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ryan93
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
996 Posts |
 Posted - 02/21/2011 : 13:11:14
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James Neal & Matt Niskanen are on their way to Pittsburgh, with Alex Goligoski heading back to Dallas.
Wow, this is defintely not a trade i was expecting. Dallas have been searching for an offensive defensemen ever since Sergei Zubov retired & it looks like they have finally landed one in Goligoski. The expectations in Dallas were that Matt Niskanen would fill that role, but he hasn't panned out .
And of course Pittsburgh have been looking for a winger to play with Sidney Crosby, and James Neal should be a perfect fit!
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 13:18:42
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ha - we both posted within seconds of each other 
Admin, please delete my other post on this topic, so we only have one thread going.
As I said in my thread, I think PIT wins this deal big time. I see Goligoski and Niskanen as pretty comparable offensively-minded defensemen, although I give Goligoski the upper hand in potential. But James Neal is one of the best young power forwards in the game today, and should he and Crosby find chemistry (or he and Malkin), watch out.
I guess DAL felt that with Morrow playing well and Benn finding his game this year, Neal was expendable. But I thought the could get more for him. |
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semin-rules
PickupHockey Veteran
Canada
1915 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 13:20:50
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I was just about the post this as well haha, but I didn't wanna make three threads of the same topic.
I think great trade by Dallas ! We have been needing that offensive d man for quite a while. And goligoski will hopefully do just that. The only thing I am
concerned about is the lack we have up front at the moment. James Neal hasn't been great but we need all the offence we can get right now with richards and benn out.
We'll see how this pans out. But I am not too sure about it yet |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 13:28:12
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I see this deal very much like the COL/STL trade in that both teams gave up something of quality to get what each respective team needed.
I love Neal and I think he is the kind of players that can compliment Crosby. Crosby is a do everything kind of player. He is not a set up guy or a sniper, but a hybrid of both. Neal is a player that is similar in that he can do both score and pass. But Neal is a big dude at 6'2"-208 lbs and plays the power forward game. Nice addition.
Niskanen, honestly I don't know much about. Haven't really paid attention to him. Looks like he portrayed some offensive promise in the early part of his career but has fizzled with some injuries this year??
Let's face it, Pitt has an abundance of talented defensemen (Martin, Michalek, Letang, and Orprik) and considering that Pitt gave did not have to give up their most productive defensemen(offensive) and were able to pick up their 1st line power forward and a stable 3-4 defensemen, I really like this deal for Pitt. |
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ryan93
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
996 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 14:19:43
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While i agree with Beans (and as i said in my first post), i like the trade from both sides in that each teams gets what they needed. As he pointed out, Pittsburgh still has their go to offensive guy in Letang, and even with the departure of Goligoski still have one of the deepest bluelines in the league. So in that sense, Goligoski was expendable.
Dallas are deep upfront & have a couple of other very good prospects on the way, so they obviously felt they were able to let Neal go to fill their long needed void on defense.
If Niskanen could ever get deliver on the potential he showed a couple years ago as a rookie, then this could turn out to be a steal for Dallas, but watching the Stars closesly the last 3 years, i wouldn't count on it. A decent 2nd/3rd pairing blueliner, but not a guy in the Kris Letang mould.
Although he does have 21 goals on the year, i've still been a little disappointed with James Neal this season. I was hoping he'd take the next step this year in developing into one of the leagues elite power forwards, but that hasn't happened. I still think he has loads of potential though & would love to see him play regularly on a line with Sid.
And as for Goligoski, he's a very good, young offensive defensemen. He's been playing 2nd fiddle to Letang in Pittsburgh (and 3rd in past years with Gonchar). I think he should thrive now that he's the go to guy on Dallas. Their PP will be dangerous now with both Richards & Gologisko manning the points.
And finally, with Neal gone it leaves a hole on the left side of the Richards/Eriksson line...i would love to see Jamie Benn get promoted to the top line! There's a chance he could be back Tuesday, and hopefully Richards will be back soon as well. |
Edited by - ryan93 on 02/21/2011 14:31:37 |
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foolpittier
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
374 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 14:21:13
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| have neal in my keeper, this just made my day and nodoubt my next few years.... crosby to neal... GOAL!!!! |
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Mario 66
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
360 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 14:32:04
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Wow i love this trade. I do believe that it is similar and really liked Goligosky but am happy to get another talented forward and consistent 20 goal guy in Neal. Do not know much about Niskanen besides he looks like he broke into the league well but has since fallen off; we are deep enough on the back end with Depres and Lovejoy & Engleannd if Niskanen does not pan out then one of them can step in.
Lemieux owns Gretzky |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 15:09:57
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Like the trade for both teams, and as pointed out, they both lost valuable pieces.
I have Goligoski in my keeper pool, and have mixed emotions on him going to Dallas . . . yeah, he will be the go-to guy there now, but on a bit more defensive, lower scoring team. I think it will still be a plus for him I guess.
I think Pittsburgh really made the best deal here, as they were the most desperate to get a top 6 forward, and to get Neal - a young guy with potential - and a replacement for the player they are losing (Niskanen for Goligoski) is a steal. I thought for sure they were going to have to overpay for someone.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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sahis34
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
591 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2011 : 19:41:01
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| is goligoski all dallas gets, or is there a 2nd round pick in there, wow. What a rip off, nice job pittsburgh |
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Guest9885
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Posted - 02/21/2011 : 23:21:39
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| I like Goligoski but I can't see how anyone can James Neal AND Matt Niskanen like him. Maybe Dallas figures they will be able to afford Goligoski long run and Neal will become too expensive for their boring low budget business model. I pretty much expect Dallas to lose in any trade they ever make since they refuse to take on salary. |
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T-RAV
Top Prospect
Canada
75 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2011 : 05:45:04
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quote:
Originally posted by Guest9885
I like Goligoski but I can't see how anyone can James Neal AND Matt Niskanen like him. Maybe Dallas figures they will be able to afford Goligoski long run and Neal will become too expensive for their boring low budget business model. I pretty much expect Dallas to lose in any trade they ever make since they refuse to take on salary.
[Mod Edit - No one here is an english professor. If you have an issue with grammar or spelling, there is a respectful and tactful way to bring it up]
Now, I'm no expert on the Dallas Stars, but I'm assuming they wont pay more to ice a team then they will earn in income. As far as I know, in Texas hockey is, at best, a fourth favorite sport behind Baseball, Football and Nascar.(maybe even 5th or 6th or 7th behind Soccer, Huntin' and [Mod Edit- Completely unacceptable comment that will not be tolerated]
So as not to piss anyone off(you know who you are), I will exclude my "profile signature" |
Edited by - Beans15 on 02/22/2011 12:59:30 |
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Guest9885
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Posted - 02/22/2011 : 07:38:04
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You know what the sentence means and there are no grammar or spelling mistakes. Also, I'm assuming you don't mean to "single" me out. You're proof reading could use a bit of work as well.
The jabs at the Dallas Stars organization were intended to highlight the fact that they are a team that never comes anywhere near the salary cap and are therefore (usually) less competitive than other teams and yes, that sort of organization annoys me.
The simple point that I was trying to make is that I believe James Neal to be the best player in this deal and cannot understand why they would throw in a reasonably talented Matt Niskanen unless it is a salary dump.
It's completely possible that some people believe Alex Goligoski to be the big gun in this trade and they would disagree with me and that would be fine.
T-Rav, I have no idea what your opinion is other than you didn't like my first sentence and don't think much of Texas. |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2011 : 09:43:03
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quote:
Originally posted by T-RAV
I don't mean to center you out like this, but it seems like nobody can string together a sentence in good grammar and spelling anymore.
 The irony of the day.
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Edited by - nuxfan on 02/22/2011 09:43:39 |
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Guest4988
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Posted - 02/22/2011 : 12:35:57
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| I give the nod to Pittsburgh as I think James Neal is the best player in the trade. |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2011 : 13:00:17
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Guys, stay on topic and don't feed the trolls. Let the mods do their job and things will be taken care of.
Thanks |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2011 : 14:03:52
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I'm shocked personally as i would have thought Neal would have brought more in return. My thinking is, Pitts wins this trade, maybe not in a landslide, but still a win. Niskanen is dependable and might be a bit of a "throw in", but if as most of us agree, Neal is the best player in the deal, shouldn't it be Pittsburgh throwing in the extra player???
I'm a little surprised that Dallas gave up on Neal and couldn't get a little more for him! |
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Pittsburgh/Dallas Trade!! 
