Most of us are bashing Sutter or want him traded (mostly due to what he might cost). So set aside his pricetag for a minute, does anyone think he will be an above average 3rd line center this season with good linemates? I think the potential is there. And having Sid, Geno, Sutter, Goc down the middle might be one of the best center lineups in the league.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Yes.

Media turn fans against certain players by stories that are written. People read those stories and begin to think that is 100% truth and start believing whatever giberish was written.

Not to make light of a potentially serious problem..how can one get addicted to gambling? One night in Vegas and I lost enough money to ever do it again haha.

I really think Spaling will be similar to Jokinen. Jack of all trades, nothing flashy, but competent hockey player. Good third liner with a small potential for Geno's line given how Geno can play with those types of wingers.

Maybe that's wishful thinking. But I do think $2M is a fair price for him at his age/resume. Wouldn't go above $2M though.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Well the way you do it is convince yourself that its not gambling. He doesn't play cards, he bets on lines for various games. He's convinced himself that he's got it down to a science, and that overall he'll come out ahead even if he loses some flukes because his system is flawless. He never calls his bets gambling, he calls them investments, and that, my friend, is how you become a gambling addict.

To answer your question about Sutter, my sole knock on him is his price tag. I said this pretty recently, probably on this thread, but I am, to a certain extent, a Sutter believer. He has the potential to be a slightly above average 3C. The problem is that besides a far gone sophomore season and one playoff run, he has done nothing to prove that he is anything more than an average to sub par 3C. If he has good linemates, if he feels like it, if he puts on weight, if he figures out how not to get knocked off the puck like a may fly, then he could in a year or two turn out to be a consistently league average to slightly above average 3C. However, I will by no means pay 4.5-5 mil for a player that has the potential to be a decent player. May as well sign Boland. Give me Sutter at 3.5 and I'm more than happy. Give me Sutter at 4 and I can stomach it. Give me Sutter at 4.5 + and I will forever hate him as long as he wears the Black and Vegas Gold.

Worth noting that Perron's possession numbers we're better (personally and compared to the team average) on comparatively weak Blues teams.

Once Hitchcock came to town they declined from their peak... Even though Hitch is big on possession.

It's an interesting thought to move him to RW. He certainly has the skill level to complement Crosby and Kunitz. That said, he is very much a "me" player and that cost him in St. Louis. He couldn't (or wouldn't) adapt to the system/philosophy put in to place by Hitchcock. Is he willing to in order to play with one of the three best players in the world? Maybe. Maybe not. He didn't for a regular season powerhouse club that had a lot of post season potential. It could be that the individual notoriety he has to gain playing along Crosby would get him to change. My experience covering the Blues and being a fan has jaded me on him though.

Well, if that is all sutter wants, pay him five mill a season. He is worth it.

Totally new proposals are refreshing to see

Seriously though, it's nice to see two fanbases discussing things somewhat logically and without much bickering.
- HopintheCordoba

tell me about it. I think there would have been a lot to talk about between Edmonton and Pittsburgh before Letang re-signed and before Neal got traded.

Now, I'll bet you the Oilers brass are simply doing their due diligence with Sutter. Teams with cap space always try to poke around to see if teams closer to the cap are willing to part with guys primarily in cap-shedding moves. Doesn't mean Pittsburgh is (or should be) particularly receptive to that.