I know I'm late to the party here on the Buff debate, but I wouldn't touch him. The game against the Flyers showed all sides of him. Fantastic talent, lazy, out of shape, poor on coverages. Not to mention his goal celebrations were a little over the top.
- PhillySportsGuy

Want absolutely zero to do with Byfuglien. The fact he would instantly be the Flyers best defenseman by a margin the size of the Grand Canyon is irrelevant.

You really think Edmonton, a likely lottery team, would trade it's 1st round pick for Luke Schenn?
- Jsaquella

They'd want Schenn and Couts.

J-Bo is young enough...he's only 30. also, the funniest is how over the past 5 years or so that guy has be "THE guy" to "DO NOT WANT" back to "he's definitely an asset"

always loved what this guy brought. 25 minute nights...you can set your watch to them.
- eshake

I'd rather try to pry E. Johnson out of Colorado, or Myers out of Buffalo. Heck, with Toronto's problems at center, I'd be somewhat open to moving him for Gardiner.

I want to back up what I was saying also. I don't think he has the league-wide value to be the centerpiece of a deal for these players, which is why I said the mega-deal part.

I was just upset, as a guy who prided himself of being a very good defensive and PK player, that you trivialized the role as just having to be a "hard worker" to be a PK player. There is a ton more to it than that. There's a reason top PK players (like Lappy) are coveted around the league.
- jmatchett383

It's an honorable thing to be a good PK'er, but if I'm running at team, I sacrifice a good PK'er for a skilled forward each and every time.

He definitely is a top trade piece. And if he gets us a young, top-pair defenseman, I'd trade him. But if you have a ton of good centers (see Boston who had 8 players who were centers prior to the NHL on their teamlast year), you find a way to play them all. The reason he is a top trade piece is because he's valuable to all teams, including the one who owns his rights.
- jmatchett383

Schenn seems to be settling in at LW and Vinny hasn't played a full season in a long time. It would be nice to have another skilled center to play in the top 9 if need be. I don't really like the idea of shopping Laughton because the team already has several good centers.

It's an honorable thing to be a good PK'er, but if I'm running at team, I sacrifice a good PK'er for a skilled forward each and every time.
- Tomahawk

So you would have traded the 09/10 versions of Laperriere and Betts for this year's version of Steve Downie? I wouldn't have.

Schenn seems to be settling in at LW and Vinny hasn't played a full season in a long time. It would be nice to have another skilled center to play in the top 9 if need be. I don't really like the idea of shopping Laughton because the team already has several good centers.
- PhillySportsGuy

Exactly. Having too many good centers is a good thing. If he's an NHL-caliber player, you play him. Plus, it's not a given that B. Schenn will be here next year as he could be traded as well.

He definitely is a top trade piece. And if he gets us a young, top-pair defenseman, I'd trade him. But if you have a ton of good centers (see Boston who had 8 players who were centers prior to the NHL on their teamlast year), you find a way to play them all. The reason he is a top trade piece is because he's valuable to all teams, including the one who owns his rights.
- jmatchett383

One thing we can agree on is that he gives the team good options moving forward. And having options allows them to deal from a relative position of strength. They don't need to do anything if they don't want to.

I'd rather try to pry E. Johnson out of Colorado, or Myers out of Buffalo. Heck, with Toronto's problems at center, I'd be somewhat open to moving him for Gardiner.

I want to back up what I was saying also. I don't think he has the league-wide value to be the centerpiece of a deal for these players, which is why I said the mega-deal part.
- jmatchett383

I might even look to shoot lower than EJ or Myers... Cam Fowler, Kulikov, Rundblad... any one of those guys would help to improve the overall quality of the d-corps.

One thing we can agree on is that he gives the team good options moving forward. And having options allows them to deal from a relative position of strength. They don't need to do anything if they don't want to.
- MBFlyerfan

I guess that was more my point. They're in the drivers seat as far as centers go. No reason to do anything unless it's a long-term clear upgrade where you get fair to better return value for a guy who we can have here for years.

I know I'm late to the party here on the Buff debate, but I wouldn't touch him. The game against the Flyers showed all sides of him. Fantastic talent, lazy, out of shape, poor on coverages. Not to mention his goal celebrations were a little over the top.
- PhillySportsGuy

The fact that he scored two goals trumps the fact that he did a little jig after the one that tied the game late in the third.

Remember Moose Dupont? Every goal he scored he did the Moose shuffle. Brian Propp did the Guffaw after every goal. I don't give a rat's ass about the dance.

Oh, and for a fat, lazy guy, he's averaged more points per game over the last couple few years than guys like Jeff Carter, JvR, Corey Perry, Richards, Lecavalier & Getzlaff.

He also plays 20-25 minutes a night on a team with a pretty solid defense group.

It's an honorable thing to be a good PK'er, but if I'm running at team, I sacrifice a good PK'er for a skilled forward each and every time.
- Tomahawk

It depends on team need. The Blackhawks don't really have a need for more top 9 talent.

I might even look to shoot lower than EJ or Myers... Cam Fowler, Kulikov, Rundblad... any one of those guys would help to improve the overall quality of the d-corps.
- Tomahawk

Rundblad's had trouble sticking in the NHL despite multiple shots, Fowler's taken 2-3 steps back since his rookie year. I wouldn't go that low for him.

One thing we can agree on is that he gives the team good options moving forward. And having options allows them to deal from a relative position of strength. They don't need to do anything if they don't want to.
- MBFlyerfan

That's what it comes down to, is options. Laughton is a valuable trade piece because he's been playing pretty damn well. So whether he ultimately stays or goes, he's a good asset to the Flyers. I'd be open to offers, but I wouldn't be rushing to send him off in the first trade I can.

All the dumb trade speculation crap is boring. Flyers don't need to make any trades right now.
- PLindbergh31

They still need more mobility and better puck movement on their blue line, and they still have had 3 games out of 19 where they have scored more than 2 goals.

This Amaro Jr. is a real beauty.

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw 41s
BWAHAHAHAHA #AnalyticsPlant RT @magelb: Source: Phillies have re-signed Carlos Ruiz to a three-year, $26 million contract.

He's a very solid player if you have a top pairing in front of him.
- PhillySportsGuy

He's a very solid player no matter what you have around him.

The fact that he scored two goals trumps the fact that he did a little jig after the one that tied the game late in the third.

Remember Moose Dupont? Every goal he scored he did the Moose shuffle. Brian Propp did the Guffaw after every goal. I don't give a rat's ass about the dance.

Oh, and for a fat, lazy guy, he's averaged more points per game over the last couple few years than guys like Jeff Carter, JvR, Corey Perry, Richards, Lecavalier & Getzlaff.

He also plays 20-25 minutes a night on a team with a pretty solid defense group.
- Jsaquella

But he doesn't score two goals every night. You can put up with the bad stuff when he produces, but what happens when he goes into a slump. Like 1 goal in 20 games? Then you're paying/giving up a lot for a useless player.

Maybe not useless, but certainly not worth the headaches.

If he were available for very little, then why not? But, the Jets will want a legitimate prospect(s).

They still need more mobility and better puck movement on their blue line, and they still have had 3 games out of 19 where they have scored more than 2 goals.
- Jsaquella

Not sure how you get that guy without drastically overpaying.

How many? For a potential top 5 draft pick? Many. Luke Schenn is the 6th defenseman on a team with a pretty mediocre defense corps for a reason-he has not played well.

Generally teams don't move potential lottery picks for defensive defensemen that aren't top pair guys
- Jsaquella

You cant speculate a top 5 pick in November... Like I said, maybe at the deadline, but Edmonton needs to make Changes now. MacTavish also believes this. I would not be suprised to see it happen. If Edmonton does improve and should, it will likely be more of a 10-15 pick, which is about the correct value for a 23 year old Luke Schenn.

Would probably work in NHL 14.
- jmatchett383

It doesn't. Luke Schenn's trade value isn't all that in the game. Mezzy's value is higher.

This Amaro Jr. is a real beauty.

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw 41s
BWAHAHAHAHA #AnalyticsPlant RT @magelb: Source: Phillies have re-signed Carlos Ruiz to a three-year, $26 million contract.
- PLindbergh31

Are you serious? He's the worst negotiator I've ever seen. I feel like the Player's agent lays out a contract and he just says "Ok, I'll take it"

He's a very solid player no matter what you have around him.
- Jsaquella

I meant more like he's a very solid player when you don't expect too much from him. He's not 25 mpg, 45 points per season.

So you would have traded the 09/10 versions of Laperriere and Betts for this year's version of Steve Downie? I wouldn't have.
- jmatchett383

Yeah.

There's only 200-300 players in the world that have the demonstrated ability to put up points regularly at the NHL level... Downie happens to be one of them.

There are probably literally thousands of forwards who could kill penalties at an adequate NHL level.

We have a soft spot for the guys who have done it well in O&B, but there's been a long line of those kinds of guys and the team keeps bringing in new guys in and out of the system that step in seamlessly year after year.

This Amaro Jr. is a real beauty.

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw 41s
BWAHAHAHAHA #AnalyticsPlant RT @magelb: Source: Phillies have re-signed Carlos Ruiz to a three-year, $26 million contract.
- PLindbergh31

I find it amazing that athletes take Adderall to help them perform. I take Adderall daily and if I was to run around for a minute while on it, my heart would explode.