Just for kicks, who would you consider an equal caliber forward prospect?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I really don't know. I have a tough time keeping track of other teams' prospect pools, so I don't have a good grasp of people who are out there until they hit the NHL. My general idea would be a kid with Ho-Sang's pedigree and skill set without any of the question marks.

Just for kicks, who would you consider an equal caliber forward prospect?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

A top 5 player picked in the last 2 years I would assume

My take on this, by the way, I really can’t believe that someone offered to pay Nisk/Orpik MORE money, that’s insane. If Red Wings or Avs are that desperate for defense, let’s float out some of our defenseman/defensive prospects and find a top 6 wing/top 6 wing prospect asap.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Wings are in a tough boat. They have some young F prospects, but when Franzen is invisible, Datsyuk is hurt all the time and Z, Datsyuk, Cleary, are all mid 30's I don't see why they would trade Tatar or Nyquist.

And no on trading Letang, Martin will be gone either by gm 1 or the end of the season, Ehroff could have a mega season and take UFA, then what do you do?

I really don't know. I have a tough time keeping track of other teams' prospect pools, so I don't have a good grasp of people who are out there until they hit the NHL. My general idea would be a kid with Ho-Sang's pedigree and skill set without any of the question marks.
- Victoro311

Tarasenko is my ultimate pipe dream. He's not really a prospect anymore though and it would take more than Pouliot.

Then you have guys like Barkov, Drouin, Nichushkin, Mantha. No idea where they fall in terms of value compared to Pouliot. It would be fairly unique for teams to trade/swap their best prospects, right? Can't seem to recall that happening in recent memory.

Tarasenko is my ultimate pipe dream. He's not really a prospect anymore though and it would take more than Pouliot.

Then you have guys like Barkov, Drouin, Nichushkin, Mantha. No idea where they fall in terms of value compared to Pouliot. It would be fairly unique for teams to trade/swap their best prospects, right? Can't seem to recall that happening in recent memory.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Tarasenko would be awesome, but I have no idea about how to even go about trying to pry him away. The Blues are a pretty complete team already, so I really don't know what they would want. All they're really missing is major firepower, and Tarasenko is their best pure scorer. There's just no reason for the Blues to trade him.

I'd say try to go after a guy like Tomas Hertl, but with the Sharks maybe or maybe not trying to deal their current leadership, it seems like they're looking to build a team around Hertl in the future.

Wings are in a tough boat. They have some young F prospects, but when Franzen is invisible, Datsyuk is hurt all the time and Z, Datsyuk, Cleary, are all mid 30's I don't see why they would trade Tatar or Nyquist.

And no on trading Letang, Martin will be gone either by gm 1 or the end of the season, Ehroff could have a mega season and take UFA, then what do you do?
- sammy87

Ehrhoff has already expressed interest in an extension here, which I believe is first available to do in January.

Tarasenko would be awesome, but I have no idea about how to even go about trying to pry him away. The Blues are a pretty complete team already, so I really don't know what they would want. All they're really missing is major firepower, and Tarasenko is their best pure scorer. There's just no reason for the Blues to trade him.

I'd say try to go after a guy like Tomas Hertl, but with the Sharks maybe or maybe not trying to deal their current leadership, it seems like they're looking to build a team around Hertl in the future.
- Victoro311

Yep, he's a total pipe dream. It would probably take Maatta (value-wise) but again, Blues D is pretty set.

I think Hertl would be pretty equal value but it gets complicated with guys like him that have played 1 year in the NHL as opposed to Pouliot not playing a minute yet. I would bet we need to pay extra since they have "proven" themselves over the course of 1 season..like Maatta did. Same with Nichushkin, Barkov, etc. Barkov would be awesome just to have all the Fins (Barkov, Kapanen, and Maatta) on the same team haha.

I think Mantha would make the most sense based on value/needs for both teams. Thats the best fit I can think of.

Tarasenko is my ultimate pipe dream. He's not really a prospect anymore though and it would take more than Pouliot.

Then you have guys like Barkov, Drouin, Nichushkin, Mantha. No idea where they fall in terms of value compared to Pouliot. It would be fairly unique for teams to trade/swap their best prospects, right? Can't seem to recall that happening in recent memory.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Evgeny Kuznetsov. This kid can play. I'd say he's better or equal to Tarasenko. I've watched him dominate on juniors. He's special.

6'3" 190"......Geno like built and tons of skills.

Yep, he's a total pipe dream. It would probably take Maatta (value-wise) but again, Blues D is pretty set.

I think Hertl would be pretty equal value but it gets complicated with guys like him that have played 1 year in the NHL as opposed to Pouliot not playing a minute yet. I would bet we need to pay extra since they have "proven" themselves over the course of 1 season..like Maatta did. Same with Nichushkin, Barkov, etc. Barkov would be awesome just to have all the Fins (Barkov, Kapanen, and Maatta) on the same team haha.

I think Mantha would make the most sense based on value/needs for both teams. Thats the best fit I can think of.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Oh yeah, I have no delusions that getting any guy who is at least slightly proven at the NHL level is gonna take more than just a pure prospect, no matter how highly regarded. I just don't have a good enough grasp on other team's pure prospects to name names, so I stuck to guys that we'd have to put together a package for. Pouliot straight up won't even net us Tatar or Nyquist.

Evgeny Kuznetsov: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evgeny_Kuznetsov

Vladimir Tarasenko: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Tarasenko

Compare both players, KHL and WJCs. I like Kuznetsov more.

Evgeny Kuznetsov. This kid can play. I'd say he's better or equal to Tarasenko. I've watched him dominate on juniors. He's special.

6'3" 190"......Geno like built and tons of skills.
- Barnaby36

Interesting. Didn't he have some Russian syndrome though? I thought he was committed to play in the KHL or something and that's why he's 22 already with only a handful of NHL games played....

Interesting. Didn't he have some Russian syndrome though? I thought he was committed to play in the KHL or something and that's why he's 22 already with only a handful of NHL games played....
- YouMeAndDupuis9

He got his feet wet last season for a few games with the Capitals. The kid is a star. He'd dominate on a line with Geno.

He got his feet wet last season for a few games with the Capitals. The kid is a star. He'd dominate on a line with Geno.
- Barnaby36

Well I'm easily convinced so I would do it for Pouliot. I love Pouliot and would really hate to see him go to someone in the division....but like Victoro and I were discussing...just no need to have so many blue-chip D men.

My take on this, by the way, I really can’t believe that someone offered to pay Nisk/Orpik MORE money, that’s insane. If Red Wings or Avs are that desperate for defense, let’s float out some of our defenseman/defensive prospects and find a top 6 wing/top 6 wing prospect asap.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I can definitely believe Niskanen was offered more. Up to like 6.25 even, I was kinda surprised he signed for so little after Ehrhoff was snapped up. Orpik though.... Man, if that's true the Avs dodged a bullet big time.

Well I'm easily convinced so I would do it for Pouliot. I love Pouliot and would really hate to see him go to someone in the division....but like Victoro and I were discussing...just no need to have so many blue-chip D men.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Trust me: Kuznetsov > Tarasenko. I'd trade Pouliot for him right away. He's a true top 6 forward.

Wings are in a tough boat. They have some young F prospects, but when Franzen is invisible, Datsyuk is hurt all the time and Z, Datsyuk, Cleary, are all mid 30's I don't see why they would trade Tatar or Nyquist.

And no on trading Letang, Martin will be gone either by gm 1 or the end of the season, Ehroff could have a mega season and take UFA, then what do you do?
- sammy87

Bingo. All of the folks in the "Trade Letang" camp seem to ignore these points.

Bingo. All of the folks in the "Trade Letang" camp seem to ignore these points.
- 87_71_11_29

I completely agree. I was only looking throwing the question out there on who you would trade, Letang or Pouliot, in the hypothetical scenario that Pouliot has a great year in the NHL, and we lock up Ehrhoff, etc.

Trust me: Kuznetsov > Tarasenko. I'd trade Pouliot for him right away. He's a true top 6 forward.
- Barnaby36

So trade Pouliot for Kuznetsov, sign Kevin Hayes, wait for Kapanen. Long term top 6 problem solved.

Might be a little farfetched but that would still leave us with plenty of talent on the backend, didn't give up a ton of assets, and as early as next season we'd have a dynamic group of talented cheap young wingers.

Wings are in a tough boat. They have some young F prospects, but when Franzen is invisible, Datsyuk is hurt all the time and Z, Datsyuk, Cleary, are all mid 30's I don't see why they would trade Tatar or Nyquist.

And no on trading Letang, Martin will be gone either by gm 1 or the end of the season, Ehroff could have a mega season and take UFA, then what do you do?
- sammy87

No one is saying trade letang right now. We are saying if the situation is right, he is expendable. That situation would be maatta continuing to impress, pouliot looks great as a rookie, and Ehrhoff impressing and resigning would be the key things that need to happen.

So trade Pouliot for Kuznetsov, sign Kevin Hayes, wait for Kapanen. Long term top 6 problem solved.

Might be a little farfetched but that would still leave us with plenty of talent on the backend, didn't give up a ton of assets, and as early as next season we'd have a dynamic group of talented cheap young wingers.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Or Mantha. Either way. That would be a huge shift in the dynamic of the team.

I HATE the offseason !

I HATE the offseason !
- Bradlee3

Amen. Waiting for the first person to mention Subban today...

Amen. Waiting for the first person to mention Subban today...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

That would be you... in that post...

Would you swap Letang/Sutter for Subban/3rd Pick assuming PK would re-sign for 8 years, $64-68M?

Would you swap Letang/Sutter for Subban/3rd Pick assuming PK would re-sign for 8 years, $64-68M?
- Barnaby36

No