Rumor: Pit Dal in talks

[dash]

On behalf of Flames fans, I would like to thank current Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk for "doing a solid" for the "C of Red". Way to go, Joe!!

 

[ritari330]

This trade shocks and annoys me

 

[KennyBanyeah]

This is a win for the Pens.

Neal is a good young winger. Niskanen has struggled but he's a 24 year-old defenseman.

Goligoski has, perhaps, the highest ceiling of the three players but I just don't see him ever being solid in his own end. He always strikes me as a turnover machine. I think he's kind of soft to boot.

 

[Dacks]

This is a win for the Pens.

Neal is a good young winger. Niskanen has struggled but he's a 24 year-old defenseman.

Goligoski has, perhaps, the highest ceiling of the three players but I just don't see him ever being solid in his own end. He always strikes me as a turnover machine. I think he's kind of soft to boot.

That's why Dallas did it. You hear a lot of shit against Gogo, but he's a young, puck-moving potential PPQB who's put up a lot of points in his first two seasons. There aren't many of those going around, and definitely not many that aren't in the top 4 on their club, and therefore tradeable. On the other hand, I've heard that Neal was the most expendable of Dallas' crop of wingers.

I thought Gogo for Neal was fair value, but thought we'd have to give up a little extra considering the market. Really happy we didn't have to give up more, plus get a (I assume) functional third-pairing D back.

Now if we can get Kovalev for a conditional 4th / 5th (similar to Guerin), Sid to come back near 100%, and suddenly I like our chances this off-season.

 

[Darkstone42]

That's why Dallas did it. You hear a lot of shit against Gogo, but he's a young, puck-moving potential PPQB who's put up a lot of points in his first two seasons. There aren't many of those going around, and definitely not many that aren't in the top 4 on their club, and therefore tradeable. On the other hand, I've heard that Neal was the most expendable of Dallas' crop of wingers.

I thought Gogo for Neal was fair value, but thought we'd have to give up a little extra considering the market. Really happy we didn't have to give up more, plus get a (I assume) functional third-pairing D back.

Now if we can get Kovalev for a conditional 4th / 5th (similar to Guerin), Sid to come back near 100%, and suddenly I like our chances this off-season.

In a vacuum, Gogo for Neal straight up is a pretty even trade. Neal's been a better player and Gogo's got a higher ceiling. Both players are signed for at least one more year on team-friendly contracts. I weight production above potential, so a straight-up trade would have just favored the Penguins. Adding Niskanen to the deal gives the Penguins an underachieving defenseman with the potential to be a plus player on the blue line in the third pairing, which gives them a decisive advantage in the deal because they filled the void they created. Dallas didn't get a winger back, so this trade filled one hole by opening another for them.

Thus the Penguins win in a vacuum.

But this trade wasn't made in a vacuum. The Penguins have a surplus of defense, whereas the Stars do not have a surplus of scoring up front now that Richards has gone down. The situations of the two teams makes this trade a clear steal on paper for the Penguins.

 

[awaz]

ugh..

i hate you ray shero

 

[Dacks]

In a vacuum, Gogo for Neal straight up is a pretty even trade. Neal's been a better player and Gogo's got a higher ceiling. Both players are signed for at least one more year on team-friendly contracts. I weight production above potential, so a straight-up trade would have just favored the Penguins. Adding Niskanen to the deal gives the Penguins an underachieving defenseman with the potential to be a plus player on the blue line in the third pairing, which gives them a decisive advantage in the deal because they filled the void they created. Dallas didn't get a winger back, so this trade filled one hole by opening another for them.

Thus the Penguins win in a vacuum.

But this trade wasn't made in a vacuum. The Penguins have a surplus of defense, whereas the Stars do not have a surplus of scoring up front now that Richards has gone down. The situations of the two teams makes this trade a clear steal on paper for the Penguins.

I agree with you except for the part about Dallas not having a surplus of scoring up front. Both teams are making this trade for short and long-term gains. I think this move signifies that Dallas plans to resign Richards.

 

[Darkstone42]

I agree with you except for the part about Dallas not having a surplus of scoring up front. Both teams are making this trade for short and long-term gains. I think this move signifies that Dallas plans to resign Richards.

In the short term, though, Richards is injured and they don't have him. I do agree that they're trying to resign him, and I suppose the deadline is close enough that they had to do this, but they'll be a little weak up front until he heals up.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

That's weird. Neal is quite a catch; young, physical, hard nosed wingers who can pop in 25 goals a year don't grow on trees. Goligoski might be one of the best skating defensemen in the league, with plenty of skill, but he hasn't proven what Neal has. If Joe had gotten a nice prospect or a pick thrown in this might have been a draw, but I just don't see the reasoning behind this move (outside of Dallas having a blue line that's older than dirt).

 

[dash]

I just don't see the reasoning behind this move (outside of Dallas having a blue line that's dirtier than dirt).

fixed

 

[Destroydacre]

I call this trade a win for Pittsburgh. Goligoski is an upgrade offensively over Niskanen, but both are decent defensemen, Neal is the one that gives the edge to the Pens. He is going to be a great player. Finally a winger that can actually complement Crosby on his wing. Wouldn't surprise me to see Neal pot 40 next year in his first full season in Pitt.

 

[pixburgher66]

I wish we had a Stars fan on here to give some nice comparisons as far as the player mold that Neal fits. So far I've heard Kunitz with better hands/ability to finish, and Corey Perry. In watching links he seems to have a wicked wrister and a nose for the puck. That and he is very physical. If so, he's perfect. BEYOND perfect.

 

[JustAsking]

I wonder if Kunitz or Neal will end up on Sids left side...

 

[Eddie_Shack]

Neal is the perfect compliment for Crosby because he's got wheels, a scoring touch, and he can fight/protect his star center if need be.

He's similar to Perry, a little more of a north-south player, and at least in my opinion a lot cleaner. He hits hard, fights hard, and plays hard. My opinion of him might be of a cleaner player than he actually is because he plays on a team with Steve Ott and Adam Burrish, two of the cheapest and filthiest dirtbags west of the Mississippi. But he's got a motor on him that just won't quit and doesn't take a shift off, ever.

 

[Dacks]

I wish we had a Stars fan on here to give some nice comparisons as far as the player mold that Neal fits. So far I've heard Kunitz with better hands/ability to finish, and Corey Perry. In watching links he seems to have a wicked wrister and a nose for the puck. That and he is very physical. If so, he's perfect. BEYOND perfect.

Yeah, I took Neal in my pool two years ago, so I watch him play whenever possible, and think he's perfect. I'm ecstatic about the move.

 

[pixburgher66]

I wonder if Kunitz or Neal will end up on Sids left side...

I'm just happy we can ASK that question.

 

[pixburgher66]

 

[h X c Chris]

Neal just broke out of his cold streak too, I was on the verge of dropping his ass because it was about to be a double digit slump then he scored so I kept him on my team >=]

 

[puckhead]

Pix, that's hilarious.

btw, there were exactly TWO players on the Stars that I liked.... Neal and Benn.
Now if they can just trade Benn, my feelings for that team can be 100% pure

 

[awaz]

thats about what i thought of the deal