Random trade of the day (and when i say random, i mean random)

Letang, Sutter, Pouliot, 1st to WPG for Ladd and Byfuglien

Lines:

Ladd-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Byfuglien
Bennett-Spaling-Dupuis
Comeau-Goc-Downie

The top 2 lines would be nasty to play against.
- cap1681

I'm really not a Big Buff fan so I think that is severe overpayment.

Could be maatta and letang erhoff and despres at some point
- dbell646

I was just going to say this..I think Maatta is Letang's partner of the future.

I was just going to say this..I think Maatta is Letang's partner of the future.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

i think Despres and Letang would be a good long term pairing.

Question:

With the Maatta injury at the beginning of the season, some younger guys will definitely get their shot this year. Who, if anyone, plays like an above average NHL defenseman? ...Harrington, Dumoulin, or Pouliot.

Could be maatta and letang erhoff and despres at some point
- dbell646

I could very much see that. Letang's agressive play style makes him a very particular player who needs a very particular partner to function properly. His partner needs to be skilled enough to keep up with Letang and give someone for Letang to play off of and help move the puck forward if Tanger gets caught in a pinch, but at the same time he needs to be defensively minded and aware enough to cover for Letang when he makes his bold (not necessarily ill advised) plays on the puck. I could see Olli Maatta turning into that kind of well balanced two way guy that would be Letang's ideal partner.

I'm really not a Big Buff fan so I think that is severe overpayment.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I'm not a big fan of Buff as a defenseman. As a winger, i think he would be a great fit on this team.

Question:

With the Maatta injury at the beginning of the season, some younger guys will definitely get their shot this year. Who, if anyone, plays like an above average NHL defenseman? ...Harrington, Dumoulin, or Pouliot.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Pouliot has the same injury, don't forget.

However, I am leaning towards Bortuzzo to become a faster shutdown version of what Orpik was a few years ago.

I could very much see that. Letang's agressive play style makes him a very particular player who needs a very particular partner to function properly. His partner needs to be skilled enough to keep up with Letang and give someone for Letang to play off of and help move the puck forward if Tanger gets caught in a pinch, but at the same time he needs to be defensively minded and aware enough to cover for Letang when he makes his bold (not necessarily ill advised) plays on the puck. I could see Olli Maatta turning into that kind of well balanced two way guy that would be Letang's ideal partner.
- Victoro311

Hit the nail on the head there. The whole idea of someone like Scuderi working with Letang never made sense to me. It's trying to band-aid something that isn't necessarily broken. A good two-way guy will make a much better partner, and help elevate Letang. That's why Martin works and I think Maatta will work the same way.

I could very much see that. Letang's agressive play style makes him a very particular player who needs a very particular partner to function properly. His partner needs to be skilled enough to keep up with Letang and give someone for Letang to play off of and help move the puck forward if Tanger gets caught in a pinch, but at the same time he needs to be defensively minded and aware enough to cover for Letang when he makes his bold (not necessarily ill advised) plays on the puck. I could see Olli Maatta turning into that kind of well balanced two way guy that would be Letang's ideal partner.
- Victoro311

Dare I make the sports crossover reference in Maatta could become the Ryan Clark to Troy Palamalu for Letang? (Clark of a couple years ago, of course).

Pouliot has the same injury, don't forget.

However, I am leaning towards Bortuzzo to become a faster shutdown version of what Orpik was a few years ago.
- Guile

Interesting. I think in 3 years, Pouliot will be the best defenseman on the team...pretty longshot opinion I guess...but I think he will be every bit of what we had in Gonchar.

Question:

With the Maatta injury at the beginning of the season, some younger guys will definitely get their shot this year. Who, if anyone, plays like an above average NHL defenseman? ...Harrington, Dumoulin, or Pouliot.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Pouliot should be given a year in the AHL considering our depth at D prospects. Gives the older, more developed guys a fair shot at the show and allows Pouliot to heal properly. The last thing we need is to rush him back and turn our prized jewel into damaged goods.

My money's on Dumoulin. He's the more dynamic of the two remaining, and with Bortuzzo and Scuderi in the lineup we have our quota of stay at homers. If Harrington proves to be more dynamic, or if Scuds were to... God forbid... suffer an untimely accident, then that changes everything.

Dare I make the sports crossover reference in Maatta could become the Ryan Clark to Troy Palamalu for Letang? (Clark of a couple years ago, of course).
- Guile

Perfect reference. Kudos to you.

Pouliot should be given a year in the AHL considering our depth at D prospects. Gives the older, more developed guys a fair shot at the show and allows Pouliot to heal properly. The last thing we need is to rush him back and turn our prized jewel into damaged goods.

My money's on Dumoulin. He's the more dynamic of the two remaining, and with Bortuzzo and Scuderi in the lineup we have our quota of stay at homers. If Harrington proves to be more dynamic, or if Scuds were to... God forbid... suffer an untimely accident, then that changes everything.
- Victoro311

I'm a big Harrington guy. For some reason I was Meh on Dumoulin on his time up here. None the less our future looks bright on the back end

I'm a big Harrington guy. For some reason I was Meh on Dumoulin on his time up here. None the less our future looks bright on the back end
- dbell646

Does anyone have any hopes for Samuelsson? For whatever reason, I don't.

Does anyone have any hopes for Samuelsson? For whatever reason, I don't.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Seems like he will end up being Strait 2.0

Does anyone have any hopes for Samuelsson? For whatever reason, I don't.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Me neither... He has seemed to improve each year, and I think that he could probably be an everyday, bottom pairing NHL defenseman. Nothing wrong with that, but those guys are plentiful. I can't imaging his ceiling is any higher than that.

Does anyone have any hopes for Samuelsson? For whatever reason, I don't.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I think he may have a ceiling as a 2nd pairing defenseman, but won't realize it in Pittsburgh, because of the log jam of defensemen we have here. Could see him being another Lovejoy.

I'm a big Harrington guy. For some reason I was Meh on Dumoulin on his time up here. None the less our future looks bright on the back end
- dbell646

I'm real high on Harrington too and am very anti-trading him at all costs. I think he's our shutdown guy of the future and will be leagues better than Botuzzo, but as of now, Bort is the better option and we still have that joke Scuderi. We don't need another stay at home guy on the roster right now.

Does anyone have any hopes for Samuelsson? For whatever reason, I don't.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

My father in law. He played defense and has a hard on for Ulf so he thinks his son will play just like him

Don't know if this site is credible but it just reinforces what TIOPS was reporting about offers to Flat Stanley. I'd trade him if this is true. Hope JR doesn't still have his infatuation with Sutter and pay any more then whats reported here.
http://hockeytracker.net/...und-the-rink-arbitration/

Im starting to like the Nino idea. It makes sense from a hockey trade standpoint, need for need. The thought of Kane would be awesome, but that's just too many type A's in the room if you ask me.

I think he may have a ceiling as a 2nd pairing defenseman, but won't realize it in Pittsburgh, because of the log jam of defensemen we have here. Could see him being another Lovejoy.
- cap1681

I have no beat on any D prospects, I just don't have the time to follow, but having Samulsun on the roster would be one of the top jersey sales on the team. Everyone would love a new age Samuelson jersey!

I'm a big Harrington guy. For some reason I was Meh on Dumoulin on his time up here. None the less our future looks bright on the back end
- dbell646

I thought Dumo struggled in his own end while he was up here. You could see the offensive instincts, but had a heck of a time defending at NHL speed.

Little Ulf had a rough first couple of games in the NHL, but I thought he rebounded nicely. Our resident WB season ticket holder (Reverend Killtaker) said Samuelsson was very good after he returned to WB. I think he said he was their best defensive D down the stretch for the Baby Pens.

Don't know if this site is credible but it just reinforces what TIOPS was reporting about offers to Flat Stanley. I'd trade him if this is true. Hope JR doesn't still have his infatuation with Sutter and pay any more then whats reported here.
http://hockeytracker.net/...und-the-rink-arbitration/
- dbell646

IF that's true and he turned down 3.75 for 4 yrs + incentives, I move him. I think that's an insult. Who does he think he is Pascal Dupuis? But seriously no way would I give him a nickel more.

Im starting to like the Nino idea. It makes sense from a hockey trade standpoint, need for need. The thought of Kane would be awesome, but that's just too many type A's in the room if you ask me.
- sammy87

I've been on board with that. I'd rather have Coyle. Just no way that Minnesota does it, imo.