can i get a recap/summary of the black vs gold game?

[shmenguin]

so you're saying one of three things:

1) staal fit in on the 3rd line in the past, but not this year
2) staal never fit in on the 3rd line - this year or in past years
3) you're bringing in his current contract as a factor

if it's #3, then we agree. too expensive to "fit in". but if it's #1 or #2, then i'm interested in hearing more, because that's nutso.

I'd suggest both #1 and #3 are valid arguments. Staal was no longer content to play a #3 center roll, making keeping him in that position ill-advised. Sutter is a better "fit" at this stage of their respective careers.

lack of contentment is more than offset by playing in a contract year. if he was on the pens this year and he knew this was the end because of his role, he still would have still been working his tail off to up his price tag for the offseason.

[Tico Rick]

so you're saying one of three things:

1) staal fit in on the 3rd line in the past, but not this year
2) staal never fit in on the 3rd line - this year or in past years
3) you're bringing in his current contract as a factor

if it's #3, then we agree. too expensive to "fit in". but if it's #1 or #2, then i'm interested in hearing more, because that's nutso.

I'd suggest both #1 and #3 are valid arguments. Staal was no longer content to play a #3 center roll, making keeping him in that position ill-advised. Sutter is a better "fit" at this stage of their respective careers.

Exactly. It's a simple concept: Staal simply outgrew his role in Pittsburgh.

[Great58]

so you're saying one of three things:

1) staal fit in on the 3rd line in the past, but not this year
2) staal never fit in on the 3rd line - this year or in past years
3) you're bringing in his current contract as a factor

if it's #3, then we agree. too expensive to "fit in". but if it's #1 or #2, then i'm interested in hearing more, because that's nutso.

I'd suggest both #1 and #3 are valid arguments. Staal was no longer content to play a #3 center roll, making keeping him in that position ill-advised. Sutter is a better "fit" at this stage of their respective careers.

lack of contentment is more than offset by playing in a contract year. if he was on the pens this year and he knew this was the end because of his role, he still would have still been working his tail off to up his price tag for the offseason.

What if his playing in a contract year meant he was more focused on offensive productivity to put numbers up to support his desire to be a #1 or #2 center? Then he would fit less well in a #3 center role if his defensive efforts received secondary attention.

[shmenguin]

so you're saying one of three things:

1) staal fit in on the 3rd line in the past, but not this year
2) staal never fit in on the 3rd line - this year or in past years
3) you're bringing in his current contract as a factor

if it's #3, then we agree. too expensive to "fit in". but if it's #1 or #2, then i'm interested in hearing more, because that's nutso.

I'd suggest both #1 and #3 are valid arguments. Staal was no longer content to play a #3 center roll, making keeping him in that position ill-advised. Sutter is a better "fit" at this stage of their respective careers.

lack of contentment is more than offset by playing in a contract year. if he was on the pens this year and he knew this was the end because of his role, he still would have still been working his tail off to up his price tag for the offseason.

What if his playing in a contract year meant he was more focused on offensive productivity to put numbers up to support his desire to be a #1 or #2 center? Then he would fit less well in a #3 center role if his defensive efforts received secondary attention.

it's hard for a center to cherry pick. but i think we've probably already seen the version of staal who puts offense first. and that guy was pretty great. a 3rd line doesn't have to be so rigidly defensive. if staal could regularly score at the pace he hit last year, the coaches would gladly put him anywhere in the lineup.

[Great58]

But...

Spoiler:

GMRS traded him.

[penny lane]

THE GOOD:

Letang/despress pairing has me super excited. like two barry whites out there. Just too smooth

[offsides]

meh, maybe it's just me, but Depres didn't impress me. Don't get me wrong, I am hoping he proves me totally wrong.

[Rylan]

Sutter has higher potential than Staal IMO

[DesertPenguin]

Super excited about Sutter. He isn't Jordan Staal, but then again he doesn't have to be. He's a heck of a player. We traded the best 3rd line center in hochey, and in return we got the new best third line center in hockey, plus pieces.

[Luckybreak]

Super excited about Sutter. He isn't Jordan Staal, but then again he doesn't have to be. He's a heck of a player. We traded the best 3rd line center in hochey, and in return we got the new best third line center in hockey, plus pieces.

pieces plus some vital cap wiggle, something everyone will appreciate at the deadline (shoring up the D or adding a winger would have been all but impossible with Staal, Shero may be able to do both with Sutter).