Confirmed with Link: Dallas trades James Neal and Matt Niskanen to Penguins for Alex Goligoski.

[KiedisA]

The first thought is the sadness of losing Neal.. But the thing is that he is only effective when playing alongside quality C, and who plays with James the most time.. Maybe Crosby is closer to that "Richie" mold than Malkin, don't really know.

But HELL YEAH!! Matt Niskanen is no longer a Dallas Star. I was probably the last one besides his parents, who stood by him and forgave him his errors and misplays but in 2011 I've had enough. I mean he's not scored even a bloody goal this season!!

He was supposed to be the next offensive leader when Zubie left. He was the poster boy who got to play alongside #56 and everything was going OK. But something happened when the mentor left him to face the future alone. Even though the quality was still next to him, he couldn't elevate his overall play to the level that everyone of us fans believed he could do. Hopefully in the East he can find some of his confidence back and make himself a career in the NHL, cause right now it doesn't look that bright.


Goligoski?! Tell me everything about him ´cause I only know the stats and the money of the guy.

 

[DelGriffith]

You guys got seriously ***** in that deal. Goligoski is the best you can do for Neal? Ouch. I don't care how much depth you have at LW. absolute fleeced in that deal

 

[piqued]

If you think Neal has the chance to be one of the best players ever developed by this organization, you haven't paid a lot of attention to previous players (Modano, Lehtinen and Hatcher) or current ones (Eriksson and Benn).

I know exactly who this franchise has ****ing developed and I don't say that lightly. We'll see who's right. I know I'll be watching a lot more Pens games.

And I'm with GLU - I think Neal's value has gone down as this year went on because of the continued streakiness.

Great time to trade him, eh?

 

[PensFreak]

Why are you all so relieved to be getting rid of Niskanen? Is he not good defensively? I saw he's taken a sharp drop in points, but wasn't sure about much else

 

[Hull Fan]

Like that Niskanen is gone. Like Goligoski the player. Don't mind trading Neal but am pissed that Dallas did not get a pick or prospect back as well.

Goligoski is a step in the right direction but this defense needs more help than just him. Richards better sign a contract before the 28th or my homicide meter is going to go crazy.

 

[ProdigalOne*]

The first thought is the sadness of losing Neal.. But the thing is that he is only effective when playing alongside quality C, and who plays with James the most time.. Maybe Crosby is closer to that "Richie" mold than Malkin, don't really know.

But HELL YEAH!! Matt Niskanen is no longer a Dallas Star. I was probably the last one besides his parents, who stood by him and forgave him his errors and misplays but in 2011 I've had enough. I mean he's not scored even a bloody goal this season!!

He was supposed to be the next offensive leader when Zubie left. He was the poster boy who got to play alongside #56 and everything was going OK. But something happened when the mentor left him to face the future alone. Even though the quality was still next to him, he couldn't elevate his overall play to the level that everyone of us fans believed he could do. Hopefully in the East he can find some of his confidence back and make himself a career in the NHL, cause right now it doesn't look that bright.


Goligoski?! Tell me everything about him ´cause I only know the stats and the money of the guy.

Check my post on the last page... Think small, smart good offensive instincts. Decent shot, not particularly a hard shot but seems to get those seeing eye shots quite a bit with some accuracy. Not the best along the boards, but makes good defensive zone reads usually... but again he played against third lines mostly. Someone did an analysis on the pens board saying he was better than Paul Martin... take that for what its worth but this year statistically hes been amazing. However the west is more physical and he seems like a guy that will take some injuries. Oh and hes RFA after his current GREAT contract so hell be in Dallas a while.

 

[BeaverSports]

Absolutely awful asset management on the Stars' behalf. They had a youngish power forward on a reasonable contract and they deal him for a defenceman who is older and by some accounts is somewhat one-dimensional (and I might add Cam Fowler is a better defenceman now and they could have had him for free).

Add in a former first-round pick in Niskanen (I guess that speaks more to our awful first-round drafting) who was basically a throw-in, when many thought Neal was the better of the two players. This looks like a panic move by Nieuwendyk, big time, and Neal did have great chemistry with Richards. I'd bet Richards does walk now.

This deal better not be in isolation.

 

[Kritter471]

Why are you all so relieved to be getting rid of Niskanen? Is he not good defensively? I saw he's taken a sharp drop in points, but wasn't sure about much else

Niskanen was the Stars worst defenseman in his own end by far. He was never very good to begin with but was covered for by Zubov, and he has regressed significantly since Zubov's injury and retirement.

 

[glovesave_35]

Oddly, the keyboard jockeys on the main boards make me want to go to the Ft. Worth zoo and watch bonobos fling feces at one another...

Ostensibly this trade is Neal for Goligoski+. As piqued pointed out, Niskanen has negative value so Pittsburgh did us a favor. Now, because their defense corps is actually quite solid all around Niskanen could maybe possibly somehow look like a legitimate NHL defenseman again. Who knows. What we know about him is that he was never, ever going to become much better than he had proven to be here the last couple of years.

What I have a hard time understanding is how when the general sentiment on the trade boards regarding a Neal/Gogo swap that there was usually some 3rd round pick or decent but not great prospect coming back with Goligoski. The add-in of Niskanen is a boon to the Stars but by the looks of casual fans you'd think we traded Modano in his prime for the equivalent of Sutherby and a 2nd round pick.

 

[Stars99Lobo37]

Later Nisky.

 

[glovesave_35]

Dallas still has a bunch of high potential wingers left in the system.

Scott Glennie
Tomas Vincour
Alex Chiasson
and possibly Curtis Mackenzie.

Losing Neal does not affect them in the long term, but gaining Goligoski has a tremendous impact on the Stars blueline. More mobility and a D-man with a good point shot.

You forgot Reilly Smith, who is better than MacKenzie, but your point is well taken. The Stars are fine and truly were trading from a position of strength.

 

[Machinehead]

What the **** were your boys thinkin?

My team is in the Atlantic, so I've seen plenty of Goligoski, and that tin can isn't worth Neal or Niskanin by themselves, let alone both of them together. If I were you, I'd be storming the arena with pitchforks about now. Goligoski sucks.

EDIT- OK maybe Niskanin but definitely not Neal

 

[nally]

They did what now?!
Fine, Niskanen is essentially dead weight... But really, Neal for Goligoski? I mean sure, he's a good player but... *sigh*
And while we're at it, at the very least I think Niskanen should have warranted a pick if nothing else... As a straight trade Neal for Goligoski it's questionable, but now they're getting an extra on top of that and that ain't right... At the very least, where's my bag of pucks?!

One team was more desperate than the other to make the move. It shows in the deal

 

[catters078]

i agree with the cap saving part..

but we really should have got at least a second round pick as well in return...

 

[Hull Fan]

You know Niskanen is bad when his original fanboy Lobo says later like that.

 

[Cin]

This is going to end up being one of the worst trades in Stars history.

What that guys? We got another nonphysical defenseman? Oh **** yeah!!

Seriously Neal/Niskanen/ and maybe a pick couldn't land us Bogosian, or maybe ever Orpik and Gogo? This trade make me absolutely sick, every other team known Joe's horrible at this **** and now he's exposed.

Tank please.

 

[Stevonidas]

Should've got Letang for what we gave up.

**** YOU, NIEUWENDYK!

Edit: This has to be Karmic payback for the Hatcher/Zubov trade.

 

[Ogi1Kenobi]

Pens seem confused about Niskanen. He SUCKS! HE SUCKS! HE SUCKS! Zubov made him look like a gifted PMD 4 years ago. He's been scratched lord knows how many times this season and got his spot on the team stolen by that bum Woywitka. That alone should tell you what you have in Matt Niskanen.

 

[Stars99Lobo37]

You know Niskanen is bad when his original fanboy Lobo says later like that.

It's just a long line of people's jerseys that I have that end up getting traded. *sigh*

Surely Goligoski can't be worse off than him as some of these fans are saying.

 

[Kritter471]

You know Niskanen is bad when his original fanboy Lobo says later like that.

Wasn't his original fanboy Jaybot?

 

[Cin]

This guy better be the second coming of Jesus. I already know he'll be horrible since we have nobody competent for him to play with, but that combined with his intimidating softness makes us look great! **** you Joe, **** you.

 

[Stars99Lobo37]

Wasn't his original fanboy Jaybot?

He is from Minnesota so most likely.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Deep breaths, everyone; let's wait until Gogo scores a hattrick into his own net in his debut before we crucify him.

Yes, we'll miss Neal, but I still think this deal helps us.

 

[Ogi1Kenobi]

Some Dallas fans just can't see the big picture. It's so sad.

Yes, Dallas overpaid, but at the same time GM Joe managed to rid this team of Niskanen, acquire a young cheap PMD, and cleared 2.5 mil. of salary for next year in order to create leverage for a Brad Richards extension. This just shows Joe overwhelming desire to keep Richards. If Richie bails this summer, then go ahead and cry.

And, Neal is friends with Richards. But, Richards has MUCH more chemistry with Eriksson. Trading Neal won't piss Richards off, especially if he gets Benn on his LW.

 

[CamronGiles*]

Its amazing how much the eastern fan bases have no idea how Neal and Niskanen were doing on the stars. Id say its a pretty even trade but a Crosby + Neal could be great for them. You guys got a good pmd and pp qb though.