I don't always agree with Ryan, but have to say that for the most part, he is spot on here. You don't trade Crosby or Malkin unless one indicates they are ready to move on.

On the other hand, changes do need to be made. They need to take a hard look at the medical staff and how they evaluate whats going on with the players. This goes all the way back to 87's concussions, but most recenytly to Maatta's shoulder problems. How much better would they be today if they had simply let his shoulder fully heal and brought him back in say, December or January?

The other very real questions are:
-Does Mario continue to trust Rutherford to manage this roster to make it deeper and a real cup contender? On one hand, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt as he's really hamstrung by some of Sher's contracts, but on the other hand, he also trades Simon Despres for Ben Lovejoy and put them in a really bad spot capwise by having to go with 5 D. Say what you will about Shero, but cap management stuff like that never happened under his watch.
-I have no issue with Johnston as a coach, but the question is do the players respect him enough to listen to him? I don't think anyone can answer that, but this is an organization whose players ran Scotty Bowman out of town, and now one of the guys who was behind that is now the owner. As much as I love Mario for what he has done for this city, I always have to wonder how having a former player as the owner impacts how players view the coaching staff today.
- Emperor Filonius

The Goc trade for Lapierre Was a horrible one.

Cole for Bortuzzo Was a steal

NHL ready talent in Reinhart and Zadorov

Refill the farm system with a poop ton of picks.


You could probabyl get more NHL ready talent somewhere else, but it really is up to what the Pens want.
- ImThatGuy

just not tempting enough, in terms of nhl ready talent and certainty in assets, for me to begin to contemplate it. realistically, i dont know if much would. and yes, there is a healthy dose of fanboy tainting the logic.

See this is where people consistently miss the boat on a Malkin trade. The deal wouldn't just be Malkin for, say, Patches and Galch but it would be for Patches, Galch, and what, about $3 mill or so in extra cap space. So, with that $, you could go out and acquire $3 mill more and upgrade one other roster spot.
- 87_71_11_29

Well in this case no because Galchenyuk is an RFA and will get a significant raise this summer.

In my opinion, Rutherford should be on the hot seat before Johnston. Sure, he didn't blow up the future for rentals ala Shero...though the Winnik trade was a bit of an overpayment (I do believe he resigns). However, the release of Arcobello was a mistake and the trading of Despres was a horrible, unnecessary, move.

I guess my feeling is this: he did OK in the off season, but made the team worse as the season went on.
- cranktheradio

I agree. Overall, he might have improved the team from last season, but not enough. Sure he was hamstrung from Shero's decisions, but there were opportunities to move players and acquire other UFAs (like Winnik) that would have bolstered this team's chances. And I can't understand how looking at Rutherford's history inspires any confidence in his ability to make real improvements.

just not tempting enough, in terms of nhl ready talent and certainty in assets, for me to begin to contemplate it. realistically, i dont know if much would. and yes, there is a healthy dose of fanboy tainting the logic.
- stayinthefnnet

I dont blame you at all, Crosby is the best player in the world. Like a previous poster said, it is impossible to put together a fair trade for him.

In an extreme hypothetical/fun offer I was told this was way to much for a "Soon to be has been" Crosby:

Every pick this year except Buffalos first
Reinhart
Zadorov
1st and 2nd in 16
1st in 17
- ImThatGuy

That is a huge pass. When trading a superstar like Crosby, at least one PROVEN young stud better be coming back, not prospects and picks. I don't think it would ever happen, but this isn't the second coming of Jagr for three prospects. Gergensons would be coming back for starters along with what you have down.

The Goc trade for Lapierre Was a horrible one.

Cole for Bortuzzo Was a steal
- Barnaby36

LOL ... like the Goc for Lapierre deal made a big difference for us. We would be in the same boat if that trade wasn't made.

The Goc trade for Lapierre Was a horrible one.

Cole for Bortuzzo Was a steal
- Barnaby36

I think Rutherford made some great moves that improved the team drastically, but made several little ones that didn't help at all.

With proper defensive depth this team is in a much different position right now, and nobody is calling for JR's head.

Give him one more offseason and trade deadline to work with. You'll see.

Well in this case no because Galchenyuk is an RFA and will get a significant raise this summer.
- rangerdanger94

Nothing that can't be covered with Geno/Perron/Sutter's cap hit.

LOL ... like the Goc for Lapierre deal made a big difference for us. We would be in the same boat if that trade wasn't made.
- Oneonta Penguin

Exactly Goc is bush league, I don't know why everyone is in love with him here. Yeah, he used to be a decent player but that was years upon years ago.

I think Rutherford made some great moves that improved the team drastically, but made several little ones that didn't help at all.

With proper defensive depth this team is in a much different position right now, and nobody is calling for JR's head.

Give him one more offseason and trade deadline to work with. You'll see.
- BINGO!

I figured you as a Canes fan would be the last one to defend him. If healthy the team would have been legit contenders. But the same could be said pretty much every year about this team and they've at least made the postseason. If they fail to do that, it's not unfair that heads will roll. Unless ownership's expectations have declined.

Exactly Goc is bush league, I don't know why everyone is in love with him here. Yeah, he used to be a decent player but that was years upon years ago.
- znagle

Lapierre is measurably worse. He is worse at faceoffs, shot suppression, penalties drawn, and penalty kill. Neither produces offensively. One is at least good defensively and that is Goc. Lapierre is bad at everything.

I think Rutherford made some great moves that improved the team drastically, but made several little ones that didn't help at all.

With proper defensive depth this team is in a much different position right now, and nobody is calling for JR's head.

Give him one more offseason and trade deadline to work with. You'll see.
- BINGO!

He really did. We are in a much better spot that we were last offseason. Everyone says "he should have signed Winnik in the offseason!" Like it was a guarantee he'd be good. Well, he signed Comeau. What if we traded for Comeau instead? They would say the same thing. Like he's supposed to be able to see the future. Those same people are the ones that female dog about Staal over Toews.

Lapierre is measurably worse. He is worse at faceoffs, shot suppression, penalties drawn, and penalty kill. Neither produces offensively. One is at least good defensively and that is Goc. Lapierre is bad at everything.
- jfkst1

Both are terrible. It was a trade made that hopefully a change of scenery would help both ways. It hasn't either way. Both suck. Maybe Lap does something in the playoffs*.

*yes, I realize we may miss them.

That is a huge pass. When trading a superstar like Crosby, at least one PROVEN young stud better be coming back, not prospects and picks. I don't think it would ever happen, but this isn't the second coming of Jagr for three prospects. Gergensons would be coming back for starters along with what you have down.
- Oneonta Penguin

Again don't blame you for wanting that, just find it funny that the Buffalo fan base says too much, and Piit fanbase says not enough.

I figured you as a Canes fan would be the last one to defend him. If healthy the team would have been legit contenders. But the same could be said pretty much every year about this team and they've at least made the postseason. If they fail to do that, it's not unfair that heads will roll. Unless ownership's expectations have declined.
- jfkst1

I mostly liked what JR did as Canes GM. Nearly everything he did made sense due to the economic realities of the club.

During his last couple of seasons he was under pressure from the owner to get more butts in the seats while staying on budget. This is why Alex Semin and Jordan Staal happened.

The reality was that JR didn't have a lot of money to help with scouting or player development. He had to try and balance acquiring/keeping talent vs having a competent front office staff. His greatest fault is his loyalty and hanging on to guys after they should have been gone.

He really did. We are in a much better spot that we were last offseason. Everyone says "he should have signed Winnik in the offseason!" Like it was a guarantee he'd be good. Well, he signed Comeau. What if we traded for Comeau instead? They would say the same thing. Like he's supposed to be able to see the future. Those same people are the ones that female dog about Staal over Toews.
- znagle

That's asset management 101. If he can't project value better than random that is a good reason he shouldn't be the GM.

He really did. We are in a much better spot that we were last offseason. Everyone says "he should have signed Winnik in the offseason!" Like it was a guarantee he'd be good. Well, he signed Comeau. What if we traded for Comeau instead? They would say the same thing. Like he's supposed to be able to see the future. Those same people are the ones that female dog about Staal over Toews.
- znagle

Comeau is a great depth player. AND was cheap. What the heck more can you ask for?

That's asset management 101. If he can't project value better than random that is a good reason he shouldn't be the GM.
- jfkst1

Winnik and Comeau are career bottom 6er's. You honestly think all GMs knew that they would be top 6 tweeners? It was a crapshoot, same as Spaling.

Comeau is a great depth player. AND was cheap. What the heck more can you ask for?
- BINGO!

Seriously, it was a shot in the dark that worked.

The most disturbing thing for me is that I don't remember the last time one of our highly paid players were the difference when needed.

It might be wrong to point to the loss to the Flyers the other day...but that's a valid case in point...isn't it?

Seriously, it was a shot in the dark that worked.
- znagle

I don't think it was even a shot in the dark. Comeau has always been a hard working bottom six guy. It's just he's finally been put back into a position to have success.

NHL ready talent in Reinhart and Zadorov

Refill the farm system with a poop ton of picks.


You could probabyl get more NHL ready talent somewhere else, but it really is up to what the Pens want.
- ImThatGuy

OK, Gunner I won't blow up the top 6, except for Perron, not a fan. Would have preferred a bigger forward.

However who in the bottom six would you keep? Winnick? Comeau? Who else? Blow it the F*ck up.

I agree. Overall, he might have improved the team from last season, but not enough. Sure he was hamstrung from Shero's decisions, but there were opportunities to move players and acquire other UFAs (like Winnik) that would have bolstered this team's chances. And I can't understand how looking at Rutherford's history inspires any confidence in his ability to make real improvements.
- jfkst1

Such as?