Malkin for Gaborik...Possibility?

PKC wrote:Gaborik couldn't even hold Malkin's jockstrap. Give me a break.

Exactly, because he plays in the Northwest under Lemaire in a small-market.

Gaborik is a tremendous all-around player, it's just people don't really have the chance to notice it. He would easily be a 40-45, 90-100 point winger in an offensive system in the East.

Plus Mikko Koivu is no slouch.

asq2 wrote:

PKC wrote:Gaborik couldn't even hold Malkin's jockstrap. Give me a break.

Exactly, because he plays in the Northwest under Lemaire in a small-market.

Gaborik is a tremendous all-around player, it's just people don't really have the chance to notice it. He would easily be a 40-45, 90-100 point winger in an offensive system in the East.

Plus Mikko Koivu is no slouch.

If he also wasn't injured 40 games a year. Malkin is guaranteed 100+ points. Gaborik is possibly, if he stays healthy which he never does, a 90+ point player.

I don't even want to begin to think what kind of numbers Malkin would put up if he was first line center with quality wingers (Nash, Heatley, Iginla, Zetterberg, etc...)

PKC wrote:

asq2 wrote:

PKC wrote:Gaborik couldn't even hold Malkin's jockstrap. Give me a break.

Exactly, because he plays in the Northwest under Lemaire in a small-market.

Gaborik is a tremendous all-around player, it's just people don't really have the chance to notice it. He would easily be a 40-45, 90-100 point winger in an offensive system in the East.

Plus Mikko Koivu is no slouch.

If he also wasn't injured 40 games a year. Malkin is guaranteed 100+ points. Gaborik is possibly, if he stays healthy which he never does, a 90+ point player.

I don't even want to begin to think what kind of numbers Malkin would put up if he was first line center with quality wingers (Nash, Heatley, Iginla, Zetterberg, etc...)

Gaborik's linemates aren't that much better. What kind of numbers do you think Malkin would put up in the Northwest under Lemaire?

Anyway, Mikko Koivu is pretty awesome too (and has a great contract). I don't think a Selke-calibre 60-70 point centre and a near Selke-calibre 90-100 point winger is a huge stretch in exchange for Malkin.

Anyway, it's just a hypothetical situation. Certainly Gaborik's value is not the same as Malkin's because while I think they are of a similar calibre, Malkin is younger, less injury-prone and has a better contract situation. Which is why I included Koivu.

asq2 wrote:

smash88 wrote:Malkin is ten times the player than Gaborik... If I were Pitts I wouldn't go anywhere near this deal...

No he isn't. Gaborik is pretty damn good, the only problem is he's stuck in a restrictive system, he's injury prone and his contract situation is far worse.

That's why I've been proposing:

To Minny:
Evgeni Malkin

To Pittsburgh:
Marian Gaborik
Mikko Koivu

That's probably a deal. Not just Gaborik for Malkin, but if Minny tosses in a rapidly emerging star/superstar, it's close.

I think it has to be more creative to get done.

I think it's:

Malkin
Gonchar/Letang/Whitney
Goligoski

for
Gaborik
Burns

Minny gets the clearly better forward, signed to a decent deal, Pittsburgh gets the clearly better D man with the awesome deal. Pitts adds a blue chip prospect who's already playing NHL hockey - and I think this deal goes down.

I don't think the Wild will be giving up Burns any time soon.

Uh maybe Malkin for Gaborik... and Minnesota's next 5 first round picks.

Not even close in value. Malkin may still turn out to be the best player in the NHL. He is already at least top 5.

No way that Gaborik is even close to that, in fact, he isn't close to top 10.

Aetherial wrote:Uh maybe Malkin for Gaborik... and Minnesota's next 5 first round picks.

Not even close in value. Malkin may still turn out to be the best player in the NHL. He is already at least top 5.

No way that Gaborik is even close to that, in fact, he isn't close to top 10.

Exactly this is a horrible deal for Pittsburgh, I really can't see them doing this deal...

Gaborik is a good starting point, but it would take at least another NHL player + prospect + picks to get it done.

Malkin is one of the most dominant players in the league, and is an echilon above Gaborik as far as trade value goes.

smash88 wrote:

Aetherial wrote:Uh maybe Malkin for Gaborik... and Minnesota's next 5 first round picks.

Not even close in value. Malkin may still turn out to be the best player in the NHL. He is already at least top 5.

No way that Gaborik is even close to that, in fact, he isn't close to top 10.

Exactly this is a horrible deal for Pittsburgh, I really can't see them doing this deal...

Crosby, Spezza, Iginla, Thornton, Malkin, Kovalchuk, Heatley, Alfredsson, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Hossa, Lecavalier, Ovechkin.

All are better than Gaborik. I would put him somewhere in the next group with Stastny, Staal, Kopitar, Cammalleri, Horton, Richards, Briere, Gomez, the Sedins, etc.

I completely agree with that assessment.

Aetherial wrote:

smash88 wrote:

Aetherial wrote:Uh maybe Malkin for Gaborik... and Minnesota's next 5 first round picks.

Not even close in value. Malkin may still turn out to be the best player in the NHL. He is already at least top 5.

No way that Gaborik is even close to that, in fact, he isn't close to top 10.

Exactly this is a horrible deal for Pittsburgh, I really can't see them doing this deal...

Crosby, Spezza, Iginla, Thornton, Malkin, Kovalchuk, Heatley, Alfredsson, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Hossa, Lecavalier, Ovechkin.

All are better than Gaborik. I would put him somewhere in the next group with Stastny, Staal, Kopitar, Cammalleri, Horton, Richards, Briere, Gomez, the Sedins, etc.

He's far, far better than the Sedins, or Briere/Gomez, or Cammalleri.

He's on the same level as Hossa IMO, he just hasn't had a chance to prove it.

So give Crosby his winger and throw in a downgrade from Malkin but upgrade from Staal in M.Koivu, and I think it's alright.

The Wild will not trade Burns. His contract is too amazing.