I agree on all counts but I will ask why again that you feel this way. Giroux point totals are down and Richards defensive play is much better then Giroux. Richards has also won't every hockey championship there is to offer. So again, why Giroux? I agree with you but why...?
- SuperSchennBros

would you trade G straight up for Richards?

I agree on all counts but I will ask why again that you feel this way. Giroux point totals are down and Richards defensive play is much better then Giroux. Richards has also won't every hockey championship there is to offer. So again, why Giroux? I agree with you but why...?
- SuperSchennBros

Giroux has proven to be an elite player in this league. A top 5 player, I would say. He's solid defensively and he's one of the most gifted playmakers in the world. Players of his skill level are hard to come by. His points may been down this year but, even so, he's producing more than Richards. I like Richards and he's a really good player, but his defensive play isn't that much better than Giroux's to make up for the massive disparity in offensive capabilities.

would you trade G straight up for Richards?
- nastyflyergirl

I bet if you called LA right now, they would do that in a heartbeat

I agree on all counts but I will ask why again that you feel this way. Giroux point totals are down and Richards defensive play is much better then Giroux. Richards has also won't every hockey championship there is to offer. So again, why Giroux? I agree with you but why...?
- SuperSchennBros

I'll explain again what I tried to explain last night. If Giroux remains a top scorer in the League, he's a better player then Richards. If Giroux is a 60-70 point scorer, he's not. Mike Richards doesn't have near the offensive talent and ability that Giroux has. But he has a better defensive game. Both have intangibles. It's what I said last night. A player with an all around 2 way game is always better then a player who is an offensive player. Unless that offensive player is a top Offensive player such as Giroux was last year. Or like Malkin and Crosby are.

Not even going to start this discussion on the Flyers thread, but if your really offended by that postings of a blogger on HockeyBuzz, then you not as tough as you say you are. They are words, no where near some of the hate that both Pens and Flyers fans spew on these boards all the time against each other.
- cap1681

I read everyones blogs and if its something completely unprofessional i write something. Im not saying weve had our share of dirty players but come one.. Dont remember anyone in here standing up for Jesse Boulerice after that Vancouver game a few years ago. But if Cindy wants to whack our guys (probably off more than anything) and we hit him back I dont wanna hear him crying. Kinda like when your fans did when Hatch put him on his ass

I bet if you called LA right now, they would do that in a heartbeat
- cap1681

indeed

would you trade G straight up for Richards?
- nastyflyergirl

Only if I was hammered drunk.

I like Mike Richards and really don't want to make this about Richards or Giroux, because the comparison just isn't fair to Richards or Giroux. Both players are asked to do completely different things on a nightly basis.

Giroux has proven to be an elite player in this league. A top 5 player, I would say. He's solid defensively and he's one of the most gifted playmakers in the world. Players of his skill level are hard to come by. His points may been down this year but, even so, he's producing more than Richards. I like Richards and he's a really good player, but his defensive play isn't that much better than Giroux's to make up for the massive disparity in offensive capabilities.
- NickTheKid87

I agree with most of that. But not all. Giroux is a good Penalty killer. But he is not the defensive player that Richards is. Giroux is a below average defensive player at best at ES. And a lot of times his defensive play can be suspect. But he obviously makes up for it in other areas.

Good point. For the record, I am totally against blind hate for rival fans/teams. Rivalries are a lot of fun but hating cities/players/fans just because of the team is crazy. It's basically hockey racism.
- NickTheKid87

I'll explain again what I tried to explain last night. If Giroux remains a top scorer in the League, he's a better player then Richards. If Giroux is a 60-70 point scorer, he's not. Mike Richards doesn't have near the offensive talent and ability that Giroux has. But he has a better defensive game. Both have intangibles. It's what I said last night. A player with an all around 2 way game is always better then a player who is an offensive player. Unless that offensive player is a top Offensive player such as Giroux was last year. Or like Malkin and Crosby are.
- MJL

What point totals are you assuming for Richards going forward? Cause he only put up 44 last year. Less than half of what G did. And Giroux is no slouch defensively. I would love to have both of them here, but Giroux is the better player.

I read everyones blogs and if its something completely unprofessional i write something. Im not saying weve had our share of dirty players but come one.. Dont remember anyone in here standing up for Jesse Boulerice after that Vancouver game a few years ago. But if Cindy wants to whack our guys (probably off more than anything) and we hit him back I dont wanna hear him crying. Kinda like when your fans did when Hatch put him on his ass
- BernieKorch

Bad example, considering Crosby scored the game winner in overtime in that game.

What point totals are you assuming for Richards going forward? Cause he only put up 44 last year. Less than half of what G did. And Giroux is no slouch defensively. I would love to have both of them here, but Giroux is the better player.
- Feanor

Giroux is an average at best defensive player. And is often below average in ES defensive play. That's a low point total for Richards. He is very capable of scoring in that 60-70 pt range.
Giroux when at his best, is definitely the better player.

What point totals are you assuming for Richards going forward? Cause he only put up 44 last year. Less than half of what G did. And Giroux is no slouch defensively. I would love to have both of them here, but Giroux is the better player.
- Feanor

If Giroux only put up 70-75 from here on out, and Richards put up 60-65 again, then I agree with MJL's analysis that Richie would be more valuable. However, that seems highly unlikely. I think Grioux will be a 90-100 point guy while Richards will be more in the 50-60 range.

Can you please read the last part of this blog before you continue:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...ost_id=49077#.USUITh2R-8A

Also this one:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=49290

Bill does a great job at explaining how trading works. It's not as cut and dry as you seem to think.
- NickTheKid87

I know how they work did bill put on that blog how l schenn for jvr was on table for over a year? It's called pulling the trigger. Did bill put in that blog how homer traded Ritchie and Carter in a half hour of each other? Here's the facts buddy don't take it the wrong way but I refuse to believe homer can't call a team like Phoenix for only an example and say we need d you need forwards let's get it done. There 29 other teams and a lot of them would be willing. And if you remember when Ritchie got traded a lot of gm's Came out and said "we didn't even know Richards was on the trade block" ask bill about that. Trades get done fast all the time. Don't be fooled

Bad example, considering Crosby scored the game winner in overtime in that game.
- cap1681

Be careful poking the sleeping bear.

/Bryz

Its going to hurt when that happens this year while Giroux plays the front 9 huh

Good point. For the record, I am totally against blind hate for rival fans/teams. Rivalries are a lot of fun but hating cities/players/fans just because of the team is crazy. It's basically hockey racism.
- NickTheKid87

People are people so why should it be you and I should get along so awfully? Held the door for a dude at Wawa this morning. Was a Pens fan.

Be careful poking the sleeping bear.

/Bryz
- johndewar

I've watched a lot of Penguins games, and it intersting how Crosby and Malkin take being played physical. Crosby gets hit hard, and usually gets more focused and plays better. Malkin can get frustrated at times and take stupid penalties. The way to try and slow down Crosby is to play him tight and try to take away his space, not try and be physical with him.

Its going to hurt when that happens this year while Giroux plays the front 9 huh
- nbartley9

Those boys at Pensblog have far too much time (and meth) on their hands.

I've watched a lot of Penguins games, and it intersting how Crosby and Malkin take being played physical. Crosby gets hit hard, and usually gets more focused and plays better. Malkin can get frustrated at times and take stupid penalties. The way to try and slow down Crosby is to play him tight and try to take away his space, not try and be physical with him.
- cap1681

Agreed.

There was a time you could throw Crosby off his game but he has matured in that regard. It's been impressive to watch, really.

That said, I'll still yell mean things about him when I go to the game.

It's all in the game.

I know how they work did bill put on that blog how l schenn for jvr was on table for over a year? It's called pulling the trigger. Did bill put in that blog how homer traded Ritchie and Carter in a half hour of each other? Here's the facts buddy don't take it the wrong way but I refuse to believe homer can't call a team like Phoenix for only an example and say we need d you need forwards let's get it done. There 29 other teams and a lot of them would be willing. And if you remember when Ritchie got traded a lot of gm's Came out and said "we didn't even know Richards was on the trade block" ask bill about that. Trades get done fast all the time. Don't be fooled
- SMS4016

Did you read the blog though? It explains that it's not as easy as just calling up a team a making a swap. The Flyers aren't the only team that would want OEL and the Flyers are dealing from a point of weakness. We NEED a puck mover and a guy like OEL would be incredibly valuable to use considering his abilities and age. Phoenix would know this too. We need OEL more than they need Couturier.

The Leafs wanted MORE for Schenn than just JVR btw.

Agreed.

There was a time you could throw Crosby off his game but he has matured in that regard. It's been impressive to watch, really.

That said, I'll still yell mean things about him when I go to the game.

It's all in the game.
- johndewar

Please keep doing it. Usually, the louder the "Crosby sucks" chant is, the better he is playing.

On this team he is. Yes if he was in say buffalo he'd be a 2 maybe top center but we have g and schenn. Just like Pitt has Crosby then malkin and what happened?? Bye bye staal.
- SMS4016

The only reason Staal left is because he wanted to. Remember the massive contract offer they had in store for him in Pitt? He wanted to go to a place where he could be used more. He picked to play with his brother.

I also think Schenn will be more offensively productive. 65-75 point type of player while Couturier will be more of a 55-65 point guy. However, Couturier's defensive ability (potentially to be the best defensive forward in the game) closes that offensive gap and then some.

Sort of like Richards and Giroux but on the flip side. Richards is a better defensive forward than Giroux (although Giroux is not to be taken lightly in this regard) but Giroux's offensive talents are elite, as we've seen already. That give's G a huge advantage over Richards.
- NickTheKid87

Okay, I will dog deeper. Who was better within their time spent here?

Lindros vs. BrindAmour

Roenick vs. Primeau

Giroux vs. Richards

Schenn vs. Couturier

I just don't find it to be an easy picI.

People are people so why should it be you and I should get along so awfully? Held the door for a dude at Wawa this morning. Was a Pens fan.
- Flyskippy

I worked with a Pens fan for 6 months and ate lunch with him everyday. It was fun going back and forth after the games. One of my other friends is also a Pens fan and that playoff series was also a ton of fun to go back and forth with. Tbh I find it more fun to befriend rival fans than to make them my enemy.