Much smarter decision than Semin.

Produced at NHL level. KHL production is where you would expect it to be so he hasn't had a drop in production. I don't even think you need a prove-it deal since his KHL stats indicating a guy still performing.

With the crop of NHL forwards available UFA he might go for more than you expect and potential term.

I got no problem trading Kunitz for an asset and replacing with a cheap Kotsysin. Actually wouldn't be against a 2 year $5 milliion deal.

Risks is shelling out 4 years 20 or so for Kang from the Pirates view. Kotsysin already a proven NHL player who just started playing in Russia for more money
- sditulli

Sure he is less than risk. a one year contract for 2 million, or paying Semin over 6 million for the next XXX years and Semin's game is eroding. He simply isn't productive anymore.

To me, they are one in the same type of player. Skill galore, but the results don't equate to the skill level. Not even close.

No, we will be the team drafting mcjesus
- howamidointhis

And Matthews?

And Matthews?
- stowerkraut

Sure. Any non playoff team can win the lottery....and we have lotto luck.

Just wanted to pass on this little gem from the Sabres board:

I'll gladly swap the NYI first rd pick for Olli Maata... He would fit this young rebuild to a "T" !!

Maybe I'll even toss Chad Rhuetul and/or Mike Webber into that deal for the Pens, as well!

Georges/Bagosian
Maata/Risto
Zadorov/Pysyk
(McCabe)




On a side note; how about signing a UFA like Maxim Lapierre in a 4th line role?

I really liked his effort this past postseason. At 30 years old.. Say maybe a 3 yr deal @ $1.75 mill per/yr?

Good leadership, a tough physical style of play, and a guy who can face-off + penalty kill.

If you're not gonna bring Kaleta back, then why not bring this guy in?

Moulson/Eichel/Kane
Ennis/Girgensons/Gionta
Larrsson/Reinhart/Grigorenko
Lapierre/Foligno/Delauriers
- SuperCat

Sure. Any non playoff team can win the lottery....and we have lotto luck.
- Jeropotato

And yet you guys accuse us of rigging the lotto

And yet you guys accuse us of rigging the lotto
- Guile

I was kidding....good to see none of you suffer from a mild case of over-reacting....


...but seriously, how on Gods green Earth does it benefit the NHL to rig the draft in the Oilers favour?

Sure. Any non playoff team can win the lottery....and we have lotto luck.
- Jeropotato

Can you at least send us the right forward when we give you our first pick and that guy who loves cats, then?

Just wanted to pass on this little gem from the Sabres board:
- jmatchett383

I'd rather hold on to Maatta then trade him for a 1st. He helps us more then that 1st will in the next few seasons

Can you at least send us the right forward when we give you our first pick and that guy who loves cats, then?
- stowerkraut

Hey....you get what you paid for pal.....actually, we love Klinkhammer. He's fit in really well with Gordon and Hendricks..

Perron? He was good the year before but there's talk he doesn't get along well in the room....plus once a player asks to get traded....not much point in keeping him.

What I really want is to flip that pick for a living breathing Defensemen.

I'd rather hold on to Maatta then trade him for a 1st. He helps us more then that 1st will in the next few seasons
- dbell646

That's the thing. Olli Maata is looking like a real steal with the, what, 22nd overall pick (if he's healthy). Swapping him for a late first is a horrible idea.

Hey....you get what you paid for pal.....actually, we love Klinkhammer. He's fit in really well with Gordon and Hendricks..

Perron? He was good the year before but there's talk he doesn't get along well in the room....plus once a player asks to get traded....not much point in keeping him.

What I really want is to flip that pick for a living breathing Defensemen.
- Jeropotato

What Pens D fits your fancy and what would you part with? Forward wise, naturally.

What Pens D fits your fancy and what would you part with? Forward wise, naturally.
- stowerkraut

Letang for Hendricks.

Letang for Hendricks.
- jmatchett383

I was thinking more like Scuds for Hall.

Letang and Scuds for Hendricks and Hall??

Letang for Hendricks.
- jmatchett383

Also, he said "living, breathing" defensemen

I was thinking more like Scuds for Hall.

Letang and Scuds for Hendricks and Hall??
- stowerkraut

Okay, I think I got it:

Letang
Scuderi
Maata
Lovejoy
Cole
Harrington
Pouliot
a 2018 7th

-for-

Hall
Eberle
RNH
Draisaitl
Hendricks (offsets the 7th)

Also, he said "living, breathing" defensemen
- stowerkraut

...and you included Scuderi???

What Pens D fits your fancy and what would you part with? Forward wise, naturally.
- stowerkraut

Well there's the usual guys that fit the age range ( Josi, Jones, Brodin)....but unless we're willing to move a 6 million dollar man, we won't be able to afford him in 3 years.
So I think PC might kick some tires on some older players that will expire in 3 yrs. guys like Chara, Jaybo, etc.....Hopefully by then Nurse, Klefbom, Schultz and Marincin can carry the water.

It's gonna be tough....we might be a really inexperienced group that is right up against the cap if we're not careful.

As for trading a young guy? I'm not against it....but we were near the bottom in scoring next year, not sure moving Hall or Eberle fixes that. RNH? That leaves rookie pivots for the top 2 lines?

Lots of options....lots of risk....

Just wanted to pass on this little gem from the Sabres board:
- jmatchett383

Everything about this post is wrong. Will take much more than a middling first to get Olli, he wants to grossly overpay for Lapierre and he's got Girgensson and Reihnhardt mixed up on the lines. This was comedy gold.

Okay, I think I got it:

Letang
Scuderi
Maata
Lovejoy
Cole
Harrington
Pouliot
a 2018 7th

-for-

Hall
Eberle
RNH
Draisaitl
Hendricks (offsets the 7th)
- jmatchett383

Cute.

Cute.
- Jeropotato

You think the 7th is too much?

You think the 7th is too much?
- jmatchett383

We'd have to field our ECHL defense but I think it could work

Well there's the usual guys that fit the age range ( Josi, Jones, Brodin)....but unless we're willing to move a 6 million dollar man, we won't be able to afford him in 3 years.
So I think PC might kick some tires on some older players that will expire in 3 yrs. guys like Chara, Jaybo, etc.....Hopefully by then Nurse, Klefbom, Schultz and Marincin can carry the water.

It's gonna be tough....we might be a really inexperienced group that is right up against the cap if we're not careful.

As for trading a young guy? I'm not against it....but we were near the bottom in scoring next year, not sure moving Hall or Eberle fixes that. RNH? That leaves rookie pivots for the top 2 lines?

Lots of options....lots of risk....
- Jeropotato

Are the next few years about figuring out who to build the team around? For the Pens it was obvious, 87, 71, 29 and 58. It seems like every year in EDM there is a new "guy" to build around but it doesn't happen. Doesn't management eventually say "ok we cant pay them all 5-6 mill per. Who do we go with?". And obviously this summers pick will be the main "guy".

Seems like the team would take 10 steps forward if the assets that are not deemed the "core" are traded to address weaknesses (goaltending, dmen)?

We'd have to field our ECHL defense but I think it could work
- dbell646

Hey, the Flyers almost won a Cup using that method.

As far as Kostitsyn goes, he's one of the better free agent options. Let me preface this by saying none of the FA options are particularly good. The two best ones are Frolik and Belesky, but of which are going to get outrageous contracts, and since the Penguins can't afford another bad contract, they're out. Kostitsyn is an OK second line player who won't get overpaid much and who may be able to elevate his game simply because he's happy he's getting paid again. He also can play either wing according to eliteprospects.com, so Malkin's right would still be wide open if Bennet or Kapanen feel like rising to the occasion, which I think is important.

Like I said though, he's probably the best out of a bunch of not so great options, so that's not exactly a wringing endorsement. The best we can do is putting together a Sutter package for top 6 help, but I have no read on what Sutter's value is so I can't really speculate. I'm optimistic that there's something to be worked out for Boedker, though, especially if Arizona wants to deal either Gagner or Hanzal for assets to help their rebuild.

Also, fun fact, I was looking at the Kostitsyn draft, and in the second of that draft guess who Montreal drafted just one pick before David Backes? None other than Maxime Lapierre. Great job, Montreal...

Are the next few years about figuring out who to build the team around? For the Pens it was obvious, 87, 71, 29 and 58. It seems like every year in EDM there is a new "guy" to build around but it doesn't happen. Doesn't management eventually say "ok we cant pay them all 5-6 mill per. Who do we go with?". And obviously this summers pick will be the main "guy".

Seems like the team would take 10 steps forward if the assets that are not deemed the "core" are traded to address weaknesses (goaltending, dmen)?
- stowerkraut

McDavid is "THE guy" you build with. Hall, Eberle, and RNH are all good players, but can be traded for packages to address other needs. As much as I like to rip them, they actually have adults running the show now, so McDavid has a chance of succeeding.