Confirmed Trade: [MIN/BUF] Marcus Johansson for Eric Staal

[KaprizovEntitlelist]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">David Pagnotta on Sirius XM says it appears <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MNWild?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#MNWild</a> have something else up their sleeve but isn’t sure if that’s been finalized yet. <a href="https://t.co/P8r6qDs8Nk">https://t.co/P8r6qDs8Nk</a></p>&mdash; NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) <a href="">September 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[UK Canuck]

whenever possible its best to massively downgrade at Centre while taking on a bigger salary

 

[BCNate]

staal is 36 next month and is entering the last year of his deal. staal is a meaningless addition to a team that is not going anywhere next year. they must have just wanted to dump mojo.

So because he is 36 his 50-60 points don't count? He also plays tough matchups which will help Eichel a ton. God forbid a team might improve year over year.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Isn't the confusion of the concepts about steps forwards and backwards in terms of Minny being a contender? Brodin move is a contention forward move, this one looks like a step back. It might make sense in the grand scheme of things, but right now, it seems like it's confusing as F.

The Brodin move makes sense in either direction. He's 27. Even if we were rebuilding, he could still absolutely be a main contributor in 5 years. That signing has really nothing to do with anything.

I'm not disagreeing that this one is confusing as hell, but it just doesn't relate.

 

[HawkeyTalkMan]

What could Staal teach Eichel and Cozens??
A ton. Absolutely what the Sabres needed.

if you wanted leadership and intangibles from a MULTI cup champion, you could have easily dialed up Stan Bowman and gotten the legend Brent Seabrook himself.

Imagine what he could be teaching Dahlin...

 

[Woodrow]

Imagine if Staal just retired because he didn’t want to leave Minnesota and sounds like this trade stunned him.

Ya Staal likes Minnesota and signed on the cheap to be there.

 

[PensandCaps]

it's valuable to offload mojo's contract which wasn't great but wasn't immovable. I just don't see staal at 36 in the last year of his deal all that valuable to a non contending buffalo squad outside of buying a development year for cozens as others have pointed out, but then you could argue keeping mojo would have accomplished the same although they still would have needed to eventually move his deal. minnesota certainly didn't have to do this trade though

Buffalo wins just by being able to flip Staal if they are out of it for like a 2nd round pick.

 

[SI90]

Staal probably goin got retire

 

[HawkeyTalkMan]

So because he is 36 his 50-60 points don't count? He also plays tough matchups which will help Eichel a ton. God forbid a team might improve year over year.

I don't think you see Staal hit 50 pts anymore

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">David Pagnotta on Sirius XM says it appears <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MNWild?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#MNWild</a> have something else up their sleeve but isn’t sure if that’s been finalized yet. <a href="https://t.co/P8r6qDs8Nk">https://t.co/P8r6qDs8Nk</a></p>&mdash; NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) <a href="">September 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Interesting...

 

[Habs10025]

Good trade for Buffalo.

 

[HotDish]

Ya Staal likes Minnesota and signed on the cheap to be there.

This deal really makes it clear that Minnesota should’ve taken the first round pick from Boston two years ago though.

 

[DesertPenguin]

Ya Staal likes Minnesota and signed on the cheap to be there.

Should have paired that discount with a NTC I guess.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Doesn't Minny need *more* top six centers, not less?

 

[Gurglesons]

I don't think you see Staal hit 50 pts anymore

Why? He's going to be playing 2nd line minutes behind Eichel with his boy Skinner riding shot gun.

 

[HolyGhost]

mar j> for Staal? WHY????

Money. Saved sabres 1 mill

 

[BB88]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">David Pagnotta on Sirius XM says it appears <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MNWild?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#MNWild</a> have something else up their sleeve but isn’t sure if that’s been finalized yet. <a href="https://t.co/P8r6qDs8Nk">https://t.co/P8r6qDs8Nk</a></p>&mdash; NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) <a href="">September 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

You still don’t trade Staal for Johanson

 

[PensandCaps]

Including playoffs, Staal had 52 Points in 70 games.

So i just dont get how an injury prone MoJo is the best you can get. It means that Guerin is a doofus or all other 31 GMs are.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

My butthole hurts

 

[Gurglesons]

Doesn't Minny need *more* top six centers, not less?

Maybe they are about to acquire David Krejci or something weird.

 

[HawkeyTalkMan]

Buffalo is not contending? Says who?

Staal for MoJo is certainly a "contending" move.

Also, Skinner and Staal have a history so that builds a second line almost immediately. Skinner was basically mentored by Staal.

buffalo was 13th in the east this year. they certainly are not close to contending. who in the east are they leapfrogging next year when it goes back to a 16 playoff team format?

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

How do you at the very least not swap 9 and 8OA?

 

[UnleashRasmus]

Initial thought, I’m not liking it.

Initial thought, it's an upgrade and a natural center. He's not a long term fit, and is a UFA after next year. It's a cap slash, and a good vet for the room.

 

[Team Cozens]

if you wanted leadership and intangibles from a MULTI cup champion, you could have easily dialed up Stan Bowman and gotten the legend Brent Seabrook himself.

Imagine what he could be teaching Dahlin...

Sabres also needed a 2C desperately which Staal is. 47 points in 66 games is a 2C plus he has won a cup. Lots of time you add a D like you suggested. It’s not that Hard to comprehend is it?

 

[Fig]

The Brodin move makes sense in either direction. He's 27. Even if we were rebuilding, he could still absolutely be a main contributor in 5 years. That signing has really nothing to do with anything.

I'm not disagreeing that this one is confusing as hell, but it just doesn't relate.

OK, legit question. Do you feel the Minny management group is clever enough to do some 2-3 season retool genius move? If their idea is to tank the next season, get past the expansion draft, then go full bore at that time, some of these moves could make a ton more sense in terms of the duality of the steps towards and away from contention.

But if you don't think they are clever enough, we just all gotta step back and see if someone is drunk behind the wheel.