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

Agreed

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.
- GoneFullRetard

What that stretch of games did was get Sam back to average. I have no delusions about Sam, he is an avg 40-50 point 2nd line center.

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

I don't understand it, he's all apologetics and respecting each other's rights one minute, and then "Russians are problem children lol" the next.

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.
- robin_steele264

Agreed, him and Nuge would be a solid 1-2 punch in the middle.

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

I think part of the thing is that he dominates opposing teams third liners. He's a good defensive forward, but his body of work doesn't necessarily show he's ready to step into a permanent top 6 centre role.

I don't understand it, he's all apologetics and respecting each other's rights one minute, and then "Russians are problem children lol" the next.
- Morris

I don't understand 90% of those threads.

I think part of the thing is that he dominates opposing teams third liners. He's a good defensive forward, but his body of work doesn't necessarily show he's ready to step into a permanent top 6 centre role.
- Morris

This is my issue. I don't necessarily think he's cut out to be the 2nd line C, especially not at the type of salary he'll likely want. I personally wouldn't give much up for him. People who say, "oh what if he was extended" seem to think that a)he has no interest in free agency and b) said extension would be reasonably priced, which it almost certainly won't be. With a new CBA looming, I doubt he'll be extended anyways.

I don't understand it, he's all apologetics and respecting each other's rights one minute, and then "Russians are problem children lol" the next.
- Morris

According to him, Forsberg and Tyrvainen are the best players of the draft Lol.

This is my issue. I don't necessarily think he's cut out to be the 2nd line C, especially not at the type of salary he'll likely want. I personally wouldn't give much up for him. People who say, "oh what if he was extended" seem to think that a)he has no interest in free agency and b) said extension would be reasonably priced, which it almost certainly won't be. With a new CBA looming, I doubt he'll be extended anyways.
- GuyLaDouche

Then again, everyone has been talking for years about how they should flip one of their centres to fill out the rest of their roster. Along the way they've made huge FA and trade deadline splashes but never traded Staal. I don't know if they will at this point.

Then again, everyone has been talking for years about how they should flip one of their centres to fill out the rest of their roster. Along the way they've made huge FA and trade deadline splashes but never traded Staal. I don't know if they will at this point.
- Morris

The problem is Staal wants a bigger role now. He's been content being #3, but going into the playoffs the rumors were he is going to want a bigger role. Doesn't help when a guy like McKenzie makes a observation how the Staals would like to play together and with Eric being under contract for 4 more years that Carolina could make sense.

According to him, Forsberg and Tyrvainen are the best players of the draft Lol.
- GuyLaDouche

I still think that according to dopps that Rundblad sucks because of his +/- as that is the only stat they can tell you how he is doing.

He never did respond to my comment about how Kuba must be their best d-man then.

has anyone seen the UFA list for 2013? maybe the oilers will wait and try and pick up a no.2 center and dman then?

corey perry*
ryan getzlaf*
mike fisher
scott hartnell
david clarkson
alexander edler
nathan horton
derek roy
jordan staal*
sidney crosby*
niklas backstrom*
jarome iginla
mike smith*
kari lehtonen*
jonathan quick*

*means N.G.H (never gonna happen)

I still think that according to dopps that Rundblad sucks because of his +/- as that is the only stat they can tell you how he is doing.

He never did respond to my comment about how Kuba must be their best d-man then.
- Lahey

Dopps is another funny one. He hates it when other people use stats, even if it's much more reliable statistical analysis than +/-. Then he cherry picks stats like +/- to prove his points.

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

Malkin won the Art Ross trophy and is going to win the Hart. He's a Conn Smythe winner that lead us to a Stanley Cup. So no, I don't think his contract is problematic. *Edit*....and you can throw all the stones at the team that you want, but even though they clearly failed in the playoffs against a VERY good Flyers team, calling them "not a good team" is just ignorant. This is a team that was one of the best in the league for most of the year. It needs some changes to its parts, no doubt, but its a far sight closer to winning another cup than most teams in the league, including the Oilers.

has anyone seen the UFA list for 2013? maybe the oilers will wait and try and pick up a no.2 center and dman then?

corey perry*
ryan getzlaf*
mike fisher
scott hartnell
david clarkson
alexander edler
nathan horton
derek roy
jordan staal*
sidney crosby*
niklas backstrom*
jarome iginla
mike smith*
kari lehtonen*
jonathan quick*

*means N.G.H (never gonna happen)
- kelholtz

I could see something happening with Perry/Getzlaf. Be interesting to see if they pull a PHI this off-season. The biggest tell will be if they only re-sign one of the two this summer.

Horton is damaged goods. Hartnell would be nice, I've wanted him for awhile now. Clarkson is another that would be a good fit on this team just as long as he doesn't end up getting 3.5mil a year.

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.
- Emperor Filonius

You guys completely over value Staal. If traded, you're going to get A LOT less than any of you(Pens fans) on here think, anyone who overpays for him and thrusts him into a number 1 center role is going to be disappointed. He's just not that good.

Malkin won the Art Ross trophy and is going to win the Hart. He's a Conn Smythe winner that lead us to a Stanley Cup. So no, I don't think his contract is problematic. *Edit*....and you can throw all the stones at the team that you want, but even though they clearly failed in the playoffs against a VERY good Flyers team, calling them "not a good team" is just ignorant. This is a team that was one of the best in the league for most of the year. It needs some changes to its parts, no doubt, but its a far sight closer to winning another cup than most teams in the league, including the Oilers.
- Emperor Filonius

I don't think anyone will doubt that, and Fleury was your main problem but...why would you bring up the Oilers to a Leafs fan?

Malkin won the Art Ross trophy and is going to win the Hart. He's a Conn Smythe winner that lead us to a Stanley Cup. So no, I don't think his contract is problematic. *Edit*....and you can throw all the stones at the team that you want, but even though they clearly failed in the playoffs against a VERY good Flyers team, calling them "not a good team" is just ignorant. This is a team that was one of the best in the league for most of the year. It needs some changes to its parts, no doubt, but its a far sight closer to winning another cup than most teams in the league, including the Oilers.
- Emperor Filonius

Don't listen to him. He's actually a sens fan, that occasionally cheers for the leafs, or likes to hate on them or something. He gets very fixated on certain things and talks about them for weeks before switching abruptly.

First it was how leafs fans apparently can't let any other fans feel good about themselves. Now it's apparently that most Russians are itching to defect/cause problems.

has anyone seen the UFA list for 2013? maybe the oilers will wait and try and pick up a no.2 center and dman then?

corey perry*
ryan getzlaf*
mike fisher
scott hartnell
david clarkson
alexander edler
nathan horton
derek roy
jordan staal*
sidney crosby*
niklas backstrom*
jarome iginla
mike smith*
kari lehtonen*
jonathan quick*

*means N.G.H (never gonna happen)
- kelholtz

There's some decent names there, though not many dmen of note. Maybe a dman or two this summer and 2C next

You guys completely over value Staal. If traded, you're going to get A LOT less than any of you(Pens fans) on here think, anyone who overpays for him and thrusts him into a number 1 center role is going to be disappointed. He's just not that good.
- Cptmjl

I do believe Staal has the potential to be a 60-70 point player on the top 6. He is still young, only got limited amount of duties or roles in PIT. This is the one season he's shown with less games played he can produce the same amount as the other seasons. He is averaging about the same ice time as Crosby and Malkin, but maybe he likes to be put in other situations rather than what PIT offers him. I think PIT may want prospects, picks and cap space if Staal was traded. Probably another top 4 shutdown d-man, energy gritty third line, and maybe a top 6 winger like Neal.

There's some decent names there, though not many dmen of note. Maybe a dman or two this summer and 2C next
- Morris

We still could be looking at trading for one. Not sure about this year, but next year's draft we could very well make a play for one.

Staal would be a number 1 center on a lot of teams. He is a great 2 way forward, and is still so young. Give him 1st line pp minutes, and 1st line forward minutes, I think his numbers will be even better. I wish the leafs could trade for him.

There's some decent names there, though not many dmen of note. Maybe a dman or two this summer and 2C next
- Morris

i believe this season is a better UFA class for dmen

barret jackman
brad stuart
dennis wideman
bryan allen
matt carle
ryan suter
jason garrison

if the oilers wanted to go after a fwd this year, there are a few:

zach parise
david jones
parenteau
jordan tootoo

actually if edmonton wanted to retool their bottom 6, this year would be a good year for that.

chris kelly
jay mcclement
torrey mitchell
adam burish
greg campbell
dan paille
dominic moore
cody macleod
daniel winnik

its also a good year for backup keepers:

niitymaki
vokoun
hedberg
biron
harding
sanford.

I don't think anyone will doubt that, and Fleury was your main problem but...why would you bring up the Oilers to a Leafs fan?
- GuyLaDouche

Sorry, I obviously didn't look closely enough at his team affiliation. And by the way, I think the Oilers are headed in the right direction, and building a nice team. From my view here in the peanut gallery, If I were you guys, I'd be looking to add a big, hulking Shea Weber type defenseman before I'd be looking to add another forward. I just don't see the Oilers being a match for the pens here, even if the Pens decided they had to deal Staal.

You can re-tool your bottom six every year. There is never a lack of grinders on the free agent market.