"Most likely, he’s going to get somewhere between $6-8 million per year."

No he won't. He had 50 points this season, and has never had 50 points before. His career high in goals was 5 years ago during his rookie season. Maybe he can get close to the 6 on the open market with a good agent, but he would never approach 8. Patrick Sharp signed for $5.9M with 3 30 goal seasons, and 3 others with 20, along with 4 seasons of over 60 points. Even with Staal's defensive ability, I can't imagine he's getting much past 6, if that.

it would be surprising – at the very least – to see Pens GM Ray Shero deal a 23-year-old Stanley Cup winner primed to break out head to Edmonton for a draft pick.

It's not just a draft pick. It's a first overall draft pick that has a very good chance of translating into a franchise player.

Did you ask your six year old for the explanation?
- Oneonta Penguin

Second time I've heard that out of you. Not any funnier or witty than the first time. I'll take that as a yes anyways lol.

lol I have the answer. Get rid of Michalek and Martin, that opens 9 mil. Sign Perry at 5.5 then sign Staal to 5. Of course this is hoping the Salary cap goes up a tad. Just kidding but isn't that something to fantasize about? Imagine Staal-Malkin-Neal, and Kunitz-Crosby-Perry.

lol I have the answer. Get rid of Michalek and Martin, that opens 9 mil. Sign Perry at 5.5 then sign Staal to 5. Of course this is hoping the Salary cap goes up a tad. Just kidding but isn't that something to fantasize about? Imagine Staal-Malkin-Neal, and Kunitz-Crosby-Perry.
- nateca44

quite a top 6 indeed. although some salary would need to be allocated to finding their replacements on d.

quite a top 6 indeed. although some salary would need to be allocated to finding their replacements on d.
- stayinthefnnet

I was thinking Strait and Despres. That and I think they need a backup goalie and 1 or 2 fourth liners.

quite a top 6 indeed. although some salary would need to be allocated to finding their replacements on d.
- stayinthefnnet

Especially seeing that defense is the reason that we are sitting here posting pages of non-sense trades/signings instead of watching round #2.

I suggest you watch a Penguin game before you make a comment about Staal not being that good. He is 23 years old and has been in the league for six years. Not too many kids can say that. He isn't going to plant 40 or 50 goals per year ala Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos. He didn't do that in juniors. What he is, is one of the best two-way forwards in the game. It happened almost overnight since he came into the league. He is one of the best penalty killers in the league. His offensive game could very well be on the cusp of going somewhere. He had 25 goals in a season where he missed 20 games. Basically, he was a 30-34 goal scorer the way I look at it.

People get enamored with these first overall picks and use the word potential. Well, I take someone who has proven himself in Staal's case over a kid that shows potential. Ryan Leaf had potential ... so did Patrick Stefan, so did Alex Daigle, so did Joe Murphy. They were all supposed to have the same potential and they all failed.

In 2000, the Islanders drafted Rick DiPietro with the first overall pick. He was supposed to be the savior and a franchise changer. Tell me, how is that working out? Did he have the same potential label as this Russian kid?
- Oneonta Penguin

Staal is a great third line center, thats what he is. Milbury drafted RDP and that was a stretch and an absolutely ridiculously stupid move as most knew at the time myself included. Milbury labled him as the savior of the franchise no one else. Milbury is an assclown by every account, I could go on and on with every stupid thing he did. I also think Snow sucks before you think of bringing up his past picks as well. I could care less. Doesn't change the fact that you are trying to trade your third line center for a potential super star. Bring up Stepan and Daigle, two players in the last twenty years. I'll take those odds every day. Trading a potential(I know what the word means)game changing winger for a two way third line center with second line potential(theres that word again and he could be a good second line center but again its potential)who may get you 50 points is moronic and to think you guys expect even more than Yakupov is hysterical.

ive said it before, staal should not be on the 3rd line and neither should guys like kennedy... 3rd line guys are defensive and gritty guys that can match up against other team's top 2 lines. Kennedy is not a defensive guy. he has no place on this team.

staal should either be in the top 6 or traded. get a real 3rd line center and 3rd line RWer.

trade martin, resign niskanen, put in despres and find a dman in FA who can clean the front of the net... something no one on this defense can do. MAF has always given up rebounds but we have had the defenses that can clear the net and prevent them from getting 2nd chances.

bylsma has been more worried about puck moving defensemen than clearing the front of the net and that leads to disaster.

I suggest you watch a Penguin game before you make a comment about Staal not being that good. He is 23 years old and has been in the league for six years. Not too many kids can say that. He isn't going to plant 40 or 50 goals per year ala Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos. He didn't do that in juniors. What he is, is one of the best two-way forwards in the game. It happened almost overnight since he came into the league. He is one of the best penalty killers in the league. His offensive game could very well be on the cusp of going somewhere. He had 25 goals in a season where he missed 20 games. Basically, he was a 30-34 goal scorer the way I look at it.

People get enamored with these first overall picks and use the word potential. Well, I take someone who has proven himself in Staal's case over a kid that shows potential. Ryan Leaf had potential ... so did Patrick Stefan, so did Alex Daigle, so did Joe Murphy. They were all supposed to have the same potential and they all failed.

In 2000, the Islanders drafted Rick DiPietro with the first overall pick. He was supposed to be the savior and a franchise changer. Tell me, how is that working out? Did he have the same potential label as this Russian kid?
- Oneonta Penguin

Oh, and btw. I've watched Staal play quite a bit. Of course with the volume off bcs I can't listen to Errey for more than a minute. He's an excellent third line center.

Would it not make a lot more sense to trade Malkin and his 9 million dollar salary if Crosby can get a good four months rest and recuperation? Sign Staal to a five year deal and go with Crosby & Staal as your one two centers.

The return for Malkin would be significant!

Would it not make a lot more sense to trade Malkin and his 9 million dollar salary if Crosby can get a good four months rest and recuperation? Sign Staal to a five year deal and go with Crosby & Staal as your one two centers.

The return for Malkin would be significant!
- LeftCoaster

i could agree with that to an extent. but you have to wonder about what teams would give up the return needed to make losing malkin worth it.

Would it not make a lot more sense to trade Malkin and his 9 million dollar salary if Crosby can get a good four months rest and recuperation? Sign Staal to a five year deal and go with Crosby & Staal as your one two centers.

The return for Malkin would be significant!
- LeftCoaster

I agree. After this yr the Pens will most likely be forced to move someone. No way they can help the D and keep Staal around after this yr. Moving Malkin and freeing up his space allows you to address 2 needs. Oh and I agree with the guy who said Kennedy has no place on this team.

Especially seeing that defense is the reason that we are sitting here posting pages of non-sense trades/signings instead of watching round #2.
- rival22

yeah definitely. still very upsetting watching these games. although i think despres in a full time role will help. hopefully niskanen is resigned with only a small raise. i still have hope that michalek can be a decent player here he just needs to be used effectively. i know martin has some talent in him but he needs to go. i know we will not get anything back but i dont care. however, whatever salary relief we get from a despres/martin swap will have to go in to keeping our current guys happy, as opposed to bringing in anyone substantial

Doesn't change the fact that you are trying to trade your third line center for a potential super star. Bring up Stepan and Daigle, two players in the last twenty years. I'll take those odds every day. Trading a potential(I know what the word means)game changing winger for a two way third line center with second line potential(theres that word again and he could be a good second line center but again its potential)who may get you 50 points is moronic and to think you guys expect even more than Yakupov is hysterical.

a list of past first overall picks
2011 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins C Red Deer (WHL) Edmonton Oilers
2010 Taylor Hall LW Windsor (OHL) Edmonton Oilers
2009 John Tavares C London (OHL) New York Islanders
2008 Steven Stamkos C Sarnia (OHL) Tampa Bay Lightning
2007 Patrick Kane RW London (OHL) Chicago Blackhawks
2006 Erik Johnson D NTDP 18 (USA) St. Louis Blues
2005 Sidney Crosby C Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) Pittsburgh Penguins
2004 Alexander Ovechkin LW Moscow Dynamo (Russia) Washington Capitals
2003 Marc-Andre Fleury G Cape-Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) Pittsburgh Penguins
2002 Rick Nash LW London Knights (OHL) Columbus Blue Jackets
2001 Ilya Kovalchuk LW Moscow Spartak (Russia) Atlanta Thrashers
2000 Rick DiPietro G Boston University (NCAA) New York Islanders
1999 Patrik Stefan C Long Beach Ice Dogs (IHL) Atlanta Thrashers
1998 Vincent Lecavalier C Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) Tampa Bay Lightning
1997 Joe Thornton C Sault-Ste.-Marie Greyhounds (OHL) Boston Bruins
1996 Chris Phillips D Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) Ottawa Senators
1995 Bryan Berard D Detroit Jr. Red Wings (OHL) Ottawa Senators
1994 Ed Jovanovski D Windsor Spitfires (OHL) Florida Panthers
1993 Alexandre Daigle RW Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) Ottawa Senators
1992 Roman Hamrlik

I can see at least 8-10 that I wouldn't even dream of taking over Jordan staal
50 points on the 3rd line with little powerplay time. What is hysterical is that is that you think anyone would be stupid enough to trade this player for a possible improvement in yak. It would only be moronic if shero actually pulled the trigger

I suggest you watch a Penguin game before you make a comment about Staal not being that good. He is 23 years old and has been in the league for six years. Not too many kids can say that. He isn't going to plant 40 or 50 goals per year ala Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos. He didn't do that in juniors. What he is, is one of the best two-way forwards in the game. It happened almost overnight since he came into the league. He is one of the best penalty killers in the league. His offensive game could very well be on the cusp of going somewhere. He had 25 goals in a season where he missed 20 games. Basically, he was a 30-34 goal scorer the way I look at it.

People get enamored with these first overall picks and use the word potential. Well, I take someone who has proven himself in Staal's case over a kid that shows potential. Ryan Leaf had potential ... so did Patrick Stefan, so did Alex Daigle, so did Joe Murphy. They were all supposed to have the same potential and they all failed.

In 2000, the Islanders drafted Rick DiPietro with the first overall pick. He was supposed to be the savior and a franchise changer. Tell me, how is that working out? Did he have the same potential label as this Russian kid?
- Oneonta Penguin

so did sydney crosby, so did evgeni malkin, so did Alex Ovechkin, so did Steven Stamkos.. oh wait. you can find a list of failures... Doesn't magically make Staal a guy who has never put up 51 points and maybe has the potential to be a first liner worth a first overall pick, no matter how you try to sell him, you would be trading good for elite, that doesn't usually happen.

if kennedy could contribute a little more offensively, his salary wouldnt look so bad. hopefully that was just mostly due to his injuries. however, if he could be moved that is no loss. a defender who could clear the net would be lovely, but where would the money come from? i dont see how moving martin really opens up that much.

Doesn't change the fact that you are trying to trade your third line center for a potential super star. Bring up Stepan and Daigle, two players in the last twenty years. I'll take those odds every day. Trading a potential(I know what the word means)game changing winger for a two way third line center with second line potential(theres that word again and he could be a good second line center but again its potential)who may get you 50 points is moronic and to think you guys expect even more than Yakupov is hysterical.

a list of past first overall picks
2011 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins C Red Deer (WHL) Edmonton Oilers
2010 Taylor Hall LW Windsor (OHL) Edmonton Oilers
2009 John Tavares C London (OHL) New York Islanders
2008 Steven Stamkos C Sarnia (OHL) Tampa Bay Lightning
2007 Patrick Kane RW London (OHL) Chicago Blackhawks
2006 Erik Johnson D NTDP 18 (USA) St. Louis Blues
2005 Sidney Crosby C Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) Pittsburgh Penguins
2004 Alexander Ovechkin LW Moscow Dynamo (Russia) Washington Capitals
2003 Marc-Andre Fleury G Cape-Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) Pittsburgh Penguins
2002 Rick Nash LW London Knights (OHL) Columbus Blue Jackets
2001 Ilya Kovalchuk LW Moscow Spartak (Russia) Atlanta Thrashers
2000 Rick DiPietro G Boston University (NCAA) New York Islanders
1999 Patrik Stefan C Long Beach Ice Dogs (IHL) Atlanta Thrashers
1998 Vincent Lecavalier C Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) Tampa Bay Lightning
1997 Joe Thornton C Sault-Ste.-Marie Greyhounds (OHL) Boston Bruins
1996 Chris Phillips D Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) Ottawa Senators
1995 Bryan Berard D Detroit Jr. Red Wings (OHL) Ottawa Senators
1994 Ed Jovanovski D Windsor Spitfires (OHL) Florida Panthers
1993 Alexandre Daigle RW Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) Ottawa Senators
1992 Roman Hamrlik

I can see at least 8-10 that I wouldn't even dream of taking over Jordan staal
50 points on the 3rd line with little powerplay time. What is hysterical is that is that you think anyone would be stupid enough to trade this player for a possible improvement in yak. It would only be moronic if shero actually pulled the trigger
- ChrisMS

so did sydney crosby, so did evgeni malkin, so did Alex Ovechkin, so did Steven Stamkos.. oh wait. you can find a list of failures... Doesn't magically make Staal a guy who has never put up 51 points and maybe has the potential to be a first liner worth a first overall pick, no matter how you try to sell him, you would be trading good for elite, that doesn't usually happen.
- Jay Uller

Are you saying Yakupov is elite? For all we know he could pull a Radulov. I would take a good North American player over an elite Russian player any day of the week. I dont think anyone is saying Staal is an elite player, but he has great size and is young and on a 3rd line he has done a lot with pretty much garbage players on a 3rd line role. A lot of teams would love to have him.

Doesn't change the fact that you are trying to trade your third line center for a potential super star. Bring up Stepan and Daigle, two players in the last twenty years. I'll take those odds every day. Trading a potential(I know what the word means)game changing winger for a two way third line center with second line potential(theres that word again and he could be a good second line center but again its potential)who may get you 50 points is moronic and to think you guys expect even more than Yakupov is hysterical.

a list of past first overall picks
2011 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins C Red Deer (WHL) Edmonton Oilers
2010 Taylor Hall LW Windsor (OHL) Edmonton Oilers
2009 John Tavares C London (OHL) New York Islanders
2008 Steven Stamkos C Sarnia (OHL) Tampa Bay Lightning
2007 Patrick Kane RW London (OHL) Chicago Blackhawks
2006 Erik Johnson D NTDP 18 (USA) St. Louis Blues
2005 Sidney Crosby C Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) Pittsburgh Penguins
2004 Alexander Ovechkin LW Moscow Dynamo (Russia) Washington Capitals
2003 Marc-Andre Fleury G Cape-Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) Pittsburgh Penguins
2002 Rick Nash LW London Knights (OHL) Columbus Blue Jackets
2001 Ilya Kovalchuk LW Moscow Spartak (Russia) Atlanta Thrashers
2000 Rick DiPietro G Boston University (NCAA) New York Islanders
1999 Patrik Stefan C Long Beach Ice Dogs (IHL) Atlanta Thrashers
1998 Vincent Lecavalier C Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) Tampa Bay Lightning
1997 Joe Thornton C Sault-Ste.-Marie Greyhounds (OHL) Boston Bruins
1996 Chris Phillips D Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) Ottawa Senators
1995 Bryan Berard D Detroit Jr. Red Wings (OHL) Ottawa Senators
1994 Ed Jovanovski D Windsor Spitfires (OHL) Florida Panthers
1993 Alexandre Daigle RW Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) Ottawa Senators
1992 Roman Hamrlik

I can see at least 8-10 that I wouldn't even dream of taking over Jordan staal
50 points on the 3rd line with little powerplay time. What is hysterical is that is that you think anyone would be stupid enough to trade this player for a possible improvement in yak. It would only be moronic if shero actually pulled the trigger
- ChrisMS

So with your logic you should take a potential fifty pt scorer(with limited PP time,lol) over a potential game changing 80 to 100 pt scorer? Don't forget Crosby was a first overall, Malkin second, Fluery, do I need to go on?

Are you saying Yakupov is elite? For all we know he could pull a Radulov. I would take a good North American player over an elite Russian player any day of the week. I dont think anyone is saying Staal is an elite player, but he has great size and is young and on a 3rd line he has done a lot with pretty much garbage players on a 3rd line role. A lot of teams would love to have him.
- sammy87

Yeah but not what you guys think you're going to get. It would be a gross over payment. Staal is good, don't get me wrong he just isn't that good.

Are you saying Yakupov is elite? For all we know he could pull a Radulov. I would take a good North American player over an elite Russian player any day of the week. I dont think anyone is saying Staal is an elite player, but he has great size and is young and on a 3rd line he has done a lot with pretty much garbage players on a 3rd line role. A lot of teams would love to have him.
- sammy87

im saying he has the potential to be elite and Staal doesn't. I'm glad your reading too much into the Russian hype and pinning it on a guy that chose to come over to NA to play for pennies when he could be getting paid large back home.

im saying he has the potential to be elite and Staal doesn't. I'm glad your reading too much into the Russian hype and pinning it on a guy that chose to come over to NA to play for pennies when he could be getting paid large back home.
- Jay Uller

i have no problem with people saying that yakupov is going to be a star. he may not reach ov or kovalchuk statistics, but i dont think hes going to be a filatov. i do see the merit in the argument of him coming to north america already. i dont think he will bolt, and i think he will be a very very good player, who ultimately will produce bigger numbers than staal. yet to the penguins, staal means so much. to the oilers, that pick and what it brings means so much, and rightfully so. it is totally understandable for each side to value what they have, because there really is no match there at all as each piece means more to their respective owner than to the other. the sick part is when the sam gagner offers float in.

Are you saying Yakupov is elite? For all we know he could pull a Radulov. I would take a good North American player over an elite Russian player any day of the week. I dont think anyone is saying Staal is an elite player, but he has great size and is young and on a 3rd line he has done a lot with pretty much garbage players on a 3rd line role. A lot of teams would love to have him.
- sammy87

Then you are greatly misinformed and know very little about Yakupov and prospects in general.

So with your logic you should take a potential fifty pt scorer(with limited PP time,lol) over a potential game changing 80 to 100 pt scorer? Don't forget Crosby was a first overall, Malkin second, Fluery, do I need to go on?

He's isn't a potential 50 point guy, he IS a 50 point guy. Give him 1st line minutes and he could be an 80 point + guy. The point was that first overall picks are in no way a sure bet. I wouldn't trade a known comodity in staal (with potential selke) for an potential 80-100 point scorer. Nobody knows if he will be a crosby/stamkos or a stephan/dipietro. People tend to way overvalue first picks. You act as if you know nail, never playing a nhl game yet, can become a better player than staal, when there is no proof he will ever even approach his accomplishments. its silly