Toronto is equivalent if they sign Tavares. Johnny T is a top 5 center and Matthews just keeps getting better. Kadri and Brassard are washes
- Victoro311

Also just lost bozak and jvr

the Toronto team will be forced to move some players... no telling what kind of chemistry they'll have. hope its like the Selanne Kariya experiment in Colarado from some years ago.

Toronto will be good enough for playoffs first round, not further. its in their dna... also, this isn't going to be the tavares of old. it'll be the toronto version. players are always a few pegs down in toronto... Look at kessel, the guy was essentially the playoff MVP if it weren't for a vindictive toronto media giving it to crosby instead... once he left the oppressive toronto market.
- kaptaan

Shut up, sound like a jealous 10yr old.

Go Vegas Go

Hey Wilson

Things Change

YOU never learn...

I think the new league vet salary is 2.5m.

Toronto is equivalent if they sign Tavares. Johnny T is a top 5 center and Matthews just keeps getting better. Kadri and Brassard are washes
- Victoro311

I think Kadri’s better then Brassard...but I don’t think JT / Matthews as good as Sid/Gene IMO nor do the Leafs have the D to go far in the PO’s.....yet.

Also just lost bozak and jvr
- jchst22

JVR is a big loss, but they have the forward depth to replace him. Bozak is not the player he was even two years ago. He's a pretty average to medicore 3C at this point. There's a big chance they get Johnny T, and if that happens Tavares, Matthews, Kadri = Crosby, Malkin, Brassard.

Kunitz a Hawk... Ugh.. Oh well.

@joecool: Eh. Johnson has been a done deal for days. I think we’re all resigned to it.

I don’t think we’re demonstrably worse. Sheary would have been a fourth liner this year and I’m not positive Johnson is worse than Hunwick. It’s just the fact that we had a chance to improve and decided not to, as I do actually think Chad is a better defenseman than JMFJ and we had a lot of cap space to play around with. This is the second offseason in a row where Rutherford claims he’s gonna shake things up a bit and we stay stagnant. This is an issue in a conference where our division remains very strong and the Atlantic keeps getting better. The Pens don’t really have an edge anymore, we’re just one in a really talented crowd.
- Victoro311

I don't really agree with that. Our team was gassed last year. When you saw them getting blown out by teams like the Blackhawks, it was obvious they didn't have their legs on many nights. Letang was coming off a major surgery. Murray couldn't stay healthy. Malkin jacks up his knee in the playoffs. Brassard gets a groin injury right before the playoffs. Phil had injury issues.

Anytime you can roll out three centers like Sid, Geno and Brassard you have an edge on everybody. I will agree that some teams are definitely getting better.

JVR is a big loss, but they have the forward depth to replace him. Bozak is not the player he was even two years ago. He's a pretty average to medicore 3C at this point. There's a big chance they get Johnny T, and if that happens Tavares, Matthews, Kadri = Crosby, Malkin, Brassard.
- Victoro311[/quote]

Not yet it's not my friend.

Kunitz a Hawk... Ugh.. Oh well.
- MattStrat

Huge signing to a great team. If only it were 8yrs ago

I don't really agree with that. Our team was gassed last year. When you saw them getting blown out by teams like the Blackhawks, it was obvious they didn't have their legs on many nights. Letang was coming off a major surgery. Murray couldn't stay healthy. Malkin jacks up his knee in the playoffs. Brassard gets a groin injury right before the playoffs. Phil had injury issues.

Anytime you can roll out three centers like Sid, Geno and Brassard you have an edge on everybody. I will agree that some teams are definitely getting better.
- madmike71

On everyone who can't roll three centers like that. If the Leafs sign Tavares, they can, and the Lightning kind of can when they have Johnson playing C.

- Blackstrom2

Hahahahahah

Anyone want McDonough for 7 years?

If JT signs with Toronto (10-15million range) they would be moving pieces out next year when they have to pay Auston Matthews who will also get in the 10-15 million range. It makes you wonder if he will ask out of Toronto if they bump him to the 2nd line (not everyone is ok with it). Which is good for us short term(since they wont be able to sign good defensemen which is their biggest team need and will tie up a lot of money in their top 2 centers). Long term it may be like a Crosby Malkin duo but I see them losing a bunch of players due to raises. I hope he signs with SJ though

Kunitz a Hawk... Ugh.. Oh well.
- MattStrat

Kunitz is having a pretty pathetic ending to his career

Also heard Jack Johnson took less money to sign with the Pens

Anyone want McDonough for 7 years?
- Aussiepenguin

Just shy of 7 mill per?!! F that. It's actually 8 more years because he was already signed this year hahah

Rutherford is holding a presser at 1:30. I don't think we're doing anything beyond signing JJ.

Rutherford is holding a presser at 1:30. I don't think we're doing anything beyond signing JJ.
- Victoro311

Gross...well maybe.. If he did more it could get more gross...

Wow! Only 57 Defensemen have played 10,000 minutes in the last eleven years. That is less that 2 per team. A lot of turnover at that position.

Its now official on Sportsnet... JJ signed...

On everyone who can't roll three centers like that. If the Leafs sign Tavares, they can, and the Lightning kind of can when they have Johnson playing C.
- Victoro311

I'll agree with that however they have huge holes on D. I'm not worried about the Pens being a top contender at all.

Rutherford is holding a presser at 1:30. I don't think we're doing anything beyond signing JJ.
- Victoro311

JT didn't sign yet so I would expect until that happens he wont be doing much. Islanders may offer a bit for Bassard if they lose out on JT.

Its now official on Sportsnet... JJ signed...
- MattStrat

Jussi?