A couple of depth players I think could be good signs: Joel Ward and Eric Fehr

IF Downie could ever stop being such a moron, he would have great 3rd line potential. Possibly second line if there aren't better options.
- thickman1178

Downie is dumb as a rock. He won't be back. No offense to rocks.

No on Eaves. Never healthy.

All these problems will be fixed on draft day when Malkin is traded.

No on Eaves. Never healthy.

All these problems will be fixed on draft day when Malkin is traded.
- sammy87

You're going to be even more negative than usual after draft day.

Sorry, disagree with this one. Scott Wilson and Bryan Rust are unproven at the NHL level but they are similar players and guys we drafted and I would rather deal with their growing pains. And yes I feel this way because I know our prospect pool pretty good and pull for those guys first. I absolutely cannot cheer for Orpik and Niskanen tonight, I HATE both of those teams with every fiber of my being and they chose to play for the. I used to be a fan of Dan Boyle when he was a Shark too but I really feel nothing after Brooksy took his head off. I can't decide who I hate more the Rangers and their clutch and grab defense where they pick players from the other team on the breakout or Ovie that cocky POS, I like living in a world where his teams have underperformed and hes never even smelled the stanley cups polish. tough call for who I hate more for this OT, I guess with a gun to my head I say Caps, but only if Ovie somehow gets his shin shattered on a Matt Niskanen shot that deflects in.

You're going to be even more negative than usual after draft day.
- jfkst1

Its a better idea than Eaves and next years Comeau and hoping it works out.

Sorry, disagree with this one. Scott Wilson and Bryan Rust are unproven at the NHL level but they are similar players and guys we drafted and I would rather deal with their growing pains. And yes I feel this way because I know our prospect pool pretty good and pull for those guys first. I absolutely cannot cheer for Orpik and Niskanen tonight, I HATE both of those teams with every fiber of my being and they chose to play for the. I used to be a fan of Dan Boyle when he was a Shark too but I really feel nothing after Brooksy took his head off. I can't decide who I hate more the Rangers and their clutch and grab defense where they pick players from the other team on the breakout or Ovie that cocky POS, I like living in a world where his teams have underperformed and hes never even smelled the stanley cups polish. tough call for who I hate more for this OT, I guess with a gun to my head I say Caps, but only if Ovie somehow gets his shin shattered on a Matt Niskanen shot that deflects in.
- Dcoms

Orpik dropping Boyle like last nights garbage was pretty vintage Orpik, I got a smile from that. Great classic hockey hit.

But watching these playoffs are pretty boring. This game is dull. Last nights TBL game was a snooze fest. I think after tonight, Im done for the season. Just dont care for any of these teams.

Orpik dropping Boyle like last nights garbage was pretty vintage Orpik, I got a smile from that. Great classic hockey hit.

But watching these playoffs are pretty boring. This game is dull. Last nights TBL game was a snooze fest. I think after tonight, Im done for the season. Just dont care for any of these teams.
- sammy87

Oh man, the Ducks, Hawks series is going to be legendary!

Oh man, the Ducks, Hawks series is going to be legendary!
- Dcoms

Its a good match up, the 2 best teams from the west, well 2 best remaining. But I just dont really care for them. Not sure why.

I was pulling for Nash, Wild, DET, Habs.

Its a better idea than Eaves and next years Comeau and hoping it works out.
- sammy87

Right, because I want Rutherford trading Malkin...It'll be worse than the Seguin trade.
I'm disappointed the Rags won but at least the Craps choked again.

Right, because I want Rutherford trading Malkin...It'll be worse than the Seguin trade.
I'm disappointed the Rags won but at least the Craps choked again.
- jfkst1

Rangers just continue to win games they have no business winning.

I guess sometimes its just your year.

Right, because I want Rutherford trading Malkin...It'll be worse than the Seguin trade.
I'm disappointed the Rags won but at least the Craps choked again.
- jfkst1

A 37 yr old MSL with 1 yr left got 2 firsts and Callahan.....I think Malkin can fetch more.

Rangers just continue to win games they have no business winning.

I guess sometimes its just your year.
- SuperHenderson13

It's hockey. It's random...Lundqvist is damn good too. Im mostly pissed because if the Caps won I would have gotten the round parlay and a good pay day. I finished ahead in round 1 and won the no canadian team bet too so Im doing well this playoffs so far. Taking Chicago/TB next round.

A 37 yr old MSL with 1 yr left got 2 firsts and Callahan.....I think Malkin can fetch more.
- sammy87

Yzerman is a shrewd GM. Rutherford isn't. He really hasn't "won" a single trade yet.

Downie didn't take one penalty this year that was the cause of the pens losing the game. Not in the least inkling. Every time he got thrown out the game was over and he was the only that cared. Its a boring tired narrative, hes better at hockey than Patrick Fing Eaves,Daniel Fing Winnik and Marcel Goc and he can play a much rougher style for nearly an entire season.
- Grinder47

Downie enters the ice and a penalty is called....damn near everytime. It hurts the team.

Ugh, hasn't been a run this ugly since the Devils of the broken 90's. Tackle hockey wins. Congrats Ragholes.

2-1 is the new standard.

Yzerman is a shrewd GM. Rutherford isn't. He really hasn't "won" a single trade yet.
- jfkst1

Won the Neal trade.
Jury is still out on the Perron trade.
Call it a draw on the Klinkhammer trade.
Sh!t all over himself on the Depres trade.

Also it isnt like JR gets to make the trade without consulting the 17 other GM and ownership.

Malkin trade is the only way we get back to contention. Adding Patrick Eaves does not improve us, and if people on here think Spaling is vanilla...

Yzerman is a shrewd GM. Rutherford isn't. He really hasn't "won" a single trade yet.
- jfkst1

JR's skills will be tested these next few months. There are a lot of holes and getting top return for Sutter will be difficult. I hope its not a team of Comeau/Winnik type players again. They just fart out. If he cant be shrewd, it will be a bad year. I see the photos of Kap in WB and man he looks so small and frail. I hope he makes it, but I think its a tough road for him.

So if JR just picks up scraps like Eaves and these other guys we read about on the blog, nothing changes. Just the same crap. Its getting old.

Won the Neal trade.
Jury is still out on the Perron trade.
Call it a draw on the Klinkhammer trade.
Sh!t all over himself on the Depres trade.

Also it isnt like JR gets to make the trade without consulting the 17 other GM and ownership.

Malkin trade is the only way we get back to contention. Adding Patrick Eaves does not improve us, and if people on here think Spaling is vanilla...
- stackthepads

I think Winnik is a big fail. That guy sucked here. I hope they dont resign him.

Despres at teh time I didn tcare about, but looking back...it was so bad. Those 2 are bad trades.

Perron is a win for now, but if the team blows next season and he gets 25-30 goals, I bet he walks. He will make bank somewher else while were waiting for Malkin's contract to be a bargain.

JR's skills will be tested these next few months. There are a lot of holes and getting top return for Sutter will be difficult. I hope its not a team of Comeau/Winnik type players again. They just fart out. If he cant be shrewd, it will be a bad year. I see the photos of Kap in WB and man he looks so small and frail. I hope he makes it, but I think its a tough road for him.

So if JR just picks up scraps like Eaves and these other guys we read about on the blog, nothing changes. Just the same crap. Its getting old.
- sammy87

Im curious what kind of return everyone thinks we can get for Sutter?
From what I can see we have a pretty decent looking bottom 6 next year with 2 re-signs

Kunitz Sutter Dupuis
Winnik Spaling Comeau
I'd also re-sign Lapierre or Downie to be the 13th fwd.

Thats pretty damn good if you ask me.
Add to that the top line of
Perron Crosby Hornqvist.

looking really good.

Second line is Malkin. We dont have anyone to play on that line, and we have zero assets available to us to fill even one of the holes.

I think Winnik is a big fail. That guy sucked here. I hope they dont resign him.

Despres at teh time I didn tcare about, but looking back...it was so bad. Those 2 are bad trades.

Perron is a win for now, but if the team blows next season and he gets 25-30 goals, I bet he walks. He will make bank somewher else while were waiting for Malkin's contract to be a bargain.
- sammy87

I forgot about the Winnik trade, I dont think that was so bad. Maybe in hindsight, but at the time that was a pretty fair trade considering alot of teams wanted Winnik and we wanted Toronto to retain salary.

I'd bring Winnik back, he's got the tools for the bottom six, I like his game.

Im curious what kind of return everyone thinks we can get for Sutter?
From what I can see we have a pretty decent looking bottom 6 next year with 2 re-signs

Kunitz Sutter Dupuis
Winnik Spaling Comeau
I'd also re-sign Lapierre or Downie to be the 13th fwd.

Thats pretty damn good if you ask me.
Add to that the top line of
Perron Crosby Hornqvist.

looking really good.

Second line is Malkin. We dont have anyone to play on that line, and we have zero assets available to us to fill even one of the holes.
- stackthepads

Winnik was a bum IMO. Someone will pay him adn the Pens should not. Dupes is a big ? If he can come back great, if not thats another big hole. PHX is desperate for a C, they could be a partner with the right deal. I keep Lap as a 4C. I thought his game in the playoffs was great.

Kuni-X-X
Spaling-Lap-WB/Wilson/Downie

I see 2 top 6 holes and 2-3 bottom 6 holes depending on what you do with Sutter.

I forgot about the Winnik trade, I dont think that was so bad. Maybe in hindsight, but at the time that was a pretty fair trade considering alot of teams wanted Winnik and we wanted Toronto to retain salary.

I'd bring Winnik back, he's got the tools for the bottom six, I like his game.
- stackthepads

Someone will pay Winnik 2.5+ I dont think hes worth that.

Won the Neal trade.
Jury is still out on the Perron trade.
Call it a draw on the Klinkhammer trade.
Sh!t all over himself on the Depres trade.

Also it isnt like JR gets to make the trade without consulting the 17 other GM and ownership.

Malkin trade is the only way we get back to contention. Adding Patrick Eaves does not improve us, and if people on here think Spaling is vanilla...
- stackthepads

Neal trade was fair. Spaling is not a very useful depth forward for his salary and is closer to being a liability than an asset. A win would have been getting something valuable added on top of Hornqvist in the deal. Since ownership probably doesn't want to trade Malkin in the first place, I doubt they would approve of trading him unless it were a major overpayment.

Also, even if Dupes is healthy. Im not sure a 3rd line with 2 36 year olds is a good idea.