UMMM ... that is ridiculous. Gagner offers nothing to Pittsburgh, plus he is a PENDING RFA. So, the Pens fork over one of the best two-way forwards in the game for a pending RFA that shot his load in a 2.5 week period and a second? LOL.
- Oneonta Penguin

Ya but gagner will be cheaper to sign then staal is and staal has one year left on his contract

See, but here's my thought: Staal, as good as he is, is a 50pts per season center. Despres is young. Looks like a hell of a prospect, but he's still young.

Yakupov has superstar potential. Neither Staal or Despres are or will become superstars. Is one superstar worth less than two "good" players? Don't think so. Good players can be found. Superstars? Not so much.
- Maxbone

Except Staal scored 50 pts this season in only 62 games, projected over 82, he scores 66 pots playing 2nd-3rd line minutes....he is one of the top 5 penalty killers in the game and he's what? 23?

I really don't think Yakupov is the player that he is expected to be.......I wouldn't risk having a Russian on my team so long as the KHL exists....

See, but here's my thought: Staal, as good as he is, is a 50pts per season center. Despres is young. Looks like a hell of a prospect, but he's still young.

Yakupov has superstar potential. Neither Staal or Despres are or will become superstars. Is one superstar worth less than two "good" players? Don't think so. Good players can be found. Superstars? Not so much.
- Maxbone

UMMMM ... Yakupov is a POTENTIAL superstar. He isn't a given. He isn't a Crosby, nor Malkin. He isn't automatic. Hell, he could turn out to be the next Alexander Daigle, or Jason Bonsignore.

Staal is a proven commodity. One of the best two-way players in the game today. He had 50 points and missed 20 games. Why in the hell should the Pens give a top young defenseman prospect and one of the best two-way forwards in the game today for a kid that hasn't played one minute of pro hockey and could been a boon or a bust.

Your ideas make all the sense for Edmonton and NOT the other team. I'm reminded your brilliant idea - Lucic and Hamilton for the first overall pick. LOL.

People say, well Staal is a UFA after next year. True, that leads to your second lousy idea ... Staal for Gagner and a second. Gagner isn't close to the player Staal is and he is a pending RFA in July. Does that really make sense for Pittsburgh? Gagner doesn't add much to Pittsburgh.

Ive always wondered how Gagner would be in the east..
Gagner plus a second might be ok, but if Staal resigns in edmonton then Pens lose in the deal..

Bottom line is the team that ends up with the best player in the trade wins the deal, had there been no Forsberg in the Lindros trade the Avs likely would never have won the cup, a stash of very good players for a superstar is a terrible trade for the team trading away the star..no matter what the teams needs are..

Man I wish there was some new footage of Yakupov so that everybody would stop this trade talk nonsense..
- oilers2k12

Rest assured, Tambo is not trading the 1st overall pick....

All the Oilers need to do at the draft this year is the same thing they did last year and the year before: Take players who has a solid attitude and a passion to win. The Oilers players will eventually turn it around in Edmonton, and it won't be Horcoff, Hemsky or Smyth who change things. It will be Nuge, Hall, Eberle and soon Yakupov. Players who possess a freakish level of compete. Players, who unlike idiots like Radulov & Kostitsyn, live and die hockey, and want more than anything to see their name on the side of the Stanley Cup. Comparing Yakupov to Radulov is ignorant beyond belief.
- Maxbone

Agree 100 ka-billion percent!

Ya but gagner will be cheaper to sign then staal is and staal has one year left on his contract
- ryleybala22

Cheaper doesn't cut it. If you are trading a quality two-way forward, you expect quality in return. Gagner isn't quality.

Would you not want Datsyuk on your team because he's Russian? No, of course not. This guy brings it every single game.

It depends on the personality of the individual (not just with Russians) but Datsyuk also had great mentors when he came to Detroit with Larionov ect... that helped show him what being a pro is all about which is also very important.

If a youngster comes into a team with vets that don't train hard and drink/party all the time then the youngsters could think that this is what being a pro is and do it too. That's why it's important to not only have vets on teams but to have the right vets to set a good example for them to follow.


That being said, Russians like Datsyuk seem to be a bit more rare now with more that want things handed to them or they go play in Russia. Wings went years not drafting any before getting Marchenko late in the last draft even when some high talents dropped because of the fear of them staying in Russia which kind of makes me wonder why they are staying away from them like many other teams.

Stauffer also said that there is a player who is tremendously popular with the fans, but isn't as well liked in the room as people may believe. He went on to add that the guy might not, in fact, be the leader people think he is. Ryan Smyth, are your ears burning?
- Maxbone

I've been saying it for quite some time now... Smyth is evil.

UMMMM ... Yakupov is a POTENTIAL superstar. He isn't a given. He isn't a Crosby, nor Malkin. He isn't automatic. Hell, he could turn out to be the next Alexander Daigle, or Jason Bonsignore.
- Oneonta Penguin

Your comment sort of lost all credibility at this point.

Except Staal scored 50 pts this season in only 62 games, projected over 82, he scores 66 pots playing 2nd-3rd line minutes....he is one of the top 5 penalty killers in the game and he's what? 23?

I really don't think Yakupov is the player that he is expected to be.......I wouldn't risk having a Russian on my team so long as the KHL exists....
- chompsey

Exactly on that second graph. Russian players these days are moody. The kid in Washington is staying two more years in the KHL; Radulov is probably back in the KHL after they get eliminated and then you have Filatov who runs back to Moscow everytime he is faced with something he doesn't like.

I won't add anything on your first, because its spot on.

Gagner to Pittsburgh for Staal absolutely helps when you consider Staal isn't going to re-sign there in a year and the team will get nothing if he walks.
- Maxbone

And you know that Staal won't re-sign HOW exactly? Despite the wet dreams of most every other wanna be fanboy GM in the league, the biggest likelihood is he stays put. The Pens know what they have in him, and they will make an offer that keeps him happy. Even if the Pens decide they have to deal him, the chances that Shero would make this trade are lower than Ek dating Shania Twain, and that's saying something. IF Staal gets traded, its going to be for a Shea Weber quality defenseman.

Exactly on that second graph. Russian players these days are moody. The kid in Washington is staying two more years in the KHL; Radulov is probably back in the KHL after they get eliminated and then you have Filatov who runs back to Moscow everytime he is faced with something he doesn't like.

I won't add anything on your first, because its spot on.
- Oneonta Penguin

Yakupov may well have Stamkos talent but I'm wary due to the money and lure of playing at home with the KHL.....

Except Staal scored 50 pts this season in only 62 games, projected over 82, he scores 66 pots playing 2nd-3rd line minutes....he is one of the top 5 penalty killers in the game and he's what? 23?

I really don't think Yakupov is the player that he is expected to be.......I wouldn't risk having a Russian on my team so long as the KHL exists....
- chompsey

I do believe he's closer to 25.

Tell you what: You keep the Sedins and Kesler. I'll keep Yakupov, Hall, Eberle and Nuge. We'll see which team is better in about three seasons.

Your comment sort of lost all credibility at this point.
- Maxbone

Sort of like all your trade ideas. I haven't seen one idea that isn't totally lopsided toward Edmonton. Show me you have some hockey sense Richard. Try to make a deal that could potentially work for both, not just one.

If you were the Penguins blogger, would you even think Gagner and a second for Staal is worth it for the Pens? You would laugh.

Would you think Staal plus Despres for the top overall pick was a fair deal for the Pens? I doubt it.

I do believe he's closer to 25.

Tell you what: You keep the Sedins and Kesler. I'll keep Yakupov, Hall, Eberle and Nuge. We'll see which team is better in about three seasons.
- Maxbone

No man, his b-day is 9/1/1988, making him 23.....

Cheaper doesn't cut it. If you are trading a quality two-way forward, you expect quality in return. Gagner isn't quality.
- Oneonta Penguin

Ya but they are going to get a good player at 32nd with oilers pick for the future

I do believe he's closer to 25.

Tell you what: You keep the Sedins and Kesler. I'll keep Yakupov, Hall, Eberle and Nuge. We'll see which team is better in about three seasons.
- Maxbone

We still will be because we will still have better goaltending and some defense.....

Man, you get pouty when someone one ups you......its ok man, I like where your team is going, exciting group of players....

Sort of like all your trade ideas. I haven't seen one idea that isn't totally lopsided toward Edmonton. Show me you have some hockey sense Richard. Try to make a deal that could potentially work for both, not just one.

If you were the Penguins blogger, would you even think Gagner and a second for Staal is worth it for the Pens? You would laugh.

Would you think Staal plus Despres for the top overall pick was a fair deal for the Pens? I doubt it.
- Oneonta Penguin

Nope, I wouldn't laugh. The Penguins know...or should know...if Staal wants out or not. If he does, they need to deal him for the best assets available. I'm not sure any team would offer more up for a one year contract.

If Staal re-signed a long-term deal with the Penguins and then they dealt him, we'd be talking about a completely different package for him.

And you know that Staal won't re-sign HOW exactly? Despite the wet dreams of most every other wanna be fanboy GM in the league, the biggest likelihood is he stays put. The Pens know what they have in him, and they will make an offer that keeps him happy. Even if the Pens decide they have to deal him, the chances that Shero would make this trade are lower than Ek dating Shania Twain, and that's saying something. IF Staal gets traded, its going to be for a Shea Weber quality defenseman.
- Emperor Filonius

They have no idea. They are going on nothing but assumptions. When the GM comes out and makes it a point to say they were going to work hard at getting Staal and Crosby done this summer, I think that is a signal Pittsburgh wants to keep him. And if they trade him, they are going to have several teams bidding. I'm sure more than a third rate player in Sam Gagner and a second will be offered by someone.

No man, his b-day is 9/1/1988, making him 23.....
- chompsey

Well I'll be jiggered.

Sort of like all your trade ideas. I haven't seen one idea that isn't totally lopsided toward Edmonton. Show me you have some hockey sense Richard. Try to make a deal that could potentially work for both, not just one.

If you were the Penguins blogger, would you even think Gagner and a second for Staal is worth it for the Pens? You would laugh.

Would you think Staal plus Despres for the top overall pick was a fair deal for the Pens? I doubt it.
- Oneonta Penguin

Staal and despres for the first is really close but not enough for potential of yakupov

Nope, I wouldn't laugh. The Penguins know...or should know...if Staal wants out or not. If he does, they need to deal him for the best assets available. I'm not sure any team would offer more up for a one year contract.

If Staal re-signed a long-term deal with the Penguins and then they dealt him, we'd be talking about a completely different package for him.
- Maxbone

Like to admit it or not, the Pittsburgh Penguins should very well challenge for the Cup next year. How does trading Staal for Gagner strengthen the Pens' chances? It doesn't. It hampers them. He is a pending RFA - not signed for 2012-2013. He is nothing more than a warm body. You weaken your chances with Gagner.

Making trades is a gamble. Afraid he wouldn't like it in Edmonton and want to bolt after a year?

There isn't a match here for Staal.

How about PRV + 2013 1st rounder?

Edit: for a signed Staal
- Oil Tycoon

Who is in ur avatar?

Like to admit it or not, the Pittsburgh Penguins should very well challenge for the Cup next year. How does trading Staal for Gagner strengthen the Pens' chances? It doesn't. It hampers them. He is a pending RFA - not signed for 2012-2013. He is nothing more than a warm body. You weaken your chances with Gagner.

Making trades is a gamble. Afraid he wouldn't like it in Edmonton and want to bolt after a year?

There isn't a match here for Staal.
- Oneonta Penguin

Well prv and a second for staal

Datsyuk is from the other side of Russia, so he's not really Russian.