Watching NYR/NJD and..

[Sarcastic]

There was a lot of Ryan trade talk this season so I think with the right deal he could be had, but that would likely mean Staal going the other way. Unless there is a good winger on the FA market this year.

I'm looking at FAs. Maybe Doan or Whitney out of Phoenix? Both right-shooters and unrestricted.

Doan
79 22 28 50

Whitney
82 24 53 77

http://www.sportscity.com/nhl/2012-nhl-free-agents-unrestricted-listed-by-position/

[Malkamaniac]

No Doan. Dear God no Doan. I hate that dude with a passion.

[Sarcastic]

No Doan. Dear God no Doan. I hate that dude with a passion.

He probably hates you too.

[Sarcastic]

I keep looking at that list and nothing else jumps out. We're gonna have to trade PMart Plus for a winger. Who's in?

[Malkamaniac]

No Doan. Dear God no Doan. I hate that dude with a passion.

He probably hates you too.

I hope so. I cheered when he cried after the Kings decimated his team.

[Defence21]

I keep looking at that list and nothing else jumps out. We're gonna have to trade PMart Plus for a winger. Who's in?

Why do we need a winger so bad? Kunitz and Dupuis, along with Neal make a good trio. The Penguins don't need offense -- they need defense.

[Sarcastic]

We could use a better winger for Crosby and it's not as much to increase scoring but to balance things out. You mentioned 3 wingers, who's the 4th. Sullivan? That's not good enough. And we could maybe then make a PP unit with Crosby, leaving Malkin with Neal. I think that if I am Shero I am very seriously looking for a scoring winger for Crosby.

We need to re-do the defense too, but that's another topic.

[Defence21]

We could use a better winger for Crosby and it's not as much to increase scoring but to balance things out. You mentioned 3 wingers, who's the 4th. Sullivan? That's not good enough. And we could maybe then make a PP unit with Crosby, leaving Malkin with Neal. I think that if I am Shero I am very seriously looking for a scoring winger for Crosby.

We need to re-do the defense too, but that's another topic.

I'm not saying another winger is something that should be ignored, but there are two things that make it a secondary need to defense. First, the Penguins were the top scoring team in the NHL in 2011-12...without Crosby, and with the current group of forwards. It was enough last year without Crosby and it will be more than enough this year with Crosby. Two, if rumors are true that Staal wants an increased role and that management would like to try him on a scoring line (as was indicated before each of the last two injury-riddled seasons), he becomes that 6th forward to go along with Malkin, Crosby, Neal, Kunitz and Dupuis. If that happens, a scoring forward isn't needed, and instead a third line shut-down center would be on the shopping list.

[Sarcastic]

I also propose we try Staal at wing again. Maybe he and Sid can find chemistry?

[Streaks House]

I also propose we try Staal at wing again. Maybe he and Sid can find chemistry?

Was this combination ever put on the ice for an extended period of time, i.e. 3+ games? It certainly is intriguing, as I could see Staal filling a role similar to Kunitz, except far more skilled and bigger.

[MRandall25]

I also propose we try Staal at wing again. Maybe he and Sid can find chemistry?

Was this combination ever put on the ice for an extended period of time, i.e. 3+ games? It certainly is intriguing, as I could see Staal filling a role similar to Kunitz, except far more skilled and bigger.

It was either Staal with Sid or Sid with Staal at the end of the year for a few minutes.

[Pens15]

The time to find out if Staal could work as a permanent winger would have been before giving him a big contract extension, not after. He'd be an unknown commodity there. Then what happens if it doesn't go so hot? Things revert back to the status quo ante?

If you're Staal, why mess around? Just go to a team where your role would be in no doubt, which would be a ton of teams.

Another thing is, moving Staal to wing is not a new idea. Before acquiring Neal, this team was absolutely desperate for wingers, and Staal was sitting there the whole time at 3rd line center. Yet somehow, he never found his way to wing for more than a few minutes. Why is that? Probably because they didn't think it was a great fit.

[columbia]

The time to find out if Staal could work as a permanent winger would have been before giving him a big contract extension, not after. He'd be an unknown commodity there. Then what happens if it doesn't go so hot? Things revert back to the status quo ante?

If you're Staal, why mess around? Just go to a team where your role would be in no doubt, which would be a ton of teams.

Another thing is, moving Staal to wing is not a new idea. Before acquiring Neal, this team was absolutely desperate for wingers, and Staal was sitting there the whole time at 3rd line center. Yet somehow, he never found his way to wing for more than a few minutes. Why is that? Probably because they didn't think it was a great fit.

That was the plan in 10-11 and 87, 71 and 11 played two (?) games together, so there was never a chance to do it.
This past year, they didn't need Staal at wing, after Crosby came back and they needed Staal at C when 87 was out.

[Pens15]

The time to find out if Staal could work as a permanent winger would have been before giving him a big contract extension, not after. He'd be an unknown commodity there. Then what happens if it doesn't go so hot? Things revert back to the status quo ante?

If you're Staal, why mess around? Just go to a team where your role would be in no doubt, which would be a ton of teams.

Another thing is, moving Staal to wing is not a new idea. Before acquiring Neal, this team was absolutely desperate for wingers, and Staal was sitting there the whole time at 3rd line center. Yet somehow, he never found his way to wing for more than a few minutes. Why is that? Probably because they didn't think it was a great fit.

That was the plan in 10-11 and 87, 71 and 11 played two (?) games together, so there was never a chance to do it.
This past year, they didn't need Staal at wing, after Crosby came back and they needed Staal at C when 87 was out.

That's true, the injury situations did significantly limit the opportunities to try it. But I also never got the sense that it was much of a priority either.

And also, it's not like it's NEVER been tried. He's taken shifts with Malkin and Sid here and there many times, and it's never jumped out. Just didn't try it long enough? Maybe. But I think more likely, the coaches just felt that you get the most bang for your buck from each guy as a center.

[shmenguin]

And also, it's not like it's NEVER been tried. He's taken shifts with Malkin and Sid here and there many times, and it's never jumped out. Just didn't try it long enough? Maybe. But I think more likely, the coaches just felt that you get the most bang for your buck from each guy as a center.

if you take away his rookie year, it's safe to say it's NEVER been tried. a couple games over a 5 year span isn't really much of an effort.