All these people taking shots at JJ and the man hasn't even skated with the team yet. Also I am wondering the same if JR is going to shop Brassard a bit. That Oreilly trade was great for Buffalo

Yes. The Oilers had already won with their powerhouse before as well. I missed when the Kings went deep with JJ as their number 1, which he was since they traded for him.

Honestly, this isn't an attack on the Penguins. I don't get this vitriol. He just doesn't seem like a smart guy on/off the ice. Will he destroy the Penguins chances to win? Hell no. They're one of the best teams in the league regardless. Does this make JJ magically a Einstein? I doubt it.
- AdamFrench

Just having fun with you. JJ called Columbus after the hoopla and apologized.

Edit: And to JJ's defense, he wasn't raised by the best parents and has managed a pretty good career.

All these people taking shots at JJ and the man hasn't even skated with the team yet. Also I am wondering the same if JR is going to shop Brassard a bit. That Oreilly trade was great for Buffalo
- 123Kid

One big difference is Brass is an UFA, but I've been saying this for awhile. It's a sellers market for good centers.

Those dudes have never won a playoff series. They shouldn't be so sensitive.
- madmike71

I suspect that's why they are so sensitive.

Does the haul Ryan O'Reilly just pulled in for buffalo make JR rethink maybe entertaining offers for Brassard?
- Yonk1216

I actually was thinking the same thing. Obviously O’Reilly is better than Brassard, but that was a huge haul for buffalo. They could flip berglund and Sobotka for picks later in the season too.

I actually was thinking the same thing. Obviously O’Reilly is better than Brassard, but that was a huge haul for buffalo. They could flip berglund and Sobotka for picks later in the season too.
- drummer829

That wasn’t a huge haul

Late 1st, Late 2nd in a few years, 2 cap dumps and a mid level prospect

And that’s for a guy with some term

"It just seemed like a perfect fit in every which way," Johnson said. "Feel very blessed to have the opportunity to be here, to be a Pittsburgh Penguin. My wife and I say it checks all the boxes for us, great place to bring the family, great opportunity for hockey. I've been really wanting to be a part of a winning culture and a place where the expectations to win are as high as they can be and have a chance to win. I don't think I could've asked for a better opportunity here."

"Sully watched the three games leading up to when he was put in the press box and we felt he actually played pretty well," Rutherford said. "The coaches, Gonch and Sully, have gone over the tapes over and over watching him play and we feel very strong about this player, that he's going to improve our team."

The quotes are in no way disrespectful, they're milquetoast.

If Torts is so insecure that he takes being a part of a winning culture in Pittsburgh as implying that CBJ is loserville, that's his own hangup.

And Ruth was just answering a question about being concerned about Johnson sitting down the stretch. What was he going to say there?!?

I actually was thinking the same thing. Obviously O’Reilly is better than Brassard, but that was a huge haul for buffalo. They could flip berglund and Sobotka for picks later in the season too.
- drummer829

Lol. They’re bottom 6 cap dumps. How is that a haul??

Does the haul Ryan O'Reilly just pulled in for buffalo make JR rethink maybe entertaining offers for Brassard?
- Yonk1216

Not sure why we would trade him now? He stumbled at the start with us after the trade, picked it up, then got injured. Entertain it at the TDL if he isn't playing good.

Our team is stacked up front. And we have kids ready to jump into the bottom six. Back in the Shero/Bylsma era everybody on this board female doged because they wouldn't give the kids a chance. Then when they do we win two Cups. Now we want to push the kids out again? Don't understand the thinking.

Torts is a jacka$$. Either female doging about people female doging or he’s just female doging. He alienates players because he is gods gift to coaching. How many Cups has he won? Lol.

The ONLY thing that man has said right in my opinion was when he said he would “bench anyone who doesn’t stand for the anthem”.

That wasn’t a huge haul

Late 1st, Late 2nd in a few years, 2 cap dumps and a mid level prospect

And that’s for a guy with some term
- RoloTahmasee

Tage Thompson is a solid prospect and did well during his first half a year. The blues are going to give you a 22nd-ish pick. Berglund is a solid 3rd line center and could fetch a 2nd round pick or possibly a 1st if buffalo retains salary or adds a mid round pick. Sobotka will get you a 2nd or 3rd as well. Tage Thompson will be a solid depth player 3 years from now when the rebuild is almost over. The Sabres did pretty well and are in full tank mode trying to get Jack Hughes

That wasn’t a huge haul

Late 1st, Late 2nd in a few years, 2 cap dumps and a mid level prospect

And that’s for a guy with some term
- RoloTahmasee

It's a great deal for buffalo. They only had a good first line, but bad depth. I feel they have the cap space and received two players which could help there bottom lines. The deal I think will work out well for them. They wont compete, but they are trending in the right direction.

Lol. They’re bottom 6 cap dumps. How is that a haul??
- Iggysbff

Take a look on Cap Friendly of all the picks Buffalo has already received. If they played pretty decent the first half, they'll get a second, third, or fourth during that time of year.

Torts is a beaut. Can’t say enough about how hockey is lacking what Torts brings.

It's a great deal for buffalo. They only had a good first line, but bad depth. I feel they have the cap space and received two players which could help there bottom lines. The deal I think will work out well for them. They wont compete, but they are trending in the right direction.
- 123Kid

I think they’ll be traded except for Thompson. Berglund and Sobotka are just over 30 and only way they’ll help the team is by getting additional draft picks

Torts is a beaut. Can’t say enough about how hockey is lacking what Torts brings.

It's a great deal for buffalo. They only had a good first line, but bad depth. I feel they have the cap space and received two players which could help there bottom lines. The deal I think will work out well for them. They wont compete, but they are trending in the right direction.
- 123Kid

But they really should be contending by now in my opinion. They have been sitting at the bottom for far too long now, they got a first pick that really should be setting them up for success but instead they trade their #2 C & take a step backwards again.

Well.... If what Rutherford said was true... that is ALSO how I'd expect them to react to try and deny the allegations

This is funny...gotta love a good Torts rant.

but ultimately I don't think GMJR said anything wrong. "I know what the reason is"....maybe Jack told GMJR and GMJR took the high road by not giving details.

It's just too vague of a statement to go on a tirade like that.

Does the haul Ryan O'Reilly just pulled in for buffalo make JR rethink maybe entertaining offers for Brassard?
- Yonk1216

I think he could pull off Brassard + Maatta for Trouba+Dano...question is, if he could, would we be better off?

Torts is a jacka$$. Either female doging about people female doging or he’s just female doging. He alienates players because he is gods gift to coaching. How many Cups has he won? Lol.

The ONLY thing that man has said right in my opinion was when he said he would “bench anyone who doesn’t stand for the anthem”.
- Doogs

He also said, during his brief stint with Canucks, "this core is stale", he was not wrong.

I'm still not a fan of the signing, but.... I'm gonna become such a huge JMFJ fan boy now.

I do love it, he always brings a good laugh!
- 668710

He's always honest!

I think JJ comments were taken out of context, but RUfferford probably shouldn't of said anything. All in all, I'm a new reader of The Athletic!!

I'm still not a fan of the signing, but.... I'm gonna become such a huge JMFJ fan boy now.
- Victoro311

Ha! I was on the fence earlier with him, but I'm right with you now. JJ even called the head brass in Columbus to apologize for a pretty vanilla statement.

I'm still not a fan of the signing, but.... I'm gonna become such a huge JMFJ fan boy now.
- Victoro311

Oh hell yeah....where can I preorder my JJ jersey?