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.
- CB

You’re right it doesn’t make any sense. There should be one spot that guys like Blueger, Angelo, Johnson, DiPauli, Millitec, and even Bellerive would have to compete with each other to get. That would make training camp interesting. Angelo is 6’5” and mean, the team could have their own Tom Wilson type.

p.s. I am cool with the Dad signing. It reeks of a move done only based on nostalgia but at $650k, he will literally cost the same as an AHL call-up. Best case, we manage his minutes, and he helps win a few draws and potentially provides some offense in the playoffs. Worst case...he's totally cooked as a player and he retires. Theres really no risk here other than maybe taking a spot from Simon now and then.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

For two days in a row, Yohe has said "he's been told that Jim isn't against trading Brassard" for the right return. Rutherford was also asked about where he stands and he replied he's not closing the door on trades. Saying we'll see some trades across the league for teams that didn't get what they want in free agency.

The first thing I thought of when they signed Cullen was a contingency if he gets a good offer for Brassard. I'm not saying he will do it, but I could see it.

Calgary signs James Neal for 5 years $5.75M.

To those talking about trading Brassard for Skinner/Patches....I think I would have rather traded Hagelin for something small and signed the Real Deal.

Calgary signs James Neal for 5 years $5.75M.

To those talking about trading Brassard for Skinner/Patches....I think I would have rather traded Hagelin for something small and signed the Real Deal.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Rob Van Dam?

Rob Van Dam?
- jmatchett383

[url]

via GIPHY

Ryan Wilson is nitpicking and is so bitter about the JJ signing that suddenly Tortorella is a good guy....the same coach that left Kessel off the USA roster.

Get a grip. It's getting ridiculous now Wilson. F Tortorella.

For two days in a row, Yohe has said "he's been told that Jim isn't against trading Brassard" for the right return. Rutherford was also asked about where he stands and he replied he's not closing the door on trades. Saying we'll see some trades across the league for teams that didn't get what they want in free agency.

The first thing I thought of when they signed Cullen was a contingency if he gets a good offer for Brassard. I'm not saying he will do it, but I could see it.
- madmike71

I don't see any big pieces being moved out. There is no reason to. Cully will help with depth and the PK while taking games off. He wasn't brought in to play the role he had before. As far as the JJ signing goes everyone needs to relax. They did their research on him and felt like he can help this team. There is no reason to not trust HCMS and GMJR. He had really one signing that didn't workout in Hundwick but the rest have been pretty good. I think once Oleksiak signs they will be done and this will be the opening night roster. Pens are in great shape and have good depth that they were lacking last season. This team is going to be dangerous...

JJ is nearly a point per game player career in the playoffs. Not playing him was a stupid move by any coach and based on who his coach is this looks like something personal IMO.

Heres a graph to backup my assessment.
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- stackthepads

Give a prize to this man. F Tortorella and anyoine that doesn't want JJ to succeed.

Ryan Wilson is nitpicking and is so bitter about the JJ signing that suddenly Tortorella is a good guy....the same coach that left Kessel off the USA roster.

Get a grip. It's getting ridiculous now Wilson. F Tortorella.
- Barnaby36

Agreed! Torts is a jacka$$ that throws a temper tantrum at the drop of a hat. Now that Flower and Reeves are gone I feel RW just needs someone else to blame everything on and the guy hasn't even put his skates on yet.

this would be a terrible trade. I like Trouba a lot but... Brassard>>>>Dano. I just don't see any situation where trading Brassard makes the Pens a better team. Pens have awesome forward depth. Maybe they need a 2LW, but Brassard can play it.

Jake-Sid-Horny
Brass-Geno-Kessel
Hags-Sheahan-Sprong
ZAR-Cullen-Rust
Simon
- j.boyd919

Just because acronyms are fun....the second line, from right to left is KGB

Tatar got traded for the exact same package and I’m sure 95% of Gms would take Nylander long and short term over Tatar. Nylander is 22 compared to Tatar at 27 and apparently from scouting reports online Nylander is “better suited to play Center then winger long term” didn’t look it up but I think Nylander had 61 points in his first full year then 65ish last year. Not sure if Tatar has ever hit 60 points yet.
- pens4life-66

What are you even talking about?

Not sure why you are comparing Tatar and Nylander.

Also not sure you understand how offer sheets work.

Ryan Wilson is nitpicking and is so bitter about the JJ signing that suddenly Tortorella is a good guy....the same coach that left Kessel off the USA roster.

Get a grip. It's getting ridiculous now Wilson. F Tortorella.
- Barnaby36

He's not being a Tortorella guy at all. JR shouldn't have made any comments. Doesn't make me any less of a Pens fan, but he just shouldn't have. Now, could Torts have responded differently? LOL yeah, but still, he's right to be peeved for someone not in his organization to question his motives for decisions.

I'm not gonna bank on a dude who had 14 points in his last 91 NHL games making the opening night roster. He's a bum. I'd much rather see the Pens give ZAR the ice time, but that's just me.
- j.boyd919

Hayes is nothing more than a high quality call-up, but to expect anything more than that would be foolish IMO.

What are you even talking about?

Not sure why you are comparing Tatar and Nylander.

Also not sure you understand how offer sheets work.
- Feds91Stammer

To quote a Mad Max movie: "Just walk away" lol

To quote a Mad Max movie: "Just walk away" lol
- Rinosaur

- Feds91Stammer

I love when South Park spoofed that.

Analytics aside, Jack Johnson has been a really good player in the playoffs.

We have a number of guys now that elevate their game in the postseason: Kessel, Brassard, Guentzel, Rust, Dumoulin, Johnson.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

How come RW never pointed out this??? Oh I know....he lets his hate towards JJ get to him.

How come RW never pointed put this??? Oh I know....he lets his hate towards JJ get to him.
- Barnaby36

Look man, I know you're trying to be positive that's a good stance to take, but you can't expect any kind of sports writer to not point out when a team has made a bad decision.

Johnson has not been a good player for a large part of his career and pretty terrible in the latter part of his career. We all hope we're wrong, trust me, but until proven otherwise this was a pretty odd and bad signing.

A player who's performed badly for a long period of time does not deserve the benefit of the doubt; he needs to prove his detractors wrong.

How come RW never pointed out this??? Oh I know....he lets his hate towards JJ get to him.
- Barnaby36

It isn't true though.

Sure he has put up points in the playoffs. Mostly due to PP which he won't be seeing much of.

Otherwise his numbers are average at best.

You know, Ryan Wilson, when the content of your 'I can't say' blog is rich and compelling, I lose all self-consciousness. My fingers can’t wait to share what you’ve started me thinking. My hands literally jump to the keyboard and start typing out the words. Other readers have said that is true for them too.

Sufi-Judge

It isn't true though.

Sure he has put up points in the playoffs. Mostly due to PP which he won't be seeing much of.

Otherwise his numbers are average at best.
- Feds91Stammer

Nearly a point per game player in the playoffs. Higher PPG percentage than Schultz (and equal to Letang) who also gets a lot of PP time. Twice as many PPG as $8M John Carlson.

Sample size is a bit smaller...and I'm not trying to say this is a great signing but he's been really good in the playoffs. And when he played against the Pens in the playoffs....he was CBJ's best player. That counts for something.

Weird thing about advanced stats. All JJ's possession metrics look bad. But from Mike Kelly of the NHL Network...

"Among all defenseman who logged at least 1,000 even-strength minutes, only 5 were better at completing an outlet pass from their defensive zone into the neutral zone: 73.5% of the time"

Nearly a point per game player in the playoffs. Higher PPG percentage than Schultz (and equal to Letang) who also gets a lot of PP time. Twice as many PPG as $8M John Carlson.

Sample size is a bit smaller...and I'm not trying to say this is a great signing but he's been really good in the playoffs. And when he played against the Pens in the playoffs....he was CBJ's best player. That counts for something.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

He is not good.

Nearly a point per game player in the playoffs. Higher PPG percentage than Schultz (and equal to Letang) who also gets a lot of PP time. Twice as many PPG as $8M John Carlson.

Sample size is a bit smaller...and I'm not trying to say this is a great signing but he's been really good in the playoffs. And when he played against the Pens in the playoffs....he was CBJ's best player. That counts for something.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Ssshhh....haters gonna hate. No point in talking logic or making points. Just gonna complain to complain.

Although i hope JJ proves everybody wrong and is a decent defenseman for the Penguins, his playoff performances are way to limited to say it's a strength of his. Fact remains he's never been out of the first round.