staal or vancouver or ottawa, that way he can teach them what its like to win a cup!

1) Yes, they do. Staal topped out at 50 points so far in his career. Kulemin tops out at 57. Make the top two lines on Pitts
Neal - Crosby - Kunitz
Kulemin - Malkin - Dupuis

If Malkin and Kuli get their Russian magic going, Kulemin becomes a 30 goal scorer or more, and adds defensive reliability on the second line.

Connolly is a stop gap, but once again adds 45-60 points as a third line centre essentially replacing Staal's output on the third line. He's also a PK specialist replacing Staal there.

So far Staal's 50 point production, Pitts receives 50 in Connolly and Kulemin is a bonus.

Add in the fact that Pitts has no defensive depth, and now you have Blacker. a highly touted Defensive D ready to step in.
- ILoveLamp

They're going to want at least 1 experienced NHL D-man for Staal, and its likely to be a top 4 guy if it's just one.

Kulemin is mediocre, and isn't the type of player the pens need. They need a bigger guy with skill who can play D too..ie Staal (who was nearly a pt/game this year btw).

Connolly is pure garbage and there is absolutely no argument you can make why the pens would take him. He's the antithesis of what the pens need!

Blacker: sure, he's a good prospect, but the pens are LOADED with D prospects...at least 3-4 are NHL ready, why do they want Blacker? No Sense.

I doubt the leafs have what the pens would need in return if they HAD to trade staal (which I don't think they have to do).
- mventres

Kulemin is Toronto's best 2way forward, and once he get's over the Russian plane crash and gets used to having an infant, he'll back to putting up the points again as well......and he and Malkin's chemistry would be record breaking

Kulemin is Toronto's best 2way forward, and once he get's over the Russian plane crash and gets used to having an infant, he'll back to putting up the points again as well......and he and Malkin's chemistry would be record breaking
- JIMI-JAMES

Record Breaking might be a bit of a stretch.

Kulemin is Toronto's best 2way forward, and once he get's over the Russian plane crash and gets used to having an infant, he'll back to putting up the points again as well......and he and Malkin's chemistry would be record breaking
- JIMI-JAMES

Doesn't say much to be Toronto's best 2-way forward...to start. He's just not the player the pens need, beside the fact that the pens aren't into russians (outside of Malkin).

The comments in this section are sad. Talk about people completely over-rating a player. Staal is good, no question, but there's a reason why he's on the 3rd line behind Malkin and Crosby.

No seasons with over 50pts on a team with some of the best offensive talents in the NHL. Keep this in mind, friends, when evaluating Staal. Also keep in mind he's a UFA at the end of the season.

The comments in this section are sad. Talk about people completely over-rating a player. Staal is good, no question, but there's a reason why he's on the 3rd line behind Malkin and Crosby.

No seasons with over 50pts on a team with some of the best offensive talents in the NHL. Keep this in mind, friends, when evaluating Staal. Also keep in mind he's a UFA at the end of the season.
- Maxbone

Ya there is a reason he is 3rd line. Malkin and Crosby are the 2 best players in the world probably. He would be a very good 2nd line centre. Its not all about points.

Ya there is a reason he is 3rd line. Malkin and Crosby are the 2 best players in the world probably. He would be a very good 2nd line centre. Its not all about points.
- cburgess

Obviously, Jordan Staal is a good player. People are completely over-rating his value on here. Teams would no doubt deal for him, and on most teams, he'd instantly be good enough to be the #2 center. Maybe even #1 on a few teams.

Is he a superstar? No. Not sure he'd be a 60+ points per season center, which is the average for 1st line guys.

Good is not great. Good is good.

The comments in this section are sad. Talk about people completely over-rating a player. Staal is good, no question, but there's a reason why he's on the 3rd line behind Malkin and Crosby.

No seasons with over 50pts on a team with some of the best offensive talents in the NHL. Keep this in mind, friends, when evaluating Staal. Also keep in mind he's a UFA at the end of the season.
- Maxbone

What is sad is you mentioning Gagner as a centerpiece to a trade for every decent player.

The comments in this section are sad. Talk about people completely over-rating a player. Staal is good, no question, but there's a reason why he's on the 3rd line behind Malkin and Crosby.

No seasons with over 50pts on a team with some of the best offensive talents in the NHL. Keep this in mind, friends, when evaluating Staal. Also keep in mind he's a UFA at the end of the season.
- Maxbone

The reason he's on the 3rd line is because he's behind arguably the 2 best players in the world....add another approx 7 mins a game icetime as 1 or 2C, and those 50 pts will become 70 easily...and the Oilers would give up their 1st for him in a heartbeat..EDIT If he agreed to an extension

The comments in this section are sad. Talk about people completely over-rating a player. Staal is good, no question, but there's a reason why he's on the 3rd line behind Malkin and Crosby.

No seasons with over 50pts on a team with some of the best offensive talents in the NHL. Keep this in mind, friends, when evaluating Staal. Also keep in mind he's a UFA at the end of the season.
- Maxbone

Clouts, your boy RNH would be #3 behind Crosby and Malkin.

The reason he's on the 3rd line is because he's behind arguably the 2 best players in the world....add another approx 7 mins a game icetime as 1 or 2C, and those 50 pts will become 70 easily...and the Oilers would give up their 1st for him in a heartbeat
- JIMI-JAMES

He's not a good fit for Edmonton...He needs to go to a team that's ready for a massive Cup run...

Clouts, your boy RNH would be #3 behind Crosby and Malkin.
- Ben37

Stamkos and Giroux say hi.

Obviously, Jordan Staal is a good player. People are completely over-rating his value on here. Teams would no doubt deal for him, and on most teams, he'd instantly be good enough to be the #2 center. Maybe even #1 on a few teams.

Is he a superstar? No. Not sure he'd be a 60+ points per season center, which is the average for 1st line guys.

Good is not great. Good is good.
- Maxbone

No I think he proved that when Crosby and Malkin were both hurt last year. Couldn't handle the point producing role of a top line centre. But as a number 2 guy, able to kill penalties, shut down opposing forwards and chip in with 60-70 points, he would be a very good player that many team would want.

The strangest part of the entire discussion is the fact that everyone wants for the Pens to be more responsible. But Staal is their best defensive forward.

The Pens can fix most of their problems by dealing either Malkin or Crosby.

The return would be enormous. More important their would be a far greater balance in the Pens line up.

Ya there is a reason he is 3rd line. Malkin and Crosby are the 2 best players in the world probably. He would be a very good 2nd line centre. Its not all about points.
- cburgess

Agreed. Staal is 23 years old remember, 6 years in the NHL, one of the top defensive forwards who has been having good pt/game paces over the last two years, but the numbers are low due to injury. Dude is big, plays with heart, a team player, all the good stuff...and he's still 3-4 years away from his prime! The story would be different if he was 27 or 28, but he's quite a way from that still.

Agreed. Staal is 23 years old remember, 6 years in the NHL, one of the top defensive forwards who has been having good pt/game paces over the last two years, but the numbers are low due to injury. Dude is big, plays with heart, a team player, all the good stuff...and he's still 3-4 years away from his prime! The story would be different if he was 27 or 28, but he's quite a way from that still.
- mventres

I like the idea of trading Malkin for a HUGE return.

or maybe even Crosby, only because I think he is a huge risk to have his career cut short.

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...ates-whine-125955268.html
They really hate Crosby in Philadelphia.

If Gomez and Horcoff can get the money they are making it wouldn't surprise me to see him get paid 6.5 million on the free agent market.

The strangest part of the entire discussion is the fact that everyone wants for the Pens to be more responsible. But Staal is their best defensive forward.

The Pens can fix most of their problems by dealing either Malkin or Crosby.

The return would be enormous. More important their would be a far greater balance in the Pens line up.
- spatso

With crosbys health issues and expiring contract, I can see it. It would be a huge move. Nobody ever thought Gretzky would get traded.

The comments in this section are sad. Talk about people completely over-rating a player. Staal is good, no question, but there's a reason why he's on the 3rd line behind Malkin and Crosby.

No seasons with over 50pts on a team with some of the best offensive talents in the NHL. Keep this in mind, friends, when evaluating Staal. Also keep in mind he's a UFA at the end of the season.
- Maxbone

duhh! anyone that plays with those guys are 3rd fiddle....Staal is not over rated...

The strangest part of the entire discussion is the fact that everyone wants for the Pens to be more responsible. But Staal is their best defensive forward.

The Pens can fix most of their problems by dealing either Malkin or Crosby.

The return would be enormous. More important their would be a far greater balance in the Pens line up.
- spatso

Agree, but it would be a PR nightmare to trade Crosby or Malkin...the return would definitely be enormous, but usually the team dealing the better player (in those monster deals) ends up on the losing end...

Agree, but it would be a PR nightmare to trade Crosby or Malkin...the return would definitely be enormous, but usually the team dealing the better player (in those monster deals) ends up on the losing end...
- mventres

True

No I think he proved that when Crosby and Malkin were both hurt last year. Couldn't handle the point producing role of a top line centre. But as a number 2 guy, able to kill penalties, shut down opposing forwards and chip in with 60-70 points, he would be a very good player that many team would want.
- cburgess

The Pens haven't always had the greatest wingers either. Crosby and Malkin make everyone they play with better, giving them at least 10-15 more goals than they would normally get (ie. Dupuis, Kunitz). Staal would be a great #2 on a good team, but a good #1 with skilled wingers on a team such as Toronto.

Obviously, Jordan Staal is a good player. People are completely over-rating his value on here. Teams would no doubt deal for him, and on most teams, he'd instantly be good enough to be the #2 center. Maybe even #1 on a few teams.

Is he a superstar? No. Not sure he'd be a 60+ points per season center, which is the average for 1st line guys.

Good is not great. Good is good.
- Maxbone

He's developing every year, if not injured he puts up 65 pts this year. Add his PK abilities. He's not overrated, your out of you mind. Your the one who thought you could trade Gagner for a teams centerpiece. The guy had 2 games of his life, now he won't put up anything more than 40 pts.