Apparently if you watched all the Oilers games and not just TSN highlight packages you'd understand just how awesome Hemsky is.
- 1979AD

if I watched ALL the Oiler's games over the last 3 years I would have been wondering where Hemsky was 1/2 the time, and how come I only noticed him once or twice a game another 1/4 of the time.

Ok i am a long time reader and never really post but i have a few things i have to say about staal...

what some people don't understand about staal is he is more than just stats. he shows up in big situations, plays pk & pp, works hard and is a great leader. during the penguins cup run in 2009 he was continually out working opponents and creating havoc. i talked with Detroit fans who continually told me that they believed staal was a major part in the cup win. how many players in this league can be found at his age, with his wide set of skills, at his size and his playoff experience?

players like staal don't grow on trees and even though most penguins fans will disagree, i would much rather have staal playing the second line then malkin. staal has only been getting better and is already better than some teams 1C.
- Pensfan8792

Rather have Staal than the player who led the NHL in points this season?.. Are you being cereal?

Before the season, there were Edmonton fans literally suggesting they trade him for a bag of pucks.

After his little outburst (which some Edmonton fans honestly argued was NOT a fluke!??) ... Gagner put up significantly less numbers than Bozak.
- GoneFullRetard

Watch for Sam to score 82 goals in 82 games next year. Wayne who?

No the real comedy is nowhere in that chain of posts was GAGNER mentioned... the response was to a post about RNH not Gagner.

Seriously, are you anc Cloutier just trolling here, because some of the Edmonton crap being barfed up all over these boards the last few days rivals the Leafs fans worst stupidity of all time.

You have completely lost your minds in your assessment of Hemsky and Gagner... not to mention MPV or PVR or whatever his name is ...

How about you start suggesting Omark for some other team's first line player again. You might as well.
- GoneFullRetard

Actually... this all started when Cloutier mentioned offering Gagner and Paajarvi for Staal. Which, for the record, I would not do if I was Pittsburgh.

if I watched ALL the Oiler's games over the last 3 years I would have been wondering where Hemsky was 1/2 the time, and how come I only noticed him once or twice a game another 1/4 of the time.
- GoneFullRetard

He has a lot of Alex Kovalev in him. Great player when he wants to be. Thats very rare tho.

Rather have Staal than the player who led the NHL in points this season?.. Are you being cereal?
- Richieattack18

Where did Malkin go in the playoffs? and you could get a lot for him on the trade market. Pittsburg lacks depth. Rely way to much on 4 guys.

Actually... this all started when Cloutier mentioned offering Gagner and Paajarvi for Staal. Which, for the record, I would not do if I was Pittsburgh.
- Friesenhan

... the "chain" I was referring to was my response to a post about RNH... but I get your arguement because it was sort of a sidetrack from the original Gagner and Staal comparisons. So, I see where you are coming from.

Well Staal hasn't exactly proven he can put up points either. All he has proven so far is he is likely the best 3rd line centre in the league. So whats the difference?

Well, Staal hasn't exactly proved he can produce points either, whats the difference?

- Friesenhan

Jordan Staal wasn't the scoring machine in juniors and that wasn't why he was drafted as high as he was. He was thought of as the best two-way forwards in the draft. That turned out to be true. He is thought of by many as one of the best in the game today. That is documented. He wasn't the 30-goal scorer Gagner was in juniors, but Jordan has a few 20-goal seasons, but Gagner doesn't have one. Hemsky hasn't touched 20 since 2008-09. I'm sure you will bring up they are both play-makers (the common excuse Oiler fans make relative to these two). Despite missing 20 games and NOT playing with Neal or Crosby or Malkin, Staal had more points than the two future Hall of Famers as well.

Fact is Staal is the best third center in the league. How many organizations would he be the top center? Five or six? How many would Gagner be the top for? None.

Jordan Staal would be the second line center for 20-22 teams and without question would be the third center for only one team - Pittsburgh. He is more than the best third center in the game. GMs know this; opposing coaches know this. Hell, even your GM knows this.

The fact is Staal isn't supposed to be the point producer that Hemsky or Gagner were supposed to be, but it seems like he certainly produces the points at a better rate than both of them. Add in his defensive work; work on the PK ... you ask what's the difference? There is a major difference. It you don't see it, I suggest you turn your attention to ping pong.

Watch for Sam to score 82 goals in 82 games next year. Wayne who?
- cburgess

No one said he was gonna score 82 goals in a season dude. Just saying he has been amongst the best point producers at his age since the lockout.

He has a lot of Alex Kovalev in him. Great player when he wants to be. Thats very rare tho.
- cburgess

That's a real good comparison actually.

Kovalev had maybe as much talent as anyone of his contemporaries. I would put Hemsky a small notch below him in talent. I would say Kovalev also showed up slightly more often, and I would guess that he did not have the endless injury issues (that really is just a guess).

Actually... this all started when Cloutier mentioned offering Gagner and Paajarvi for Staal. Which, for the record, I would not do if I was Pittsburgh.
- Friesenhan

Finally, something we agree on.

He has a lot of Alex Kovalev in him. Great player when he wants to be. Thats very rare tho.
- cburgess

Kovalev comparison is somewhat spot on. Both have/had tremendous skill. However, Hemsky wishes he was 60% of Kovalev. Alex was an enigma or a malcontent. However, when he wanted to play, not too many could keep up with him. Hemsky isn't close to that of Kovalev in that respect.

Hemsky was never great. Great players take over games.

Jordan Staal wasn't the scoring machine in juniors and that wasn't why he was drafted as high as he was. He was thought of as the best two-way forwards in the draft. That turned out to be true. He is thought of by many as one of the best in the game today. That is documented. He wasn't the 30-goal scorer Gagner was in juniors, but Jordan has a few 20-goal seasons, but Gagner doesn't have one. Hemsky hasn't touched 20 since 2008-09. I'm sure you will bring up they are both play-makers (the common excuse Oiler fans make relative to these two). Despite missing 20 games and NOT playing with Neal or Crosby or Malkin, Staal had more points than the two future Hall of Famers as well.

Fact is Staal is the best third center in the league. How many organizations would he be the top center? Five or six? How many would Gagner be the top for? None.

Jordan Staal would be the second line center for 20-22 teams and without question would be the third center for only one team - Pittsburgh. He is more than the best third center in the game. GMs know this; opposing coaches know this. Hell, even your GM knows this.

The fact is Staal isn't supposed to be the point producer that Hemsky or Gagner were supposed to be, but it seems like he certainly produces the points at a better rate than both of them. Add in his defensive work; work on the PK ... you ask what's the difference? There is a major difference. It you don't see it, I suggest you turn your attention to ping pong.
- Oneonta Penguin

This SHOULD end the conversation. It is an excellent arguement, to which there can't really be a serious, educated, rebuttal.

Unfortunately, I suspect there might be, because parts of this thread have become legendary in their stupidity.

I admire your effort here though.

No one said he was gonna score 82 goals in a season dude. Just saying he has been amongst the best point producers at his age since the lockout.
- Friesenhan

ok, so what do you think he will be eventually? top line guy getting 70-80 points a year? 2nd line guy?

No one said he was gonna score 82 goals in a season dude. Just saying he has been amongst the best point producers at his age since the lockout.
- Friesenhan

... dude, I have Edmonton fans seriously incredulous at the fact that I called his little outburst week a "fluke".

That is what causes people to comeup with 82 goals in 82 games crap...

You may not be a part of the Edmonton fan stupidity, but from the outside it is not tough to figure out where it came from.

Jordan Staal wasn't the scoring machine in juniors and that wasn't why he was drafted as high as he was. He was thought of as the best two-way forwards in the draft. That turned out to be true. He is thought of by many as one of the best in the game today. That is documented. He wasn't the 30-goal scorer Gagner was in juniors, but Jordan has a few 20-goal seasons, but Gagner doesn't have one. Hemsky hasn't touched 20 since 2008-09. I'm sure you will bring up they are both play-makers (the common excuse Oiler fans make relative to these two). Despite missing 20 games and NOT playing with Neal or Crosby or Malkin, Staal had more points than the two future Hall of Famers as well.

Fact is Staal is the best third center in the league. How many organizations would he be the top center? Five or six? How many would Gagner be the top for? None.

Jordan Staal would be the second line center for 20-22 teams and without question would be the third center for only one team - Pittsburgh. He is more than the best third center in the game. GMs know this; opposing coaches know this. Hell, even your GM knows this.

The fact is Staal isn't supposed to be the point producer that Hemsky or Gagner were supposed to be, but it seems like he certainly produces the points at a better rate than both of them. Add in his defensive work; work on the PK ... you ask what's the difference? There is a major difference. It you don't see it, I suggest you turn your attention to ping pong.
- Oneonta Penguin

Well first thing, Staal doesn't produce points at the pace that Hemsky does... I don't know where you got that stat, but it is wrong. Secondly, I don't know where you got the idea that I said either one of these players was better than Staal

Let me make this incredibly clear. If I could choose one of those three, it would be Staal, no questions asked. He is the most valuable of the three in my eyes.

Gagner is not a playmaker. He is a goal scorer. And he has HUGE room for improvement. He is only 22, fortunately.

... dude, I have Edmonton fans seriously incredulous at the fact that I called his little outburst week a "fluke".

That is what causes people to comeup with 82 goals in 82 games crap...

You may not be a part of the Edmonton fan stupidity, but from the outside it is not tough to figure out where it came from.
- GoneFullRetard

he got 47 points last season and 8 of them came in 1 game. He has never scored 20 goals in a season. And with eberle, hall, nugent hopkins, and possibly yakupov there, his ice time will be decreasing in the future.

Well first thing, Staal doesn't produce points at the pace that Hemsky does... I don't know where you got that stat, but it is wrong. Secondly, I don't know where you got the idea that I said either one of these players was better than Staal

Let me make this incredibly clear. If I could choose one of those three, it would be Staal, no questions asked. He is the most valuable of the three in my eyes.

Gagner is not a playmaker. He is a goal scorer. And he has HUGE room for improvement. He is only 22, fortunately.
- Friesenhan

Staal had more points then hemsky last year. A goal scorer should have broken the 20 goal mark by now in Gagner's situation.

Gagner is a prime example of a guy that is rushed into the league and will never rebound from it.
- cburgess

Saying that about a 22 year old is a little premature, is it not? Wasn't Moulson 26 in his rookie season?

Saying that about a 22 year old is a little premature, is it not? Wasn't Moulson 26 in his rookie season?
- FinAddict

Putting a kid in the NHL when he isn't ready does more harm then good. I don't know how that relates to moulson

Pens are in an odd situation. They need D bad, but most of their money is tied up in a few forwards. You trade Staal you free up enough cash for another avg D man and you lose a lot of your O power. So trading Staal is a 0 sum game. The thing to do is Trade Malkin. He was teh best player in teh league last yr, he takes up 9 mil and youll probaly get a pick out of him as well. Moving Malkin is a win scenerio for the Pens, they have teh space to bring in a solid D man, and more space to get another 30+ goal scorer up front. Staal moves up to #2, and the Pens are free of Russians.

Saying that about a 22 year old is a little premature, is it not? Wasn't Moulson 26 in his rookie season?
- FinAddict

Gagner is not a playmaker. He is a goal scorer. And he has HUGE room for improvement. He is only 22, fortunately.
- Friesenhan

OK - goal scorer. Again, had the goal scoring name over Staal in juniors. One has played in the NHL 6 years and the other 5. One has scored 20 goals or more 4 times, the other 0. The one who wasn't supposed to be the goal scorer is more of one than the one that is supposed to be. You don't think Staal has room for improvement either? Remind me, who was on his line most of the year?

By the way, you are big in the points per game deal. So, Gagner has had a better point per game count than Voracek and Boedker. Be honest, would you rather have Gagner over those two?

OK - goal scorer. Again, had the goal scoring name over Staal in juniors. One has played in the NHL 6 years and the other 5. One has scored 20 goals or more 4 times, the other 0. The one who wasn't supposed to be the goal scorer is more of one than the one that is supposed to be. You don't think Staal has room for improvement either? Remind me, who was on his line most of the year?

By the way, you are big in the points per game deal. So, Gagner has had a better point per game count than Voracek and Boedker. Be honest, would you rather have Gagner over those two?
- Oneonta Penguin

ya the ppg stat is rediculous when comparing the 2. You can put staal out there to shut down the opposing stars. I'm not sure you can say the same about Gagner.

Eklund: Jordan Staal Rumors? Overplayed or Possible? & 1 Team Who Wants Him Badly
- Eklund

1 team wants him badly? Really? 30 teams want him badly.

Buffalo blew their wad last year and they won't do it again. There's zero chance they are a player in free agency or big trades this year. If Buffalo does anything, it should be at a coaching level. They need the players to stay consistent and based on the last couple months they're a playoff team.

If I'm Vancouver, I don't trade Kesler for Staal like someone said in this thread. That's nuts. I trade for Staal if he can be signed but Kesler is his winger on the 2nd line. Vancouver can add Luongo to the deal who the Pens can flip for whatever they need.