James Neal + Matt Niskanen for Alex Gologoski

[inferno31]

Confirmed by tsn.ca

Pens win IMO.

[Shep]

nice deal

[Scott]

Pens destroy this trade..

[Nick]

Pens destroy this trade..

I think so too.

[Mike]

Pens destroy this trade..

I think so too.

Yup.

[Scott]

Pens destroy this trade..

I think so too.

Yup.

The Pens have a very solid D core and they were in desperate need of a big, scoring winger.. plus they add a sufficient depth defenseman with upside in Niskanen.. huge win all around.

[Shep]

Easily.

Maybe Crosby can now get 160pts playing with a real goal scorer.

[Tony]

And here I thought Sherman was an idiot ... yikes.

[Robin Hood]

HOLY FUCK. neal = 50 goals next year.

[MSP4LYFE]

James Neal isn't as good as the public percieves him to be, it's really that simple. The Stars obviously valued Jamie Benn more, and the need for a puck moving defenceman made him expendable. Niskanen has also fallen off the map the last two seasons, so it seems like a decent deal from my vantage point.

I'm sure Neal will add some much needed scoring punch next to Crosby, ditto with Goligoski on the Stars back end.

[Nick]

James Neal isn't as good as the public percieves him to be, it's really that simple. The Stars obviously valued Jamie Benn more, and the need for a puck moving defenceman made him expendable. Niskanen has also fallen off the map the last two seasons, so it seems like a decent deal from my vantage point.

I'm sure Neal will add some much needed scoring punch next to Crosby, ditto with Goligoski on the Stars back end.

This is very true, Neal is the worst top 6 in Dallas, but he's still an amazing fit for Pitts, gritty shoot-first winger.

Niskanen has fallen way off, but once again he's very physical and had the potential to bounce back. So it's not straight up rape, but I do think Dallas paid for the puck mover.

[Scott]

James Neal isn't as good as the public percieves him to be, it's really that simple. The Stars obviously valued Jamie Benn more, and the need for a puck moving defenceman made him expendable. Niskanen has also fallen off the map the last two seasons, so it seems like a decent deal from my vantage point.

I'm sure Neal will add some much needed scoring punch next to Crosby, ditto with Goligoski on the Stars back end.

I agree that Neal isn't as good as people think he is but imo neither is Goligoski. Both teams were trading from a position of strength (Pitts D is sick & Dallas' forward depth is very good) to fill holes on their respective teams. Neal, lining up with Sid and/or Malkin will spike his goal scoring production. I just think the 23 year old power forward the better player and Niskanen really is a poor mans Goligoski.

[MSP4LYFE]

I agree that Neal isn't as good as people think he is but imo neither is Goligoski. Both teams were trading from a position of strength (Pitts D is sick & Dallas' forward depth is very good) to fill holes on their respective teams. Neal, lining up with Sid and/or Malkin will spike his goal scoring production. I just think the 23 year old power forward the better player and Niskanen really is a poor mans Goligoski.

I agree to a degree, I think both are a tad overrated, but they are both heading to even better situations meaning the production will only increase.

As for your last point, I think it comes down to what you need more, or prefer. Obviously Dallas needed the PMD more than the PF, and vice versa for Pittsburgh.

[Scott]

I agree that Neal isn't as good as people think he is but imo neither is Goligoski. Both teams were trading from a position of strength (Pitts D is sick & Dallas' forward depth is very good) to fill holes on their respective teams. Neal, lining up with Sid and/or Malkin will spike his goal scoring production. I just think the 23 year old power forward the better player and Niskanen really is a poor mans Goligoski.

I agree to a degree, I think both are a tad overrated, but they are both heading to even better situations meaning the production will only increase.

As for your last point, I think it comes down to what you need more, or prefer. Obviously Dallas needed the PMD more than the PF, and vice versa for Pittsburgh.

Re reading that I must say my sentence construction is amazing LOL

[kimmer]

Yeah it's not like the Pens shipped off Letang or anything like that, but as far as Dallas' needs goes, they felt their payment was necessary... Pittsburgh definitely took full advantage of the return they asked for

[Nick]

I don't think Neal's goal total will increase much at all... was already playing with an elite playmaker in B.Rich and an awesome offensive player in Loui... no question sid > b.rich, but there's probably a bigger gap from loui to kunitz or whoever (especially in terms of offensive skill and setting up line-mates).


Swapping strong points is the proper breakdown, solid deal, but like everyone else I still give the edge to Pitt

[Scott]

I don't think Neal's goal total will increase much at all... was already playing with an elite playmaker in B.Rich and an awesome offensive player in Loui... no question sid > b.rich, but there's probably a bigger gap from loui to kunitz or whoever (especially in terms of offensive skill and setting up line-mates).


Swapping strong points is the proper breakdown, solid deal, but like everyone else I still give the edge to Pitt

I was thinking in terms of PP goals.. playing with Sid & Malkin with nobody in front of him taking his PP time will surely help. Yes, in Dallas he played with amazing linemates.. but sometimes he'd get dropped to the 3rd line or removed from the top unit for Ribeiro or Benn or Langenbrunner. In Pittsburgh the choice is obvious and he will have nothing to worry about. Top unit there?

Neal - Sid - Staal
Malkin - Letang

Switch Malkin and Sid after the faceoff.. Pretty epic

[bma]

HOLY FUCK. neal = 50 goals next year.

Closer to 35.

[Shoalzie]

The Neal-Crosby pairing can have some tremendous possibilities. They've paired him with 2nd and 3rd liners and good scorers past their prime...finally a talented young (the same age as Crosby) to pair with Sid the Kid. This is a winner of deal for the Pens when Crosby returns. I guess I'm not as big on Goligoski as others...Neal is an upgrade on the wing plus they keep a guy like Letang.