Parise is a younger, bigger version. I would take Parise over Datsyuk at this point in their careers.
- spatso

Datsyuk is still up for the Selke this season, so it's not like he's lost a step.

Wow, clearly left his name off that list.

Not that Datsyuk is over-rated by any means defensively, but it's not like he's leaps and bounds ahead of Staal. He is certainly an absolute thief when it comes to take-aways.

Datsyuk is reveled the way he is because he's as good as Staal defensively and scores 90 points a season. But him and Staal are pretty even when it comes to the the defensive aspect of being a forward.

Which is saying something when you compare ages.
- mochoson

I would say Staal might be close to being as good as Datsyuk not vice versa.

Finally Clouts, well done. I agree whole heartedly with everything you said. You hit the nail on the head. Keep Gagner, put him on a line with Ebs and Hall or Yaks and Hemmer. His points will inflate and so will his value. People that don't watch oiler games don't realize how much this guy competes. Don't get me wrong Staal is still the better player and I would trade Sammy for Staal in a heartbeat but mostly because of his size. Skill wise Sam is up there.
- Oilersforlife

The discussion gets even more bizarre. Pittsburgh wants to get better defensively and become more physical. So somebody suggests a trade, Gagner for Staal. Can anybody explain to me why Pittsburgh would hesitate in saying "no way."

The flip side of the issue has to do with the fact there is so little enthusiasm for Gagner except for this small group of Oiler apologists. There must be reasons why other teams are not knocking down doors hoping to deal for him. You have to ask yourself, why would the Oil be so anxious to give up Gagner (plus another skater) for a one year rental?

The rest of us are having difficulty following this particular strain of Northern Alberta logic. If your goal is to make Gagner the new Hemsky of the discussion boards, you are succeeding. You have effectively turned what we may have thought was a flaw in the little skaters's game into a worry that there is a gaping hole in the package of what the kid may be able to offer another team.
- spatso

Gagner and Hemsky are our only high value easily movable pieces. We have glaring roster holes. Also, we have nothing to cheer about until draft day. So, we amuse ourselves by trying to patch our roster holes with our movable pieces. Everyone and their dog realizes that the value for Hemsky is lower than what Oiler fans think he is capable of, so most Oiler fans have shifted to Gagner. This doesn't mean Gagner and Hemsky are terrible. It means our team is terrible and we are, once again, sitting on the sidelines talking about rearranging the furniture while the good teams get to play hockey and their fans get to have more meaningful convos.

You left the discussion to run to your sycophants? Weak

The discussion gets even more bizarre. Pittsburgh wants to get better defensively and become more physical. So somebody suggests a trade, Gagner for Staal. Can anybody explain to me why Pittsburgh would hesitate in saying "no way."
- spatso

I don't think Pittsburgh would have any interest in Gagner for Staal unless they were forced due to cap considerations. Even then I'm sure they could swap Staal for a player with more size than Gagner.

The fact remains that just because Gagner isn't a good fit in Pittsburgh it doesn't diminish his trade value.

Gagner really doesn't make any sense for Pittsburg, though. Whoever does take him should a)have the 2C spot available, b)have plenty of size on the roster, and c) have some decent complementary players on their 2nd line.

Gagner is currently a pretty good 2C who is quietly becoming more and more defensively responsible. As to where he tops out...? A few years will tell, but the outer mark I've set is just shy of elite.

Gagner really doesn't make any sense for Pittsburg, though. Whoever does take him should a)have the 2C spot available, b)have plenty of size on the roster, and c) have some decent complementary players on their 2nd line.

Gagner is currently a pretty good 2C who is quietly becoming more and more defensively responsible. As to where he tops out...? A few years will tell, but the outer mark I've set is just shy of elite.
- thefullnelson

Compare the career of Sam Gagner to this point to Stephen Weiss' career at the same age.

Absolutely scary how similar they are.

I think I speak for the rest of the fan base when I say Edmonton would be ecstatic if Ganger is a Stephen Weiss.

I'll put my 2 cents in cause I was in an airport all day yesterday reading all the non-sense going back and forth.

1. Pittsburgh would have zero interest in Sam Gagner. Zero. If you told me right now that we could trade staal for Gagne or we could keep him for another year and one more run and then lose him for nothing...I would risk losing him for nothing. We don't need a small "scoring" center. We need to tighten up the back end.

2. Pajaarvi? He wouldn't crack our roster. How does that help us now when we have guys like Pascal Dupuis that outscore both MP and SG and actually provide a physical element and strong two way play? Edmonton is not a match here.

3. Staal put up 50 points in 62 games while playing the tail end of every powerplay. Hence, why only 7 of his 50 points were powerplay points. If you watch any penguin games you will see that Malkin and Letang play almost all of the 2 minutes of each powerplay. I've often accused malkin of blood doping cause his stamina is out of this world. Staal gets maybe 20 seconds of each powerplay. Even with Sid out the entire year he was not on the #1 unit. (Malkin, Neal, Letang, Kunitz, and Sullivan played point).

4. Hey, maybe Clouts is right and Staal's value is low. Maybe I'm right and we get much more than 2 struggling young prospects. However, Darren Dreger was on Pitt radio 2 weeks ago when this whole crap erupted. He said if Staal hits the market there will be 29 teams lining up and the offers will be a "kings ransom". What does he know though, right? Do you think Dreger would consider a package surrounding Sam Gagner is a "kings ransom"? After reading your thoughts on Gagner, I think you might. Unfortunately no one else does.

I kinda hope he gets traded now so we can settle this. Make sure to write up a blog either rubbing it in to Pitt fans or eating some crow. Either way I think we all know he's not going to end up in Edmonton. Just not a match. I hope he gets moved to Carolina to play with his big brother.

The flip side of the issue has to do with the fact there is so little enthusiasm for Gagner except for this small group of Oiler apologists. There must be reasons why other teams are not knocking down doors hoping to deal for him. You have to ask yourself, why would the Oil be so anxious to give up Gagner (plus another skater) for a one year rental?

The rest of us are having difficulty following this particular strain of Northern Alberta logic. If your goal is to make Gagner the new Hemsky of the discussion boards, you are succeeding. You have effectively turned what we may have thought was a flaw in the little skaters's game into a worry that there is a gaping hole in the package of what the kid may be able to offer another team.
- spatso

How do you know they aren't?

Richard Cloutier: Terrible Lie: The Sam Gagner Story
- Maxbone

But how much better would Stall be playing between Hall and Yaks?

Yeah... very much.

What would it cost to acquire Tuuka Rask? Maybe Hemsky, prospect and early to mid round pick?

Who's better, Sam Gagner or RJ Umberger?

What would it cost to acquire Tuuka Rask? Maybe Hemsky, prospect and early to mid round pick?
- OilerFanFromBC

Why on earth would boston move their goalie of the future?

Why on earth would boston move their goalie of the future?
- LeaderofthePAEK

Why on earth would they move a young, 35-40 goal scorer?

To get a number one center and a future top pairing dman.

Every player has their price. I agree that Boston has no need to trade him. Doesn't mean it can't be done.

Gagner in Toronto = elite center

Gagner in Edmonton = 2nd round talent
- Starbuck

Basically. I wonder what RNH would be if he were a Leaf.

Why on earth would boston move their goalie of the future?
- LeaderofthePAEK

Mind-altering drugs?

Basically. I wonder what RNH would be if he were a Leaf.
- laughs2907

Sobbing in a corner, cutting himself.

OK, I joke, I kid.

Who's better, Sam Gagner or RJ Umberger?
- LeftCoaster

I take Gagner over Umberger. Not by much.

Why on earth would they move a young, 35-40 goal scorer?

To get a number one center and a future top pairing dman.

Every player has their price. I agree that Boston has no need to trade him. Doesn't mean it can't be done.
- mochoson

Fair enough. I guess I was more outraged at the offer. They didn't even throw Gagne in.

Why do Edmonton fans think Hemsky will be moved? They just resigned they guy. It would be pretty crappy for them to move him. Free agents already skip on Edm enough. No need to sully the organizations reputation by pulling a sign and trade like that.

Fair enough. I guess I was more outraged at the offer. They didn't even throw Gagne in.

Why do Edmonton fans think Hemsky will be moved? They just resigned they guy. It would be pretty crappy for them to move him. Free agents already skip on Edm enough. No need to sully the organizations reputation by pulling a sign and trade like that.
- LeaderofthePAEK

Because fans think real life is just like NHL12.

Compare the career of Sam Gagner to this point to Stephen Weiss' career at the same age.

Absolutely scary how similar they are.

I think I speak for the rest of the fan base when I say Edmonton would be ecstatic if Ganger is a Stephen Weiss.
- mochoson

http://www.coppernblue.co...t-martin-to-stephen-weiss

http://www.coppernblue.com/2012/5/9/3010925/sam-gagners-historical-comparables-from-pit-martin-to-stephen-weiss
- laughs2907

The individual comparsions between Gagner and Weiss are actually scary. Ill compare in a bit.

So I wonder how much Crosby's next contract will be? I'd assume his injuries will hurt the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ he receives...

Basically. I wonder what RNH would be if he were a Leaf.
- laughs2907

Better than Gretzky