I don't have too many complaints about GMJR. The Despres/Lovejoy deal...ugh. That's a killer.

Everybody was happy with the Perron deal until he vanished from the roster.

I don't have too many complaints about GMJR. The Despres/Lovejoy deal...ugh. That's a killer.

Everybody was happy with the Perron deal until he vanished from the roster.
- madmike71

Perron has looked a WHOLE lot better than Kunitz in his cold streak... hes had a number of great saves made on him, while Kunitz... ummm...

hmmm...

well Kunitz is a nice guy

The team does have some interesting offseason decisions. I do think JR should be canned. The lovejoy for despres trade was just awful. There are a lot of depth players coming up in free agency, so it will be interesting to see what they do

I don't have too many complaints about GMJR. The Despres/Lovejoy deal...ugh. That's a killer.

Everybody was happy with the Perron deal until he vanished from the roster.
- madmike71

Agreed, although I understood why they made the Lovejoy trade. He looked good until we had to roll 5 D and then everyone started looking like poop other than Cole for the most part.

I don't think he's done a horrible job as GM. The Neal trade was a win, as PH brings way more than Neal did (sans knees to the head). The Downie signing was, overall, better than expected. I just want to know what GM has assembled a team that can lose a Norris-caliber defenseman, a top-pairing defenseman, another top-4 defenseman, and a top-5 defenseman all at the same time and remain a Cup contender.

The team does have some interesting offseason decisions. I do think JR should be canned. The lovejoy for despres trade was just awful. There are a lot of depth players coming up in free agency, so it will be interesting to see what they do
- drummer829

Can they buy out Scuderi today. I had to check my eyes a couple of times last night. Could have sworn he was wearing white and blue.

I don't think he's done a horrible job as GM. The Neal trade was a win, as PH brings way more than Neal did (sans knees to the head). The Downie signing was, overall, better than expected. I just want to know what GM has assembled a team that can lose a Norris-caliber defenseman, a top-pairing defenseman, another top-4 defenseman, and a top-5 defenseman all at the same time and remain a Cup contender.
- jmatchett383

No one, but our expectations for the team and season are hard coded into our DNA... we still want to win.

Well I have been watching hockey for over 55 years now. Saw the first Penguin game ever. But now the time has come. I am done. I gave up my season tickets a few years back and have never regretted it. The NHL plus guys like Lamorello have ruined the game that I loved so much. They pay slugs to hinder the skill players show their stuff. Why pay a guy big money when he will never be able to show his skill. Put 20 slugs on the ice every night and play soccer on ice. Pay them minimum salaries and you will probably get the same results. And the ticket prices will be a lot more affordable. The product is old and outdated. Neandorthals could be better. Oh wait we have a lot of those playing right now. No more Center Ice package for me, they can all go F themselves. The NHL is a F'in joke

Most GM's have an effective shelf life around six years. After that they run into making poor decisions based on past player performance and needing to solidify their own job. Pittsburgh, Boston, and LA are the best examples.

IDK, are any GM's really that qualified? They mostly seem to be former players or somehow related to former players or league execs. Once they destroy 1 team they just move on to another. When looking at the moves Shero made, some good but a lot of bad, you just wonder WTF were you thinking? And he is regarded as a good GM and will get another job.
- sammy87

No, probably not. I've said many times that I don't think most NHL GMs have any set system in place with any proven personnel record so their personal bias is the driving theme. You and I, or anyone else for that matter, can do that. Being a good player means nothing for personnel decisions and shouldn't be part of the hiring criteria. Guerin might have a strong track record for decision making, but I'm certain most former player NHL GMs are getting their jobs based on nepotism- not ability. That's my issue.

I think he has done ok. Ill assume Despres had some off ice issues, but Im also not going to pretend that Despres was the next Ray Bourque either.

A 2nd for Winnik is a killer though. I dont get that one at all. I like Perron, I would have preferred to keep the 1st and move other parts, but a 1st would have done anything for the team for 3+ yrs most likely.

No one, but our expectations for the team and season are hard coded into our DNA... we still want to win.
- Guile

Oh, absolutely. As a fan, you should want (and sometimes even expect) your team to win. But if you took McDonagh/Girardi/Staal/Yandle away from NYR and added an injury to Stepan on top of that, the series probably wouldn't be 2-1 NYR, and they probably would be playing one of Washington/NYI right now.

But, then, again, the Rangers have tons of room for improvement and the Pens are playing at the top of their game, right?

Couple of things:
1) my phone really isn't compatable with this new site setup

B) even with injuries JR could have done more at deadline then sending our 2 top grit D away for 2 average players ( I like Cole and his age and cap)

3) I'm getting pissed with all of our players being injured.. Now kap is injured in wbs.. Wtf is it a curse or something

D) I keep saying let the youth play. I would rather have Wilson Megna rust/ebbett as our 4th line all yr then some of these guys.. They would have learned a lot through the season and taken less penalties and could have scored more the. What our 4th line scored.

5) even tho ufa this yr sucks and we have no good picks in this yes deep draft... Pens need to let some of these guys walk.. Anyway martin would stay for 4mil/2-3yr deal?? Anyway pens can trade him to Minny at draft for a 3rd or 4th?

I think he has done ok. Ill assume Despres had some off ice issues, but Im also not going to pretend that Despres was the next Ray Bourque either.

A 2nd for Winnik is a killer though. I dont get that one at all. I like Perron, I would have preferred to keep the 1st and move other parts, but a 1st would have done anything for the team for 3+ yrs most likely.
- sammy87

If Winnik is not kept here, that trade will be REALLY bad... but if hes resigned, then we traded a 2nd rounder for what is a solid 3rd line player.

Same with the Perron trade in theory... a 1st rounder for 2 years (or more) in a top 6 winger.

JR did the job in the last 12 months that was needed. Everyone was been calling for a fire sale after the last couple playoffs, and while protecting the "core" (87, 71, 58 & 29), he did just that.

He completely overhauled the roster, and didn't make any long term bad deals. Many moves worked out, some didn't, and some are still questions. Injuries hurt him as well.

Either him or the next GM, can make a couple of more moves with guys like Scuderi, Kunitz, Sutter, etc., and have a pretty clean slate moving forward.

Based on these three playoff games, his first move was his best. Hornqvist is an absolute animal, and him and Crosby are the only two skaters who have looked consistently great this post season.

A trivial thing, but Hornqvist needs to be an alternate captain next season.

Oh, absolutely. As a fan, you should want (and sometimes even expect) your team to win. But if you took McDonagh/Girardi/Staal/Yandle away from NYR and added an injury to Stepan on top of that, the series probably wouldn't be 2-1 NYR, and they probably would be playing one of Washington/NYI right now.

But, then, again, the Rangers have tons of room for improvement and the Pens are playing at the top of their game, right?
- jmatchett383

They better have a lot of room for improvement if they want a deep cup run...

Well I have been watching hockey for over 55 years now. Saw the first Penguin game ever. But now the time has come. I am done. I gave up my season tickets a few years back and have never regretted it. The NHL plus guys like Lamorello have ruined the game that I loved so much. They pay slugs to hinder the skill players show their stuff. Why pay a guy big money when he will never be able to show his skill. Put 20 slugs on the ice every night and play soccer on ice. Pay them minimum salaries and you will probably get the same results. And the ticket prices will be a lot more affordable. The product is old and outdated. Neandorthals could be better. Oh wait we have a lot of those playing right now. No more Center Ice package for me, they can all go F themselves. The NHL is a F'in joke
- holeinone

You'll be tuning in opening night next season. We've all said the same thing to some extent at one time or another.

Wasn't he brought in to shake things up? He's done a good job of the sans Lovejob.

I think it would be a step backwards to punish him for doing what he was brought in to do. If we had a full roster I think the team would have a great chance at Stanley. The cap issues - well how can you budget for what happened? Or can should you?

5) even tho ufa this yr sucks and we have no good picks in this yes deep draft... Pens need to let some of these guys walk.. Anyway martin would stay for 4mil/2-3yr deal?? Anyway pens can trade him to Minny at draft for a 3rd or 4th?
- nh4442

I don't think Martin would stay for a pay decrease. He's probably looking at at least $5.5M for 2-3 years (maybe less if he gets a 4-5 year deal). The only way they could trade him and get any value would be to trade him prior to the start of free agency and have the pick as a condition on him being resigned by that team.

No one, but our expectations for the team and season are hard coded into our DNA... we still want to win.
- Guile

We also clamored for a more difficult season this year and got it in spades.

If by chance they can win this series, what a jolt that would be! Making it to the SCF wouldn't be too far fetched at that point.

Wasn't he brought in to shake things up? He's done a good job of the sans Lovejob.

I think it would be a step backwards to punish him for doing what he was brought in to do. If we had a full roster I think the team would have a great chance at Stanley. The cap issues - well how can you budget for what happened? Or can should you?
- Aussiepenguin

I think he might want out as well, and this is a media outlet grabbing the story earlier to spin it to be against him.

I don't know what GM or established coach would want to come here without a lot of money coming their way.

HCMJ wanted his first shot in the NHL.
JR... eh, I think he was optimistic, I never checked out his pay and incentives for being hired here vs the norm.

We also clamored for a more difficult season this year and got it in spades.

If by chance they can win this series, what a jolt that would be! Making it to the SCF wouldn't be too far fetched at that point.
- Topshelf Mountain

Injuries won't go away, without Letang coming back, we're humoring ourselves for the cup run.

Don't get me wrong, I want to win as long as possible, but this team can only run on fumes for so long.

We also clamored for a more difficult season this year and got it in spades.

If by chance they can win this series, what a jolt that would be! Making it to the SCF wouldn't be too far fetched at that point.
- Topshelf Mountain

If they can win the series, which just got much harder, they could go on a run. Getting Pouliot back would help. Anyone think there might be some roster juggling before Game 4?

I don't think Martin would stay for a pay decrease. He's probably looking at at least $5.5M for 2-3 years (maybe less if he gets a 4-5 year deal). The only way they could trade him and get any value would be to trade him prior to the start of free agency and have the pick as a condition on him being resigned by that team.
- jmatchett383

Yeah, he's good as gone. Frankly, they need to let him go at those numbers and terms.

Well I have been watching hockey for over 55 years now. Saw the first Penguin game ever. But now the time has come. I am done. I gave up my season tickets a few years back and have never regretted it. The NHL plus guys like Lamorello have ruined the game that I loved so much. They pay slugs to hinder the skill players show their stuff. Why pay a guy big money when he will never be able to show his skill. Put 20 slugs on the ice every night and play soccer on ice. Pay them minimum salaries and you will probably get the same results. And the ticket prices will be a lot more affordable. The product is old and outdated. Neandorthals could be better. Oh wait we have a lot of those playing right now. No more Center Ice package for me, they can all go F themselves. The NHL is a F'in joke
- holeinone

You're not the only person with this attitude. My dad has had season tickets for 12 years and he goes to a handful of games. The $$/ticket/food/parking for the product just isn't there. The Pens and the NHL need to make some adjustments. The waiting list for season tickets has dropped. He knows quite a few not re hewing their tickets as well.