Rutherford to Yohe....

“I think that’s the way things are headed at this point in time,” Rutherford told The Athletic. “I expect Kessel will probably play for Pittsburgh next season.” “You have to understand that he has a no-trade clause and a lot of leverage,” Rutherford said. “In situations like this, it usually doesn’t work out so well for the team. That’s just the way it is. So, at this point, it looks to me that he will return at this season. That’s how I’m proceeding moving forward.”
- madmike71

I'd say he's bluffing except Rutherford doesn't bluff. Probably can't find a fit. If things were as bad as reported, I can't see it getting anything but worse if Kessel stays.

I don’t want Kessel moved.

Maybe this means Hornqvist goes up on the block?
- Rinosaur

So you move Horny and insist on JJ’s wagon to be attached?

I don’t mind Gudbranson if JJ is gone, but both is difficult to swallow.

has there been any noise around bringing Hags back?

has there been any noise around bringing Hags back?
- Thorny87

I hope they do, but the bigger question is if there is room/need for him.

Hornqvist has a full NTC for the next 3 years.
- madmike71

Yeah, whether people like it or not, or even if it's the right move, Hornqvist isn't going anywhere. Aside from the NTC, they probably consider him too important of a leader to trade with the turmoil they supposedly had.

Again, not arguing what they should do, just that for a variety of reasons, it's not happening.

Yeah, whether people like it or not, or even if it's the right move, Hornqvist isn't going anywhere. Aside from the NTC, they probably consider him too important of a leader to trade with the turmoil they supposedly had.

Again, not arguing what they should do, just that for a variety of reasons, it's not happening.
- Tojo.

He is another guy that I don’t mind staying. Cost is a high, but the D is where there is a need to fix.

Hornqvist has a full NTC for the next 3 years.
- madmike71

I’m aware. Doesn’t mean he can’t get moved.

So you move Horny and insist on JJ’s wagon to be attached?

I don’t mind Gudbranson if JJ is gone, but both is difficult to swallow.
- Doogs

I think Horn’s contract is hard enough move by itself. I’m fine with Guds staying.

I think the only way JJ gets moved is for a Rask/JJ type swap. Ottawa will be the potential dumping ground for many teams, so maybe there’s something possible there.

I’m aware. Doesn’t mean he can’t get moved.
- Rinosaur

If it were easy to work around, Kessel would be gone.

I think Horn’s contract is hard enough move by itself. I’m fine with Guds staying.

I think the only way JJ gets moved is for a Rask/JJ type swap. Ottawa will be the potential dumping ground for many teams, so maybe there’s something possible there.
- Rinosaur

Sadly they aren’t willing to bury JJ in WB/S. That might intice him to pursue other futures.

I'd say he's bluffing except Rutherford doesn't bluff. Probably can't find a fit. If things were as bad as reported, I can't see it getting anything but worse if Kessel stays.
- Tojo.

You're not wrong about Rutherford and bluffing. I think he talks waaaaay too much in these situations. At this point it makes total sense to say... "Hey, we might keep him" to solicit a serious offer.

I like Jim. I think he deserves a ton of credit for the Pens recent success. I just can't wrap my head around being so free with his thoughts.....constantly tipping his hand.

Put it this way: Hornqvist has a NTC and needs to be protected in expansion. That makes him very hard to move as nobody probably sees him as the missing piece worth tying themselves to. Add in there's no evidence the Pens want to move him and it just feels incredibly unlikely.

If it were easy to work around, Kessel would be gone.
- Tojo.

Exactly. I don't think they have any interest in moving Hornie anyway. Just a gut feeling.

You're not wrong about Rutherford and bluffing. I think he talks waaaaay too much in these situations. At this point it makes total sense to say... "Hey, we might keep him" to solicit a serious offer.

I like Jim. I think he deserves a ton of credit for the Pens recent success. I just can't wrap my head around being so free with his thoughts.....constantly tipping his hand.
- madmike71

Oddly, people talk about how great of a GM Lou is, and love his tight lipped approach, but who has he ever beat...recently?!?! LMAO. GMJR has a ring or three.

If it were easy to work around, Kessel would be gone.
- Tojo.

Did I say it was easy?

Exactly. I don't think they have any interest in moving Hornie anyway. Just a gut feeling.
- madmike71

I don’t know at this point. JR seemed hell-bent on a retool because of the complacency of this team. Who knows how this happens now.

Everything seems to change week-to-week. JR was pleased as punch with this D, now he wants to upgrade.

Phil was 100% gone, now he’s staying.

JJ seemed loved by the staff and then it appeared they want to unload him.

At this point it seems anything can happen and be revisited.

Phil clearly isn’t wanted anymore. Look at Rutherford’s quote, how did it go? It doesn’t help the team or something like that? That’s a slight against Phil. GMJR is adding fuel to the fire. He’s not trying to get teams to add more, he doesn’t say anything about other teams. He put it all on Phil and his M-NTC. Phil is going to accept a trade, it’s just a matter of time

Side note: just my opinion but I feel like Turris and Phil would mesh well together. Turris is available. I wonder if Minnesota would take on Turris (who was productive until this past year when a number of Preds regressed)

You're not wrong about Rutherford and bluffing. I think he talks waaaaay too much in these situations. At this point it makes total sense to say... "Hey, we might keep him" to solicit a serious offer.

I like Jim. I think he deserves a ton of credit for the Pens recent success. I just can't wrap my head around being so free with his thoughts.....constantly tipping his hand.
- madmike71

In an industry where everyone is full of poop, if you are outwardly honest, some won't be able to tell if you are bluffing or being serious.

JR is playing it the right way. Important to remember, Kessel doesn't NEED to be traded ny the draft. It would be preferred but his value will still be very high going into next season.

I like how JR is playing his hand right now. At the end of the day the Pens have a very talented player on a very affordable contract. He should not be moved unless they receive a high price.

Phil clearly isn’t wanted anymore. Look at Rutherford’s quote, how did it go? It doesn’t help the team or something like that? That’s a slight against Phil. GMJR is adding fuel to the fire. He’s not trying to get teams to add more, he doesn’t say anything about other teams. He put it all on Phil and his M-NTC. Phil is going to accept a trade, it’s just a matter of time

Side note: just my opinion but I feel like Turris and Phil would mesh well together. Turris is available. I wonder if Minnesota would take on Turris (who was productive until this past year when a number of Preds regressed)
- WSCTeton17

I think it indicates he has come across a deal or two he really likes but Kessel has squashed it.

On Turris, I think it's more likely Phil is traded for Turris than them both going traded to the same team. I've said for a long time that if you could work a Turris and Tolvanen or Fabbro trade for Kessel it would be fantastic.

Turris is still a really good player and I have a hard time believing Poille would dump him off after giving up big assets for him.

Phil clearly isn’t wanted anymore. Look at Rutherford’s quote, how did it go? It doesn’t help the team or something like that? That’s a slight against Phil. GMJR is adding fuel to the fire. He’s not trying to get teams to add more, he doesn’t say anything about other teams. He put it all on Phil and his M-NTC. Phil is going to accept a trade, it’s just a matter of time

Side note: just my opinion but I feel like Turris and Phil would mesh well together. Turris is available. I wonder if Minnesota would take on Turris (who was productive until this past year when a number of Preds regressed)
- WSCTeton17

Honestly if I was Nashville, I'd be trying to add Kessel. Perfect fit. They need a 2nd line RW and help on the PP. They can surround him with good 2 way players who drive possession for him and need a finisher. And they've certainly got the defensemen to break out the puck for him.

If they miss on Duchene, this seems like a fit to circle back to.

In an industry where everyone is full of poop, if you are outwardly honest, some won't be able to tell if you are bluffing or being serious.

JR is playing it the right way. Important to remember, Kessel doesn't NEED to be traded ny the draft. It would be preferred but his value will still be very high going into next season.

I like how JR is playing his hand right now. At the end of the day the Pens have a very talented player on a very affordable contract. He should not be moved unless they receive a high price.
- MacPatty

I disagree. That's how you end up paying a 1st rounder and Sundqvist for one year or Ryan Reaves and the Blue's second. I think the best negotiators offer little insight to their feelings.

Look... I don't really have a problem with how he's handled his attempt to trade Kessel. I just think it provides zero benefit to discuss emotions/feelings/thoughts before or during a negotiation. Especially when you announce to the world you want to make significant changes. Prices aren't going down when you do that.

Honestly if I was Nashville, I'd be trying to add Kessel. Perfect fit. They need a 2nd line RW and help on the PP. They can surround him with good 2 way players who drive possession for him and need a finisher. And they've certainly got the defensemen to break out the puck for him.

If they miss on Duchene, this seems like a fit to circle back to.
- Tojo.

Oh certainly. Phil to Nashville and Colorado make more sense than anything else but both those teams are likely going to see what’s in FA first. I get the sense that Nashville is going to really go for it this year and won’t move Subban until next summer when Josi’s extension kicks in

If they add Duchene then they can’t keep Turris and Bonino and if you’re going to play Duchene and Johansen upwards of 40 minutes a night then you’re wasting your time keeping Turris and you’ll likely continue to lower his trade value. The only thing that would change that is if Johansen moves over to play the wing which is entirely possible - is this happens then Smith would be the obvious candidate to go

GMJR might actually think that but he's not an idiot. He knows that Phil is going to hear this as well. So if Phil really wants out he now hears GMJR saying that he's not going to just trade him for the sake of it and would rather keep him than get a crap return. So Phil now thinks he might have to stay somewhere he doesn't want to be...and doesn't seem wanted.

Rutherford to Yohe....

“I think that’s the way things are headed at this point in time,” Rutherford told The Athletic. “I expect Kessel will probably play for Pittsburgh next season.” “You have to understand that he has a no-trade clause and a lot of leverage,” Rutherford said. “In situations like this, it usually doesn’t work out so well for the team. That’s just the way it is. So, at this point, it looks to me that he will return at this season. That’s how I’m proceeding moving forward.”
- madmike71

Glad to hear Phil is most likely staying

GMJR might actually think that but he's not an idiot. He knows that Phil is going to hear this as well. So if Phil really wants out he now hears GMJR saying that he's not going to just trade him for the sake of it and would rather keep him than get a crap return. So Phil now thinks he might have to stay somewhere he doesn't want to be...and doesn't seem wanted.
- MattStrat

I'm not so sure Phil is the kind of guy who would get himself worked up over something like this. He basically doesn't give a ship, and the guy just wants to play hockey. I hope like hell he stays.