kipwinger

Jurco looked like a boss on that PP, probably should have put one of those two in.

Would you make either of these trades?

Would you trade Zach Bogosian for Kindl, Quincey and Pulkkinen or Ferraro? Neither would anyone else. You've got to give something to get something.

It never used to be a thing, but lately it's started popping up. I think the general consensus on St. James is that she doesn't really matter one way or another, but a small minority tend to think of her as a company-line hack. Presumably because she's a beat writer and therefore tends to just report on what management says, rather than doing more in-depth analysis like other sports journalists.

Is there a link for that, I'd definitely like to see it?

It's really hard to say what his training was like in Russia too. I mean, I'm not suggesting that they're not in good shape in the KHL. But it's hard to believe that they can match North American pro-level facilities, doctors/trainers, nutritional experts, etc. That alone could well explain the difference.

When I joined the Army, I gained 30 lbs in 4 months during basic training. I was 18 at the time and never ate balanced meals or more than about twice a day prior to enlisting. Once my calorie intake went up, along with the workouts, my weight skyrocketed. And that was almost entirely aerobic exercises (plus some push-ups, sit-ups, etc.). No weight lifting involved. So I guess I'm saying I agree with you, and that it might not even take as long as you'd imagine.

Dan Girardi isn't an offensive defenseman, so comparing him to Ouellet using their point totals is a bit misleading.

I think he'll get until the deadline, and then if things aren't going well they'll start with their lower value pieces and see if they can get a big return out of that before considering anything else. I'd imagine Setoguchi, Byfuglien, and Kane would be the first three to get moved (in that order). Unless, that is, they get an offer they can't refuse.

Oh ok, gotcha. I agree though, if I'm trading Jimmy+Nyquist, then I need two studs. If I'm trading Nyquist+Mrazek then I need less, but still nothing shabby.

The possibilities abound.

Wait, I need you to clarify something; do you mean Nyquist + a goalie for just one of those three, or a combination?

Ok, I understand where you're coming from now. I was always operating under the assumption that all our guys would be healthy at some point, and that additions would be exactly that. Given that I think this is the more likely scenario I think it's only possible to get Wheeler OR Ladd OR Kane (buy not any two), and then Kulikov in a separate trade.

We're all awful sorry that our discussions bother you so much. In the future we'll do our best to make sure that your experience here is a good one. Lords knows how aggravating it must be for you to watch all us peons befuddling ourselves over irrelevant flights of fancy. I mean, how could you not look down your nose with an air of elitist contempt while surrounded by all us low brow hayseeds. You poor man.

Leftie, I know you hate Franzen and all, but you've got to be a realist here. There's no way he doesn't play if healthy. No way.

Hard to say, what are the odds that you're a beacon of light in an age of intellectual darkness? Are those odds greater or smaller than the odds that many people specifically joined this forum because they enjoy mulling over hypothetical trade scenarios?

Yeah that's the sticking point, and earlier I had said that I'd move any of our bottom end guys for peanuts (conditional 7th?) in order to help with that. So, it would be understandably difficult to do, but "may" be possible if you had Kindl involved in the trade for Kulikov, Nyquist in the one for Wheeler, and perhaps one other cap dump trade Quincey, Cleary, Eaves, Andy, Abby, etc. etc. etc. Admittedly, it would be difficult, and might force us to make tough decisions on players we'd rather keep (Abby, Andy) but getting a workhorse like Wheeler in the deal takes the sting out a bit.

Alot of rumor sites have him going super high, if he gets traded at all. But in all the rumors I've seen about Girardi, I've never seen Detroit linked to him (for what that's worth). I don't know, you should start a thread about it.

Yeah, there aren't a lot of pieces I wouldn't part with for Wheeler (I'd give a little less for Ladd, but not much less). Seriously, at the trade deadline all I want is Wheeler (or Ladd) and Kulikov. These two and we're a cup team again (provided we're healthy).

Currently, over in the Jets thread, the exact phenomenon I discussed above it taking place.

We have enough world class offensive defensemen? Kindl and Smith?

We've got plenty enough assets to make a meaningful trade, maybe two. The thing is, to do that you've got to give something of value and in the past when LGW members say we've got nothing to trade it's because they don't want to give anything up. It's akin to saying "We've got nothing to trade because I'd rather not trade our 1st, or Smith, or Nyquist, or Tatar, or any of our top prospects." And it's perfectly true that if you exclude everything of value on our team then we've got nothing to trade.

This is a good point, there really aren't that many teams looking for goaltending now. Still think it's a better use of resources to target a second pairing guy to play with Dekeyser and keep Howard.

Well I think the values are off. In your post you said you'd rather have a top ten d-man than a top ten goalie, which I agree with. Problem is, Jimmy Howard won't get you a top ten d-man. He'd likely get you a top pair guy, but there are lots of top pair guys who aren't top ten. If all you're getting is a top pair guy (and we've already got two) then why trade someone as important as Howie when you could trade a less important piece and get a second pair guy (which is exactly where any new addition will be playing anyway) and not lose your starting goalie? Basically, Jimmy will get you a good d-man, but not a great one. And good defensemen can be had for a lot less than Jimmy Howard.

Final analysis, trade Nyquist + 1st for quality top six winger with size. Trade appropriately valued prospect and/or Kindl for Dmitri Kulikov. Win cup. (implied: clear cap space by trading various bottom end guys at the deadline for peanuts. Literally anybody can go so long as we clear space).