Depends how you look at it.

It might be too much for the Pens to give up, but Kesler is worth quite a bit more.

And another team will undoubtedly pay more if he's moved.
- Fosco

Any time a player goes public with his desire to be moved, you don't get back what the player is worth if said player is good. Shero dealt with an idiot in Carolina and maximized his return. There are other idiot GMs out there, but I think Gillis is one of the bigger idiots in the league. I wouldn't trust Gillis at all.

The pieces Pittsburgh has aren't quite right. If I'm Gillis, I don't move him unless the package is a great fit.
- Johnny Wrath

There simply isn't a match here.

Watch out, it may seem to others that we hate Kris Letang. Blatant conspiracy.
- Johnny Wrath

Persecution complex, much?

Persecution complex, much?
- BulliesPhan87

That depends on whether you think it's the case that anything but airtight defense of Kris Letang is the result of a very personal, vitriolic hatred of the guy. Ryan Whitney before him.

That depends on whether you think it's the case that anything but airtight defense of Kris Letang is the result of a very personal, vitriolic hatred of the guy. Ryan Whitney before him.
- Johnny Wrath

I think a lot of things. I don't think that's one of them.

After flaming out of the playoffs again, Pittsburgh spent last summer embracing their failure by retaining Bylsma, Fleury, Dupuis, Letang, &c. Reaching into the past and pulling out Rob Scuderi was not the answer, either. The team needed a minor player rebuild and a difference in on-ice philosophy in a way that has been very obvious for the past three seasons.

I think winning that 2009 Championship against a much better Detroit team is as good as it's going to get, hockey fans. All of this 'dynasty' stuff was abandoned last summer. The only real shot Pittsburgh had coming into this season was to trade Kris Letang. What happens with him at this point is a complete unknown.

I'm usually not one to look at the empty half of the glass, but if one examines Chicago and then Washington, then asks which of the two Pittsburgh more closely resembles - I don't like what I'm seeing. No, rather, I still don't like what I'm seeing.
- Johnny Wrath

You say they needed a minor rebuild yet the players you are complaining about that they kept are far from minor players on the team. So basically you gave up on the season because they didn't trade Letang during the offseason? I guess there is no reason to follow them this year then.

You're a strange fellow. You show up in every Canucks-related thread to make a sarcastic/disparaging comment about Canuck players/fans. Do you need a hug or something? Did a Canuck or Canuck fan screw your wife? Kick your dog? I know this site is jokes and all, but you seem to have some pretty deep Canuck-related issues.
- nucks_94

I just a kick out of seeing you guys go into your sales mode for a guy who would be the Penguins third line centre. It was the same routine with Luongo last year. Maybe I shouldn't find this funny but I do.

Josh Yohe ‏@JoshYohe_Trib 6s
Letang said his wife found him on the floor morning of stroke. He was alert but "couldn't function."

Sheesh... scary scary stuff

The pieces Pittsburgh has aren't quite right. If I'm Gillis, I don't move him unless the package is a great fit.
- Johnny Wrath

Pretty much.

Would make for one of the most dominant groups of centres in the last 20 years or so, if the Penguins could somehow put the winning package together.

Pretty scary.

Any time a player goes public with his desire to be moved, you don't get back what the player is worth if said player is good. Shero dealt with an idiot in Carolina and maximized his return. There are other idiot GMs out there, but I think Gillis is one of the bigger idiots in the league. I wouldn't trust Gillis at all.
- Oneonta Penguin

Ok

I just a kick out of seeing you guys go into your sales mode for a guy who would be the Penguins third line centre. It was the same routine with Luongo last year. Maybe I shouldn't find this funny but I do.
- Canada Cup

It goes to show you where the Vancouver franchise truly is right now ... a sinking ship.

I'd do Sutter, Pouliot, 1st.

Too much? I sucks at trade proposals
- nucks_94

Not a chance I would ...

Sutter, Bennett and a 1st.

Once again you have fans wanting a high-end player but sounding exasperated when someone suggest that it is going to cost some top prospects or young players, especially when the player in question is not a rental.

It would make the Pens overwhelming powerful at center, but with the cap, you are probably better off spending the players and/or money on wingers.

Finally, would Kesler welcome a trade to a team where he is going to be on the third line? I realize the two guys in front are generational talents, but you would think he would prefer to have increased ice time if he makes a move.

I just a kick out of seeing you guys go into your sales mode for a guy who would be the Penguins third line centre. It was the same routine with Luongo last year. Maybe I shouldn't find this funny but I do.
- Canada Cup

It wasn't us who suggested the Pens should trade for him... it was the blog. I came to discuss potential value...

I wonder what Matt Cooke would be worth at the deadline....

26653

Despres for Cooke?

Vancouver wants scoring, Ottawa wants a responsible power forward. Does a Spezza for Kesler deal not make perfect sense?
Yes, Spezza has a higher cap hit but real cash is less and they both have a little term left on their contracts.
As a Sens fan I'd be happy and as Nucks fan I'd be happy with the return (more so if Kesler has asked out of Van).
- Kayak_kid25

You say they needed a minor rebuild yet the players you are complaining about that they kept are far from minor players on the team. So basically you gave up on the season because they didn't trade Letang during the offseason? I guess there is no reason to follow them this year then.
- acdc1206

The Penguins had the incentive and the opportunity last summer to make changes to a team which - let's be clear - isn't under-performing; it is self-destructing in the playoffs. A minor rebuild means that Malkin and Crosby are both retained.

The way Pittsburgh re-committed to a losing model is far more like D.C., who are losers, than Chicago, who are twice winners since 2009. This whole thread, in fact, is about trying to revert more to that old model.

I predict that the longer the Penguins embrace the model which has been under use since, say, 2010, the more drastic the eventual change will be. The difference is that last summer, Kris Letang was at the very peak of his trade value. The same may be true of Evgeni Malkin. It's hard to fathom that Malkin's trade value is going to go up. It's all very disappointing.

I would want Maata, plus more. Nothing less. Jordan Staal is definitely not Ryan Kesler.

I would want Maata, plus more. Nothing less. Jordan Staal is definitely not Ryan Kesler.
- lkeh73

People complain, but Jordan Staal has done exactly nothing in Carolina. I would rather have the cap space.

Pascal Dupuis will be playing with Sid next season. You can bring Kesler in, keep Niskanen and resign Jokinen.

A top 9 of:
Kunitz - Crosby - Dupuis
Jokinen - Malkin - Neal
Megna - Kesler - Bennett

is pretty decent (if Bennett plays at all).
- rival22

Kesler is tempramentle. Putting him on the Third line would result in him asking for a trade out of Pittsburgh

I would want Maata, plus more. Nothing less. Jordan Staal is definitely not Ryan Kesler.
- lkeh73

After his play at the Olympics and the fact that he is under team control for another 5-6 years, Maatta's value is higher than Kesler's right now.

Any time a player goes public with his desire to be moved, you don't get back what the player is worth if said player is good. Shero dealt with an idiot in Carolina and maximized his return. There are other idiot GMs out there, but I think Gillis is one of the bigger idiots in the league. I wouldn't trust Gillis at all.
- Oneonta Penguin

Yeah, I'm sorry but you're not getting Kesler at below market value.

Kesler is tempramentle. Putting him on the Third line would result in him asking for a trade out of Pittsburgh
- vancity787

Not if he's also getting 16+ minutes with PP and PK time and throw him out there with Sid at RW when you need a goal. He'd be amazing in that role as well.

Crosby-Malkin-Kesler would be one of the best 1-2-3 center punches in a long time. My goodness.... And especially in the East where I only see Pit/Bos are true elite teams, the Pens would be a lock to make the ECF every year if the big guns stay healthy IMO.

The Penguins had the incentive and the opportunity last summer to make changes to a team which - let's be clear - isn't under-performing; it is self-destructing in the playoffs. A minor rebuild means that Malkin and Crosby are both retained.

The way Pittsburgh re-committed to a losing model is far more like D.C., who are losers, than Chicago, who are twice winners since 2009. This whole thread, in fact, is about trying to revert more to that old model.

I predict that the longer the Penguins embrace the model which has been under use since, say, 2010, the more drastic the eventual change will be. The difference is that last summer, Kris Letang was at the very peak of his trade value. The same may be true of Evgeni Malkin. It's hard to fathom that Malkin's trade value is going to go up. It's all very disappointing.
- Johnny Wrath

It will be a shame if that's how the Crosby/Malkin era would be remembered.

The way Pittsburgh re-committed to a losing model is far more like D.C., who are losers, than Chicago, who are twice winners since 2009. This whole thread, in fact, is about trying to revert more to that old model.
- Johnny Wrath

Since 2008-09:
Blackhawks have won 10 playoff series
Bruins -9
Penguins - 7
Red Wings - 6
Kings - 6
Caps - 3

Yes... the Blackhawks are the best of the best right now, but let's not get carried away and compare the Pens to the Caps in the playoffs.

And the Blackhawks haven't been without their two best forwards for 200+ games during that span either.

I'd do Sutter, Pouliot, 1st.

Too much? I sucks at trade proposals
- nucks_94

Not a chance I would ...

Sutter, Bennett and a 1st.

Once again you have fans wanting a high-end player but sounding exasperated when someone suggest that it is going to cost some top prospects or young players, especially when the player in question is not a rental.

It would make the Pens overwhelming powerful at center, but with the cap, you are probably better off spending the players and/or money on wingers.

Finally, would Kesler welcome a trade to a team where he is going to be on the third line? I realize the two guys in front are generational talents, but you would think he would prefer to have increased ice time if he makes a move.
- session32

Kesler is not worth 3 1st round picks. That in essence what that offer is. Not happening unless Vancouver retains a maximum 50% of his salary which again is also not happening