Rougherford https://t.co/EQmyLraeIZ pic.twitter.com/0Xw6cixaEK
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) December 19, 2017
The Pittsburgh Penguins returned home from their three-game western roadie with a 1-2 record. The struggling Pens lost games to the Golden Knights and Avalanche. Before they hit the road in search of solutions to chronic inconsistency problems that are undermining their success, the Pens lost 3 of 5 games on home ice.
The Pens are now tied with Boston for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East with 37 points. Rutherford and Sullivan have seen enough of the uninspired efforts from their .500 team. The Pens are 17-15-3 and are struggling to score goals at even strength. Problem being, the Penguins have already played 35 games, the most of any other team in the Eastern Conference. The teams that they are clustered with have games in hand. The Bruins will play game 32 in Buffalo tonight and have 37 points. Philly have 35 points in 32 games played. Carolina have played 33 games and have 35 points. Montreal have 32 points on 33 games played.
Mike Sullivan's team needs an immediate shock therapy session as they are about to lose valuable ground in the Eastern standings when their closest pursuers start playing games in hand.
The Penguins are ranked 29th in the NHL today with just 51 goals scored at even strength.
Last Wednesday, Pens GM Jim Rutherford used the media to call out his team. Rutherford told the Post-Gazette that he was not above making a big trade in order to shake awake his slumbering players.
Before the western roadie, Rutherford called his shot:
Bring home wins, or else there will be changes coming to the roster.
A man of his word, Rutherford made two separate trades on Tuesday, hours before the NHL roster freeze takes effect. The NHL roster freeze will run from midnight tonight until December 27.
Rutherford is asking each and every one of his players:
"What have you done for me lately"?
Neither trade was one of great consequence, however, Rutherford and Pens head coach Mike Sullivan got their loud and clear point across to their players.
The first trade saw the Pens send energy winger Nate Archibald, a goalie prospect and a sixth round pick to the Coyotes in exchange for journeyman goalie Michael Leighton and a fourth round pick.
TRADE ALERT!
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 19, 2017
Joining Pittsburgh: Goaltender Michael Leighton and a 2019 fourth-round draft pick.
Joining Arizona: Forward Josh Archibald, goaltender Sean Maguire, and a 2019 sixth-round draft pick.
Read more: https://t.co/DJGbXt3xLs pic.twitter.com/8EeCLNKlY2
An hour later, Rutherford traded with the Dallas Stars for hulking defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, who plays the game with bite and nastiness. I see a scenario where the Oleksiak trade will signal the departure of defenseman Ian Cole from Pittsburgh.
TRADE ALERT (PART TWO)!
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 19, 2017
The #Pens have acquired defenseman @jamieoleksiak from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2019 conditional fourth-round draft pick.
Details: https://t.co/SVfRzzjAKj pic.twitter.com/sv7thqJ4kD
Change is imminent in pro sports, especially inside the NHL. Rutherford and Sullivan are not content to pat one another on the back for winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. Rutherford wants one more, and then another after that while Sidney Crosby, Geno Malkin, Phil Kesse,, Kris Letang are still in their prime production years. Pittsburgh’s big four is healthy.
The sledding will get much tougher for the Pens in their final two games before the NHL-wide holiday hiatus which will see no games on December 24, 25, and 26. Pittsburgh will host Columbus on Thursday night and Anaheim on Saturday night. The Blue Jackets will be in a nasty frame of mind having gotten their noses bloodied in a 7-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Monday night.
**
I'm here in Buffalo to observe Sabres-Bruins tonight.
Several teams are here tonight despite the NHL roster freeze that will click in at Midnight EDT.
The Calgary Flames have sent their Director Of Pro Personnel to Buffalo to watch this game tonight. The Flames have been scouting the Sabres for a couple of months. Brad Treliving has been looking to add a veteran, top six forward who can add scoring at 5v5, PP, kill penalties and infuse truculunce and pugnacity into his roster.
Evander Kane is Brian Burke's kind of player.
The Flames have approximately $4 million in salary cap space to work with today.
The Flames also have center-winger Sam Bennett and D prospects Tyler Wotherspoon and Oliver Kylington to add into a deal for Kane.
However, Treliving doesn't own his first or second round picks in 2018. The Flames sent their 2018 1st and 2nd round picks, plus a 2019 conditional 2nd round pick to the NY Islanders on June 24, 2017 for defenseman Travis Hamonic. (*Condition: If the Flames miss the playoffs in 2019, Islanders receive a 2019 2nd round pick. If Flames make the playoffs in 2019, Islanders receive a 2020 2nd round pick instead)
The Toronto Maple Leafs will have their AGM and n Director of Pro Scouting here tonight.
The Dallas Stars have dispatched their head pro scout to Buffalo for the umpteenth time this season. The Stars are looking for a scoring top six winger.
Scouts will be here from Winnipeg, Detroit, Philadelphia, Florida, Chicago, Ottawa and Colorado.