After watching Boston destroy Pittsburgh over the last three games of the Eastern Finals, it occurs to me that Pittsburgh needs better defense (remembering also what Philadelphia did to them last year in the playoffs).
I'm sure there are better trades to be had for Pittsburgh, but what if Colorado offered Stastny and Eric Johnson for Malkin and Niskanen (or maybe Letang). There would probably need to be picks and/or prospects added to balance things out.
Johnson is the only one with a long-term contract (the rest have only one year left) and the money is roughly the same (Colorado takes on about $1.25m in salary). Colorado gets a bonafide superstar to build around, while Pittsburgh keeps Crosby and adds a second line center that is a good setup man and defensively responsible. And, Pittsburgh adds a potentially good Top 4 defenseman (maybe better).
The only real question I see is whether Malkin will remain healthy (and would consider signing again in Colorado after next season).
Or, what if the trade substituted Ryan O'Reilly for Paul Stastny?
Location: We’re Too Old, Boston Joined: 04.03.2013
Jun 6 @ 3:27 PM ET
After watching Boston destroy Pittsburgh over the last three games of the Eastern Finals, it occurs to me that Pittsburgh needs better defense (remembering also what Philadelphia did to them last year in the playoffs).
I'm sure there are better trades to be had for Pittsburgh, but what if Colorado offered Stastny and Eric Johnson for Malkin and Niskanen (or maybe Letang). There would probably need to be picks and/or prospects added to balance things out.
Johnson is the only one with a long-term contract (the rest have only one year left) and the money is roughly the same (Colorado takes on about $1.25m in salary). Colorado gets a bonafide superstar to build around, while Pittsburgh keeps Crosby and adds a second line center that is a good setup man and defensively responsible. And, Pittsburgh adds a potentially good Top 4 defenseman (maybe better).
The only real question I see is whether Malkin will remain healthy (and would consider signing again in Colorado after next season).
Or, what if the trade substituted Ryan O'Reilly for Paul Stastny? - Puckenstuff
what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul
what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul - RickJames77
Colorado doesn't need Fleury. And they really don't need Malkin either; they need a defense upgrade as much or more than Pittsburgh. And of course this trade proposal would never happen. But here's why it's not as crazy as others have suggested:
Malkin has one year on his contract at $7.5m. Afterwards, he resigns for at least that much, probably $1-2m more. There is no guarantee he stays in Colorado (and doesn't just go right back to Pittsburgh, or elsewhere), but no reason to think he wouldn't stay if they could afford him. He has also had injury issues and as recently as last year there was speculation that his career might be shortened or his potential lessened (ala Eric Lindros) due to it.
Stastny has one year on his contract at $6.6m. As with Malkin, there is no guarantee he stays, but no reason to think he wouldn't if they could afford him. The one-year contracts give both teams time to kick the tires and see if the chemistry is right. Furthermore, Stastny plus Johnson are not as good as Malkin, but Stastny is good enough to be Pittsburgh's second line center and responsible enough with the puck to play better defense (which is what Pittsburgh needs...scoring 5 goals a game doesn't guarantee them as many wins as keeping their opponent under 4 goals).
Johnson has 3-4 years on his contract for about $3.5m a year. That is a far better deal than what they currently have with Letang (who will probably get a raise) and others in their defense core, and even if Johnson isn't the Top pairing d-man Colorado thought he would become, he's still a capable Top 4. Adding Niskanen to the deal is a salary dump for Pittsburgh; any other player could be substituted.
And yes, picks and prospects could be added to balance the deal. One year of Malkin with no guarantee he stays isn't worth as much as you might think. And Stastny + Johnson + a 2014 1st for him isn't much different than the Kopitar + Bernier + a 2014 1st deal others in the media have already floated and called overpayment by LA.
Will it happen? No, of course not. But is it a bad deal? Not really.
what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul - RickJames77
what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul - RickJames77
Did you just seriously suggest that Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang = Paul Stastny and Erik Johnson + any amount of draft picks/prospects? Even if hypothetically we could add enough to our side of the deal and that is a HUGE F'ing IF, that would be on the scale of Kessel to TOR. If I wasn't bored as hell I wouldn't even engage in this conversation it's so off base.
Are there any real Avalanche fans left on this site with a reasonable view as to how to move forward with this team or not?
