I liked the return. Didn't really like the pick but what are you gonna do.
Reaction was pretty positive from the crowd though.
There was facepalming where I was sitting. Forsberg was the sexy pick but I really think he's going to be a bust. That said, Pouliot at 8 Isa big stretch but if Shero can grab gold at 30 with Despres and mid 20s with Morrow, I trust his judgment at #8.
I like the return. Especially seeing as Rutherford could have told Ray to shove off. The only thing people will look back on is Ray's 8th pick. I think the fans and the staff in Pitts are gonna love Sutter.
I missed the draft while at Narcissi tonight but I followed closely on my phone. Going through the GDT I saw a lot of you were really disappointed by taking a defenseman over Forsberg but I like it because:
1) Shero knows defenseman. I trust any 1st round defenseman he picks considering how good Despres and Morrow look for the future.
2) Forsberg didn't look great against grown men this season according to The Hockey News Draft Edition and it said that some scouts downgraded him from a high talent forward to a two-way guy. Looks like a few teams felt that way after he dropped.
3) This insane pipeline of defense could allow us to go hard after Parise because Shero can keep replacing defenseman with guys on cheap entry level deals for years now.
I loved Staal and am sad that I have to retire my jersey and jersey-shirt of his that I wore to games but I wish him all the best in Carolina with his knew wife. Hopefully this trade works out well for both teams.
There was facepalming where I was sitting. Forsberg was the sexy pick but I really think he's going to be a bust. That said, Pouliot at 8 Isa big stretch but if Shero can grab gold at 30 with Despres and mid 20s with Morrow, I trust his judgment at #8.
I certainly was facepalming. From what I heard though people sounded intrigued.
I was one that fully expected Staal to go and yet as the trade was announced it still felt like a truck hit me. Such a big moment. Loved Shero thanking him for a great 6 years and the fans giving Staal a lengthy standing ovation.
I dont mind this trade. With Staal wanting to move onto the Canes to be with his brother the return Shero got was nice. Just dont agree with who he took at 8th.
Sutter is going to start getting his offensive chances here, maybe he turns into another Staal and can be a 50-60 point player?
Yeah honestly I can't see that. I'd be surprised if he ever cracked 50-55. I'd be pleasantly surprised, but surprised nonetheless. His only true offensive asset is a strong wrist shot. It's quick and fairly heavy. But outside of that he brings very little. He doesn't have much creativity for a center. For instance, if people though Staal wasn't a strong passer or playmaker, they're in for a rude awakening with Sutter.
Not to say Sutter is a bad player. He's a very effective player that is strong defensively and solid enough offensively to put up between 40-50 points for us. That has a lot of value for a three year contract at 2M each year. But still, expectations should be tempered for his offensive output.
The team that wins the trade 95% of the time is the team that leaves with the best player. Picks and prospects and young growing players, 95% of the time, make sure the best player in the deal is coming your way and you'll be fine. Prospects fizzle and picks turn into nothing and young players underachieve far more often than established players forget how to play the game in their prime.
We got hosed. What a stupid trade. Dealt with a growing player who couldn't get his legs under him and was unsure in the offensive zone. Finally grow him into an NHL player. Ship him away for another growing player who is unsure in the offensive zone and can't seem to get his feet under him. What's the best possible scenario for Sutter, that he turns into a Jordan Staal type of player? What happens then, do we ship Sutter away for another project?
(I said exactly this last year with the Flyers. What's the best possible option for the Flyers, that Schenn turns out to be as good as Mike Richards? You already have Mike Richards, why trade for someone you _hope_ grows into him?! You saw how that turned out.)
I don't know anything about the pick, but people seem even angrier about that.
The only solace I have is that I have to assume that this meant Staal was leaving when his contract was up, and at least this way we got something. But I'm not going to be all sugar and rainbows about this deal.
We got hosed. What a stupid trade. Dealt with a growing player who couldn't get his legs under him and was unsure in the offensive zone. Finally grow him into an NHL player. Ship him away for another growing player who is unsure in the offensive zone and can't seem to get his feet under him. What's the best possible scenario for Sutter, that he turns into a Jordan Staal type of player? What happens then, do we ship Sutter away for another project?
I don't know anything about the pick, but people seem even angrier about that.
The only solace I have is that I have to assume that this meant Staal was leaving when his contract was up, and at least this way we got something. But I'm not going to be all sugar and rainbows about this deal.
At least you came to your senses by the last paragraph. Shero knew Staal wasn't sticking around, so he had to move him. Staal's too good not to get something for him. You take the best deal possible, and that's what Shero did.
He got a young but very talented defensive center. Sure he's Staal lite, but we don't need someone of Staal's caliber playing a defensive role. Sutter will excel in that, and costs a lot less allowing us to have money to spend elsewhere. As for points, I'll be happy if he hits 40. As long as he's shutting down other lines, I could care less how much offense he brings. What it does mean though is that Shero must upgrade the top 6 now that there's only 2 lines for other teams to focus on.
As for the pick, I think most were surprised (other than TSN who called it as Shero was walking to the stage). I would have rather had Trouba (or was it Dumba taken at #9?). The big guy who would likely turn into a shutdown type. Or Matta (was very happy with that pick). However I rationalized it later as this: How many defensive type D are available in free agency, or by trade? No the top ones rarely are, however you don't need a top #1/2 D to win the cup. However how often are top offensive D available? Much rarer. That's why I think Shero picked this guy. Hopefully it works out... but we have some quality D in the system.
Lots that can be said and analyzed here, but I am going to make it really simple...
With Staal gone now, this team will be built around Crosby and Malkin, which is what I have felt was the best thing for this org for quite some time.
If we see these two generational talents playing with coal miners now, Shero has failed at his job IMHO.
+1
We tried the 3C model and it came to a point where you knew it was no longer going to work. I bet we'll look back at this in 2-3 years and say Staal did us a favor. Mark this post.
Staal set things in motion that will reshape the team heavily.
We just gained $4M in cap space with the Staal/Sutter swap in 2013-14. $4M more with Michalek gone. With Paul Martin next, it clears out $13M/year over the long term.
Enough for a true 1st line forward (Ryan, Parise, Nash), and raises for Malkin, Crosby, and Letang when the time comes.
Also, with the depth of defense, I can see us developing and shipping out for another amazing top 6 down the road (depending on the situation).
