I didn't watch it, and I'm not much of a boxing fan, but the article on ESPN.com seems to imply that all the experts, as well as Pacquiao's opponent and his manager, seem to think there was no question Pacquaio won that fight.
- buffalofan19

pacquaio out hit him 2 to 1
landed a higher % of punches
double the power punches

espn judge had pacquaio winning all but 1 rd as did the hbo judges

I was turned off of boxing 10 years ago and was thinking about watching a few fights

til last night that is

I am aware of all that. There are ways to get around that. Those contracts are not air-tight and never will be. If someone wanted him bad enough, they could make it work.
- buffalofan19

9 points in 7 games is strong for a team that only got 14 goals in that tourney

darcy screwed the pooch with him, and I think he is still our rights if he comes to the nhl

(remember the comment was not meant to single you out)

I dont need another vince situation right now

in case you missed it last night

pacquaio out hit him 2 to 1
landed a higher % of punches
double the power punches

espn judge had pacquaio winning all but 1 rd as did the hbo judges

I was turned off of boxing 10 years ago and was thinking about watching a few fights

til last night that is
- homiedclown

I may be about to start a political firestorm that I'm not sure I want to get into, but, if Pacquaio had said the exact opposite of what he said about gay marriage not too long ago, I can think of about 5 activist groups off the top of my head that would be calling for an investigation into the judges almost immediately...just saying.

next weeks instant classic

sucks to be michael madison

I may be about to start a political firestorm that I'm not sure I want to get into, but, if Pacquaio had said the exact opposite of what he said about gay marriage not too long ago, I can think of about 5 activist groups off the top of my head that would be calling for an investigation into the judges almost immediately...just saying.
- buffalofan19

9 points in 7 games is strong for a team that only got 14 goals in that tourney

darcy screwed the pooch with him, and I think he is still our rights if he comes to the nhl

(remember the comment was not meant to single you out)

I dont need another vince situation right now

- homiedclown

No, I know you weren't. I'm just very wary of the "look how good he's doing in a lower level against lesser competition" argument. It's almost never apples and oranges. Now, his numbers in that tournament are impressive, but, when your team doesn't win much, it can be deluded as well. There's a lot of garbage time stats and whatnot to sift through.

It's why I really stay clear of really any authoritative hockey prospect talk. The reality is, because I live in the US, my exposure to them is limited to youtube videos, the World Juniors, and maybe the Memorial Cup, which isn't a great sample size. It's also why I'm not that big on moving up in the draft. If they do it, great, but if not, it's not the end of the world either. It's a crapshoot.

At this point, I'm so sick of hearing all these same arguments day in and day out. It's the same thing every day. It's ok for us to say what we want to happen, but for people to say "this will never happen" or "there's nobody on the Sabres that Pittsburgh would want" is completely ridiculous. Like you said, none of us are Ray Shero or know him personally.

I think this offseason is going to be pretty interesting in general. League wide. Especially because of the CBA side of things.
- HonkFortheGoose

It is getting kinda funny from a pens fan perspective. Staal doesnt want to leave and be a number 1, Buffalo, Toronto, have nothing the Pens want. Also there will definately be a suitor for Paul Martin

It's also why I'm not that big on moving up in the draft. If they do it, great, but if not, it's not the end of the world either. It's a crapshoot.
- buffalofan19

speaking of the draft, the more I see, hear and read (reid)
I am kinda hoping the sabres stand pat and draft Tom Wilson with the first pick ( a bit early but the kid is sky rocketing up the charts) and Henrik Samuelsson with the Preds pick

both are physical wingers that would open the ice for speedy young centers

pacquaio out hit him 2 to 1
landed a higher % of punches
double the power punches

espn judge had pacquaio winning all but 1 rd as did the hbo judges

I was turned off of boxing 10 years ago and was thinking about watching a few fights

til last night that is
- homiedclown

I watched it at a buddies house on firstrowsports last night. What a joke. Had a paid for that crap I would have been pissed. 12 rounds of fighting and both guys appeared ok afterwards. In that situation they should have 3 round overtime mandatory winner take all.

Pen's fans opinions on trading Staal...

"Blah blah blah".

They run anywhere from "He's not a legitimate #1 Center" all the way to "He loves Pittsburgh and wants the best chance to win Cups (they won one in the Crosby era) and he'd play for next to nothing to stay there".

Then the posts about "Buffalo doesn't have any picks/prospects/players to get a deal done but Minnesota or Winnipeg does"

Get real.... Nobody on here knows Jordan Staal or Ray Shero personally. No one on here has a CLUE as to what he wants to do or where he wants to go and no one knows what Shero is thinking long term.

Practically any team in the league could make a proposal that would land Staal., however outlandish and stupid they might be.
- Pairo11

I look at it from a logic standpoint. What are the Sabres best trade assets? Young defenseman like McNabb, Psysk. Where are the Penguins strongest with their prospects? Young defenseman like Despres, morrow, Harrington. Stafford and Roy aren't gonna cut it.

Personally I would rather keep Staal for another crack at a Cup run and lose him for nothing than just trade him for ancillary parts that don't have significant value.

I look at it from a logic standpoint. What are the Sabres best trade assets? Young defenseman like McNabb, Psysk. Where are the Penguins strongest with their prospects? Young defenseman like Despres, morrow, Harrington. Stafford and Roy aren't gonna cut it.

Personally I would rather keep Staal for another crack at a Cup run and lose him for nothing than just trade him for ancillary parts that don't have significant value.
- Gunner Staal

I never understood why this is a novel concept to people. If Pittsburgh keeps him, wins a cup, and then loses him to the highest bidder, it's still worth more than the king's ransom they might get, coupled with not winning the cup.

I look at it from a logic standpoint. What are the Sabres best trade assets? Young defenseman like McNabb, Psysk. Where are the Penguins strongest with their prospects? Young defenseman like Despres, morrow, Harrington. Stafford and Roy aren't gonna cut it.

Personally I would rather keep Staal for another crack at a Cup run and lose him for nothing than just trade him for ancillary parts that don't have significant value.
- Gunner Staal

move staal to a wing on the top line and have him play center on pk

injury comes along to sid or geno then plug him at center on second line

I tihnk they can make it work, if they want to

I never understood why this is a novel concept to people. If Pittsburgh keeps him, wins a cup, and then loses him to the highest bidder, it's still worth more than the king's ransom they might get, coupled with not winning the cup.
- buffalofan19

If


that is why

my 2 cents

speaking of the draft, the more I see, hear and read (reid)
I am kinda hoping the sabres stand pat and draft Tom Wilson with the first pick ( a bit early but the kid is sky rocketing up the charts) and Henrik Samuelsson with the Preds pick

both are physical wingers that would open the ice for speedy young centers
- homiedclown

Samuelsson...

If


that is why

my 2 cents
- homiedclown

When it comes to a player that's as good as Staal is, the odds are just as good either way you go. I'm not saying that trading him is a bad move, just that keeping him for the duration of his contract isn't as ludicrous or impossible as some people make it sound. The notion that you absolutely have to get value for a guy you will most likely lose in free agency is a false one.

I never understood why this is a novel concept to people. If Pittsburgh keeps him, wins a cup, and then loses him to the highest bidder, it's still worth more than the king's ransom they might get, coupled with not winning the cup.
- buffalofan19

He has 1 year left on his deal and will be a UFA with no guarantee on signing wherever he is potentially traded to. Teams will be hesitant to give up true value for Staal and the Penguins cant/shouldn't move him for the sake of doing so. There isnt going to be a kings ransom unless he signs extension with the new team before the trade goes through but he said he is going to July 1 per Shero. For these reasons I don't think he will be moved.

He has 1 year left on his deal and will be a UFA with no guarantee on signing wherever he is potentially traded to. Teams will be hesitant to give up true value for Staal and the Penguins cant/shouldn't move him for the sake of doing so. There isnt going to be a kings ransom unless he signs extension with the new team before the trade goes through but he said he is going to July 1 per Shero. For these reasons I don't think he will be moved.
- Gunner Staal

It's why I said "might" get. If a GM has reason to believe, delusional or not, that he can get Staal to sign long term, he'll give up more for him.

move staal to a wing on the top line and have him play center on pk

injury comes along to sid or geno then plug him at center on second line

I tihnk they can make it work, if they want to
- homiedclown

I think you will see them try that. It's up to Staal if that is something he wants long term. Who wouldn't want to ride shotgun with Sid? I'm fine with paying Staal as much as 6.5M if he is willing to play wing.

It's why I said "might" get. If a GM has reason to believe, delusional or not, that he can get Staal to sign long term, he'll give up more for him.
- buffalofan19

I think we both agree that a GM would have to wow Shero to get him to pull the trigger. These garbage Schenn propositions are just that, garbage.

OTTAWA SUN: Bruce Garrioch lists Columbus right wing Rick Nash, Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, Pittsburgh center Jordan Staal, LA Kings goalie Jonathan Bernier and Boston netminder Tim Thomas as his top five “pre-draft” trade possibilities. Garrioch links Nash with the Rangers, Sharks and Sabres, noted Luongo’s contract make him tough to move, linked Staal to the Sabres and Blues, claimed the Blue Jackets made a pitch for Bernier last year, and suggested Thomas could be dealt to a team seeking to reach the salary cap floor next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Sabres are to pursue Nash or Staal, they’ll certainly have to move out some salary to accommodate either guy. As Garrioch noted, Derek Roy is believed available, but his stock has been in decline.The Blues new ownership isn’t expected to pursue trades for “name” players this summer. Interesting comment about the Blue Jackets and Bernier, as reports out of Columbus suggest the Blue Jackets have been lukewarm toward him.


Staal, Parise and Nash , can't see us getting any of them.

I think we both agree that a GM would have to wow Shero to get him to pull the trigger. These garbage Schenn propositions are just that, garbage.
- Gunner Staal

Absolutely. Either way, the Penguins are dealing from a position of strength. Any extension for Crosby which would hypothetically push Staal out of Pittsburgh, won't take effect until 2013-2014. If Staal stays in Pittsburgh next season, he'll help their team in 2012-2013 as well as any return Pittsburgh will get for him.

Now, one thing I will say, is that you should never discount the prospect of a 3-way trade. The Sabres or Leafs may not have what the Penguins are looking for, but another team might, and not looking to take on a potential big contract that Staal would command. It's not entirely likely, but not impossible either.

I think we both agree that a GM would have to wow Shero to get him to pull the trigger. These garbage Schenn propositions are just that, garbage.
- Gunner Staal

The leafs can't get Staal

They are already getting Kane, Iggy, Luongo, Shea Weber, Suter, Getzlaf and Parise this off season

Absolutely. Either way, the Penguins are dealing from a position of strength. Any extension for Crosby which would hypothetically push Staal out of Pittsburgh, won't take effect until 2013-2014. If Staal stays in Pittsburgh next season, he'll help their team in 2012-2013 as well as any return Pittsburgh will get for him.

Now, one thing I will say, is that you should never discount the prospect of a 3-way trade. The Sabres or Leafs may not have what the Penguins are looking for, but another team might, and not looking to take on a potential big contract that Staal would command. It's not entirely likely, but not impossible either.
- buffalofan19

the cap will go up a higher % then crosby's new contract IMO

The leafs can't get Staal

They are already getting Kane, Iggy, Luongo, Shea Weber, Suter, Getzlaf and Parise this off season
- homiedclown

Not true. Pittsburg is going to take Connolly in return. They are basically the same player, different haircut.