but this year is one of the weakest drafts in atleast the last 5 years.
That's after pick #5-7 (depending on who you ask)... Or it looks like one of the weakest drafts after pick 5-7. There's still interesting players after that though.
The top 5 looks like a lot of potential 1st liners and/or 1st pairing dmen. (Again depending on whose evaluation you're reading)
Did anyone else just heard what Pierre McGuire just said on The FAN 1200?
3rd overall vs Jordan Staal
Not a great fit.
1-the value is off, Staal is a good player but not worth a #3 overall pick with only 1 year left on his contract before UFA. it's much like Getzlaf...nice guy to have but too risky unless you can be 100% sure to sign an extension.
2-I don't see a fit, we already have two guys that are strong 2 way guys. Staal profiles an excellent #2 center on most teams. He gives us what we are already getting from Eller and Plekanec
There's not much difference between Staal and Plekanec. So it's #3 for Letang and I'd add a little more to sweeten the pot. Staal's an impending UFA after next season, I wouldn't even think about #3 for Staal straight up - sillyness.
sillyness is you thinking the pens will give up letang for anything
are you kidding? Letang has becoming a top 10 D and is great in all zones. Has a great contract and a lot of years in front of him.
No GM would trade letang. We'd have to break the bank to get Shero to listen.
Stall + Letang even if Stall is pending UFA would cost 3rd+Subban just as an admission ticket to the party. Stall and Letang are part of Pens core.
I personally dont think stall is going anywhere and i dont even think pens are even thinking about moving him.
hes not the first or last to suggest that
its been suggested by alot of ppl both on this site and in the media.
I'm not sure about it though.
J. Stall looks to have a ceilling of 60 points but he has so many intangibles that he can bring to the table, but he would have to play #2 C minutes.
Who get the boot then? DD? Pleks?
Why? The man plays 20min in Pittsburgh being Crosby and Malkin. If he's good enough to play that much there, he's certainly would be getting top line minutes here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Habs 4 Life
Jordan Staal keeps getting better and better despite limited ice time (no pp) and can shut down. I don't like the fact that he will be a UFA after next season but if we can trade for him I'd be all in. He was great in the playoffs
He does play around 2min per game on the PP.
His contract is indeed the issue. Trading a 3rd for him would be stupid at this point.
Also, if the #3 is up in the air, and Pittsburgh wants to build differently, I think one of Crosby/Malkin should be on the outs, and load their winger depth with such a trade.
They won't be able to re-sign all three.
So, I'd try to persuade Pittsburgh into trading one of their superstars here instead of Staal.
That's after pick #5-7 (depending on who you ask)... Or it looks like one of the weakest drafts after pick 5-7. There's still interesting players after that though.
The top 5 looks like a lot of potential 1st liners and/or 1st pairing dmen. (Again depending on whose evaluation you're reading)
If anything this years draft is good for teams looking for D.
Forsberg and Galy would not go in the top 5 in recent drafts.
Yakupov might be the only that would go top 5 in any draft.
Grigorenko has dropped significantly.
I like Staal but I don't think this is a trade you can make for several reasons.
He's never had more than 50 points in his career, hardly 1st line numbers. One can argue its because he's doesnt get quality ice time to which I'd argue he plays against far inferior match ups. Imagine if a top line centre payed against 3rd line match ups? They'd light it up for the most part, at least get more than a career high 50 points.
It's not everyday that you get a top 3 pick. Maybe this isn't the deepest draft at #3 and with good scouts (Timmins) you can certainly get a very serviceable player to play on your top 2 lines, defense or forward. You also get this payer for virtually nothing, cost wise. Why give up a potentially solid NHLer to pay a player who lets say is as good as the prospect will be and pay him millions more in salary? Makes no sense.
This takes me to my last point. You're better off taking the pick and use the cash to sign a UFA who can help now. That way, with the same money, or close to it, you get not 1 but 2 very good players that can be used in your line up. Adds depth and talent at a reasonable price.
All that being said, the only way I'd trade the 3rd is to get a bona fida #1 player or one that you feel has more upside than who ever youll draft. Other than that I can't see a reason why ou trade the pick. Also explain why it's so rare to see a top pick get traded. The upside is always potential and teams will rarely pay the steep price of what a player COULD become. In any case, I don't think J Staal is better than some of the names we can get T that spot. E. Staal, now that's a different story!
Not sure what the Pens would gain from that move. Crosby is one big hit away from retirement and Stall has been able to step up when needed.
Their main need is goalie depth. They can probably draft a really good one with their current pick or go UFA.
Makes no sense from the Pens perspective. It would be a complete knee-jerk over their loss to the Flyers.
At some point they have to move one of their 3 centers as all 3 have contracts coming up and will require big money and possibly raises. If they wait until next summer they'll get nothing for Staal(UFA).
I'd look at moving our 1st round pick next year instead. Our 1st this year can get us a top end offensive forward (which we need). Staal would be great fit with Pacioretty and DD, imo.
If Pittsburgh decides to keep him until the end of next season maybe we end up swapping 1st round picks with the Pens. There's going to be a bidding war for him, I think he'll fetch more than Kovy did.
At some point they have to move one of their 3 centers as all 3 have contracts coming up and will require big money and possibly raises. If they wait until next summer they'll get nothing for Staal(UFA).
If they trade him and Crosby is out again for a long period of time, they're down to Malkin. That's a big gamble and I would be shocked if they don't come to an agreement before he hits the UFA market.
Let them sign him to a contract extension before the draft and then stab him in the back by trading for our 3rd. It will have the added benefit that Stall will be very motivated when we play the Pens.
Let them sign him to a contract extension before the draft and then stab him in the back by trading for our 3rd. It will have the added benefit that Stall will be very motivated when we play the Pens.
lol, a little much but I should've added I'd expect an extension.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aspirine
We already have a Jordan Staal, his name is Lars Eller.
Ha, good one. Even so, is having Staal and Eller for the future such a bad thing?
It is the contract situation that is the kicker. I'd trade the #3 overall for long-term possession of Staal. Easy. But with the reality instead that Staal is just signed for 1 more year and then becomes UFA... well, it's a non-starter.
I agree with this.
If we were given the opportunity to discuss an extension with J.Staal and could get him locked up long term at a reasonable rate then i would trade the 3rd for him any day of the week.
But if we only get him for a year then have to take our chances then it probably doesn't make alot of sense.
BTW, no one on the habs center chart will get traded if this happen. While it leaves the door open for that every center we'd have would be capable to play wing. DD started his career on wing, same with Plekanec, Staal plays wing at times with Malkin and Eller can play wing. Granted, they are all better suited at the center position but why is having depth and versatility a bad thing? We can mix and match and more than one guy can take faceoffs on a line.
Eller's got a LONG way to go. Staal's already there.
Yes, and Staal is being paid like someone who is already there, and will cost us the price of someone who is 'already there' whereas Eller will grow into his role over time and be cheap until he does. This team is not in 'win now' mode.
