Cap space would shed us 700K... Those two are 3.5 mil combined, Sutter and Bennett 4.2 mil.
- Guile

How about we stay put. I mean, really is a FW and a D going to magically make this team play like a team? I mean, maybe we'll go one more round deeper, but this team is not Cup-worthy. I say stay put now when the pool of talent is shallow, and make your moves in the offseason. Then come back stronger next year.

Of course you need secondary scoring in the playoffs. But if Malkin and Crosby are consistently shut down, the way they've been for the past few months, the Penguins are going nowhere.

I mean, how many goals do people expect from the 3rd and 4th lines in order to win games when Crosby and Malkin's lines do nothing? 2? Probably still going to lose. 3? Might have a chance. In either case, it's unrealistic to expect the 3rd and 4th lines to produce that much, especially with almost a third of the cap invested in those top two players.
- hardnosed

Other members of the top two lines can score without Crosby or Malkin being involved. So it's not like you would need all of the scoring outside of Crosby or Malkin to come from the 3rd and 4th lines. But just comparing to the Chicago stats you posted earlier, they got 15 goals from their bottom 6 over the course of the playoffs. Do you honestly believe our current bottom 6 can put up 15 goals over 24ish games? Who outside of Sutter and Downie is getting more than 1? Maybe Spaling if he gets lucky, maybe Bennett, but he rarely scores, he is more of a setup guy. I think you need a goal from your bottom 6 at least every other game, but really at a slightly better pace than that. 3 or 4 goals a series. If we get that from the bottom 6 then, I wouldn't complain and in all likelihood it was our top 6 that let us down if we flamed out.

This team is 100% built to win now, fantastic goalie, 2 of the greatest players in the world, A Norris candidate, 2 very effective snipers, 3 ground and pound gritty forwards (2 of which that can score), and 2 young D-men that are getting better each game. This team must win now.
- nbartley9

Must - sure, but it won't. There is no freaking way. I don't think anyone can fix this team with its current lineup plus 1-2 players. They will just get bulldozed over if not in Rd 1, then in Rd 2.

How about we stay put. I mean, really is a FW and a D going to magically make this team play like a team? I mean, maybe we'll go one more round deeper, but this team is not Cup-worthy. I say stay put now when the pool of talent is shallow, and make your moves in the offseason. Then come back stronger next year.
- chimpira

I'm just doing the numbers on most trade proposals. Personally, I don't think we can win this year. If we can get some assets for Martin, shed Sutter for a 3rd line center that is more suitable for us... I believe fully that Rust is ready to come up, and Farn can replace Adams with a bit less suckage.

And our young D in Pouliot and Dumoulin are ready.

I partially agree with this. WHEN are we going to ride our coveted d prospects into the future... we have these "valuable d men" but don't put them in our line up. and have 9.5 million tied up in martin and erhoff when we could have 1.9 million with two of our "stud" prospects.

Trade both at the deadline for legit 2nd and 3rd line forwards and a stop gap d-man like polak, keep pouliot up (who is looking like he can be better than both martin/erhoff offensively in the near term), and bring dumo up.

And then cross our fingers. "F it." We're not doing much this year with 1 or 2 mediocre additions anyway. Lets get the younger D in on the party and finally fill out our top 3 lines.
- brienstel

It's just 9 (5 for Martin, 4 for Ehrhoff)

If we're talking about defenseman that could actually fetch something in a trade. Despres vs. Martin is interesting. I think Despres is too imporant for the future Defense because of his cap hit and he's a motly proven commodity. Trading Martin makes a ton of sense for the future but not much sense for this season.

If Despres were to be traded (I wouldnt), it would need to be like Despres and Sutter for Filppula and Connolly or something.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

This is still the best trade on here I've seen today.

I'm just doing the numbers on most trade proposals. Personally, I don't think we can win this year. If we can get some assets for Martin, shed Sutter for a 3rd line center that is more suitable for us... I believe fully that Rust is ready to come up, and Farn can replace Adams with a bit less suckage.

And our young D in Pouliot and Dumoulin are ready.
- Guile

Adams, Kunitz, Sutter - bye bye. Give Comeau a raise for sure.

Also, I am all for Farnham. Even if he doesn't have any skill, he is a god-damn firecracker.

Adams, Kunitz, Sutter - bye bye. Give Comeau a raise for sure.

Also, I am all for Farnham. Even if he doesn't have any skill, he is a god-damn firecracker.
- chimpira

Kunitz I am not 100% in favor of trading, unless we get a good return. He is not THAT expensive to keep, and despite all the female doging, his "step lost" has not dropped his point production.

Kunitz I am not 100% in favor of trading, unless we get a good return. He is not THAT expensive to keep, and despite all the female doging, his "step lost" has not dropped his point production.
- Guile

I'm fine with retaining Kunitz since I think he is still a solid player, but his pts/60 has declined dramatically this year from last year's 2.4 to this year's 1.7.

I'm fine with retaining Kunitz since I think he is still a solid player, but his pts/60 has declined dramatically this year from last year's 2.4 to this year's 1.7.
- jfkst1

Hes now on pace for 58.5 points this season... No, he won't meet last year's pace, which was his career high. However, 58.5 is moreso around his average, a few above average, for his tenure here.

edit: I am quite wrong on his adjusted average, see math below -_-

I'm fine with retaining Kunitz since I think he is still a solid player, but his pts/60 has declined dramatically this year from last year's 2.4 to this year's 1.7.
- jfkst1

I am torn on Kuni. I like him a lot. But not on Sid's line. I am not sure why Horny and Kuni are not swapped. HCMJ was talking about liking the "chemistry" on the current 2nd line. Does anyone else like/see that chemistry beside him? Put Comeau and Kunitz with Malkin. Move Horny to Sid's line. Led Sid and Perron do their thing while he cleans up the garbage.

Non-sequitur - what's going on with Dupuis? Do you think he is coming back to the game? I mean, the same happened to Vokoun and he retired the following season.

This team is 100% built to win now, fantastic goalie, 2 of the greatest players in the world, A Norris candidate, 2 very effective snipers, 3 ground and pound gritty forwards (2 of which that can score), and 2 young D-men that are getting better each game. This team must win now.
- nbartley9

I think they are sorely missing another top 9 body and have no room to fill in. We will see though. One trade can change all of that.

I know Stewart will never look good on your fancy charts and graphs, but he does score, he does put up points, and he is not a total liability when he isn't scoring as he will defend his teammates and fight when necessary.

While he isn't ideal, he would be cheap to get and be able to provide what you need on the 3rd line.

I think they are sorely missing another top 9 body and have no room to fill in. We will see though. One trade can change all of that.
- usethe1-2-2

I just don't see it. I don't see one trade solving the issues. I guess I don't see the hunger in their play as of late.

Cap space would shed us 700K... Those two are 3.5 mil combined, Sutter and Bennett 4.2 mil.
- Guile

Then count me in. It's not that I'm big on Kassian or that down on Bennett, but I feel that element of the trade is necessary for the Canucks to give us Matthias. And Matthias isnt anything exceptional but he's at least an average 3rd C with good size. I'd do it.

Adams, Kunitz, Sutter - bye bye. Give Comeau a raise for sure.

Also, I am all for Farnham. Even if he doesn't have any skill, he is a god-damn firecracker.
- chimpira

I'd keep Kunitz. His cap hit isn't to crazy and he's still productive.

I think they are sorely missing another top 9 body and have no room to fill in. We will see though. One trade can change all of that.
- usethe1-2-2

I truly believe Stewart would provide you what you need at a minimal cost. Buffalo would also be able to take a contract back to make the cap numbers work if necessary as they have plenty of cap space.

Trade for Briere god damn it.

Plus Hero charts are years of passed data, so its not the most accurate measure of a player's ability currently, especialy if they have recently changed teams

Ok... doing way more math than is required for just raw points on Kunitz... all his seasons here adjusted to the 82 game season falls as so.

73.8
52.48
59.63
61
88.83
71.48

Do math, and his average points per 82 games the past 6 seasons here is 67.87.

Have fun, I still would keep him unless a strong return.

How about we stay put. I mean, really is a FW and a D going to magically make this team play like a team? I mean, maybe we'll go one more round deeper, but this team is not Cup-worthy. I say stay put now when the pool of talent is shallow, and make your moves in the offseason. Then come back stronger next year.
- chimpira

Not sure I get the counter argument. I agree don't mortgage the future but I think its a perfect time for a good old fashioned hockey trade.

A couple I came up with recently

to VAN
Sutter + Bennett

to PIT
Kassian + Matthias


--or--

to TBL
Sutter + Despres

to PIT
Filppula + Connolly

--or--

to STL
Sutter + Dumoulin

to PIT
Berglund

(ill admit the last one isnt likely with the Blues being set basically everywhere. Dont know how to pry Berglund away but he seems like the odd man out there)

I truly believe Stewart would provide you what you need at a minimal cost. Buffalo would also be able to take a contract back to make the cap numbers work if necessary as they have plenty of cap space.
- kingcong39

Sure, you take Sutter. He'll be perfect for your tank approach.

Jon Mitchell of any interest?

Sure, you take Sutter. He'll be perfect for your tank approach.
- jfkst1

I just don't see it. I don't see one trade solving the issues. I guess I don't see the hunger in their play as of late.
- chimpira

if we had a component 3C we'd be a totally different team. As it is now if we send out our 3rd line against the other teams top 2 (sometimes 3) lines we get stuck in our zone for extended periods.

I know Stewart will never look good on your fancy charts and graphs, but he does score, he does put up points, and he is not a total liability when he isn't scoring as he will defend his teammates and fight when necessary.

While he isn't ideal, he would be cheap to get and be able to provide what you need on the 3rd line.
- kingcong39

Cheap to acquire but he's not worth what he'd have to give up to to fit his cap hit....not even close.