Fight club

Get rid of Handzus and play Boyle at center on the second line. This kid is going to be a pretty good player. I could see him becoming an interesting power forward type of player.

We don't need Handzus since we have stoll. Stoll is the perfect third line center. Package Handzus, Frolov, and Hickey for Rick Nash!

khanon81....

I respectfully couldn't disagree more. Handzus has been by far our most reliable center. Stoll should be on the 3rd line as you suggest, but Boyle is far from ready for full time top 6 action. Down the road...maybe...a big maybe. His inconsistency through this season won't be easily forgotten and while his recent upside has shown promise, he'll need to make great strides this summer to keep his job come training camp. His skill is not whats in question...its his grit that needs work.

Re: Rick Nash...uh no. I'm pretty sure he's not for sale no matter what the price.

TB,

I agree that Handzus has been reliable; however, No team should have two third line centers in the line-up. Stoll is the better of the two, If Boyle is played consistently on the second line, I guarantee he would put up offensively at least the same as Handzus if not more. The reason why Boyle has been "inconsistent" this year is because he was playing on the fourth line, and fortunately, he's not a fourth line player. He's here to score and play physical, and I'm sure he wont let me down.

Regarding Nash, maybe we should throw in a first round pick for him and sign Camalleri.

yeah Khanon, as much as I'd like to see Rick Nash in a King's uni, I don't think that's going to happen... at least not in a trade unless he decides not to resign with the jackets.

And Handzus is defintely a keeper, he's playing his butt off right now. The team needs this guy.

There was never a question if Boyle had the talent to play in the NHL. But he probably needed a wake up call to elevate his game and learn how to play at this level. And I think he found out, but the hard way. There is no way that DL will let Boyle go to another team. This kid can be a game breaker. As the old adage goes, you can't teach size. I expect DL to sign Boyle to a contract and see him in the line up for next season. I hope DL will not make a mistake of either trading Boyle. All this kid needed was to build confidence and it seems he has found it.

Boyle22,

I fully agree with you. Since when does Brian Boyle have an account with this blog?

does anyone know if Boyle was a Dave Taylor pick or DL?

khanon81 - boyle was drafted in 2003 & DL's first draft as the King's GM was the 2006 draft. Not to be rude, but you do the math...

Concur with Khanon - Boyle played poorly when he was playing on the fourth line. And guess what...so did Purcell. Boyle is now playing his a$$ off and doing everything TM/Lombardo have asked of him, but still TM won't put him out there more than 4 shifts in the third to get a shot at a hat trick (2 games ago)?

Maybe TM/'Bardo should accept the fact that not every prospect can fill a third- or fourth-line role effectively. And playing with the likes of Ivanans/Richardson/Zeiler is not exactly a formula for offensive success.

I applaud TM's defensive teachings, but his ability to evaluate talent has been a real head scratcher. Fro as a shut-down third-liner? Harrold on the second line? Boyle in the doghouse for whatever reason. Ivanans on the third line? Calder on a scoring line? Moller on the pine? Labs anointed the #1?

The list goes on and on...next year cannot come soon enough...

I spoke Boyle before practice about a week ago and he was very displeased with the loss the prior evening and seemed to take the loss to heart. I think he's finally mentally ready to be here and I'm quite impressed with his play as of late and the fighting is just a sign that he's ready to stick up for his team. Thats the type of big body we need, one who will score and scrap...not Ivanans who can barely hold a stick.

Also I agree with TB. Zeus has been not only a strong player on the ice but been a vital role in the development of Simmonds.

Like Rich said in his forum answers its looking more like Fro will be traded out. This gives us the opportunity to pick up the "big winger" DL wants us to get. Lose Ivanans and trade Fro, keep Armstrong on the 4th line with 2 kids and we're golden.

Armstrong is the most vocal on the ice and in the locker room. He's a motivator and if you've ever watched practice he runs most of the drills...which makes me wonder why he's not a C or A.

TB--

Ever hear that commercial on SiriusXM Home Ice where the announcers suggest Rick Nash call his agent out to dinner and suggest he get one of those ten year long-term contracts?

You couldn't be more right about Nash not being available. I'm like the little boy in a toy store one week before Christmas: I want one!

My question is: Where do the Kings go to get one?

Boyle is definitely NOT one.

I have mixed feelings about Boyle. He can play like a monster and I actually like the pairing of Boyle and Purcell. However he does tend to take lazy penalties. I won't give up on him yet though because his play at the end of this season has shown a marked improvement over his play at the beginning of the season and in theory next season should be even better. I think the fight last night probably should not have occured at that time but kudos to him for accepting the challenge. I just hope that he takes some fighting lessons before next season.

Boyle's future is probably a really talented and big #3 center and down the road pair him with simmons and another guy like wudrick(maybe) and that could be a beast of a third line. right now I would move handzus to lw put boyle at #3 center with simmons for next year and let them reek havic on other teams top lines.

Too much upside to give up now. Especially since he's had a little sand paper taken to him this season. He should definitely gets another year to show how much he's grown this season. What the hell is the point of developing prospects if we ship them out before reaching full potential. Asset management aside, Boyle still has BIG upside.

I don't mind having 2 third line centers on this team, as long as they are centering the 3rd and 4th lines.

It would be great if Boyle could step up and take the #2 center spot as that would free up Stoll to be part of a package to land the big fish, that could play with Kopi and Fro. I like the idea of playing Boyle w/JW. His production hasn't really been there yet but Williams' "compete" level is higher that anyone on the Kings right now, save Quick. I think he would demand, and get a lot from Boyle.

Move Stoll for a player with a younger and more relevant supermodel GF/wife.

Just to throw this out there, Boyle seems to be doing fine in development terms. With his size and weight, he always had an edge over smaller players and probably could drive or park in front of the net without any problems. I think he had talents that could carry him all the way to the pros. He has been asked to play D and play more physical in Manchester. Now he opportunity is starting kick in. If any of us had the skills Boyle has and were told now you have to change your game our learning curve would take time just as his has at a professional level. If he has that mean streak in him he should develope into quite the power foward. For a long term project I think he is worth keeping, I'd hate to see him traded and turning into a John Leclaire.

Agreed, he's not going anywhere. But unfortunately for Boyle, in the NHL, most centers start their career on the 4th line. During his rookie season, Pavel Datsyuk frequented the 4th line for most of the year. Its the nature of the position. The center has far more defensive responsibilty than the wingers, so its completely understandable how coaches are reluctant to give a lot of minutes to a rookie centerman. It'll all work itself out. Its no secret how much potential he has.

Moller is the one I worry about. The center position is a crowded place here in LA, and he might be the odd man out if our buddy Boyle can lock down a box on DL's board.

So lets stir the pot...

What if we packaged Moller and Frolov with a 1st and a 2nd round pick? If you were Don Waddell of the ATL Thrashers, would you give up Kovalchuk?

"Move Stoll for a player with a younger and more relevant supermodel GF/wife."

Whochuk Shuchuk,

I'll give you credit for that. That was pretty damn funny and sort of true

Just thought i'd share this for fun :)
So i started a Dynasty on NHL09 for fun, and i went through whole season to get to free agency to see whose available, and to my suprise Gaborik isnt there?! i find him on the Colombus Blue Jackets..lol so since no big players were free agents i decided to trade for Kovalchuk, so i proposed Ersberg and 1st rd and 2rd draft pick. rejected. So i tried 1st rd pick and matt greene (as i didnt want to lose Johnson or Frolov) and to my suprise ATL took that deal so now i have Kovi-Kopitar-williams on my 1st line!

I hope you guys are right about Boyle.
but I have to laugh over the suggestion that his play suffered because he played on the 4th line.
He was benched because he was lazy and refused to move his feet and use his size to his physical advantage. It had nothing to do with who he played with.
Just because you're playing with Zeiler and Ivanans does that mean you can just stop moving your legs and reach and grab a player and take a penalty?
Goal scoring is a huge part of this game, but there's a lot more to being a hockey player than scoring goals.

I sometimes wonder if people get seduced by his 6'7" frame? If he were a 6'1" centerman...do we make the same kuind of fuss over him?

Why is Frolov the guy who everyone thinks will/should be traded? He is the Kings' best player. He alone can control the game offensively. Kopitar can't do that. Brown certainly can't do that. Frolov plays a two-way game and can score no matter who he plays with. With the possible exception of Handzus, no other Kings forward has shown an ability to succeed on any line, be it 1-4.

I don't get it.

Peeps, I am alo hopeful that Boyle can end up being somthing similar to Jumbo Joe T, however im not getting excited because he looked great in last years "garbage" games, then stunk up the joint to start this season..... lets cross our fingers, at least he's willing to put down the mits now..... good sign

i don't think boyle will be re-signed...it might be still up in the air, but i think the kings are ready to move on

however...

d.l. has said that he would match any offer sheet that another team offers boyle (and purcell)...whether he misspoke or was merely bluffing remains to be seen...

boyle has shown a chara-like ability to move players off the puck...but besides the recent brawling and two goal outburst, he goes invisible for the rest of his t.o.i...

for a player of his size and potential, when is boyle expected to make a major nhl/team impact? 24? 25? 26?
and when you have a burgeoning crop of upstarts and prospects waiting in line to make the team next season, boyle might have already used up all of his chances...

zus is a interesting situation...

calder's $2.7mil comes off next season...he will probably venture into free agency and sign a long-term deal with another team...

preissing will probably be released/bought out, saving another couple of million...

frolov is already signed through next season at $4mil...

zus has two years remaining a t $4mil per...he's a management/coach favorite and does a lot of great non-score sheet things...i would imagine the kings would want to try their best to keep him...

however, it would be an interesting cap scenario if d.l. brings in a high-impact forward via trade/free agency....

i think having fro and zus BOTH on the team next season is a very small probability...

and even though their contracts are secured for next season, d.l. might want to make room for his upcoming splash he plans to make in the off-season...

if i had to choose between fro or zus being traded, it would be zus...to me that's a no brainer....

i think that d.l. would be foolish if he doesn't try to make a legit offer to fro/agent in negotiating an extension...

a talent like fro doesn't come around very often and he has had a tremendously underrated season...plus, he's been a king his whole playing career, drafted in the first round (20th overall) in 2000...

i still say you could flip a coin on fro's situation...it really can go either way and will bbe contingent on the negotiations come july 1st - the earliest ufa's in 10-11 can negotiate extensions with their current teams...

oscar moller should be a king next season...

but, i could see two possibilities in him being moved:

- he needs to get bigger and stronger...if the kings believe that this is not possible, then a deal should be made...

- if there's a high-impact offensive player (top tier talent) that d.l. can get and the team involved in such a deal would want moller as part of the trade package, i think you have to make that deal...

oscar needs about 15-20lbs of strength/mass added to his frame...if he's able to do that, coupled w/his tremendous skill/potential...look out...!

and that's just the biggest question involving all the kings top prospects: can they do the necessary things...on and off the ice...to become top flight players?

i never get tired of saying that next season's training camp is going to be crazy-go-nuts exciting and competitive...can't wait!

variable

Intertesting points on possible scenarios, but i have to disagree if its a choice between Fro and Zeus...I would keep Zeus.
I'll never question Frolov's ability. Nobody on the team and few in the league possess his ability.
The question that begs to be answered is why he's a middle of the road player and not a superstar?
He's still young so he may very well live up to his talent.

One argument is that he's played with some lousy teams and lousy players.....
A player with his ability should be making others around him better. Can anyone say he's made any player better by playing with him? I can't!
Look at what Zeus has done with Simmonds.

In my opinion The fact that he's been with the Kings since 2000 works against him.....
He has that loser mentality that comes with playing on lousy teams and hasn't shown that he can be a guy who will step up in big games. The few "big" games we played this year, he played some of his worst hockey. The Bruins game comes to mind.

This is going to be the toughest of all calls for DL...of course since Fro's signed through next season, he really doesn't have to do anything at all.

nykingsfan...

yr right when you say it's a very tough call....that's why if you can flip a coin at this point...

but i don't agree w/you when you say fro doesn't make his linemates better...

look at kopi's production at the start of the season to about the 30/35 game mark...it was then that fro was inserted into the top line pairings and the team and kopi's scoring took off...

less pressure on kopi and fro's stick handling ability enables the kings to free kopi up a bit when paired...teams solely just don't clamp down on kopi...they have to worry about fro, too, and it has paid off...

look at what happened when fro came back from his recent groin injury...the kings scored 6 goals....something they hadn't done since the thrasher game, i think, months ago...it made the team more dangerous and able to spread out the weapons more effectively...

he does make players around him better...he's led the team in goal scoring...w/31...and counting...playiing less than half his games on the top line...

i've said it many times before that the handling of fro by t.m and/or d.l. has been poor...he should never have been on the third line this season...

Re Handzus -

He is basically the hub of our defensive system. Not to mention his role as mentor to Simmonds. He has been huge for the Kings this year.

Re Frolov -

Yes, he's an "enigma." But he also has skated against the highest quality competition of any forward except Simmonds (!). He has in fact played the defensive role that TM actually announced he would play back in training camp. He's taken the usual Frolov heat for taking a shift off or making a bad pass; but I agree with those who say he's been the key to a big chunk of what little offense we have generated this year.

Re Boyle -

I laughed at whoever said Boyle looked scared when he was fighting. I thought the same thing in the previous game's fight. Not that he won't make the adjustment. It's just funny. And he sure does seem to be demonstrating his commitment to the team. Given that he really doesn't seem to want to leave, I wouldn't be surprised to see DL offer him a short-term contract a la Ersberg. Two years, 1.25MM something like that. I don't think DL wants him to walk at this point. The kid hasn't played a full NHL season yet.

Re Moller -

I wish TM had not made that comment about Moller needing to get stronger, because now it's all anyone ever says about him. It's ridiculous. He's 20! There is no "if" he can get stronger. He's a boy. He eats. He grows. He WILL get bigger and stronger. People take that TM comment and turn it into "Moller's a wimp" or whatever (as has been commented on other posts). And then the next game Moller makes a hit that leads directly to (I think it was) Simmonds' goal two games ago. Let's review the facts on Moller:

(1) he wasn't supposed to make the team this year.
(2) he made it because he outplayed several prospects ahead of him on the depth chart, because he plays two way defense, he back-checks harder than pretty much everyone on the team, he can take a hit and he dishes them out more and harder than people several inches taller than he is.
(3) going into the WJC he was the Kings leading scorer on the power play. People now seem to be looking at this as some kind of negative, like "ooh, of course, because on the power play no one hits you." When in reality it's because (i) he's offensively gifted, and (ii) he's tenacious on the puck.
(4) he's a highly physical player.
(5) he's possibly the purest sniper the Kings have.
(6) as of tomorrow or the next day, he will be ranked in the top ten league-wide prospects by Hockey's Future. He is as of now the Kings' number one prospect (Doughty has graduated).
(7) he's a leader, captain of Sweden WJC team, etc.
(8) did I mention he's still a kid?

There is absolutely no way in hell DL is going to deal this kid under any circumstances with the possible exception of a trade that brings Kovalchuk to the Kings, because any other trade would just end up making DL look like an idiot.

Also, I should add that Moller has been playing wing all year for the most part, so this issue about being deep at center is moot. Remember, two years from now there likely won't be any Handzus or Stoll. And Moller will be 22.

I really thought Frolov played his best hockey when he was playing with Zeus and Simmonds....Although I think since he's been put with Kopi and Williams, they have the potential to be a great #1 line.

I'm not sure about the point that he made Kopi better. I think Kopi was concentrating on the defensive part of his game and because of that, his goal scoring suffered. That may be just perception on my part and not reality.

Here's the other thing about signing Frolov long term for big $$.....What if he is the type of player who will take the money and run? What if he feels that since he has the big contract, he can take off nights and not really care?
Please, I'm not saying that Frolov is that type of player...he does take nights off, but that may be because of all the losing years conditioned him to do that.
That was always a knock against the Russian players. They were more intersted in the money than the game. Again, that might have just been perception...Although Alex Kovalev always gave me that impression. There's a guy who is probably the most talented player in the game who's not exactly a team guy.

quisp...

d.l.'s comments non-withstanding...happen to be true...

oscar needs to get bigger and stronger...that's just fact...

yes...he's still a kid...yes...tons 'o' potential...but there are no guarantees...

you are probably right when you say that he's the kings top sniper "prospect"...he's about warn that moniker to it's limits, since he's on the verge of full-time status...

i hope he has an incredible off-season workout plan and does the necessary things he needs to do that if fro is dealt, we have someone who has the potential to take his place and then some...

i usually agree with much of what you say...and yr aforementioned comments about the other players, i tend to agree with...minus/plus a point or two...

but i like how the kings/d.l. have been very careful with oscar...i don't understand why you feel the need to put him in games that don't really mean anything in terms of adding to his development...

let him get a "stamkos" education right now...it can only help him...

and i did say that the only way he gets moved was under the scenario you had mentioned - top tier, high-impact talent...a 2 percenter-type talent...

i hope oscar proliferates in all the ways you...and the rest of us...imagine

nykingsfan...

yep...there are russian players that tend to be somewhat enigmatic and seem to get caught in the "tweener" trap - a player constantly on the verge of greatness, but not yet/quite achieving it...

yashin, kovalev, zherdev, antropov, afinogenov, etc....

but then there are yr ovechkins, bures, malkins, datsyuks, etc...

frolov is definitely someone who has the potential to be on the latter aforementioned list...but probably still has one foot in with the other group...

but he's only 26 w/six seasons of nhl experience and is entering the prime of his career...i just don't think it's time to give up on him...

d.l. could do the smart thing for all parties and try in good faith to re-sign him, keep him on the team right up until the trade deadline next season, if an agreement can't be reached...

my math tells me that if calder walks and preissing is released/bought out, we can still have him on the team...and maybe i was wrong saying that we can't have both zus and fro in the lineup...i just think it's highly unlikely...it's certainly mathematically possible...i guess it's all contingent on what d.l. brings in...

i still say that for every high-impact score sheet player you bring in, you need to also bring in a high-impact non-score sheet player...

can stoll replace zus if needed? i think so...we have plenty of center depth...

i still think replacing frolov is a bit harder and more challenging...

and until we see what happens come draft day, we all will be guessing from sunrise to sunset...

variable -

I hardly think Moller has worn out the prospect label. He's been in the Kings organization for two seasons. One in junior. One in the NHL. For the Hockey's Future site, for example, I think the cut-off for skaters is 65 NHL games, after which you "graduate." Purcell, Boyle, Lewis, Moulson, Quick, Drewiske and Westgarth are also prospects, and of those names only Quick (at #45) cracks the top FIFTY league-wide.

variable -

there's no reason to re-sign calder. there's no room. the kings have an excess of third line players. he can get a reasonable pay-check somewhere else. preissing will be bought out, or i will eat my hat. there's plenty o room for frolov and handzus. And there is cap space to bring in that one BIG Hossa-esque piece. That of course depends on AEG being willing to spend...

quisp...

good point...it just seems like he's been here longer...

i think it will be contingent on what d.l. brings in and what type of deal he has in mind for fro...

that's why i have a hard time believing they both will be on the team...and i also think d.l. will be searching for an excuse/fodder if he does decide to move fro...and, yes, i did factor the AEG spending factor to all this speculation...that's a big question mark...

nykingfan said:

I sometimes wonder if people get seduced by his 6'7" frame? If he were a 6'1" centerman...do we make the same kuind of fuss over him?

That's the whole point. He is 6'7". He can move people off the puck. He can penetrate the crease. The only area he was having trouble in was using his size to his advantage. It's clear that he has the soft hands to score the goals. The problem with him was he did not use his size to his advantage. Now it looks like he has learned to do just that. He's tendency to disappear on some shifts is not due to lack of effort. It's the way the entire team is playing. The leadership on this team starting with Brown has not done a good job. So if the leaders of your team are having a bad game. The rookies are going to do the same. One more thing that needs to be addressed is. The strength of an organization is how well they are able to identify and develop talent. And in this regard the Kings have been awful. Case in point is Frolov. He was rushed to make the team and never was properly versed on all the aspects of the game. So he has picked up some bad habits. The fact is the team was terrible on the power play when he was out injured.
But with him in the line up their power play has a totally different look and feel. I am tired of watching us give away good players to other teams and get nothing in return. And I am afraid that that's what’s going to happen if and when DL trades him away.

Re Moller:

http://kwisp.wordpress.com/2009/04/08/hockeys-future-top-50-prospects-10-oscar-moller/

Just saying...

...after looking through alot of rosters, and salary strapped teams, I noticed that the Flyers are a team that the Kings may find for that "blockbuster deal" we are all anticipating. With no goalie depth,a tight budget,and the lack of an offensive/defenseman(Timmonen and Coburn are the closest thing they have), they seem like a very compatible trading partner. Gagne is the name that jumps out at me, and it wouldn't cost us even close to what a Kovi, or Heatley would. Also, there is a kid named Giroux they have that is going to be something special, something very special. I believe on the right line Gagne is a 35-40 goal guy. It would cost us Bernier, Teubert, and most likely a top 7 LW, or a second rounder to Toronto for Ponakirovsky to Philly. This would be a huge move, if possible, because it would not effect the strengths of our D, or the proven talent of our core-ie. keeping Zeus, Fro, and Moller, who would surely be gone in a trade for Kovi or Heatley. I don't see this situation as improbable, and it seems to be right along the lines of completely probable based on what Burke received for Antropov! Does anyone see this as irrealistic?

A lot of scuttle butt here about Zues being trade bait. Does he not have a NTC???? Stoll as trade bait?? Who is going to replace his FO prowess?

The key to Fro is his re-sign after July 1. If he wants Cammy money at 6+-he is gone. If we can sign him for 4 years at 4.8-5.0/year then he stays a king. However, if Heatley og kovi can be had for Fro, a kid (purcell or moller) and our first, then he is gone.

I also think Gange is a great player, but he is one head shot away from retirement. They (PHI) are looking to dump Brieres contract. Again another injury prone player. Hope DL is not considering any more high risk reward players.

Anyway april 14th will decide our fate. If the Lightning win the lottery, then Vinny is gone.

Was that a true statement about Traveres not wanting to play for NY?? If so, we could then move up in the draft. Do we want Traveres???

src3, re fro trades:

Heatley for Frolov, Purcell/Moller and our #1? No way. That's a terrible trade for the Kings, AND it would make it impossible to sign a big UFA, adding $4MM+ to our cap.

There is no trading Purcell or Moller. None. Stop thinking about it. Stop! I said...stop! (are you stopping?)

Kovalchuk is another matter, being a huge upgrade over Heatley, but I would still cry myself to sleep.

src3...

yeah...i would strongly disagree with that trade scenario, as well...

quisp makes a great counterpoint to yr proposal about the inability for us to land a top ufa under the terms of such a deal...

but if you just look at what yr suggesting as to be a "fair" deal...wow...!!!!!
what in the world would you give up for vinny? datsyuk? crosby? malkin?

i say that somewhat facetiously since yr trade suggestion for a very good talent in heatley seems a bit off the charts: that's a monster amount of talent to give up for a player of heatley's ilk...

and i don't even thin kovy is worth that deal, if he's the sole player coming back to us...

however...

the kings do have an awful record....despite who's gm...in making some of the worst all-time "blockbuster involved" deals...

the gretzky trade to st. louis might be the biggest dooooosy of all-time in hockey...

it competes with the lindros trade to philly, when the flyers gave up a few potential h.o.f's and waaaaaay too much talent in return for the big error...i mean...the big eric...

so...i guess...in the grand scheme of things...anything that wacky is possible...

i just hope something like that never happens again...and if it does, it benefits the kings...!!!!

Trading Purcell might not be the stupidest thing ever, if it was part of a package that brought back a top-line forward. But trading Moller would be off-the-charts stupid, virtually guaranteed to come back to bite us in the *ss.

I'm not really expecting a big trade, anyway. A big signing, yes. Big trade? I don't really even want to think about it.

In no way do I want Moller to be traded. I am very pissed at having to watch Zeiler. Why are we not running rich-army-moller on the 4th. Is Ivanans that important right now.

On the trade note.....PS thanks for the comebacks. I dont see Hossa signing for us. I see Colum. being more attractive. Not to mention TM def. system, will not be attractive. Agree that Fro, purcell, 1st is too much for Heatley, but next to Hossa he is the only 2 way winger with size and 50 goal potential out there. Everyone else looks like a MASH unit. Heatley is locked for 4 more years at 7.5mil. Kovolcuk is going to cost 9 mil in 2011. Will at least be very diffacult to sign for less.

I dont see any FAs out there that fit our needs (top 3 winger with 40+ ability). If getting the first overall pick is not attainable then who or what. DL is feeling the heat-needs to do something. Franzen is going to stay in Det. Hossa will be a FA. Unless Hossa starts dating a model/actress, then how else are we going to luer him??? Any suggestions?? I am game.

Ottawa must dump salary and need second line help.

However, an interesting thought............Heatley, Kovo, Gabby etc have never been real winners. DL seems to be focused on getting some experienced winners in the club house.

My original proposal a few days ago was:

Fro, purcell, def prospect (not Hickey, Teubert), 1st for Heatley and Phillips and a pick (3rd). Was just lazy by omitting the rest of the crew.

Our Division is too tuff for Gaborik.
Both the Sens and Thrashers need a goalie/goalie prospect, and we have one to spare. So it seems odd that all the trade scenarios this page offers are completely void of Zatkoff, or Bernier. I see both of these players being more expendable than Moller and Purcell. Atlanta would love to do a trade for Bernier, Teubert, our 3rd rounder, and Zeus, because Kovi is only guaranteed for one more year. Takking Zeus off the books would allow us to sign Kovi for more than a year, and still allow us room to sign Fro. Moller, or boyle, need to compete for 3rd line duties, and I feel they're ready for it, as long as they have the support of Simmonds and Purcell on their wings.

Darko-read ya load and clear, but are we ready to dump Bernier?? How much value does Bernier actually have at this point?? I s Quick "da man"? Looks that way, but we wont know until the all star break next year. Zues IMO is too important to this team to trade. Plus I think Zues has a NTC.

However we bend and twist it...........we need a 40+ goal scorer with size and grit. We need to know if Fro is going to be a cap friendly king or cap foe. If foe, then we all know he is gone. Therefore all big trade senarios will most likely include Fro, a kid and a pick.

If we are lucky, maybe Pitt will tank in the first round and decide they need more balance. Thereby be willing to trade malkin.

unless malkin is a t.o. in the locker room...which i believe he's not...there's no way in the world he gets traded, unless a team is stoooooopid enough to give up a lindros-size offer to pitt....

malkin and crosby should be penguins for life...again, unless something goes awry/afoul in the realm of catastrophic proportions...