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

Staal is not a number one centre.

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.
- therealagent

Komisarek, Armdog, and a draft pick and Rynnas for chokongo ?

Komisarek, Armdog, and a draft pick and Rynnas for chokongo ?
- Mapleleafs_91

komisarek. no.
armdog? who the hell is that? armstrong? no thanks but pittsburgh would take him back (not for staal). he's a good 3rd liner on a good team.
draft pick. sure
rynnas. no. we have eddie lack who's one of the most ready nhl goalies not in the nhl.

all of that for luongo. no.

say what you want about bobby lu but with him in your lineup you make the playoffs and he gets a street named after him. the money the team makes in merchandise and playoff gates pays for his salary. that's all the owners ever care about.

- Pen15

I laugh at the Leafs franchise aswell.

I laugh at the Leafs franchise aswell.
- vancity787

easy there sedin sisters, nucks here, we blow. Good one

I laugh at the Leafs franchise aswell.
- vancity787

in the words of burke and his phrases:


Canada's team? my ASS

I can see stall going to the sharks. I don't know why. I have a feeling those two(sharks,pens) will be good buddy's this offseason.
- Deadmau55

I was kind of thinking the same thing. DW always makes big moves in the offseason, and going after a young guy like Jordan Staal is exactly what this team needs.

I was kind of thinking the same thing. DW always makes big moves in the offseason, and going after a young guy like Jordan Staal is exactly what this team needs.
- sjsharks92

what can you guys offer to acquire staal though? pavelski? LOL why would they want another centerman.. couture you guys wont trade, pens dont want your older guys, you have no young skilled defenders that they need besides burns that would be worthy of trading... only guys pens would be interested in is pavelski and burns.

knowing that burke gave up aulie for ashton at the deadline, i wonder if tampa would of taken franson or gunner with like a 4th/5th round draft pick? since everyone was complaining about that trade... what if we gave one of those guys up? i would of been happier then giving up on aulie

what can you guys offer to acquire staal though? pavelski? LOL why would they want another centerman.. couture you guys wont trade, pens dont want your older guys, you have no young skilled defenders that they need besides burns that would be worthy of trading... only guys pens would be interested in is pavelski and burns.
- Mapleleafs_91

Pavelski would almost certainly be part of the package. Not sure who else would be included, but it would most certainly not be the first time we've seen the Sharks make a big trade when they appeared to have nothing to offer. I'm not sure they'd have to give up much more than Pavelski to acquire Staal though.

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.
- sammy87

PR nightmare to trade Malkin. Big trades like that rarely work out for the team losing the best player. The most logical thing, as has been mentioned a few times, is to move Staal/Malkin/Crosby all into top 6 roles, and leave them there. None of this rotating Staal back with Cooke and Kennedy a few times per game. He's ready for a #2C position, and as far as what a team looks for from that position he fits the bill exactly. In my opinion Malkin is the best bet at the wing, probably with Crosby+Neal (SICK LINE!). Kunitz + Staal + Duper/Tangradi/FA is decent at #2. Anyways, the lines themselves are less important as moving Staal permanently to a top 6 role.

They really only need a few tweaks in my opinion:
1) A #3C with grit, speed and face-off skills. Doesn't have to be a high skill guy...somebody who gets the job done consistently and who opposing teams hate to play against. ie Gausted, Halpern.
2) 1-2 tough as nails D who can move around reasonably well, for example Doug Murray, Barrett Jackman.
3) While I actually like Paul Martin, even with his bad season, his salary is a bit high and he'll need to be moved out.

If possible (very difficult!)
4) One more top 6 winger with toughness, like Dustin Brown or Milan Lucic (not that these guys will be traded, but these types of players). One possibility would be Evander Kane, if he indeed wants out, and if the Jets would want prospects and picks in return...its possible Tangradi could still be sorta this guy...

PR nightmare to trade Malkin. Big trades like that rarely work out for the team losing the best player. The most logical thing, as has been mentioned a few times, is to move Staal/Malkin/Crosby all into top 6 roles, and leave them there. None of this rotating Staal back with Cooke and Kennedy a few times per game. He's ready for a #2C position, and as far as what a team looks for from that position he fits the bill exactly. In my opinion Malkin is the best bet at the wing, probably with Crosby+Neal (SICK LINE!). Kunitz + Staal + Duper/Tangradi/FA is decent at #2. Anyways, the lines themselves are less important as moving Staal permanently to a top 6 role.

They really only need a few tweaks in my opinion:
1) A #3C with grit, speed and face-off skills. Doesn't have to be a high skill guy...somebody who gets the job done consistently and who opposing teams hate to play against. ie Gausted, Halpern.
2) 1-2 tough as nails D who can move around reasonably well, for example Doug Murray, Barrett Jackman.
3) While I actually like Paul Martin, even with his bad season, his salary is a bit high and he'll need to be moved out.

If possible (very difficult!)
4) One more top 6 winger with toughness, like Dustin Brown or Milan Lucic (not that these guys will be traded, but these types of players). One possibility would be Evander Kane, if he indeed wants out, and if the Jets would want prospects and picks in return...its possible Tangradi could still be sorta this guy...
- mventres

from an outsider's view Malkin is 100% better without Crosby in the lineup. do they trade one or the other or can they co-exist. Crosby's return would be absolutely massive. Staal as their #2 would be just fine.

PR nightmare to trade Malkin. Big trades like that rarely work out for the team losing the best player. The most logical thing, as has been mentioned a few times, is to move Staal/Malkin/Crosby all into top 6 roles, and leave them there. None of this rotating Staal back with Cooke and Kennedy a few times per game. He's ready for a #2C position, and as far as what a team looks for from that position he fits the bill exactly. In my opinion Malkin is the best bet at the wing, probably with Crosby+Neal (SICK LINE!). Kunitz + Staal + Duper/Tangradi/FA is decent at #2. Anyways, the lines themselves are less important as moving Staal permanently to a top 6 role.

They really only need a few tweaks in my opinion:
1) A #3C with grit, speed and face-off skills. Doesn't have to be a high skill guy...somebody who gets the job done consistently and who opposing teams hate to play against. ie Gausted, Halpern.
2) 1-2 tough as nails D who can move around reasonably well, for example Doug Murray, Barrett Jackman.
3) While I actually like Paul Martin, even with his bad season, his salary is a bit high and he'll need to be moved out.

If possible (very difficult!)
4) One more top 6 winger with toughness, like Dustin Brown or Milan Lucic (not that these guys will be traded, but these types of players). One possibility would be Evander Kane, if he indeed wants out, and if the Jets would want prospects and picks in return...its possible Tangradi could still be sorta this guy...
- mventres

1) Neal Crosby Dupuis

2) Kunitz Staal Malkin would be a sick line up

Leafs 5th overall pick + Schenn + Kadri for Stall.
- Pen15

That's giving up WAY too much!

For all you people saying that Pittsburg should trade Crosby........

Please put down the crack pipes.

Does he want out? You talk to him?

Why in the hell would Pittsburgh want to deal for an RFA in Kulemin, who was making 2.3 million and would want a significant raise despite a horrid season.

Let me know when Kulemin is up for a major award or scores 30 goals again. He dropped 23 goals in a year. Again dude - Staal scored 25 goals in 62 games. He was on his way to getting that 30-goal season. It's not hard to figure out.
- Oneonta Penguin

The only indicator that Staal wants out (as reported by Bob Mckenzie) is that Staal apparently had a conversation with Sheri stating that if they DO decide to trade him, he would prefer to be traded to Carolina to play with his brother. That's it. And yet, somehow everybody manages to completely ignore the only actually reported conversation.

Skimmed through a couple pages and I see Leafs fans offering Gardiner in a package for Staal....Umm, NO. That kid is a large part of the future of the Leafs. He's a stud. Not going anywhere.

Burke needs to sign a big center or get one through the draft this year. Trading for one doesn't seem like the right thing to do. He would be giving away the farm.

Staal is not a number one centre.
- KABLOOEY

For about six organizations, he would be, including yours IMO.

The only indicator that Staal wants out (as reported by Bob Mckenzie) is that Staal apparently had a conversation with Sheri stating that if they DO decide to trade him, he would prefer to be traded to Carolina to play with his brother. That's it. And yet, somehow everybody manages to completely ignore the only actually reported conversation.
- BINGO!

Exactly ... he hasn't said he wants out.

- Pen15

I thought his entire post would've garnered the same reaction.

I laugh at the Leafs franchise aswell.
- vancity787

How so? We get to look up at our Stanley cup banners...no matter how long ago they happened, they're still there.

Win all the presidents trophies you want...they're no good without the SC banner hanging from the rafters.

How so? We get to look up at our Stanley cup banners...no matter how long ago they happened, they're still there.

Win all the presidents trophys you want...they're no good without the SC banner hanging from the rafters.
- Juice

How so? We get to look up at our Stanley cup banners...no matter how long ago they happened, they're still there.

Win all the presidents trophys you want...they're no good without the SC banner hanging from the rafters.
- Juice

Atta boy Juice!

I'd love to get Staal in an Iginla trade (that won't happen) but I'm pretty sure the Flames would have to put more in the package.
- S Kaspar Rollins

Iginla, Giordano, Backlund, and a third

for

Staal, Gibbons and a 4th and a 5th

Not for sale.