Ryan Wilson: Time to invest in Evgeni Malkin Time to invest in Evgeni Malkin

First!

I'd roll the dice & leave Malkin on the top line. Crosby is a team player, & will be coming off injury. Why not reverse the roles & see if you can get Crosby to produce on the 2nd line?

If Malkin stops producing, or if the team stops winning then you could switch them back.

What could we give for Hall? 2020 1st / Poulin / Murry? for Hall with 50% salary retained.

Hidden in all this GENO smoke is Jack Johnson - on a pace for a PLUS-23 - playing 18+ minutes a game. Per the way he was presented here: He's a HOCKEY GOD.

Just saying.... LOL

I'd roll the dice & leave Malkin on the top line. Crosby is a team player, & will be coming off injury. Why not reverse the roles & see if you can get Crosby to produce on the 2nd line?

If Malkin stops producing, or if the team stops winning then you could switch them back.

What could we give for Hall? 2020 1st / Poulin / Murry? for Hall with 50% salary retained.
- rocheccw

I think they'd want something more since the 1st is likely on the back end. Maybe a 2nd that could be a conditional 1st if he resigns, especially within the division. They also may prefer a skater (Simon/Kahun) over Murray since he's going to be an expensive RFA.

Any observations about the quality of opponent? Presumably Malkin also has to go up against the other teams top defenders with Crosby out.

The trickle down effect is probably a large part of what made HBK such a big thing.

It is rumored Shero is asking for 4 pieces for Hall and potentially a pick. I think Hall is off the list of possible players we trade for with a price as high as it is. I would rather try for someone else at this point.

I wonder if they would let Malkin play with Marino more than Schultz.

I also think McCann could be possibly be that wing I they would like to use him there. Or maybe a combination of Rust and Kahun would be good enough. Truth is we have a lot of unknowns about what our lines can look like if healthy.

Besides Hall, is there any other top'ish notch'ish winger perhaps available?

Both Sid and Geno deserve a stud winger at the same time in their final window years....

I wonder if they would let Malkin play with Marino more than Schultz.

I also think McCann could be possibly be that wing I they would like to use him there. Or maybe a combination of Rust and Kahun would be good enough. Truth is we have a lot of unknowns about what our lines can look like if healthy.
- Tojo.

Yeah really though...lets see what Kahun can do in the top 6 or leave McCann there for a while, he looked great with Sid last season. Could end up saving a load of assets.

Yeah really though...lets see what Kahun can do in the top 6 or leave McCann there for a while, he looked great with Sid last season. Could end up saving a load of assets.
- MattStrat

Who’s their 3C?

Who’s their 3C?
- j.boyd919

Great question hahah

Teddy?

Any idea whats going on with A. Johnson? because I dont mind him as 4C.

Also, it might be easier to acquire a 3C or 4C than a stud winger. I think with it being not even Christmas yet you can try some stuff before selling the farm and besides, Sid isnt back for a while yet anyway.

What is Geno's faceoff % since Sid went down? He seems to winning a lot lately. It's never been his strong suit. He's currently at 53.65%. Almost 5% better than any previous year. Shorter time frame and he'll probably drop off but it's been noticeable.

Also I think Rust deserves some credit for how that line has played

Who’s their 3C?
- j.boyd919

If you do that Bjugstad, though Blueger's line gets 3rd line time anyways so it might be better use of McCann as a top 6 wing.

McCann-Crosby-Kahun
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Simon-Bjugstad-Hornqvist
ZAR-Blueger-Tanev

Might not work best, but I'd like to experiment with a top six like that to see if we have internal options.

Besides Hall, is there any other top'ish notch'ish winger perhaps available?

Both Sid and Geno deserve a stud winger at the same time in their final window years....
- MattStrat

Well, you could inquire about Mantha/Bertuzzi in Detroit, or maybe Silfverberg in Anaheim. Price would be super steep, though, especially for the 2 Detroit guys.

Besides Hall, is there any other top'ish notch'ish winger perhaps available?

Both Sid and Geno deserve a stud winger at the same time in their final window years....
- MattStrat

Toffoli, maybe Kreider though Rangers have climbed back into contention. AA in Detroit will be expensive.

Not alot yet until teams drop out. Even then, Hall might be the only top end guy moved.

Toffoli, maybe Kreider though Rangers have climbed back into contention. AA in Detroit will be expensive.

Not alot yet until teams drop out. Even then, Hall might be the only top end guy moved.
- Tojo.

I always felt Toffoli and Pearson were kind of similar.

Just checked in on Pearson in Van...doing pretty good.

I'd love Kreider...dont see it happening.

Well, you could inquire about Mantha/Bertuzzi in Detroit, or maybe Silfverberg in Anaheim. Price would be super steep, though, especially for the 2 Detroit guys.
- jmatchett383

Why would a rebuilding team trade away good quality young cost controlled wingers?

Why would a rebuilding team trade away good quality young cost controlled wingers?
- MattStrat

"Price would be super steep, though, especially for the 2 Detroit guys."

Toffoli, maybe Kreider though Rangers have climbed back into contention. AA in Detroit will be expensive.

Not alot yet until teams drop out. Even then, Hall might be the only top end guy moved.
- Tojo.

I’m curious to what Namestnikov would look like with Sid or Geno. He played the 3rd wheel role really well when he was with Tampa next to Stammer and Kuch.

I always felt Toffoli and Pearson were kind of similar.

Just checked in on Pearson in Van...doing pretty good.

I'd love Kreider...dont see it happening.
- MattStrat

Toffoli is a bit better and his possession an ES scoring are both decent.

And yeah, Pearson decided to care this year, just a bad year last year. Figures.

Agree on Kreider, both parts.

They might need to look at internal options if more doesn't become available. A bunch of the bottom teams don't have much in rentals.

"Price would be super steep, though, especially for the 2 Detroit guys."
- jmatchett383

Yeah I guess a team could always make an offer they cant refuse...that would the only reason I could see "why".

I’m curious to what Namestnikov would look like with Sid or Geno. He played the 3rd wheel role really well when he was with Tampa next to Stammer and Kuch.
- j.boyd919

Thats a pretty good idea. He's on the Sens and UFA with a 3.25 mill cap hit. I highly doubt they resign him. Could probably be obtained with minimal assets.

I’m curious to what Namestnikov would look like with Sid or Geno. He played the 3rd wheel role really well when he was with Tampa next to Stammer and Kuch.
- j.boyd919

He had 15 PP points that year though which would be great if he was a righty, but he's not. 30 otherwise, negative though not bad possession numbers. Seems like an average middle six guy and we are plenty of those. Might be good if they move Bjugstad and want another center though.

Yeah I guess a team could always make an offer they cant refuse...that would the only reason I could see "why".
- MattStrat

You'd have to probably include Marino and/or a top prospect and/or a handful of picks. Just saying, if you want to go all-in, they could be pried away.