Good thing no one cares about Toronto... but at least they are not Edmonton
- Guile

I'm going to begrudgingly love Toronto in a few years with Matthews, Nylander, and JVR.

So what about Sam Bennett for Flower, and a pick or DP?

They apparently wanted Bennett for Murray... think they would settle for some Flower Power?

I'm going to begrudgingly love Toronto in a few years with Matthews, Nylander, and JVR.
- Victoro311

Bad alt! BAD!

I wouldn't love Philly when they got RJ... even as a family friend, I refused. Get more willpower!

So what about Sam Bennett for Flower, and a pick or DP?

They apparently wanted Bennett for Murray... think they would settle for some Flower Power?
- Guile

Nah. I'm sure they'd rather trade Bennett for Amderson or swing a deal for a lesser goalie. You don't trade young budding stardom for aging, expensive vets.

Bad alt! BAD!

I wouldn't love Philly when they got RJ... even as a family friend, I refused. Get more willpower!
- Guile

Imagine the team America line of JVR-Matthews-Kessel if Kessel had stayed and they sucked this year. That's an Olympic line!

I feel like Pouliot lost the next man up spot to Shultz after this game... and its not even close now.

But DP still has strong value, and played a good regular season when up. Dunno if he can get Nichushkin, maybe with a pick thrown in.

I really wonder what Kunitz will do after this season, or what we do with him... he is a big factor in all these armchair GM moves with that cap space.
- Guile

Strong value for DP? Nope. Don't think so. You might get a deal by sending him somewhere for a high end prospect that might not be living up to expectations in his organization. I can't see Dallas sending Nichuskin to Pittsburgh for him and a throw in pick unless that throw in pick is somewhat substantial. Nichuskin is a lot further ahead to being an impact NHL player than DP. DP is a suspect right now, not a high end prospect.

So what about Sam Bennett for Flower, and a pick or DP?

They apparently wanted Bennett for Murray... think they would settle for some Flower Power?
- Guile

If we are trading Fleury, ask for the best of the three second round picks in return and call it a day. Not sure he is worth a high end prospect at this point, especially when you consider his concussion problems now. The point is to get that contract off the books if Murray is the play moving forward.

It's basically a second round pick and whatever you do with the money you save by trading him. That could be a significant signing, or two solid players.

DP doesn't seem to be the type of player Burke wants in Calgary. He wants to make the roster more "black and blue" DP doesn't exactly do that.

Strong value for DP? Nope. Don't think so. You might get a deal by sending him somewhere for a high end prospect that might not be living up to expectations in his organization. I can't see Dallas sending Nichuskin to Pittsburgh for him and a throw in pick unless that throw in pick is somewhat substantial. Nichuskin is a lot further ahead to being an impact NHL player than DP. DP is a suspect right now, not a high end prospect.
- Oneonta Penguin

I'd say Nichuskin is suspect right now as well. Lots of talent but only 9 goals this year (yes he's coming back from injury, but that adds to the question marks) and he's been a healthy scratch at times these playoffs. Then you add in the Russian factor...Dallas has to make a decision on him this off season

I'd say Nichuskin is suspect right now as well. Lots of talent but only 9 goals this year (yes he's coming back from injury, but that adds to the question marks) and he's been a healthy scratch at times these playoffs. Then you add in the Russian factor...Dallas has to make a decision on him this off season
- willi

Yeah Nichushkin had a really good rookie year so he beats DP there, but he had an absolutely atrocious year this year. He's not worth all that much on the market.

Penguins take a 3-1 lead in a huge series and we're within two paragraphs...Scuderi.

And Pouliot's problems had nothing to do with taking chances and pressing offense except for the first heinous turnover, though that wasn't pushing offense, that was simply exiting the zone. His bigger problems were that he's just not good yet at getting the puck out of the zone right now. Like, awful at it.

That said, the 2nd Capitals goal had nothing to do with pushback or anything else like the announcers opined, it had to do with the fact that 3/5th of the Penguins had been out on the ice forever unable to change.

Penguins are 17-1 when Cullen scores

Penguins take a 3-1 lead in a huge series and we're within two paragraphs...Scuderi.

And Pouliot's problems had nothing to do with taking chances and pressing offense except for the first heinous turnover, though that wasn't pushing offense, that was simply exiting the zone. His bigger problems were that he's just not good yet at getting the puck out of the zone right now. Like, awful at it.

That said, the 2nd Capitals goal had nothing to do with pushback or anything else like the announcers opined, it had to do with the fact that 3/5th of the Penguins had been out on the ice forever unable to change.
- hardnosed

To be fair, Scuderi was only briefly mentioned because he was part of the trade that brought Daley to Pittsburgh and Daley stepped up unbelievably last night. When praising a guy like Daley, it's worth mentioning that Rutherford fleeced Bowman big time in the trade that got him here. Correct me if I'm wrong, RW didn't make any comments along the lines of "meanwhile, here's what Scuderi's doing right now..." which he has done in the past and is petty.

Penguins are 17-1 when Cullen scores
- Rinosaur

Wow. What a stat. I love Cullen

Penguins are 17-1 when Cullen scores
- Rinosaur

So obviously... we just need Cullen to score every game, and have a lead going into the third... it'll be a mathematical improbability the we'd ever lose.

Penguins take a 3-1 lead in a huge series and we're within two paragraphs...Scuderi.

And Pouliot's problems had nothing to do with taking chances and pressing offense except for the first heinous turnover, though that wasn't pushing offense, that was simply exiting the zone. His bigger problems were that he's just not good yet at getting the puck out of the zone right now. Like, awful at it.

That said, the 2nd Capitals goal had nothing to do with pushback or anything else like the announcers opined, it had to do with the fact that 3/5th of the Penguins had been out on the ice forever unable to change.
- hardnosed

When Pouliot had to fight for the puck he would get it and then just pee his pants with it. Its great when you can exit the zone with complete control but I think Lovejoy and Cole are better at area passes that get the puck out of danger quickly and into a good spot for forwards to get than Pouliot. A lot of it might have to do with physical maturity though. Older stronger guys have less of a fear of getting hit.

I'd like to cap off all of these moves with Pouliot for Nichushkin.
- Victoro311

Now that may not be a bad move

Bullpoop. Let me direct you to the RW blog where he clearly layed out the stats for when AHL success translates into NHL success and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Connor Sheary, Bryan Rust, Scott Wilson, and Tommy Kuhnhackl would never be more than warm body call ups.
- Victoro311

Take his blogs and you would have Goc, Semin, traded away hornquest, and a whole bunch of others that can't play under pressure that lack that skill known as grit.

Pouliot made a great first pass from his own zone to spring the Pens for their first goal but was otherwise pretty miserable in his own end. Its a hard position to master, but right now is not the best time for on the job training. He needs to be thrown in the deep end next year on the bottom pairing and see how he fares, but should be back in the pressbox watching and hopefully learning on Saturday.

And yes, everyone loves controlled exits, but sometimes you need to just dump the puck up the boards and get a change.

Take his blogs and you would have Goc, Semin, traded away hornquest, and a whole bunch of others that can't play under pressure that lack that skill known as grit.
- sammy87

He doesn't even write blogs, the are a recap of the games possession percentages and that's it. He doesn't even have an opinion, whatever the stats say that's his opinion. It's fine if that's how he enjoys hockey but the way he tries to sound like hes one up on people that are actually involved in hockey and have lived a lifetime of it pisses me off.

Take his blogs and you would have Goc, Semin, traded away hornquest, and a whole bunch of others that can't play under pressure that lack that skill known as grit.
- sammy87

Go away Donkey. Trolls are not welcomed here. Unless you're good at trolling. In which you aren't. You're just annoying.

Yeah Nichushkin had a really good rookie year so he beats DP there, but he had an absolutely atrocious year this year. He's not worth all that much on the market.
- Victoro311

And that rookie year that Nichushkin had is what differentiates himself from DP. That is why his value to me is more than DP's regardless of his season this year. DP had a chance to make the roster out of camp and didn't do well.

Go away Donkey. Trolls are not welcomed here. Unless you're good at trolling. In which you aren't. You're just annoying.
- j.boyd919

Sup

Reading through the comments on this site and others I often wonder if I'm watching the same game as everyone else, I'm sure this will be taken as bashing Murray because everyone has googoo eyes for him right now but it really isn't. I'm just struggling to grasp this notion that he's been awesome or a stud in this series so far, sure he absolutely stole game 3 and that was an awesome performance but he was bad in game 1 and was maybe slightly above average in Games 2 & 4, he deserves full credit for getting the job done and there's no denying the net should be his until he falters but watching him play I can't help but wonder if him faltering isn't just a matter of time.

In all but his excellent Game 3 performance he has struggled mightily with his rebound control(90% of the Caps shot in Game 4 generated quality rebound opportunities) but in most cases has been bailed out either by great defensive play in front or lucky bounces where the Caps weren't able to get a quality second chance. In Games 1, 2 & 4 he's also had issues with overreacting to pucks that were outside or off goal which have led to quality opportunities for the Caps that they haven't been able to capitalize on. I can't help but wonder if the excellent results haven't been as much a factor of great defensive play and failure to execute as they have been excellent goaltending.
- jaydogg1974

Are you sleeping with Fleury...cuz all you is bash Murray. The kid has been insane. Probably the top performing goalie in all of the playoffs right now. He's up around .95% save percentage and the Caps have some guys who can put the puck in the net. Last two games he's been tested heavily.

Sup
- rangerdanger94

Hey bud. Long time no see. Where ya been? Whats new?

Don't forget about AHL failure translating to NHL success, like...um...no one ever.

I'm also curious who's naming him a 1st ballot HHOFer.
- jmatchett383

I'm declaringrst ballot HHofer. (frank) it. He's outplayed Fleury, Holtby, and Lundvist so far. they might all be hall of fame goalies. Murray doesn't even need to improve. If he plays at his current level for 13 years he's in.