Rumor: Trade Rumor/Speculation Thread XXVI: G Staying Put.

[Infinitum Vitae*]

I think everyone should take a 10 min break..things are getting very heated

 

[Ghost of jas]

Sorry that I'll actually wait until Stepan has a decent playoff run before thinking he can lead the way to a Cup. It's much more realistic to assume he can, based on...nothing, than to base it off of his past playoff performances.

In 1995, the Devils won the Cup with Neal Broten as the #1 center. Broten was 36 and long past his days as a #1 center. Put MSL on his wing, and who's to say Richards doesn't put up 1st line center numbers in the playoffs. He did put up 0.75 PPG in 2011-12.

 

[aufheben]

I'm not writing him off! What makes more sense: waiting till he actually becomes a good playoff performer, or assuming he all of the sudden will, based on thin air?

 

[GregSirico]

Except any team that put any kind of pressure on Fleury the last 2 playoffs could have scored. He was letting in ****** goals left and right, it didn't take much. We finally have a team that doesn't spend 90% of the time in their own zone and put pressure on the other team. We don't score an amazing amount of goals, but against Fleury, if we just put pressure he can implode.

You add MSL to this current roster ... and put MAF in net ... us on the PP ... I would LUL @ the outcome.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I think people should start realizing every team in the play offs can win the Cup. The Kings won the Cup as the 8th seed, eliminating Vancouver, St. Louis and Phoenix, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd seed, on their way to the Cup and only lost 1 game if I remember correctly.

Anything can happen in the play offs. Since the lock out, only 2 teams that finished 1st in the conference, and had home ice advantage, won the Stanley Cup.

 

[haohmaru]

And Chicago's defense is what? Not top 5?

We have a fine team. A fun team to watch. I enjoy this team. But they don't play in a vacuum. I have yet to hear a tangible reason that makes this team better than any of the others mentioned. Other than "renounce your fandom you pagan realist".

The suggestions that we should throw rational thought and longevity to the wind, trade "futures" and roster players to acquire a 38 year old for one season, are more ridiculous than someone suggesting that perhaps this isn't the season to make such a move. Perhaps if they had a #1 center, a real offensive defenseman, and at least one other winger besides Kreider and Pouliot in the top 9 that had anything resembling size and grit, then yea, maybe trading for St. Louis would make sense.

OR...

They could have PATIENCE, trade Callahan for some young pieces, buyout Richards' terrible contract, somehow figure out how to get another center that can pass as a real #1-#2, and then SIGN St. Louis as a free agent to a short-term contract, and then take a run, with a more complete roster...

The Rangers are top 5D in the league and somehow aren't in the same stratosphere as the 'Hawks? BS. I haven't questioned your fandom, so please don't lump me in with other criticizers.

Personally, yeah, Callahan + 1st = St. Louis is a good deal for the Rangers. The guy is a proven leader, proven scorer, Art Ross winner, and guts and glory kind of guy. Will I take that over Callahan to St. Louis for Stewart and a 1st? Every god damned day of the week. MSL is a special player, and still is judging by his stats this year, and is in tremendous shape even by Jagr standards.

He obviously wants to be here and can make this team a contender. It's worth the risk.

 

[aufheben]

In 1995, the Devils won the Cup with Neal Broten as the #1 center. Broten was 36 and long past his days as a #1 center. Put MSL on his wing, and who's to say Richards doesn't put up 1st line center numbers in the playoffs. He did put up 0.75 PPG in 2011-12.

Neal Broten had 28 pits in 30 games for the Devils in the RS, and 19 in 20 in the playoffs. Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer had 11 points in 20 games each.

 

[GregSirico]

Missed the point.

You are ignoring the smart long term decision of moving a few players who won't be around past the next couple of months to return assets that can be used longer in order to give yourself an "anything can happen".

So, by that theory trading Callahan for a pick is better than MSL?

I don't agree but at least I get where you're coming from.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

You add MSL to this current roster ... and put MAF in net ... us on the PP ... I would LUL @ the outcome.

Even without MSL, you don't to be Wayne ****ing Gretzky to beat him on the goals he was beat on the last 2 playoff rounds.

 

[haohmaru]

aside from Brassar and Zucc, the offense was complete doodoo during last years playoff run

Different coach, different system, lots more black and blues.

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

This is what I have been saying since day 1. This is why BOSTON is so good, why CHICAGO is so good, why PIT is so good ... DEPTH.

What are you trading to get St. Louis? Yzerman let it be known, Callahan is NOT the player they will take for St. Louis.

He wants 7 million per for 7 years...Tampa isn't giving him that. And they have their own playoff run they want to make.

They want a ransom for St. Louis. Yes, he only wants to be traded to the Rangers. Yzerman doesn't HAVE to trade him at all, he can wait until the summer, he can wait until next year's trade deadline if he wants.

 

[NYR Viper]

im not really ignoring anything, just not sure what the heck your trying to get across..

so we should have traded danny g because pitt and bos are just too goliath like?

im only concerned with what the rangers have now.. and right now they are good enough to get into the playoffs and then who knows.. they are a team that has the potential up and down the line up to make that who know come true..

I'm not sure why I am having an issue getting this a crosses here but I'll try again.

If a player has no future with the organization passed this season and can be moved for assets that will be around for the foreseeable future then it would behoove the organization to do so. By doing that they extend their window and continue to have young players coming up through the pipeline.

This also allows them to fill holes cheaply which frees them up to make trades of older established players and dabble in free agency with the cap space.

 

[Ghost of jas]

aside from Brassar and Zucc, the offense was complete doodoo during last years playoff run

So, you agree that adding a career PPG playoff performer would help bog time.

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

How would the lines be if we traded for MSL, and hypothetically kept Cally?

 

[AHB*]

In 1995, the Devils won the Cup with Neal Broten as the #1 center. Broten was 36 and long past his days as a #1 center. Put MSL on his wing, and who's to say Richards doesn't put up 1st line center numbers in the playoffs. He did put up 0.75 PPG in 2011-12.

You just went back nearly 20 years to find this example. That was a different game. Since the lockout, not one single team has one without an elite #1 center.

Fact is, it is highly highly highly unlikely for a team to win a cup without an elite #1 C, let alone a 1B (Non-Elite), which we arguably don't even have.

Is it impossible, no. Is it impossible to win the lottery, no. Is it likely that it won't happen, yup. I'm a realist and anytime you're going back to 1995 to prove a point, that's pretty telling.

 

[GregSirico]

I think people should start realizing every team in the play offs can win the Cup. The Kings won the Cup as the 8th seed, eliminating Vancouver, St. Louis and Phoenix, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd seed, on their way to the Cup and only lost 1 game if I remember correctly.

Anything can happen in the play offs. Since the lock out, only 2 teams that finished 1st in the conference, and had home ice advantage, won the Stanley Cup.

This isn't just hockey ... it's all sports ... it's a crap shoot ... know what talent does? Get you to the dance ... then it's all getting hot at the right time, getting the right breaks, staying healthy, good match ups, etc.

 

[Kakko]

How would the lines be if we traded for MSL, and hypothetically kept Cally?

We won't do that

Too many top-9 guys. Would force somebody that can't be on the 4th line onto it

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Look, the Hawks are a very good an dangerous team, but they're flawed. Their second and third lines are not good. Their defense is very good, but can be forced into turnovers against fast teams (like ours).

They are great, but beatable.

 

[haohmaru]

Neal Broten had 28 pits in 30 games for the Devils in the RS, and 19 in 20 in the playoffs.

Broten was HARDLY the prototypical #1 center (especially at age 36) regardless of what his performance was. Come on.

 

[Thirty One]

Sorry that I'll actually wait until Stepan has a decent playoff run before thinking he can lead the way to a Cup. It's much more realistic to assume he can, based on...nothing, than to base it off of his past playoff performances.

Even if it is more realistic, that doesn't change the definition of a fact.

You can say our assertion is an assumption based on nothing, but what is yours based on? 37 games? In a 37 game stretch, Brian Boyle scored 14 goals. In a 37 game stretch, Marian Gaborik scored 11 goals. Maybe it's not a big enough sample to draw a conclusion?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

How would the lines be if we traded for MSL, and hypothetically kept Cally?

OH boy!!!

Kreider - Stepan - Nash
Zucc - Richards - St. Louis
Hagelin - Brassard - Callahan
Carcillo - Moore - Pouiliot

 

[Ghost of jas]

Neal Broten had 28 pits in 30 games for the Devils in the RS, and 19 in 20 in the playoffs. Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer had 11 points in 20 games each.

After putting up only 4 points in his previous 17 with the Stars. Essentially, the Devils caught lightning in a bottle.

 

[NYR Viper]

So, by that theory trading Callahan for a pick is better than MSL?

I don't agree but at least I get where you're coming from.

Not quite. All I'm saying is if Callahan won't sign for a reasonable amount, using the "anything can happen" argument to keep him for the rest of this season only to see him leave for nothing is incredibly short sighted.

That goes for Boyle and Stralman as well.

I wasn't really commenting on St Louis. I like him, but I worry what the cost is.

 

[aufheben]

Even if it is more realistic, that doesn't change the definition of a fact.

You can say our assertion is an assumption based on nothing, but what is yours based on? 37 games? In a 37 game stretch, Brian Boyle scored 14 goals. In a 37 game stretch, Marian Gaborik scored 11 goals. Maybe it's not a big enough sample to draw a conclusion?

Is 37 games really that small of a sample size for playoff games? Maybe you think it is, but that doesn't change the fact that he's sucked through them.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

how old is stepan? because it took pavel datsyuk and henrik zetterberg about 4 playoffs to finally realize its a different game.. so they sucked big time for 4 years.. then became two of the best playoff players... is stephan unable to grow and improve? he is still a kid to a degree...

and he doesnt have to be a number 1.. because the rangers have an real good amount of depth up front..

Comparing Stepan to Datsyuk and Zetterberg is an insult to the two. Datsyuk has more talent in his pinky than Stepan does in his whole body. I really would not include Stepan in the untouchable list. How many times can it be said? He can only get by on his iq for so much. He's a lousy skater, soft shot, Charmin Ultra soft, easily gets knocked off the puck, just say boo and he'll cough up his lunch money, oh and the next face off he wins will be the first one he wins. He's ok as a 2C but he can no way shape or form be a 1C on a team with championship aspirations.