Can you elaborate? I don't profess to know everything about Letang's game, but I do know a lot about what the Oilers needs are.
- Morris

letang can absolutely win battles in the corner. he can clear the net. he can stick with almost anyone, as he is fast enough to not get blown by but yet big enough to not have someone out-muscle him. he can go get the puck, and make a crisp first past out of the zone to spring someone.

however, with all of that, you also get his seemingly inexplicable actions as well. you'll see one of the most physically gifted defenders imaginable turn the puck over at the blueline, seemingly always on a crucial powerplay late in the game.

with letang, fair or unfair, its like interceptions in football. he doesnt turn it over too much more than the average defender who handles the puck as much as he does, but damn if he doesnt seem to always have an egregious one at the worst possible moment.

and for a player who is supposed to be an offensive wizard, the guy can suck the life out of a powerplay. he seems to mentally process it a step slower than most, so his passes are usually once the lane is closed up. and his shots from the point, while howitzers, are either into a shinpad or off the glass.

i realize that isnt a glowing report, and this is coming from someone who still sees big time value in him. but still, want him or not, think hes garbage or gold, its at least easier for me to understand when people dislike him for the correct reasons. "hes not physical" should certainly never be one of them.

I was talking about the Pens looking at E. Kane. I think if they moved for Letang and then the Jets moved Big Buff for a forward, just mix the dynamic of the team up and not do a "rebuild with young prospects players".

Could give the jets a brand new dynamic without wasting any prime years of their players in a selling of assets move
- DDM-Coga

If the Jets wanted Letang for Kane, that deal would have already been done. The Penguins brass are high on Evander Kane, according to rumors.

My question for oilers fans is, knowing the webers and keiths are not available... why would nt u want Letang? Nurse and leftbom may help out in the furture, shultz and ference are there to stay.. they will have a top 3 pick... seems like a huge step in the right direction
- Brianandr1

Letang isn't defensively secure.

Letang isn't defensively secure.
- ChetManly

more so than what you have by a country mile.

Letang isn't defensively secure.
- ChetManly

Letang is great in his own zone. Where you see the turnovers from him are usually in the neutral and offensive zones.

Can you elaborate? I don't profess to know everything about Letang's game, but I do know a lot about what the Oilers needs are.
- Morris

I think he means people that claim Letang isn't physical or is bad in his own end. Both couldn't be further from the truth.

Letang isn't defensively secure.
- ChetManly

Totally and completely wrong.

If the Jets wanted Letang for Kane, that deal would have already been done. The Penguins brass are high on Evander Kane, according to rumors.
- cap1681

You are probably right, you would really have to over spend to get a guy like Kane. But Wheeler or Ladd for Letang could be done

letang can absolutely win battles in the corner. he can clear the net. he can stick with almost anyone, as he is fast enough to not get blown by but yet big enough to not have someone out-muscle him. he can go get the puck, and make a crisp first past out of the zone to spring someone.

however, with all of that, you also get his seemingly inexplicable actions as well. you'll see one of the most physically gifted defenders imaginable turn the puck over at the blueline, seemingly always on a crucial powerplay late in the game.

with letang, fair or unfair, its like interceptions in football. he doesnt turn it over too much more than the average defender who handles the puck as much as he does, but damn if he doesnt seem to always have an egregious one at the worst possible moment.

and for a player who is supposed to be an offensive wizard, the guy can suck the life out of a powerplay. he seems to mentally process it a step slower than most, so his passes are usually once the lane is closed up. and his shots from the point, while howitzers, are either into a shinpad or off the glass.

i realize that isnt a glowing report, and this is coming from someone who still sees big time value in him. but still, want him or not, think hes garbage or gold, its at least easier for me to understand when people dislike him for the correct reasons. "hes not physical" should certainly never be one of them.
- stayinthefnnet

I agree, the Tony Romo of Defenseman

I think he means people that claim Letang isn't physical or is bad in his own end. Both couldn't be further from the truth.
- canadianpenfan

exactly. much more succinctly than i put it as well. but to be fair, he said elaborate.

Letang is great in his own zone. Where you see the turnovers from him are usually in the neutral and offensive zones.
- cap1681

If someone wants to stay he's really stupid, I'd be on board with that.

Letang is great in his own zone. Where you see the turnovers from him are usually in the neutral and offensive zones.
- cap1681

exactly. i wonder what percentage of his minuses over the years were strictly due to his own blunders in the neutral and offensive zone that quickly turned the other way. its not as if when hes out there and the other team sets up in the pens zone he just gets bullied out of the way. one on one in a strictly defensive setting, letang can hang with pretty much any forward in the league. the trouble comes when he promptly gives it right back.

You are probably right, you would really have to over spend to get a guy like Kane. But Duchene or Ladd for Letang could be done
- DDM-Coga

Now we're talking...

You are probably right, you would really have to over spend to get a guy like Kane. But Wheeler or Ladd for Letang could be done
- DDM-Coga

There could be something there, but i believe that the Peg would have to add something to it to get it done. Unless it's an elite talent (which i believe Kane has the potential to be), a pmd defenseman has more value then a top 6 forward. I don't think the Jets are willing to add anything of value (prospects or picks)

they should target E. Kane instead
- DDM-Coga

Yes we should.

You are probably right, you would really have to over spend to get a guy like Kane. But Wheeler or Ladd for Letang could be done
- DDM-Coga

id gladly take wheeler or ladd on the pens, but i would try to do it without moving letang. for letang, i would want it to be a bigger deal based around a guy like kane or eberle.

Easy way to show Edmonton's problems

Eberle - 5'11, 180lbs
Gagner - 5'11, 202 lbs
Yakupov - 5'11, 186 lbs
RNH - 6'1, 180 lbs
Taylor Hall 6'1, 201 lbs
Perron - 6'0, 198 lbs

a bunch of small, highly skilled forwards yes
big enough to play against NHL D, no.

With these numbers, I'd say RNH, Yaks, Eberle, and Arcobello are all undersized. They could potentially grow into their bodies and gain size, but that will take 3 or more years.
The top 6 weigh a combined 1147 lbs.
In comparison, Pittsburgh's weigh 1201. 54 pounds more.
Blackhawks weigh 1212, 65 pounds more.

most of the top 6 on other teams are taller, closer to 6'1 as well. The extra reach can make a difference

letang can absolutely win battles in the corner. he can clear the net. he can stick with almost anyone, as he is fast enough to not get blown by but yet big enough to not have someone out-muscle him. he can go get the puck, and make a crisp first past out of the zone to spring someone.

however, with all of that, you also get his seemingly inexplicable actions as well. you'll see one of the most physically gifted defenders imaginable turn the puck over at the blueline, seemingly always on a crucial powerplay late in the game.

with letang, fair or unfair, its like interceptions in football. he doesnt turn it over too much more than the average defender who handles the puck as much as he does, but damn if he doesnt seem to always have an egregious one at the worst possible moment.

and for a player who is supposed to be an offensive wizard, the guy can suck the life out of a powerplay. he seems to mentally process it a step slower than most, so his passes are usually once the lane is closed up. and his shots from the point, while howitzers, are either into a shinpad or off the glass.

i realize that isnt a glowing report, and this is coming from someone who still sees big time value in him. but still, want him or not, think hes garbage or gold, its at least easier for me to understand when people dislike him for the correct reasons. "hes not physical" should certainly never be one of them.
- stayinthefnnet

Letang has some Tony Romo tendencies the past year and a half.

I agree, the Tony Romo of Defenseman
- kfinl170

Haha, I didn't even see your comment.

Letang isn't defensively secure.
- ChetManly

He's decent in his own end. It's when he gets on the other side of the redline with the puck where bad things happen. Such as a soft giveaway or a dangerous cut into the middle with his head down.

Now we're talking...
- canadianpenfan

oh you trickster

Letang has some Tony Romo tendencies the past year and a half.
- Ryan_Wilson

thats the comparison i was going for, glad to see both of you nailed it.

Letang has some Tony Romo tendencies the past year and a half.
- Ryan_Wilson

when you throw them is just as, if not more, important than simply how many

Easy way to show Edmonton's problems

Eberle - 5'11, 180lbs
Gagner - 5'11, 202 lbs
Yakupov - 5'11, 186 lbs
RNH - 6'1, 180 lbs
Taylor Hall 6'1, 201 lbs
Perron - 6'0, 198 lbs

a bunch of small, highly skilled forwards yes
big enough to play against NHL D, no.

With these numbers, I'd say RNH, Yaks, Eberle, and Arcobello are all undersized. They could potentially grow into their bodies and gain size, but that will take 3 or more years.
The top 6 weigh a combined 1147 lbs.
In comparison, Pittsburgh's weigh 1201. 54 pounds more.
Blackhawks weigh 1212, 65 pounds more.

most of the top 6 on other teams are taller, closer to 6'1 as well. The extra reach can make a difference
- ILoveLamp

54 and 65 pounds amongst 6 guys is hardly a big difference. Arcobello is 10 times more physical than any of those other forwards. Perron too. Size does not always = physical presence. Penner was a top 6 forward with us for a few years and had all the physical presence of a houseplant. Breaking it down to poundage is simplistic.

id gladly take wheeler or ladd on the pens, but i would try to do it without moving letang. for letang, i would want it to be a bigger deal based around a guy like kane or eberle.
- stayinthefnnet

its just touh to get an E.Kane or Eberle bc there is just so much hype surrounding those guys, you really have to overspend to get them, they have some inflated value to them based on past glory.

other than those guys, I dont really know what teams or young wingers that you should target