to me, going after Perron is nice and all, but you spend the next 3-4 years going all in and not like in 2013.

you find the best guys you can find and fill your spots. If you're looking at EDM which i think is a good trade partner, I think Eberle is your guy. not Yaks or Perron.

Eberle is 24 and makes 6 million and is signed long term. i think 6 million will be completely reasonable when you project his output playing on a real team with real linemates.

The cost will be steep but i think there wont be much of a premium involved, if one. EDM needs to make moves to safe their season and save the front office and coaches from yet another failure and one step closer to firings.

Who might they be interested in? I think the easy answer is Sutter. Good player who i think becomes the top guy at center in EDM. You probably throw in Simon Despres. I young defenseman who is a good NHL caliber dman with a lot of room to grow. Maybe it takes another younger piece or 1st round pick. I would think they would want Pouliot which might be the limit for me. Not sure I want to trade him. I would think they would want him because of his ties to the WHL but also Harrington was captain of Team Canada a few years ago so that'd be a name they'd like. Problem with Brian Dumolin is he's an unrecognizable name in Canada.

All in all i think the package is well worth it for several reasons:
1. For the first time in his career, Crosby will have a long term solution at wing who is younger than him.
2. Losing Despres opens up a spot for a guy like BD, SH, or DP to finally get the NHL spot they all have earned.
3. Goc is more than able to spot into that 3rd line role. Losing sutter would be tough considering how well his line has played, but having a ready made 3rd line guy makes it easier.

Kunitz-Crosby-Eberle
Bennett-Malkin-Hornqvist
Comeau-Goc-Downie
Adams (TBR) - Sill (TBR) - Megna

Letang-Maatta
Martin-Ehrhoff
Scuderi-SH/DP/BD
Bortuzzo

quality team there. If you wanted to move Martin and add on of the 3 younger guys with Ehrhoff, i'd have no problem with that.

The same logic here applies to Kane though I dont know which I'd rather have. pros and cons of both.

to me, going after Perron is nice and all, but you spend the next 3-4 years going all in and not like in 2013.

you find the best guys you can find and fill your spots. If you're looking at EDM which i think is a good trade partner, I think Eberle is your guy. not Yaks or Perron.

Eberle is 24 and makes 6 million and is signed long term. i think 6 million will be completely reasonable when you project his output playing on a real team with real linemates.

The cost will be steep but i think there wont be much of a premium involved, if one. EDM needs to make moves to safe their season and save the front office and coaches from yet another failure and one step closer to firings.

Who might they be interested in? I think the easy answer is Sutter. Good player who i think becomes the top guy at center in EDM. You probably throw in Simon Despres. I young defenseman who is a good NHL caliber dman with a lot of room to grow. Maybe it takes another younger piece or 1st round pick. I would think they would want Pouliot which might be the limit for me. Not sure I want to trade him. I would think they would want him because of his ties to the WHL but also Harrington was captain of Team Canada a few years ago so that'd be a name they'd like. Problem with Brian Dumolin is he's an unrecognizable name in Canada.

All in all i think the package is well worth it for several reasons:
1. For the first time in his career, Crosby will have a long term solution at wing who is younger than him.
2. Losing Despres opens up a spot for a guy like BD, SH, or DP to finally get the NHL spot they all have earned.
3. Goc is more than able to spot into that 3rd line role. Losing sutter would be tough considering how well his line has played, but having a ready made 3rd line guy makes it easier.

Kunitz-Crosby-Eberle
Bennett-Malkin-Hornqvist
Comeau-Goc-Downie
Adams (TBR) - Sill (TBR) - Megna

Letang-Maatta
Martin-Ehrhoff
Scuderi-SH/DP/BD
Bortuzzo

quality team there. If you wanted to move Martin and add on of the 3 younger guys with Ehrhoff, i'd have no problem with that.

The same logic here applies to Kane though I dont know which I'd rather have. pros and cons of both.
- SuperHenderson13

Kane will cost poulliot , sutter and a first at a minimum ... They might ask for bennett in addition ... That's a lot for an in season move ... Don't see it happening

to me, going after Perron is nice and all, but you spend the next 3-4 years going all in and not like in 2013.

you find the best guys you can find and fill your spots. If you're looking at EDM which i think is a good trade partner, I think Eberle is your guy. not Yaks or Perron.

Eberle is 24 and makes 6 million and is signed long term. i think 6 million will be completely reasonable when you project his output playing on a real team with real linemates.

The cost will be steep but i think there wont be much of a premium involved, if one. EDM needs to make moves to safe their season and save the front office and coaches from yet another failure and one step closer to firings.

Who might they be interested in? I think the easy answer is Sutter. Good player who i think becomes the top guy at center in EDM. You probably throw in Simon Despres. I young defenseman who is a good NHL caliber dman with a lot of room to grow. Maybe it takes another younger piece or 1st round pick. I would think they would want Pouliot which might be the limit for me. Not sure I want to trade him. I would think they would want him because of his ties to the WHL but also Harrington was captain of Team Canada a few years ago so that'd be a name they'd like. Problem with Brian Dumolin is he's an unrecognizable name in Canada.

All in all i think the package is well worth it for several reasons:
1. For the first time in his career, Crosby will have a long term solution at wing who is younger than him.
2. Losing Despres opens up a spot for a guy like BD, SH, or DP to finally get the NHL spot they all have earned.
3. Goc is more than able to spot into that 3rd line role. Losing sutter would be tough considering how well his line has played, but having a ready made 3rd line guy makes it easier.

Kunitz-Crosby-Eberle
Bennett-Malkin-Hornqvist
Comeau-Goc-Downie
Adams (TBR) - Sill (TBR) - Megna

Letang-Maatta
Martin-Ehrhoff
Scuderi-SH/DP/BD
Bortuzzo

quality team there. If you wanted to move Martin and add on of the 3 younger guys with Ehrhoff, i'd have no problem with that.

The same logic here applies to Kane though I dont know which I'd rather have. pros and cons of both.
- SuperHenderson13

Kane will cost poulliot , sutter and a first at a minimum ... They might ask for bennett in addition ... That's a lot for an in season move ... Don't see it happening

Kunitz-Crosby-Eberle
Bennett-Malkin-Hornqvist
Comeau-Goc-Downie
Adams (TBR) - Sill (TBR) - Megna

Letang-Maatta
Martin-Ehrhoff
Scuderi-SH/DP/BD
Bortuzzo

quality team there. If you wanted to move Martin and add on of the 3 younger guys with Ehrhoff, i'd have no problem with that.

The same logic here applies to Kane though I dont know which I'd rather have. pros and cons of both.
- SuperHenderson13

I partly agree with you. Eberle is very good but is he worth what it would take to get him? Perron is also pretty young (26) and signed to a great contract. We could realistically extend him in a few years to $5M if he is a great fit. So is it worth trading a very important 1st round draft pick for the slight upgrade in player? Dont have an answer for you, just raising the question...

In regards to Edmonton understand that they will perceive trading Eberle as trading part of their core. The price to acquire him vs Perron for example wouldn't be worth the difference in players.

Eberle would take an Evander Kane style haul to get him. I'd rather have Kane if that is the case.

Kane will cost poulliot , sutter and a first at a minimum ... They might ask for bennett in addition ... That's a lot for an in season move ... Don't see it happening
- Brianandr1

I agree thats what it would cost....no way I "throw in" Bennett though. Kane is probably a better fit than Eberle. Either way, as much as I like targeting guys already locked up, I think JR does something more minor

In regards to Edmonton understand that they will perceive trading Eberle as trading part of their core. The price to acquire him vs Perron for example wouldn't be worth the difference in players.

Eberle would take an Evander Kane style haul to get him. I'd rather have Kane if that is the case.
- Ryan_Wilson

Agree, and not sure either is really available for trade anyway.

Whats the general consensus...make one big blockbuster move? Or pull in a secondary type like Perron, Jurco, Rattie and then another minor move at the deadline if needed?

I really think 71 needs someone with a good shot that can get to soft areas. He had most of his success with Sykora/Neal and they can get to soft spots and snipe it. I think that Hornqvist makes most sense with 87. They're straight line players. 71 needs more skill and a better shot.

I think Stafford might be the most intriguing option with the least amount of risk. He's a rental, but you won't have to empty the cupboard for him. He strikes me as the type of player 71 can be successful with.

14-87-72
19-71-Stafford
17-16-23
13-57-Megna/27

Anything the Pens do should start with 14-87-72. Let our 1st line be our first line. for now I would try. 19-71-23/ 13-16-17/ our fourth line. Right away everyones going to say DOWNIE ON THE SECOND LINE!!! His cleanest season to date came while playing first line and he scored 24? goals. Hes better at puck retrieval, and protecting the puck down low than 13 or 17. He also seems to put himself in really good position to score easy goals and will crash the net. I say try to channel all of Downies passion towards winning games, not solving the Pens toughness issues. Its not a permanent solution but they probably won't be making a trade as soon as everyone wants.

what did anyone think about the line changes? I was at the game friday. there were a lot of slow line changes. and what was up with paul martin? Definitely an off game.

Jiri Hudler anyone? That's of course if the Flames get "extinguished".

Good for the Flames playing well so far.

I know the grandiose trades are fun to discuss, but let's not lose sight of the objective of filling a hole on the top 6. Anything that takes Kuntiz away doesn't help that problem.

A mid level guy won't cost one of our current top 6, and even if it did cost Sutter, that is survivable. Goc can fill in, and we can always bolster the bottom six at the deadline.

I know the grandiose trades are fun to discuss, but let's not lose sight of the objective of filling a hole on the top 6. Anything that takes Kuntiz away doesn't help that problem.

A mid level guy won't cost one of our current top 6, and even if it did cost Sutter, that is survivable. Goc can fill in, and we can always bolster the bottom six at the deadline.
- rival22

You don't worry about that, palmer has our back.

Anything the Pens do should start with 14-87-72. Let our 1st line be our first line. for now I would try. 19-71-23/ 13-16-17/ our fourth line. Right away everyones going to say DOWNIE ON THE SECOND LINE!!! His cleanest season to date came while playing first line and he scored 24? goals. Hes better at puck retrieval, and protecting the puck down low than 13 or 17. He also seems to put himself in really good position to score easy goals and will crash the net. I say try to channel all of Downies passion towards winning games, not solving the Pens toughness issues. Its not a permanent solution but they probably won't be making a trade as soon as everyone wants.
- Grinder47

What are you smoking? The year he scored 22 goals he also had his career high in penalty minutes. The more Downie plays, the more penalties he takes.

I know the grandiose trades are fun to discuss, but let's not lose sight of the objective of filling a hole on the top 6. Anything that takes Kuntiz away doesn't help that problem.

A mid level guy won't cost one of our current top 6, and even if it did cost Sutter, that is survivable. Goc can fill in, and we can always bolster the bottom six at the deadline.
- rival22

Yeah with dupes don I can't see moving sutter anymore. Martin, scuds, despres, domoulin, 1st are the pieces to move.

What are you smoking? The year he scored 22 goals he also had his career high in penalty minutes. The more Downie plays, the more penalties he takes.
- rival22

I'm ready to push him down to the fourth line. His crap is already on my nerves. Play the game tough and on the edge, but when you play stupid and cost your team... You ain't worth it

Yeah with dupes don I can't see moving sutter anymore. Martin, scuds, despres, domoulin, 1st are the pieces to move.
- sammy87

Martin is the key... If he does not bring a top 6 winger he stays ... Period ... 50/50 ... Martin is good

Okay, the creative juices are flowing today so I'll throw out some far-fetched ideas...


Sutter, Harrington, 1st, Spaling for Perron and Yakupov

or

Sutter, Dumo, Kunitz for Perron and Yakupov

or

Maatta, Sutter, 2nd for Hall, Marcinin
- YouMeAndDupuis9

maatta for hall would be terrible for the pens

Martin is the key... If he does not bring a top 6 winger he stays ... Period ... 50/50 ... Martin is good
- Brianandr1

What about teams like SanJose and Anaheim who have cap space and would trade top assets for him? You could use those assets gained to go out and get help without depleting your current forward core.

What are you smoking? The year he scored 22 goals he also had his career high in penalty minutes. The more Downie plays, the more penalties he takes.
- rival22

7 majors that year, you know at least one 10 that's 45. I don't think he was taking the bad penalties. Majors don't hurt your team. Bottom line still is after 72-14-19 Downie is the best offensive winger we have. I also have no problem with Downie having 208 PIMs in a season.

What about Despres to Col for Tanguay... Has 1 more year on his deal at 3.5 always been a solid two way top 6 guy, just a thought of someone reasonable that hasn't been mentioned

Looking up Downie's stats, that year he had 22 goals he lead the league with 56 minor penalties. Five of the top 6 in minors that year are guys like him.... Hartnell, Ott, Burrows and Avery. Mixed in there at number #3 is Evgeni Malkin. Right where he is this year.....

What about teams like SanJose and Anaheim who have cap space and would trade top assets for him? You could use those assets gained to go out and get help without depleting your current forward core.
- usethe1-2-2

Preaching to the choir ... I hope so ... Can't wait to see poulliot and harrington

Kane will cost poulliot , sutter and a first at a minimum ... They might ask for bennett in addition ... That's a lot for an in season move ... Don't see it happening
- Brianandr1

If you could some how convince them to do Harrington, Sutter, and a 1st... you take that deal and run like hell.

but yea, Pouliot is the easy one and likely one to be asked for. no question.

I have no issue with Perron. If you can get him for a good price, do it. I'm just saying I think Eberle would be more worth it if you could get a fair price for him and not at some crazy premium.

while despres has made me eat crow and I'd hate to lose him, he is probably the best asset to move. pens seem determined to not use him and bortz exclussively over scuds. he may be passed in the depth by dodumalin, poiliot, and harrington. he is easier to replace this year than martin. if pens traded simon, and lost both erhoff and martin to FA (worst case senario) pens still have letang-maatta, harrington-poiliot, bortz/scuds/doumalin. THATS THE WORST CASE SENARIO. pens depth in D is amazing! simon maybe could go for a decent winger