eh we really dont need Gormley. we have 3 prospects that could play for us in the future.
- SuperHenderson13

Gormley is better than any of your d prospects and phoenix has a plethora of good young dmen.
First time i think i ever used that word

Don't think so PIT would do that. I think it's Staal alone for Vermette and Gormley.
- deks1

We have too many defensemen prospects to begin with. I like Vermette and I like Gormley, but with Despres, Morrow and Harrington - Gormely isn't really a need.

Gormley is better than any of your d prospects and phoenix has a plethora of good young dmen.
First time i think i ever used that word
- Ihatebrianburke

Not sure I'd go that far. Gormley certainly DOESN'T have the offensive upside of Morrow to begin with. He might be a better defender, but ...

Gormley is very good, but to say he is better than Morrow is in question. If you want to say, Gormley would be your top defenseman right now in Edmonton, I'd agree.

haha i kinda think Staal is over rated.... That being said, when Syd got hurt Staal stepped up and showed he can be at least a 2nd line center who plays well in his own end.

Maybe something like this...
Gagner + PRV
Staal + Tangradi
- Killbot460

Sorry, I'm not up on the Edmonton lingo for players. Something tells me this is another absolutely not and I have no idea who you are talking about. Gagner doesn't excite me so the throw in must be worse. Is PRV some failed prospect stashed away in Siberia?

Sorry, I'm not up on the Edmonton lingo for players. Something tells me this is another absolutely not and I have no idea who you are talking about. Gagner doesn't excite me so the throw in must be worse. Is PRV some failed prospect stashed away in Siberia?
- Oneonta Penguin

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...s_P%C3%A4%C3%A4j%C3%A4rvi

Fedorov, Mogilny and bure were all before the KHL or right at the end for federov. Kovalchuk isnt exactly widely known as a give it his all playoff performer. Datsyuk yes i agree. Malkin is only who he is cause of the team he is on imo, put him on C-bus and see how happy he is?? And OV is here cause he has a very north ameerican personality
- jamestown83

14 points in 17 games for Kovy...he performs...12 in 13 for NJ.

Malkin with Nash would be a potent combo.

OV is only here, imo, because of his heavy contract. He is willing to bail on a season to play in the Sochy Oly, his is willing to bail to play in KHL.

Not sure I'd go that far. Gormley certainly DOESN'T have the offensive upside of Morrow to begin with. He might be a better defender, but ...

Gormley is very good, but to say he is better than Morrow is in question. If you want to say, Gormley would be your top defenseman right now in Edmonton, I'd agree.
- Oneonta Penguin

I'd be inclined to put Gormley, Klefbom and Morrow on essentially the same level.

What a joke. Staal isn't worth a top 3 dman in the league. Worst post ever
- Ihatebrianburke

You have to give quality if you want 2 way a Selke Trophy quality power forward in the prime of his career.

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

Ok don't get me wrong I like Staal and would want him as one of my Top 2 Centers but...

I notice how you ignore the UFA status of Staal.
You call him one of the best in the game is more of a tire pumping.
Staal is also proving to be slightly injury prone (100 played of 160 in the past 2 years).
He has not overly out produced Sam Gagner even though he plays on a much, MUCH better team.

I won't deny that a trade that includes Sam and Jordan will require additions from the Oilers side, but their worth is closer than what you may think. Thing is though, Sam is not a 3rd line center, which is where Staal is in Pitts, so in that context he doesn't fit but he can convert to winger and play in a top 6 role.

Staal + 2012 1rnd pick: Gags + prospect + 2013 1st pick.

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

This. There is little that Edmonton can offer that provides more value to the Penguins than having Staal on the team next year. IF they move hime, Shero isn't going to trade for a player like Gagne, who is also a center, but unlike Staal, one that has underperformed. This teams problem was on the back end last year, and that's what Shero would address.

Richard, you know I love your blogs. I always enjoy them. For the most part, you are completely lost in space with your trade ideas and sadly this is no exception.

If I am Edmonton, I do Staal + Despres for #1 all day every day. That is the EXACT type of combo Edmonton needs.

Did you really just offer up Gagner for Staal? I don't care how you justify or qualify that, even to type it is ridiculous.

Take away a 3 game stretch from Gagner's season, and he has way worse numbers than Bozak. That 3 game stretch was a fluke... to suggest it wasn't a fluke is to also suggest that Gagner is a 200+ points per year guy.

At the beginning of last year Edmonton fans were ready to trade Gagner for a roll of pink hockey tape. Now, after a below average season with a wierd 3-game outburst, he is suddenly offered up for Staal?

Ok don't get me wrong I like Staal and would want him as one of my Top 2 Centers but...

I notice how you ignore the UFA status of Staal.
You call him one of the best in the game is more of a tire pumping.
Staal is also proving to be slightly injury prone (100 played of 160 in the past 2 years).
He has not overly out produced Sam Gagner even though he plays on a much, MUCH better team.

I won't deny that a trade that includes Sam and Jordan will require additions from the Oilers side, but their worth is closer than what you may think. Thing is though, Sam is not a 3rd line center, which is where Staal is in Pitts, so in that context he doesn't fit but he can convert to winger and play in a top 6 role.

Staal + 2012 1rnd pick: Gags + prospect + 2013 1st pick.
- OilHorse

And Sam Gagner under-produced Bozak last year. If you take away his flukey 3-games he significantly underproduced Bozak.

... and yet, I can only imagine what would happen if a Leafs fan suggested Bozak for Staal.

You also ignore the fact that 29 other teams would be interested in Staal. I am *pretty sure* that one of them will come up with a better offer than Gagner.

The Edmonton fans over-rating Gagner has become ridiculous.

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

How can you completely ignore the other 28 interested teams?

How can you think for even a second that EVERY.SINGLE.ONE. of them will beat the Gagner offer for Staal.

Richard, you know I love your blogs. I always enjoy them. For the most part, you are completely lost in space with your trade ideas and sadly this is no exception.

If I am Edmonton, I do Staal + Despres for #1 all day every day. That is the EXACT type of combo Edmonton needs.

Did you really just offer up Gagner for Staal? I don't care how you justify or qualify that, even to type it is ridiculous.

Take away a 3 game stretch from Gagner's season, and he has way worse numbers than Bozak. That 3 game stretch was a fluke... to suggest it wasn't a fluke is to also suggest that Gagner is a 200+ points per year guy.

At the beginning of last year Edmonton fans were ready to trade Gagner for a roll of pink hockey tape. Now, after a below average season with a wierd 3-game outburst, he is suddenly offered up for Staal?
- GoneFullRetard

I've noticed the 3 game stretch where he scored like mad is universally called an incredible fluke, but the 2 points in 13 game stretch while he was rehabbing is what? classic Gagner? He had a really up and down season, but he's not likely to repeat either stretch again. And if you take out his amazing stretch, and take out the cold stretch, he's got 33 points in 59 games i.e. precisely on pace with what he usually scores.

I agree, the pimping of Gagner is getting ridiculous though.

The Pens need a real back-up goalie and more toughness throughout their entire line-up.
- mochoson

They sure do. Although, I think these needs can be adressed through free agency.

It has finally become evident to Pens fans that you can't pay 3 centres that kind of $ and fill out the rest of your lineup.
- Iggy#12

OK. I guess the Pens didn't win the Cup in '09.

I thought PIT has Orpik and Michalek as shutdown d-mans.
- deks1

Yes, but Orpik isn't as effective as he once was and Michalek isn't that physical, crease clearing guy.

You have to give quality if you want 2 way a Selke Trophy quality power forward in the prime of his career.
- Emperor Filonius

I'm pretty sure Jordan Staal has never won or ever been nominated for the Selke Trophy. That essentially makes your entire post moot point.

Staal to Edmonton makes little sense at this point. Not unless something goes down after July 1st when he can sign an extension.

-Fedorov
-Mogilny
-Bure
-Datsyuk
-Kovalchuk
-Malkin
- Oil Tycoon

Perfect list. Illustrates the root of the problem. If Russian player is not signed to big multi million dollar deal they are not happy. The guys listed above are happy. I would be happy too if I making the kind of money teams have coughed up for them. Except for Datsyuk everyone on the list had problematic contract disputes.

I'm pretty sure Jordan Staal has never won or ever been nominated for the Selke Trophy. That essentially makes your entire post moot point.
- Starbuck

Starbuck, better watch your six, there's a Cylon on your tail, and he actually appears too know his facts better than you.

Staal was a finalist for the Selke in 2010. Besides that, anyone who actually watches Staal play knows that he's one of the top two way forwards in the game, especially on the PK.

Yep, that's right, you are fracked.

Perfect list. Illustrates the root of the problem. If Russian player is not signed to big multi million dollar deal they are not happy. The guys listed above are happy. I would be happy too if I making the kind of money teams have coughed up for them. Except for Datsyuk everyone on the list had problematic contract disputes.
- spatso

Malkin's contract dispute wasn't problematic, at least not for the Penguins, lol.

Malkin's contract dispute wasn't problematic, at least not for the Penguins, lol.
- Emperor Filonius

Really? Do you not think that the cap mess that is called the Pittsburgh Penguins has something to do with Malkin?

This is not a very good team. They have some great pieces but they have too much of one thing and not enough of what really matters.

Am I the only that feels Staal is overrated and always has been?

Really? Do you not think that the cap mess that is called the Pittsburgh Penguins has something to do with Malkin?

This is not a very good team. They have some great pieces but they have too much of one thing and not enough of what really matters.
- spatso

You are becoming a worse poster by the day. Do everyone a favour and stick to tag teaming with dopple.

Am I the only that feels Staal is overrated and always has been?
- GuyLaDouche

Yes, but I still think he is a valuable player. Just not as valuable as people make him out to be.

Am I the only that feels Staal is overrated and always has been?
- GuyLaDouche

He didn't cut the mustard when Sid and Geno were out, that's for sure.

But I think he would be an ideal 2nd line C for th Oil.