When those prospects are here Crosby and Geno will be 30 you also left out letang as a vet. Goc has played limited minutes with sill and Adams. Not saying he's sutter but he's good enough l. To each their own I guess and it will never happen
- dbell646

That still leaves them a good 8 years, their drop offs won't be like going from sid to adams.. it will be like 115 points a season to a ppg at least. We have a good chance of winning the cup this year when everyone is back. We are surviving now and getting points, the difference has been goal tending. Flower is shoiwng us what he can do with a system that doesn't leave him out to dry. I can see a trade happening sometime this year, but I don't think it will be for an "elite" player

that is probably what they would want and I am not sure I would do it, maybe pouliot sutter and a first but even still taylor hall hasn't proven himself to me at least and his leadership and heart haven't really shown me much of anything...I just don't think we can set our selves back that much for 1 player whos not currently a 90+ point scorer

sutter is still hitting his groove and continues to improve game in and game out...maybe sutter, dumo/harrington, and a first? but edm will probably get a better offer than that for him...
- JLT168

He put up 80 as a 22 year old last season on a poopty Edmonton team

What are Downie's possession numbers like? I like the fact that he's putting some goals in and firing the team up but I feel like every time I see him pass the puck it's behind the target or out of reach. I dunno, doesn't seem like he would have very good numbers in that department, but then again, if he's scoring goals who am I to complain

Diving into Downie's league leading 23 minor penalties...

11 of them were coincidentals, so that is fine. He often takes a decent player with him.

But he has put his team shorthanded 12 times, which isn't good.

The good news is that since the bad interference penalty he took against he Islanders which basically sealed up the game, he's only put the Pens short twice in 11 games. One was the trip last night, but the other was a puck over the glass, so you really can't count that one. He has drawn two powerplays during that time as well.

He seems to have reeled himself in a bit lately, which is good.

In a much smaller sample size, Bobby Farnham has not put the Pens short yet, but has drawn two power plays with his hits/antics.

As long as those types of players are on the even or positive side of those penalties, that is great news.
- rival22

I think a lot of those coincidentals would have PP's had he been able to skate away but that's just not in his DNA.

I don't think it makes sense to go after a big name player. They'll have to over-pay and serious weaken the teams depth. I'd like to see them get a guy like Tlusty this year and hopefully get Foligno in FA. There's a few decent wingers available next year if they don't resign.

For the record, I've never been on board with trading Sutter. However, I absolutely believe he'll be leaving (like Staal) for a better situation after next year.

What are Downie's possession numbers like? I like the fact that he's putting some goals in and firing the team up but I feel like every time I see him pass the puck it's behind the target or out of reach. I dunno, doesn't seem like he would have very good numbers in that department, but then again, if he's scoring goals who am I to complain
- neilsonnn18

I have no idea what his possession numbers are, but one area of his game that I underestimated was how good he is on the boards. He protects the puck very well... He's strong enough to bull through people, but has good enough hands to keep control.

He put up 80 as a 22 year old last season on a poopty Edmonton team
- dbell646

and he was also a -15, granted a lot of that was to blame on the personal around him

another thing about taylor hall, hes been healthy for one complete year out of his first 5 seasons...we dont need another dude made out of glass

hell, even in his 25 game stint in the AHL where he manged 35 points, he was a +/- 0, thats also not very good, but that was like 3 years ago...im not sure hes much of a 2 way forward is all, and i dont know how physical he is but im just not sure he fits in here...anyway theres no way wed go after him and give up all that so really its a moot point

I think a lot of those coincidentals would have PP's had he been able to skate away but that's just not in his DNA.
- all-pgh

This is true... but if he wasn't who he was, some of them wouldn't have happened because the opposing player wouldn't have taken that first shot on another player.

His reputation calls/no calls also hurt the Pens too, but he's the one who put himself in that position.

I don't think it makes sense to go after a big name player. They'll have to over-pay and serious weaken the teams depth. I'd like to see them get a guy like Tlusty this year and hopefully get Foligno in FA. There's a few decent wingers available next year if they don't resign.

For the record, I've never been on board with trading Sutter. However, I absolutely believe he'll be leaving (like Staal) for a better situation after next year.
- madmike71

Then figure that out next summer when you can discuss an extension. I don't see the upside to trading him this season with the injuries currently as bad as they are.

What I can see is the trade of Sutter next summer, with an A level prospect and a top round pick for a legit stud winger (cap going up).

Also, I would throw a good chunk of change at Foligno if he hits the open market. I love his style.

I don't think it makes sense to go after a big name player. They'll have to over-pay and serious weaken the teams depth. I'd like to see them get a guy like Tlusty this year and hopefully get Foligno in FA. There's a few decent wingers available next year if they don't resign.

For the record, I've never been on board with trading Sutter. However, I absolutely believe he'll be leaving (like Staal) for a better situation after next year.
- madmike71

I agree... unless you are a rebuilding team with a bunch of young assets, paying out the nose for a "franchise" type player will probably cost you more than he's worth.

If you take a Crosby or Malkin line, the difference in production between a star winger like Hall over a lower end top 6 guy (Perron, Tlusty, etc) is probably not worth the difference in acquisition costs.

There's no way the pens are getting Hall. We don't need elite wingers, we all have seen how much better Sid and Geno can make bottom 6 guys look. All we need is a top 6 level player/players to take out the bottom 6 players and do the sprinkle down effect.

Maatta, Kapanen, 1st for hall. That's really the best package the pens could make

So, apparently Taylor Hall will be available. Also, "Ovechkin West" label beginning to stick to him....ouch!

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...ck--report-000824459.html

I still think he'd be the perfect player for Sid and Horny. I know its almost impossible for us to put an asset package together for him but one can dream. Sid would score 150 pts playing with those 2.

I think Seguin was labeled too. Hows that workin for you Boston

Pretty much. He's just a very mediocre player. I don't understand the fascination people have with him. Maybe it's just the fancy stats crowd? But to me, just with the eye test, he's very mediocre & the drop off from Sutter to Goc is quite significant. He's a solid 4th line center on a Stanley cup team & a 2nd/3rd liner on a borderline-lottery team. I have no objection to him being on the team, but to say he could anchor the 3rd line is a wild overestimation of his abilities IMO.
- ScienceJesus

I completely agree. Goc has less trade value than Scuds does imo. Dont know why we even brought Goc back in the first place.

Maatta, Kapanen, 1st for hall. That's really the best package the pens could make
- drummer829

Would rather have Kane over Hall if we're giving that much up. Hall is soft.

sutter, pouliot, bb, 1st, christian for taylor hall. do it!

I think pouliot is untouchable tbh. He's not a problem off the ice, former 8th pick, CHL defense man on the year, leads WBS in scoring as a dman and he's only 20. He'll be in the NHL next year.

By the end of next year pouliot for hall straight up will probably have us pens fans on the fence of doing it. This kid is going to be great. BTW Pouliot and Letang are the same size
- znagle

Put that boner back in ur pants. Straight up? Justin Schultz led the ahl in scoring. The list of chl dmen of the year award who went on to do diddly is a long one. Not saying he doesn't have the tools but he hasnt played a game in the show. Despres has been playing great too bad dan was an idiot and almost ruined him or who knows were he'd b. I wouldnt think twice about pouliout+sutter+1 for hall . Unfortunately i think tampa will sell the farm for him if Edmonton were to be so stupid...... then again look at Edmonton these days

Maatta, Kapanen, 1st for hall. That's really the best package the pens could make
- drummer829

no cap space

If Maatta, Kapanen, and a 1st is the going rate for Hall, you would seriously have to consider it. It sucks losing an 18 y/o good forward prospect, but you getting back a 23 y/o NHL winger who has proven he can put up points. Losing Maatta would suck, but the Penguins have the young depth in their system to replace that. The first is a non factor to me, considering whoever is drafted there will most likely be 3-4 years away from helping this team. Hall would be a huge upgrade on the winger position for the Pens, and he is locked up on what will be a good contract for the next 5+ years, or all of Crosby & Malkin's primes. Only problem i would see would be getting under the cap this year. If i'm the Pens, I'm exploring the idea.

This is fun and all but there is no way theyre trading hall. Maybe Eberly or Yak just to shake things up but not Hall.

Put that boner back in ur pants. Straight up? Justin Schultz led the ahl in scoring. The list of chl dmen of the year award who went on to do diddly is a long one. Not saying he doesn't have the tools but he hasnt played a game in the show. Despres has been playing great too bad dan was an idiot and almost ruined him or who knows were he'd b. I wouldnt think twice about pouliout+sutter+1 for hall . Unfortunately i think tampa will sell the farm for him if Edmonton were to be so stupid...... then again look at Edmonton these days
- Jordy8

I said by the end of next year. If he gets top 4 like he will, put on even more muscle this offseason and continues to play hockey like he is now in the ahl (points won't be the same at all) then I would rather have a 21 year old Letang copy in pouliot over a 24 year old winger who costs way too much for us to even afford in the first place, especially one who is being labeled as lazy and "ovechkin west". He is also made of glass and soft, no thanks. Sid and geno don't need eliter wingers to put up 100 point seasons and win all the awards, they already do that. We need depth at forward. For Halls contract we can have two solid young guys who can actually play some playoff hockey all the while putting up big points with our all star centers.

Getting rid of sutter is the dumbest idea pens fans have. Goc is NOT a third center, he is a 4th like he is when the team is healthy. Maybe next year we can get rid of sutter at the deadline, unless we can resign him with the cap going up

eliminating at least 2 guys on entry level contracts with massive ceilings for taylor hall?

no thanks. keep the course, keep playing the young guys and develop them and you'll get a much higher benefit than taylor hall.

I wouldnt move maatta for hall. maatta has shown he has a ceiling of a number 1 d-man... if he can stay healthy. i would move pouliot, made expendable by other d-men, sutter, seems to fit a oilers need, KK or BB, kunitz, hornqvuist, hall, duper, and whichever is left would offset the loss, our 1st. would be worth it.

Would rather have Kane over Hall if we're giving that much up. Hall is soft.
- joescullz

Kane hope you mean Patrick. Evander isn't worth that. I'd be hard pressed to add to maatta for him