Well we gave up a 1st, a top prospect, and 2 roster players for him (one 2nd/3rd pairing D and a 4th liner who apparently many had an interest in and we gave up a 1st for). He is a top 2 pairing center who played injured for us and was averaging a point per game before the injury. So I would say he is worth a top 4 winger or top 4 d plus a high round pick. Idk though if JR gets a bidding war I assume the price may go up due to him being the top available player. He may try for a little less than Duchene last off season because we really don't need to move him
- 123Kid

I'd be ok with moving him. I'm comfortable with Sheahan being the 3rd center and Blueger being 4th. Find someone to play on Malkins wing for Brassard.

Well we gave up a 1st, a top prospect, and 2 roster players for him (one 2nd/3rd pairing D and a 4th liner who apparently many had an interest in and we gave up a 1st for). He is a top 2 pairing center who played injured for us and was averaging a point per game before the injury. So I would say he is worth a top 4 winger or top 4 d plus a high round pick. Idk though if JR gets a bidding war I assume the price may go up due to him being the top available player. He may try for a little less than Duchene last off season because we really don't need to move him
- 123Kid

I would be shocked if Big Game Brass was traded. We have him at a very reasonable cap hit and every cent is important to the Pens. Besides, if he was traded we’re basically in the same spot as last offseason in regards to lack of center depth. Yes we have Sheahan, but he is better suited for 4c duties.

I would be shocked if Big Game Brass was traded. We have him at a very reasonable cap hit and every cent is important to the Pens. Besides, if he was traded we’re basically in the same spot as last offseason in regards to lack of center depth. Yes we have Sheahan, but he is better suited for 4c duties.
- joescullz

I have to disagree. I think he fills in for Bonino perfectly. He kills penalties, he can score, he can play a shutdown role, he can drive possession. I think Brassard isn't a good 3rd liner. He doesn't play PK, he needs more minutes to make a bigger impact and I can't see us signing him after this season. Pending where JT signs. I can see Islanders or Toronto making a run at Brassard

So Roussel? Not sure If anyone actually put a $ on him, but 3.25m. Again, a little out of the Pens budget. Merde!

I have to disagree. I think he fills in for Bonino perfectly. He kills penalties, he can score, he can play a shutdown role, he can drive possession. I think Brassard isn't a good 3rd liner. He doesn't play PK, he needs more minutes to make a bigger impact and I can't see us signing him after this season. Pending where JT signs. I can see Islanders or Toronto making a run at Brassard
- 123Kid

The only thing we could get in return for him imo is a first and decent prospect. The cap savings isn’t going to help sign a big name free agent. Hearing Grabner could get 5 mil per which is insane.

When teams miss out on JT then they will be looking and Brassard is still ranked by most teams as a 1st/2nd line center. Centers have the most trade value of any position in hockey currently. He also put up more points than duchene the year he was traded. Brassard put up 21 goals and 46 points last season. I think JR is gonna try for something big if he does trade him. If not there were rumors they were going to try him at wing. I could see them only trading Brassard for. Top 4 winger with possibly cap retained +. I do think they do a 3 team trade which involves Brassard.

FML

FML
- kfinl170

Wut?

Wut?
- Barnaby36

You know what

A lot of players going back to their original teams. I am not too upset with the JJ signing we will see what he can do for us. I think the situation will be different for him. For one he got to choose his destination and also his drama of his parents is done. So mentally he is in a better place. I think as a bottom pairing D he may be good. Also since he is friends with Sid. I would assume they will train together and it is a nice boost playing with friends.

“Johnson hasn’t looked bad”. I’ll stick to it and you heard it here first. That’s if we actually do sign him, which if Madden broke the story I’d say we will. Antoine Roussel would look a lot better on our fourth line than Simon. Kunitz, has Smith-Pelly been romoured anywhere? 800k would be a raise for him. His playoff performance probably gets him over a mil though.

“Johnson hasn’t looked bad”. I’ll stick to it and you heard it here first. That’s if we actually do sign him, which if Madden broke the story I’d say we will. Antoine Roussel would look a lot better on our fourth line than Simon. Kunitz, has Smith-Pelly been romoured anywhere? 800k would be a raise for him. His playoff performance probably gets him over a mil though.
- Grinder47

Roussel is getting $3M plus , not a 4th liner

Roussel is getting $3M plus , not a 4th liner
- kfinl170

On a team like the Pens he would be, but I’d play him with Sid or Malkin. Probably put up 30. Trade Maatta clear cap space. He’s a WASTE.

Roussel is getting $3M plus , not a 4th liner
- kfinl170

3.25 x 4 years.

Going to be interesting seeing how many vets take the minimum & how much depth D will cost this time round. Flames rumoured to sign Derek Ryan 3m +.

“Johnson hasn’t looked bad”. I’ll stick to it and you heard it here first. That’s if we actually do sign him, which if Madden broke the story I’d say we will. Antoine Roussel would look a lot better on our fourth line than Simon. Kunitz, has Smith-Pelly been romoured anywhere? 800k would be a raise for him. His playoff performance probably gets him over a mil though.
- Grinder47

DSP resigned with the Caps a couple days ago for about a mil I think. Got less than I thought he would.

I think Johnson will help shot block and hit and bring a dimension we were missing after Cole left. Plus Johnson can skate well and shoot the puck. He can play well on PK and does well in 4-4 situations due to his speed/skating. Him pairing with big rig will probably be a fun line since both can play a defensive game and both have speed to jump in offensively

I didn't hate Ryan Reaves as much as some around here, but 2.77 per year is downright stupid IMO.

I think Johnson will help shot block and hit and bring a dimension we were missing after Cole left. Plus Johnson can skate well and shoot the puck. He can play well on PK and does well in 4-4 situations due to his speed/skating. Him pairing with big rig will probably be a fun line since both can play a defensive game and both have speed to jump in offensively
- 123Kid

Johnson isn’t even close to the defensive player Cole was. He’s been one of the worst “defensive” defensemen that gets top 4 minutes in the league for about 3 years now and has been mediocre to bad defensively for his whole career. His positional awareness on that end of the ice is replacement level.

It’s fine to think he’ll be better than expected even though I think the chances of that are slim, but you have to have realistic expectations. Thinking he’ll be a defensive stabilizing factor on the third pairing that can help a guy like Oleksiak grow is not gonna happen. For that pairing to work, it’s gonna have to be Oleksiak that figures out how to be the defensively sound parter, which is not really the way his development was trending. That pairing has disaster written all over it and I think by mid season we’ll be seeing Johnson with Shultz and Maatta with Oleksiak.

How about getting rid of Haglin finally? Some team needs to reach the cap floor. Sign Roussel put him in Haglins role. Just as fast, kills penalties, way more physical/pain in the ass, historically puts up more points than Haglin. Cheaper. Malkin would love playing with him, he feeds off of violent energy. This pens team desperately needs energy.

So how bad was Kunitz this year?

Funny how many gus want Jack Johnson to do bad just to say "I told you". Get a life and try to be happy for the guy's carreer, Sid and the coaches from the Penguins, who clearly like him.

Welcome #7! Stay away from all the clowns that just want to bash you.

Johnson isn’t even close to the defensive player Cole was. He’s been one of the worst “defensive” defensemen that gets top 4 minutes in the league for about 3 years now and has been mediocre to bad defensively for his whole career. His positional awareness on that end of the ice is replacement level.

It’s fine to think he’ll be better than expected even though I think the chances of that are slim, but you have to have realistic expectations. Thinking he’ll be a defensive stabilizing factor on the third pairing that can help a guy like Oleksiak grow is not gonna happen. For that pairing to work, it’s gonna have to be Oleksiak that figures out how to be the defensively sound parter, which is not really the way his development was trending. That pairing has disaster written all over it and I think by mid season we’ll be seeing Johnson with Shultz and Maatta with Oleksiak.
- Victoro311

One of the points Portzline was talking about was JJ needs to simplify his game. He said his biggest issues were trying to do too much and then getting out of position. I think Letang suffered with the same problem last season. His decision making was ridiculous at times.

It's risky for sure, but Sullivan, Gonch and JM really need to coach these guys up. Put a leash on them....so to speak.

So how bad was Kunitz this year?
- TommyHawk

I mean...he was with Tampa. Thanks for asking anyway lol he's a good guy

I mean...he was with Tampa. Thanks for asking anyway lol he's a good guy
- Barnaby36

Hah! Wow I never even noticed that he left.