My sources are telling me that the Pens offered up Malkin for Saad, but the Blackhawks weren't fooled by Malkins between the legs move when entering the zone like dumb pittsburgh fans are.

Brandon Saad is great but I almost think CHI won the trade...

Brandon Saad is great but I almost think CHI won the trade...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Anisimov is a good top 6 forward that can play center or wing. Trade will depend on how the prospects develop.

No, they want Sutter super bad.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Like to somehow see Eberle make his way to Pittsburgh....wishful thinking....

this is fun!

Brandon Saad is great but I almost think CHI won the trade...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

yeah! oh wait NO. team that gets the best player 95W% win.

ps

if pens get kessel that applies as well.... but for some reason I feel less confident

Brandon Saad is great but I almost think CHI won the trade...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Sorry, no way, Saad is only 22 years old and has a even a brighter future ahead of him.

yeah! oh wait NO. team that gets the best player 95W% win.

ps

if pens get kessel that applies as well.... but for some reason I feel less confident
- ChrisMS

IDK, Canes got Staal, they didn't win that trade. I'd say both teams lost in that trade.

Sorry, no way, Saad is only 22 years old and has a even a brighter future ahead of him.
- stevens87

So you are saying I am in denial?

Maybe...I dont know, just $6M and all those assets for a 20-25 goal scorer...

IDK, Canes got Staal, they didn't win that trade. I'd say both teams lost in that trade.
- jfkst1

We might win that trade, it's just taking a REALLY long time.

We might win that trade, it's just taking a REALLY long time.
- Tojo.

True. But Canes could end up winning it too. Like many trades, it'll depend on how picks/prospects turn out.

True. But Canes could end up winning it too. Like many trades, it'll depend on how picks/prospects turn out.
- jfkst1

So far you're right though. Neither team got what they hoped for in Staal or Sutter.

You guys might think i'm crazy to ask this, but here goes...

Is Brandon Saad really $1-1.5 mil better than Frolik?

Granted, Saad will still be 100% of Saad at the end of his contract, and Frolik will probably be like 85% of Frolik at the end of his.

But if you're telling me that i can either give up nhl-ready prospects for Saad, or nothing for Frolik, i'm giving up nothing for Frolik.

EDIT: Plus Frolik has played with much worse lines than Saad.

I mean... Saad is probably better... but is he really $1.5 million of cap, plus assets better than Frolik?

We might win that trade, it's just taking a REALLY long time.
- Tojo.

Hence why I dont mind shipping Kapanen in a package for Kessel #sorrynotsorry

You guys might think i'm crazy to ask this, but here goes...

Is Brandon Saad really $1-1.5 mil better than Frolik?

Granted, Saad will still be 100% of Saad at the end of his contract, and Frolik will probably be like 85% of Frolik at the end of his.

But if you're telling me that i can either give up nhl-ready prospects for Saad, or nothing for Frolik, i'm giving up nothing for Frolik.
- poopmouth

Not that crazy. Again, I love Saad and would be creaming my pants if we landed him..but at the same time. He's a great role player, imo...not a star/game changer. He may very well keep getting better..who knows...

Frolik could be very similar role player, even though hes clearly the lesser talent. Its kind of like the Jussi Jokinen guy that is very important to have but doesnt make or break the team.

p.s. looking back at some of the comment Rutherford made about Semin after his disappointing year...not sure hell take that gamble again..

Yet everyone here wants him
- sammy87

Everyone wants him cheap.

glad to see Sill is making himself useful in Toronto..

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...-chauffeur-185114168.html

Not that crazy. Again, I love Saad and would be creaming my pants if we landed him..but at the same time. He's a great role player, imo...not a star/game changer. He may very well keep getting better..who knows...

Frolik could be very similar role player, even though hes clearly the lesser talent. Its kind of like the Jussi Jokinen guy that is very important to have but doesnt make or break the team.

p.s. looking back at some of the comment Rutherford made about Semin after his disappointing year...not sure hell take that gamble again..
- YouMeAndDupuis9

If the Pens had done an equivalent trade, PLUS threw in Scuderi, i think it would be fair. That's the scenario in which i will be okay with a Kessel deal. It must come with either Scuderi relief or retained salary. Either way it's the same net effect.

If youre giving up underpaid players (Dano, Maatta, Pouliot, those other young NHLers from CBJ, prospects in general, etc), and receiving appropriately paid players in return (Saad at 6.5, Kessel at 8, etc.), it only makes sense to also give up overpaid players (Scuderi, Kunitz, etc) in the deal as well. Otherwise, youre better off just going to FA.

Everyone wants him cheap.
- lloyd095

That's the key. At 7M, nobody wants him. I also really like Semin when he feels like he has something to prove. Much different player then when he's comfortable. As long as the wrist is fine, I'd bet on him having a big year.

Like to somehow see Eberle make his way to Pittsburgh....wishful thinking....
- jeremy087

Eberle Sid Perron? or Eberle Malk Semin. Lovin it either way

If the Pens had done an equivalent trade, PLUS threw in Scuderi, i think it would be fair. That's the scenario in which i will be okay with a Kessel deal. It must come with either Scuderi relief or retained salary. Either way it's the same net effect.

If youre giving up underpaid players, and receiving appropriately paid players in return, it only makes sense to also give up overpaid players in the deal as well. Otherwise, youre better just going to FA.
- poopmouth

The bad salary is like getting all your cap relief up front. Taking Scuderi is like 1M retained, it just all comes in 2 years. I'd try to offer a compromise of Scuderi and 1M retained.

The bad salary is like getting all your cap relief up front. Taking Scuderi is like 1M retained, it just all comes in 2 years. I'd try to offer a compromise of Scuderi and 1M retained.
- Tojo.

Totally making this up based on rumors, but I think the middle ground for a Kessel trade is Pouliot, 1st, TOR pick of Kapanen or Harrington, Scuderi for Kessel and 1M retained. Maybe Pitt can use their leverage to do better though because I don't think Toronto wants to drag this out no matter what they say and they might not get a better offer this year once PITT is out.

Totally making this up based on rumors, but I think the middle ground for a Kessel trade is Pouliot, 1st, TOR pick of Kapanen or Harrington, Scuderi for Kessel and 1M retained. Maybe Pitt can use their leverage to do better though because I don't think Toronto wants to drag this out no matter what they say and they might not get a better offer this year once PITT is out.
- Tojo.

Well if the deal isnt done today, then Kessel gets to put in a fresh set of teams tomorrow. If he indeed wants to come to the Pens he could very VERY easily make us the only possible destination.
Kessel changes his list to Boston, Chicago, LA, Edm, Mtl, CBJ, Phx, Pit.

I think JR may be playing this out perfectly. Tomorrow rolls around TO pays Kessels 4M bonus then forces a trade to the Pens, hopefully.

I dont know why Scuds isnt being bought out though, because he also gets to change his list of teams.

Totally making this up based on rumors, but I think the middle ground for a Kessel trade is Pouliot, 1st, TOR pick of Kapanen or Harrington, Scuderi for Kessel and 1M retained. Maybe Pitt can use their leverage to do better though because I don't think Toronto wants to drag this out no matter what they say and they might not get a better offer this year once PITT is out.
- Tojo.

That's close for me.

Kessel with 1 M retained x 7 years is worth $7 million of trade value.

Pouliot has 2 cheap years left. He's probably underpaid by like $3 mil. 3x2yrs = 6 million of value.

a 1st rounder has 3 years of cheapness, a 50% chance of becoming anything, and a reasonable upside is Pouliot. Underpaid by 3 x 3 yrs x 50% probability = $4.5 mil of value.

Let's say at this point Harrington is a safe 3rd pairing defenseman worth about 2 mil. underpaid by 1 mil. He's a safe bet for a short, cheap extension. let's estimate 3 years of 1 mil underpaid. $3 mil of trade value.

Scuderi has 2 years of being overpaid by at least 2 mil. -4 value.

Kessel (+7) = Pouliot (6) + 1st (4.5) + Harrington (3) -Scuds (4)
7 ? 6 + 4.5 + 3 - 4
7 ? 10.5 - 1
7 < 9.5.

So with my back of the envelope calculation, the pens would lose that deal. However, it makes sense that there would be some sorta tax for Kessel being an elite player, i guess.

Therefor, I think Pouliot, 1st, Harrington, Scuds is a decent place to start, if they retain 1 M of Kessel's salary.

EDIT:
All this said, i'd probably rather just buy out Scuds, Trade sutter and Harrington for Oshie, and load up the bottom lines with Parenteau/Stempniak/B Richards types

Sign Frolik and Semin