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IMO, they paid too much. The sens got the better of the deal on this one.

IMO, they paid too much.
LetsGoPens | 08/30/08, 09:55 AM

I agree! That's a horrible price to pay for Meszaros! Don't get me wrong, Andrej is a good player but, c'mon! Kuba, Picard and a 1st round pick? Murray robbed them blind! He picked the Bolts pockets!

Good piece of GMing right there by Murray! Good for the Senators!

From a Bolts point of view...4 million per year for a top 2-3 defenceman is not that bad. Meszaros can step into the line-up and play right now and is a proven asset. The Bolts are looking to improve dramatically over last season and giving up a Sharks number one pick is likely to be a 15th or worse. selection. If Meszaros continues to improve over the next four years as expected...This is a very good signing for the Bolts at that price and Kuba is going on 32 years old so the Bolts just got a lot younger at that position and the Sens older.

I love how he's been anywhere from a No. 3 d-man to a No. 2 d-man. That definitely shows he's worth the pound of flesh the Bolts paid.

Great trade by the Sens.

Baun-ded: the Sens got older for one year. They also got a prospect (about whom I know nothing) and a 2009 first rounder. I think they'll be fine in the age department.

The most important part of this trade for the Lightning is that they got tougher. Kuba doesn't ever play the body. Picard looked OK with the Bolts at the end of last year, but again - he's soft. The Bolts need to play a much tougher defensive style - that should help their goaltending out.

I agree with a lot of what's being said...

I am not bothered by his salary. In today's NHL a lot of players are overpaid, it's the new system's flaw. GMs are tossing huge coin at potential, has-beens and all points in between. Who would have guessed Marc Streit would get over 4 million from a team? How about the ridiculous money tossed at Jeff Finger? The bottom line is the Bolts get a very young blueliner who will be in Tampa for a while and replaces Dan Boyle's minutes. Meszaros has a very bright future.

I love all the moves by the new ownership in Tampa. They certainly have wasted no time putting a huge stamp on this club. Good on them.

Gee, 22 yrs old & never missed a game. Does not say much until he is pushing 26+. He is definitely good compared to most of the other Lightning D.

Dumb trade by the Lightning. They need that pick, maybe to take a defenseman?

Good deal for both sides.

Agreed Roberts#1. Meszaros was taken 23rd overall so they could have found someone in the draft with that pick. But to also give up a proven defenseman in Kuba (don't tell me about his +/-, only 2 guys were + on that team last year) and one of their best prospests, is way too much.

Agreed Roberts#1. Meszaros was taken 23rd overall so they could have found someone in the draft with that pick. But to also give up a proven defenseman in Kuba (don't tell me about his +/-, only 2 guys were + on that team last year) and one of their best prospests, is way too much.

That pick Roberts may not ever see the lights of the NHL...Sharks will still finish in the top 10 in 2009...so that's at least 20 deep if not more. 4 million is nothing for a front 4 defenceman for 4 years and locked up until he's 26. The Sens just got worse for this season and that's fine by me. Leafs will make the playoffs!

Kuba is going on 32 years old so the Bolts just got a lot younger at that position and the Sens older.
Baun-ded | 08/30/08, 11:26 AM

Maybe. Meszaros has potential. But Kuba is no slouch. He's a good, proven, reliable, experienced D-man! Something the Sen's seriously needed on thier blue line. Filip played on a bad team the last couple of years. At 32, he is by no means old for a D-man.

Alex Picard is going to be a player as well. He is ready to step in and help out now. Plus, they got a bonus pick! No question the Sens won this trade! They got what they were looking for and more!

Drafting in the NHL is a crap-shoot. More times than not, "sure-fire" guys end up bottoming out, and players drafted way-down end up surprising and becoming stars. So, I would rather take a 22 year-old with loads of potential, then take a draft pick (which the Sens don't need, they have youth, they need some difference-makers NOW). Both teams seemed to make out alright, but I like the approach Tampa took in getting a young, durable #2 defenseman in their lineup for the foreseeable future.

That pick Roberts may not ever see the lights of the NHL...Sharks will still finish in the top 10 in 2009...so that's at least 20 deep if not more. 4 million is nothing for a front 4 defenceman for 4 years and locked up until he's 26. The Sens just got worse for this season and that's fine by me. Leafs will make the playoffs!
Baun-ded | 08/30/08, 02:23 PM

Fine reasoning, except it was the Lightning that got him. That's a top 15 pick guaranteed.

Alright, sorry I missed that part.

................................

The Lightning got robbed on this. I mean they just gave up too much for a 22 year old D-man.

the deal hinges on the draft pick... if its a "daigle" pick the sens lose, if its a "alfreddson" pick they win... short term bolts win, reliable puck moving defensmen with at least 10 more good years... long term will depend on draft pick.... i would like to have seen mez resign myself