I may be in the small group here.... but from what I have seen of Yakupov I believe he will be an effective goal scorer in the NHL. Moves dynamically, Great speed, great shot .... but he certainly is need a change of scenery and needs to learn how to play in a system. That being said.... the pens shouldn't trade for him.... but I believe he will be a good player f he doesn't run away from the NHL.
- Genobuzz

Oh Yakupov definitely has the tools to become a scary goal scorer. Will Edmonton utilize them...probably not.

I do think he should be traded, but not now. There is no one to fill his role and minutes, and losing a player with that much post season experience can hurt. As much as I think maatta can fill letangs skates, he can't do it right now (especially after how maatta got undressed last night)
- drummer829

i do agree here. i dont think this team should ever allow themselves to feel forced into making a deal. they are the ones dealing from a surplus, they should stand back and properly evaluate and survey their options and then go with what they feel improves the team most. regardless of who is involved.

Oh Yakupov definitely has the tools to become a scary goal scorer. Will Edmonton utilize them...probably not.
- Ben37

i actually would be inclined to take a flyer on him. i would take a risk on whatever potential attitude problems or two way laziness there may be. but for what the cost would be, probably not.

there is always the possibility that a team blows pittsburgh out of the water with a deal for a guy they fancy. maybe the deals for despres are significant... maybe someone fancies Letang so badly they break the bank for him. Maybe Martin is coveted by a team and they are willing to pony of a decent deal for him. maybe shero works his magic and gets the pieces the pens need for nisk or orpik. Maybe shero thinks the current d make pouliot or harrington expendable. Lots of dominoes can fall between now and the deadline.

i actually would be inclined to take a flyer on him. i would take a risk on whatever potential attitude problems or two way laziness there may be. but for what the cost would be, probably not.
- stayinthefnnet

The attitude problem has been blown out of proportion. That was mostly the agent speaking. Yakupov want's to play and he wants to score goals. The Oilers want him to be Jon Toews though and something is being lost in communication.

He's like Ovechkin. You have to take the bad defense with the excellent offense.

I do think he should be traded, but not now. There is no one to fill his role and minutes, and losing a player with that much post season experience can hurt. As much as I think maatta can fill letangs skates, he can't do it right now (especially after how maatta got undressed last night)
- drummer829

I don't understand the whole "playoff experience" thing with Letang. The Penguins haven't had any success in the playoffs with Letang being the top guy on the blue line.

there is always the possibility that a team blows pittsburgh out of the water with a deal for a guy they fancy. maybe the deals for despres are significant... maybe someone fancies Letang so badly they break the bank for him. Maybe Martin is coveted by a team and they are willing to pony of a decent deal for him. maybe shero works his magic and gets the pieces the pens need for nisk or orpik. Maybe shero thinks the current d make pouliot or harrington expendable. Lots of dominoes can fall between now and the deadline.
- ChrisMS

true. i wont bemoan whoever eventually goes until we see the return that comes back. that being said though, i think letang would be the only one to bring enough back to where it is a win right now. i legitimately cannot see despres fetching what he is worth right now (potential wise) simply due to not having shown enough.

and with martin, i dont think there is nearly the chance someone would offer up in return something that helps the team in the way he does. not only is his market value around the league probably not extremely high, but his value to the pens is sky high

The attitude problem has been blown out of proportion. That was mostly the agent speaking. Yakupov want's to play and he wants to score goals. The Oilers want him to be Jon Toews though and something is being lost in communication.

He's like Ovechkin. You have to take the bad defense with the excellent offense.
- Ben37

yeah. i do see a lot of talent and potential when i watch him play. that being said though, i wouldnt decimate the value cupboard for him for reasons that have already being said. 1. always try to avoid paying full freight for potential. and 2. i understand take the offensive good with the defensive bad, but the pens have enough firepower where they dont need to pay through the nose for a flashy guy who just wants to score.

i would certainly kick tires though. but it would have to be a feasible deal.

The other part of this is that Despres is an RFA next summer. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get an offer sheet from one of the many defensively challenged teams out there, and I doubt the Penguins would match given the lingering questions they've got about him. Any way you cut it, Despres is going to cost more next year if the Penguins decide to keep him.

I don't see them making any moves until the deadline, and even then I think it'll be a couple minor moves if anything. But I think it makes far more sense to trade Despres than any other defensive asset.

One more point - Kunitz is an incredible bargain compared to Eberle.

The other part of this is that Despres is an RFA next summer. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get an offer sheet from one of the many defensively challenged teams out there, and I doubt the Penguins would match given the lingering questions they've got about him. Any way you cut it, Despres is going to cost more next year if the Penguins decide to keep him.

I don't see them making any moves until the deadline, and even then I think it'll be a couple minor moves if anything. But I think it makes far more sense to trade Despres than any other defensive asset.

One more point - Kunitz is an incredible bargain compared to Eberle.
- hardnosed

kunitz, if he can stay healthy as he ages, is one of the best bargains in the entire nhl. although im a huge believer in eberle. give him a season next to crosby and kunitz. will gladly have him make 6 mil

i do agree here. i dont think this team should ever allow themselves to feel forced into making a deal. they are the ones dealing from a surplus, they should stand back and properly evaluate and survey their options and then go with what they feel improves the team most. regardless of who is involved.
- stayinthefnnet

They should wait until more d prospects develop. Maybe Harrington turns into something special and then does allow for Despres to be traded. There really is no need to rush any trade.

Have the pens and oilers ever completed a trade with one another?

They should wait until more d prospects develop. Maybe Harrington turns into something special and then does allow for Despres to be traded. There really is no need to rush any trade.
- drummer829

Yeah... Maybe Dupuis being out changes things, but I don't see the Pens moving any of the young defensemen this season.

With Orpik and Niskanen as question marks for next season, at some point by July 1st Shero will have to figure out who goes and who stays.

This summer will be a fun one to watch... Cap is going up, there is a free agent "interview" window before signing that overlaps the draft... It could be one crazy, fun week for us fans to watch.

Yeah... Maybe Dupuis being out changes things, but I don't see the Pens moving any of the young defensemen this season.

With Orpik and Niskanen as question marks for next season, at some point by July 1st Shero will have to figure out who goes and who stays.

This summer will be a fun one to watch... Cap is going up, there is a free agent "interview" window before signing that overlaps the draft... It could be one crazy, fun week for us fans to watch.
- rival22

I like when the stories write themselves.

Have the pens and oilers ever completed a trade with one another?
- dbell646

We traded Tarnstrom to them for Rita and some other scrub.

Have the pens and oilers ever completed a trade with one another?
- dbell646

Just looking over the past handful of years... only the Matthieu Garon trade in 2009.

Ek has the Pens interested in Tim Thomas................

Have the pens and oilers ever completed a trade with one another?
- dbell646

not sure... but pitt could prob resign orpik and niskenen for the money there paying letang starting next season... Pitt has played very well this season minus Letang,and the kids can clearly play... Depres at 1 mil or Letang at 7+... i dont get the debate unless Pitt cant get equal value (a top winger) in return...Pitt s PP is prob better with Niskenen - Martin at the points... why not cash in for a top six winger???

They should wait until more d prospects develop. Maybe Harrington turns into something special and then does allow for Despres to be traded. There really is no need to rush any trade.
- drummer829

Looking at the forward grouping, you'd think they would be a need to add a player or two, but reality shows they just keep winning.

I tend to agree that they won't be making any moves until the TDL. I believe they need to add a forward (maybe 2) and a goalie before the playoffs.

I also believe playing Engo and Bortuzzo over Despres gives some pretty good insight to how the team views him. I don't get it, but then again, I didn't understand it last year either.

We traded Tarnstrom to them for Rita and some other scrub.
- canadianpenfan

So we gave them Richard eh?

Ek has the Pens interested in Tim Thomas................
- cap1681

LOL ... considering Zatkoff is playing better than Timmy, this is an easy pass.

We traded Tarnstrom to them for Rita and some other scrub.
- canadianpenfan

This guy


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory_Cross

Big game tomorrow boys. USA looks to be ready to go.

Looking at the forward grouping, you'd think they would be a need to add a player or two, but reality shows they just keep winning.

I tend to agree that they won't be making any moves until the TDL. I believe they need to add a forward (maybe 2) and a goalie before the playoffs.

I also believe playing Engo and Bortuzzo over Despres gives some pretty good insight to how the team views him. I don't get it, but then again, I didn't understand it last year either.
- madmike71

If there is a big move to be made Shero normally makes them well before the deadline, the exception to that was the Dupuis trade.

A Letang to edmonton deal makes sense, they need quality D, and Letang is enough to pry one of the super kids away. Anyone of those kids playing with sid would be down right scary. Maybe Letang for Eberle and a decent prospect, or Yak and a first rounder would do the trick? Either way i really don't want to see it happen as a flyers fan.