kipwinger

Iginla really wasn't all that expensive. I'm just going to take this as a sign that Holland ought to be able to go out and get Gaborik now, without losing any pieces that we can't really live without. Just a question, but if we land Gaborik and Yandle did we make out better this year than Pittsburgh has? Because I'm calling that too...Gaborik AND Yandle.

Calling it now, Pittsburgh gets beat in the first round of the playoffs after their swiss cheese defense gets totally exposed.

It's not so much that I listen to ESPN as I listen to Lebrun. He's usually pretty "in the know" and is only a contributor for ESPN. He's regularly a TSN guy.

Looks like you were right on this one. I thought for sure he'd get picked up...as did Lebrun at ESPN who speculated this morning that he'd get claimed pretty quickly. Good call.

It's not like he's demanding a trade. Trading him at this point is a win/win. He gets to try and win a cup, and the Flames get a prospect and a pick to go without his services for a few months. Then he simply goes home, with (hopefully for him) a Stanley Cup and a better team overall.

I would think that a team struggling to score goals but still in the playoff hunt would take a flier on him. Someone like Phoenix, Winnipeg, Nash...hell maybe even San Jose. I don't really know though, I'm just basing this off of his potential, age, and previous numbers. I haven't watched a single Carolina game this season. He does have 5 goals and 5 assists though. In this shortened season it's not terrible...not great...but not terrible.

This is a really interesting blog, I'm definitely going to keep following it. Thanks for the post.

Sort of a moot point then, Jokinen will definitely get claimed before he gets to us I'd imagine.

Cleary that's not true. People who use evidence like blocked shots, quality of competition ratings, takeways, PK time/game, and give aways think that Doug Murray is a top 25 defensive defenseman because...drum roll please...they opinion is based on something verifiably hockey related . Apparently, the only people who don't think so are the ones that say things without substantiating them in any way, just for the sake of argument.

Fake...Chara Legit...Colton Orr Clown...Hartnell Classiest...Martin St. Louis.

Right the testimony of the fans is worth it's weight in gold, while stats play second banana...got it. Sooo, have you made any informed conclusions about the Wings based on the testimony of people who watch every game? People like Blueadams, Leftwinger, Dabura, Me, The Axe? We're all fans, we watch every game. And as you've already stated, our "testimony" speaks far louder than silly old facts like statistics. Crymson: "Doug Murray isn't very good at anything other than being big" Kip: "Well here's a bunch of evidence that says you're not being accurate" Crymson: "Evidence smevidence, the opinions of the knowledgeable San Jose Sharks fan base speaks far louder" Kip: Face palm.

That's not true though is it? These guys argue that Murray is one of the top 25 defensive d-men in the league (as of last season). Their metric is based on plus/minus, blocked shots, takeaways, giveaways, PK time/game, and their quality of competition rating. Using that metric he ranks higher than Shea Weber, Johnny Boychuk, and Tom Gilbert, and just below guys like Lidstrom, Kronwall, and Tim Gleason. It's fun to look at the list because the names included on it pretty much validate the metrics used. Girardi, McDonough, Smid, Seabrook, Beauchemin, Suter, Lidstrom. All amazing defensemen. Missing from the list...Yandle, Karlsson, Green, Chara, Letang...all offensive defensemen. I know it's fun to say catchy little zingers like "Murray is not very good in any area beyond being big". But in reality you're wrong. Or at least these guys argue that you are. And at least they have some evidence to justify their positions beyond hyperbole. http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/slasher98/41485/

People are speculating that Murph got fired for being a drunk and now some are suggesting that McCarty take over? I've personally in a bar with McCarty a few tables over while he got loaded. Not really sure if the "pawn star" is the right way to go here.

I'd seriously consider Jokinen, not as a permanent fix, but as something that could help. How far down the waiver list are we anyway?

Yeah for sure. I like Semin and he's playing real good hockey but if I'm paying him 7 million, I'd definitely prefer a shorter term.

Depends on what scoring winger you're talking about. Iginla is on the market, so is Gaborik and Stafford, and there's some speculation that Loui Ericsson and Chris Stewart are too. All of them are scoring wingers, and all three would demand different returns. The same is true of every other winger on the market

I don't have a problem with Iginla as a player, he's clearly a beast. What I have a problem with is that it would take a ton to get him, and then we'd turn around and lose him again this summer. By all accounts he loves Calgary, his family loves Calgary, and it's going to remain his home. If we're going to give up a roster player, top prospect, and pick (which is the current asking price for Iginla) I'd rather we get a guy who will be around for more than a few months.

I'm not afraid to admit it: I'd take Valerie Filppula out for a night of baked oysters and ballroom dancing. Afterward I'd walk her back to her front door, promise to call her again, and part amicably. I'd woo her is what I'm saying.

If we sign Dekeyser I'd trade my first round pick if I were Holland. I know it's not a good long term strategy, BUT it can work out once in a while. Last year we didn't have a first but signed Brunner, and he's clearly better than anyone we would have taken in the first round. This year, if we sign Dekeyser, he'll clearly be better than anyone we would take in the first round. So essentially we got two high first rounders, and didn't need a pick for either of them. Use that pick for a trade Kenny! It's a wash any way you look at it.

I agree, I don't like Bouwmeester. However, if you were suggesting that we couldn't use the two I mentioned I have to disagree. Gaborik would finally give Dats a consistent scoring threat to play with, and Yandle would greatly help on the PP and in the transition game. Both areas where we need work. In theory I agree with you, I'd like a power forward. The problem is, there really aren't any for trade. If there were, then I'd prefer a power winger over Gaborik, but in the absence of one, we need a winger who can give us everyday production...and Justin Abdelkader that ain't.

I'd give up quality picks and prospects for Gaborik or Yandle, but definitely not for Bouwmeester and Iginla. There's no way Holland is dumb enough to pay for these two...right?

This is a real bummer. I don't care what anybody around here says, his size, strength and hands, make him valuable to this team. I'm still holding out hope that Bert makes is back this season.

Every quality prospect is not "the future". Very few are as a matter of fact. Trading one good prospect, even their best prospect, does not hurt the long term viability of the Pens as an organization.

That's exactly the point I'm making, if you've got a deep talent pool of defensive prospects you can move your top rated one without causing any long term harm to your team as a whole. Clearly Shero believed that they could move Morrow and still be fine in the long run. Just because a prospect is really good doesn't mean he has more value playing for your team than he does as trade bait. Holland always views our prospects as future Red Wings, which isn't necessarily bad, but I'm arguing that a guy like Nyquist or Smith (given our prospect depth) has more value as trade bait than as a future player. Just like Morrow clearly had more value as trade bait in Shero's eyes.

You're aware that he's a defensive defenseman who plays a shutdown role right? And that the Pens already score a s*** ton of goals without needing them from Doug Murray? And that they were bounced from the playoffs last year because their defense didn't actually play defense? Who gives a damn if he ever scores a single point? Surely not the Pens.