shmenguin wrote:Scott wrote:Please no.
Staal is more valuable to the Pens than Gaborik ever could be. Add in the fact that the best is still to come with Staal...

i'm sorry. gaborik had 83 points last year. staal had 28.
i like staal and i don't really care about having gaborik on the team, but the notion that right now staal would be more valuable to the pens than gaborik is just too crazy to ignore.
this is the '07 staal vs. malkin thread all over again.
Who wouldn't like to see what Gaborik could do playing with Crosby and Malkin...that is a no brainer...
however my statement was valuable to the Pens. Not in a scoring debate.
The Pens already have adequate scoring. Staal is more valuable to the Pens due to his PK skills, his back checking, face offs, his reach (ever notice how that reach drives players with the puck insane? )
Now if he can put his offensive game or atleast keep his game going from the post season...now you have a 70 point guy that plays a complete game. I can see that being a reality if he gets #1 PP time.
20 years old!
I'll take #11 thanks