giving up much else unless it's a proven yet young top-end talent (i.e. Eberle). Otherwise, I'll keep Laughton.

Agreed. But of the 2, Johnson or Staal, who would you have taken?
- jmatchett383

Staal has been the better NHLer...although I am a fan of Johnson

I'd like that as well, but I would guess Edmonton would want Coburn, Simmonds, Couturier and a 1st coming back which is more than I would part with. Adding Petry but losing Coburn is not much of an upgrade, with that being said I would give them the choice of:
Grossmann, Simmonds, Laughton a 2nd in 14 and a 1st in 15
or
L Schenn, Simmonds, Laughton, a 2nd in 14 and a 2nd in 15
or
L Schenn, Simmonds and B. Schenn
- BiggE

Yeah, if I'm giving up Couturier as part of the package, I want Eberle instead of Yakupov.

I'm thinking of a move that actually addresses needs. Regardless of anything else, they need a more natural goal scoring winger and really need a mobile top pair defenseman, moving forward.

I'm not talking about a straight up move to make a move. But if they can deal one of the plough horse defensemen and get a more mobile one, or get a more natural goal scoring winger that doesn't have to rely on grinding it out to get goals.
- Jsaquella

i'm up for that....

I want no part of moving Laughton or a 1st this year. Basically, my top-return movers are pretty much Simmonds, B Schenn, and L Schenn. If Lauridsen looks like he's ready (haven't been able to see him at all this year), then Grossmann could (COULD, not IS) become expendable.
- jmatchett383

Meh, to me, Grossmann is very expendable. I don't like his contract and despite his physical play and shot blocking ability, he lacks Coburn's overall skills and Meszaros' offensive ability.

You think L Schenn has more value than Grossmann right now?
Also, I wouldn't move Laughton and high picks. Laughton's an absolute beast right now, and if we move him, we shouldn't be giving up much else unless it's a proven yet young top-end talent (i.e. Eberle). Otherwise, I'll keep Laughton.
- jmatchett383

L Schenn is 5 years younger than Grossmann, has no concussion history nor 2 bad knees so yeah I think his value is higher. I wouldn't be thrilled about giving up Laughton as well, but that's what it's going to take to get a 20 year old scorer that went 1st overall. Yakupov has the talent, put him on a line with Giroux and I can see him putting up 40+ goals.

While I like Laughton a lot, I certainly don't see him ever scoring 40 goals, and they would still have Giroux, VL and Couturier down the middle.