Trade Rumors and Free Agent TalkTrade rumors, transactions, and free agent talk. Rumors must contain the word RUMOR in post title. Proposals must contain the word PROPOSAL in post title.
Honestly I think Nieuwendyk would ask for Tangradi +depres
Ott and Grossman together aren't worth a blue chip prospect. Given the lack of organizational center depth I actually think he'd be more interested in the PPG AHL big-bodied center Jeffrey rather than throwing a deal away because he can't get the shiny toy. If Jeffrey rounds into healthy form he could be an almost immediate upgrade over Ott or at the very least by the end of next season.
This is kind of a general comment about the Pittsburgh-Dallas chatter. It sounds like there actually is a deal to be had here. Whether it's going younger with Vitale, Tangradi, Bortuzzo, 2nd or getting a long term top four in Martin, it seems like Pittsburgh has a package that can appeal for Ott and Grossman. I mean, look at the last page. You've got Stars fans saying 'yeah, I'd probably do that'. You've got Pens fans saying the same thing. Yeah, I'm sure Nieuwendyk would start higher with Despres, but it sounds like the two options above are in the ballpark. What we're really talking about is the 'rounding it out at the margins' part of things, not unlike last year when we started talking about a Gologoski for Neal deal and the question was who would add what at the margins. This is how trades really get made in the NHL: One team has assets that it views as expendable long term that another team views as essential and visa versa. Needs and expendable assets align, and a deal gets made.
Ott and Grossman together aren't worth a blue chip prospect. Given the lack of organizational center depth I actually think he'd be more interested in the PPG AHL big-bodied center Jeffrey rather than throwing a deal away because he can't get the shiny toy. If Jeffrey rounds into healthy form he could be an almost immediate upgrade over Ott or at the very least by the end of next season.
I'm just saying that's what he would ask for not the deal that would be agreed on
But is he really on that much of a better goal scoring pace? Im not so sure. He has certainly sustained his goal scoring pace better this season but before the dropoff last year he was on a pretty damn impressive pace.
And the season before that he started out the first 20 or so games on a 90 point pace. It's much easier to sustain scoring when playing next to one of the most offensively talented players in the world. I'm not naive enough to think Neal is scoring this much because of Malkin but I'm also willing to make the admission that this winger benefits from playing with this center.
Ott and Grossman together aren't worth a blue chip prospect. Given the lack of organizational center depth I actually think he'd be more interested in the PPG AHL big-bodied center Jeffrey rather than throwing a deal away because he can't get the shiny toy. If Jeffrey rounds into healthy form he could be an almost immediate upgrade over Ott or at the very least by the end of next season.
Or he may prefer Vitale, who brings less offensive upside than Jeffrey but would be a legit 3rd line center for the Stars on a deal that has 2 more years at 550K per year.
That's part of why I suggested the deal of Vitale or Jeffrey, Tangradi, Bortuzzo or Strait, 2nd for Ott and Grossman.
You get that 3rd line center for a lot less than you're paying Ott, you get a wild card in Tangradi who's got all the tools but needs a real chance with a coach patient enough to let him make the mistakes that all young players make, you get a guy who probably can be your #6 now or next year in Bortuzzo or Strait, and you get a second.
I'm working from the perspective that Nieuwendyk wants quantity coming back. He doesn't want ****, but he wants young guys with some upside and NHL experience who can surround what will be the next generation of team leaders as older guys like Morrow are traded in other deals.
Jeffrey + Tangradi? We are in need to AHL level forward prospects or is that too much?
For Ott? No. I think that's something Shero would be willing to part with.
I'm a Pens fan. A lot of us seem to like the idea of Jeffrey/Vitale, Tangradi, Bortuzzo/Strait, 2nd for Ott and Grossman. Seems like a lot of Stars fans think the return fits the teams longer term organizational needs and lends the potential to be a win over time.
For Ott? No. I think that's something Shero would be willing to part with.
I'm a Pens fan. A lot of us seem to like the idea of Jeffrey/Vitale, Tangradi, Bortuzzo/Strait, 2nd for Ott and Grossman. Seems like a lot of Stars fans think the return fits the teams longer term organizational needs and lends the potential to be a win over time.
Or he may prefer Vitale, who brings less offensive upside than Jeffrey but would be a legit 3rd line center for the Stars on a deal that has 2 more years at 550K per year.
I think (and would hope) that Nieuwendyk would value the higher ceiling player over the checker. With Fiddler under contract for two more years it's not as if 3rd line center is a pressing need. And if there isn't a true center spot available for Jeffrey straight away I imagine he could slot into a top 6 wing position and go from there.
*Count me in the anti-Martin camp. I want to get younger not trade for a player with that kind of contract.
In all seriousness, when we're talking about adding a 5th, it's pretty clear that, in a rare moment of clarity and intelligence, fans of two teams have gotten together and proposed a trade that makes sense for both teams in terms of their personnel and cap needs and is pretty much agreeable to almost all fans of both sides.
As I said, it's like the Gologoski and Neal talk last year that started here. Stars wanted something added. Pens fans wanted something added. But, really, it was about adding at the margins. Adding Niskanen made fans of both sides happy. The Pens got a #5 defenseman in need of a change of scenery, and Stars fans felt that was addition by subtraction.
It would be kind of cool if we similarly forecast a deal this season.
I think (and would hope) that Nieuwendyk would value the higher ceiling player over the checker. With Fiddler under contract for two more years it's not as if 3rd line center is a pressing need. And if there isn't a true center spot available for Jeffrey straight away I imagine he could slot into a top 6 wing position and go from there.
*Count me in the anti-Martin camp. I want to get younger not trade for a player with that kind of contract.
Don't blame you, but you can't blame a guy for trying, right?
Good point on Jeffrey v Vitale. Fact is that Pens probably would prefer to keep Vitale to center their fourth line. As for Jeffrey, he's a center, but he's played some wing and Pens fans at different times have figured he might get a shot as a 2nd/3rd line winger on the mythical fully healthy Penguins roster.
