If you want to make a splash and get the best return, I think the Pens have to trade Letang. I know that is sacrilege to some, but I truly feel that he's their best asset that will get the best return. Some team will definitely overpay for him. He's a 3-time Stanley Cup winning, goal scoring defenseman. Of course they will. At least dangle him in front of some teams and see what they offer.

I'm not advocating blowing up the team, but they have to change something. Letang has value and he's often hurt. I wouldn't be heart broken if he was traded and they got quality players & picks in return. Will they? Most likely not. Same goes for Murray. He'll probably get some ungodly extension. GMJR is due for a questionable extension that handcuffs the team even further.

I honestly have no idea what this team is going to do. Cullen, Wilson, and Ruhwedel are the only UFA's. They're as good as gone. The rest are all locked in for a year or two, or even longer. So what can GMJR do? He won't buyout JJ, we all know that. He'll probably do something stupid like trading Kessel or Rust. I have zero faith in Rutherford's abilities.
- simethos

To my eyes there are seven players who are tradeable. Hornqvist, Bjugstad, Rust, Maatta, Gudbranson, Johnson and a goaltender. Hornqvist has a no trade clause so he is going to be difficult to move.

The number one priority is a top four defenseman. The Pens have several youngsters who should get looks in training camp. (Hallender, AJohnson off the top of my head.) I don't think it is going to be as difficult as everyone thinks to fill the holes.

To my eyes there are seven players who are tradeable. Hornqvist, Bjugstad, Rust, Maatta, Gudbranson, Johnson and a goaltender. Hornqvist has a no trade clause so he is going to be difficult to move.

The number one priority is a top four defenseman. The Pens have several young wingers who should get looks in training camp. (Hallender, AJohnson off the top of my head.) I don't think it is going to be as difficult as everyone thinks to fill the holes.[/

Edit: wingers to get looks in camp

Rutherford: "I think our defense now is probably the best we've had since I've been here."

lmao

Interested to see if Johnson’s going to poop in Ryan’s Cheerios every morning during the off-season. My guess is yes.

Well expect the downward spiral to continue with GMJR's comments about the D corp...he should be fired during his press conference right now after that comment.

If they don't do something with the D (other than moving Maatta, which is a mistake) this team's window is closed, end of story.

Pens Inside Scoop
✔
@PensInsideScoop

"Dumoulin (PCL), Guentzel (ribs) and McCann (shoulder) all played with significant injuries in playoffs"
- Thorny87

LOL

GM Jim Rutherford on his offseason approach:

"We are still a bit emotional with how this ended. The best thing for me is to take a little time to think through this... Some big decisions will be made. Obviously there will be changes in our team."

"I didn't see a point where our guys came together as a team. I don't know if our guys are content - is that a signal that something needs to be changed? We need that eagerness again... The Islanders had that eagerness to win and were determined. We weren't."

(Source: Penguins Twitter)

lmao
- BINGO!

Well expect the downward spiral to continue with GMJR's comments about the D corp...he should be fired during his press conference right now after that comment.

If they don't do something with the D (other than moving Maatta, which is a mistake) this team's window is closed, end of story.
- iworkatinitech

GMJR slammed the window closed and put up storm shutters.

Rutherford basically said our only issue is complacency. Well, that’s a recipe for bad moves...

Ok, so our biggest problem this year is that our blue line sucked and couldn’t facilitate offense well, so the answer is shipping out Letang?

The Penguins don’t need to make “a splash”. We have all the high end talent we need to be contenders. What we need to do is uncuff ourselves from a suboptimal supporting cast, which, granted, is easier said than done, but going the other rout and trading a star for more supporting cast only makes our current problems worse.
- Victoro311

So...Jack Johnson for PK Subban?

Just retire Cullen you old (frank). He's like a poop that won't flush. Blocking the flow of younger players
- Thorny87

There are NO younger players.

There are NO younger players.
- Cousinskrid

Tell that to Blueger.

Next year Bellreive and Hallander will probably be ready for at least cameo appearances to be evaluated. Also A. Johnson was blocked too and he was certainly better than Cullen and Wilson.

Tell that to Blueger.

Next year Bellreive and Hallander will probably be ready for at least cameo appearances to be evaluated. Also A. Johnson was blocked too and he was certainly better than Cullen and Wilson.
- Victoro311

I'll agree on Blueger, but I don't think Cullen stopped him from having a spot in the lineup. He could play higher than 4th line and I hope he does.

I do think the Pens will say bye-bye to Cullen.

lmao
- BINGO!

Holy F that is so hard to read. JR saying that is harder to swallow than the sweep, I think.

Pens Inside Scoop
✔
@PensInsideScoop

"Dumoulin (PCL), Guentzel (ribs) and McCann (shoulder) all played with significant injuries in playoffs"
- Thorny87

Yeah and Tanger, Geno and Maatta all just got back from significant injuries a game or two before the playoffs started.

IMO all of that is just as big a factor as anything else. This is why they looked so damn sloppy and out of sync.

They really must have hated Cole

I'll agree on Blueger, but I don't think Cullen stopped him from having a spot in the lineup. He could play higher than 4th line and I hope he does.

I do think the Pens will say bye-bye to Cullen.
- Cousinskrid

I said plenty of times this year that I don’t think Cullen was really blocking anyone. Blueger getting scratched became a problem but that was more an issue with Wilson I think (although Teddy’s natural position is C and should be playing there over wing). But next year if the Old Man decides to keep Cullen I could 100% see him blocking younger guys that deserve shots.

I said plenty of times this year that I don’t think Cullen was really blocking anyone. Blueger getting scratched became a problem but that was more an issue with Wilson I think (although Teddy’s natural position is C and should be playing there over wing). But next year if the Old Man decides to keep Cullen I could 100% see him blocking younger guys that deserve shots.
- Victoro311

That's reasonable...

If Cullen stays, then at least give Teddy a look at 3C and move Bjugstad to top 9 wing. I like his big frame in the corners.
If Cullen retires, then Teddy should easily get 4C. I'm a fan.

Rutherford basically said our only issue is complacency. Well, that’s a recipe for bad moves...
- Victoro311

We have our answers. Nuff said at this point.

They will he rolling the same dcore. Bye bye Maatta.

We have our answers. Nuff said at this point.

They will he rolling the same dcore. Bye bye Maatta.
- Rinosaur

Yup. Sounds like he’s gonna move guys just for the sake of moving them for no other reason than to reduce complacency. That probably means he’s gonna try to move Phil too.

Yup. Sounds like he’s gonna move guys just for the sake of moving them for no other reason than to reduce complacency. That probably means he’s gonna try to move Phil too.
- Victoro311

Phil didnt look complacent at all, in fact, he looked to be the hungriest Pen most of the series. Not to mention he's coming off one of the best reg season of his career.

Rutherford has made me a little stomach sick today haha

Phil didnt look complacent at all, in fact, he looked to be the hungriest Pen most of the series. Not to mention he's coming off one of the best reg season of his career.

Rutherford has made me a little stomach sick today haha
- MattStrat

Trust me, I don’t either, I just think that if Rutherford’s gonna shuffle around deck chairs for the hell of it, he’s gonna gravitate towards Phil, a guy who has a reputation of not being a hard worker and who tends to butt heads with Sullivan. It plays perfectly into what it looks like he’s trying to do. Big names send a big message and all of the moves this offseason sound like they’re gonna be about sending messages, not actually following a blue print to improving the team.

Trust me, I don’t either, I just think that if Rutherford’s gonna shuffle around deck chairs for the hell of it, he’s gonna gravitate towards Phil, a guy who has a reputation of not being a hard worker and who tends to butt heads with Sullivan. It plays perfectly into what it looks like he’s trying to do. Big names send a big message and all of the moves this offseason sound like they’re gonna be about sending messages, not actually following a blue print to improving the team.
- Victoro311

Phil for Faulk and a pick.

Tell that to Blueger.

Next year Bellreive and Hallander will probably be ready for at least cameo appearances to be evaluated. Also A. Johnson was blocked too and he was certainly better than Cullen and Wilson.
- Victoro311

And ZAR too