Strongly considering paying a former navy seal sniper 3.5 thousand dollars to put a 50 cal hole in Rutherford’s stupid head so he can’t f(uck) up this team any more! He’s such a joke. This team did not need another 4th liner. He trades Kessel for a lazy good for nothing slacker and now he wastes the cap space on this loser. Words cannot describe my hatred of old Jim right now,
- dcoms77

Let that hate flow through you, doesn't hurt anyone but yourself. You must love self inflicted pain? Perhaps you should stop watching hockey if you get this mad? You must be 12 years old and have lots of life yet to experience. If you're not 12, you're then a manchild that has no ability to control your own emotions. LOL...I love this site....all the best whiners come on here.....such entertainment you provide!! Keep up the hate!!

It’s blatantly obvious someone has to be moved now. Let’s say McCann, Crosby, guentzel, Malkin, Galchenyuk, and Kahun are your top 6. You have Rust, Hornqvist, Tanev, Bjugstad, Blueger, Simon, and ZAR on the bottom 6, as well as some guys in the AHL who should also get a shot at training camp like Lafferty and Miletic. Plus Pettersson still needs a deal.

I just wonder if JR is going to try to land a top 6 player for Geno or if he’s going to add something on defense

Pens fans think they could just sign anyone for what they signed for elsewhere

Ever noticed that top UFA's NEVER sign here - Like NEVER?

and this isn't a GMJR thing, I'm talking over the last 25 years??

We never seem to get a *star* and we also never seem to get those guys who take way less money for the privilege of playing here, or league minimum vets just looking for a cup....

Why is that, I honestly don't know

Last big UFA was who? Gonchar?
- RoloTahmasee

Pens fans are some of the most delusional in all professional sports...thats what happens with successful franchises.....people believe they should win the cup every single year and when they don't....look out they play such victims and act like the sky is falling. Comedy at its finest.

Just saw the Bruins signed Brett Ritchie for 1 year $1 million...

It’s blatantly obvious someone has to be moved now. Let’s say McCann, Crosby, guentzel, Malkin, Galchenyuk, and Kahun are your top 6. You have Rust, Hornqvist, Tanev, Bjugstad, Blueger, Simon, and ZAR on the bottom 6, as well as some guys in the AHL who should also get a shot at training camp like Lafferty and Miletic. Plus Pettersson still needs a deal.


I just wonder if JR is going to try to land a top 6 player for Geno or if he’s going to add something on defense
- drummer829

My guess is Bjugstad or Rust when in reality it should be JJ or Gudbranson.

Madden and Bouque were talking about Tanev as a possible 3C. Does he play there? I liked the job Bjugstad did there, but if someone else could take 3C, (maybe McCann gets another shot), I'd like to give Bjugstad another look as a top 6 RW.
- Tojo.

I have this sick feeling Bjugstad is getting moved.

Term is a bit too long but whatever Pens only have a couple years as possible contenders anyway.

Lots of complaining about JR but you can see the type of team he is trying to develop. He is creating a team to match the identity of their captain, hard working, no quit players.

I’m interested in what the final touches JR has in store for us.

Lee 7x7 with aisles

I wouldn't mind picking up Ben Chiarot from WPG. May be able to get him in the same price range as JJ and dump him anyway we can.

I am also very curious to see what Andres Lee will get in FA and if it something we can come close to affording. I'm guessing he'll get around $7M+ but we might be a squeeze it. I know I know - a pipe dream with GMJR in charge.

Pens fans are some of the most delusional in all professional sports...thats what happens with successful franchises.....people believe they should win the cup every single year and when they don't....look out they play such victims and act like the sky is falling. Comedy at its finest.
- Darklight11

As long as they can compete for the division and have a team built to go to the Conf finals thats a success. If they have to make a huge push to be a wildcard....then you make big moves, something isn't working.

Its like the Patriots....They won what 6 super bowls since like 2001? But they went to the AFC like 13 of those years? thats a dynasty.

Term is a bit too long but whatever Pens only have a couple years as possible contenders anyway.

Lots of complaining about JR but you can see the type of team he is trying to develop. He is creating a team to match the identity of their captain, hard working, no quit players.

I’m interested in what the final touches JR has in store for us.
- stackthepads

I think we see Rust cap dumped. Not really sure what else we can do at this point? Roster seems set besides getting rid of one more contract and Rust is definitely the most moveable.

Term is a bit too long but whatever Pens only have a couple years as possible contenders anyway.

Lots of complaining about JR but you can see the type of team he is trying to develop. He is creating a team to match the identity of their captain, hard working, no quit players.

I’m interested in what the final touches JR has in store for us.
- stackthepads

Always curious if Crosby has any influence in these decisions or not. I could see it either way with him.

I like Kuntz type players, have good skill, under the radar, know how to finish and can play with 87...not afraid to blow up Kimmo behind the net.

Back to the Patriots....they pick up players like that. Edlemen was a QB for like N. ILL but had good athletic ability and work ethic. He was willing to play Bradys game and is now a MVP....Any other team he probably would have worked out so well.

Always curious if Crosby has any influence in these decisions or not. I could see it either way with him.

I like Kuntz type players, have good skill, under the radar, know how to finish and can play with 87...not afraid to blow up Kimmo behind the net.

Back to the Patriots....they pick up players like that. Edlemen was a QB for like N. ILL but had good athletic ability and work ethic. He was willing to play Bradys game and is now a MVP....Any other team he probably would have worked out so well.
- sammy87

100% Crosby is in on the season end debriefings and is influential in the direction of the team.

I think we see Rust cap dumped. Not really sure what else we can do at this point? Roster seems set besides getting rid of one more contract and Rust is definitely the most moveable.
- Victoro311

That sucks too because I’d rather have Rust than Hornqvist, Bjugstad, Or Tanev. Overpaid on dollar and term for Tanev to replace a guy who’s better than him that we have to move out to change the culture to... speed and youth? But... Rust is speed and youth. He’s exactly the player they should be using to build a speed team.

I think we see Rust cap dumped. Not really sure what else we can do at this point? Roster seems set besides getting rid of one more contract and Rust is definitely the most moveable.
- Victoro311

Could be, but not really necessary Rust fits the mood of the new Pens identity.

What does the team look like now? Prepare for spelling errors:

Guentzel Crosby McCann
Chuck Malkin Rust
Simon Bjukstad Hornqvist
Kalun Bleugar Tanev

Letang Dumo
JJ Schultz
Pets Guddy

That’s a pretty good team, of JR can find a way to upgrade JJ then that’s a team that is going to work hard every night.
Shades of 2016.

That sucks too because I’d rather have Rust than Hornqvist, Bjugstad, Or Tanev. Overpaid on dollar and term for Tanev to replace a guy who’s better than him that we have to move out to change the culture to... speed and youth? But... Rust is speed and youth. He’s exactly the player they should be using to build a speed team.
- j.boyd919

I don’t think JR is building a speed team. I think he’s building a fast team that works it’s ass off every shift.

I think we see Rust cap dumped. Not really sure what else we can do at this point? Roster seems set besides getting rid of one more contract and Rust is definitely the most moveable.
- Victoro311

I agree. I believe he is also in JRs dog house due to his inconsistency. I do believe a better option to move would be Hornqvist though. I think in a few years when he slows down, that contract is gonna hurt us. Which is another reason why I would like to see him moved. I think Guentzel and Bjugstad could provide good net front presence. From someone's comments of Tanev being tried at center, I think a line of Rust, Tanev, and McCann would give teams a problem.

Term is a bit too long but whatever Pens only have a couple years as possible contenders anyway.

Lots of complaining about JR but you can see the type of team he is trying to develop. He is creating a team to match the identity of their captain, hard working, no quit players.

I’m interested in what the final touches JR has in store for us.
- stackthepads

Probably why he wanted Zucker for Kessel straight up

I think we see Rust cap dumped. Not really sure what else we can do at this point? Roster seems set besides getting rid of one more contract and Rust is definitely the most moveable.
- Victoro311

Yep, I agree. I think Bjugstad is safe for now because he's the leading candidate at 3C, and if he's not, he's probably the 3rd best wing.

I'd rather it be JJ, a lot of people would prefer Gudbranson, but they have a lot more depth at wing and Rust will be easy to move and get an answer for.

I predict Gudbranson is moved next off-season when they have a lot of contracts up and he'll have only one year left and hopefully a somewhat rebuilt reputation and thus easier to move.

As long as they can compete for the division and have a team built to go to the Conf finals thats a success. If they have to make a huge push to be a wildcard....then you make big moves, something isn't working.

Its like the Patriots....They won what 6 super bowls since like 2001? But they went to the AFC like 13 of those years? thats a dynasty.
- sammy87

Ya, but 13 times they didn’t win so Belichick is an idiot and they screwed Brady and his window closed. He should have had 15 Super Bowls, his career is a failure

-Pens Fans...

Could be, but not really necessary Rust fits the mood of the new Pens identity.

What does the team look like now? Prepare for spelling errors:

Guentzel Crosby McCann
Chuck Malkin Rust
Simon Bjukstad Hornqvist
Kalun Bleugar Tanev

Letang Dumo
JJ Schultz
Pets Guddy

That’s a pretty good team, of JR can find a way to upgrade JJ then that’s a team that is going to work hard every night.
Shades of 2016.
- stackthepads

I’m almost positive we need to clear cap so while Rust fits the identity that we should be going for, he could end up being a casualty which is why I’m less than thrilled with the Tanev deal. Think the extra cap could have been used elsewhere either for a clear cut upgrade over Rust before we shipped him out (read Donskoi) or a more minor piece that didn’t require a sacrifice to the cap gods.

Also your second pairing will sink the team. We saw how bad it was and the affect it has on the Malkin unit. Probably best to promote Pettersson to the second pairing and just hide the ever living hell out of a JJ-Gudbranson Bottom pairing. Who knows, maybe we get a nice surprise out of camp and some youngster can displace one of them to make the pairing more viable.

I don’t think JR is building a speed team. I think he’s building a fast team that works it’s ass off every shift.
- stackthepads

I'm probably jinxing it, but every move the Pens have made this off-season as made them faster. Maybe not more skilled, but faster.

I’m almost positive we need to clear cap so while Rust fits the identity that we should be going for, he could end up being a casualty which is why I’m less than thrilled with the Tanev deal. Think the extra cap could have been used elsewhere either for a clear cut upgrade over Rust before we shipped him out (read Donskoi) or a more minor piece that didn’t require a sacrifice to the cap gods.

Also your second pairing will sink the team. We saw how bad it was and the affect it has on the Malkin unit. Probably best to promote Pettersson to the second pairing and just hide the ever living hell out of a JJ-Gudbranson Bottom pairing. Who knows, maybe we get a nice surprise out of camp and some youngster can displace one of them to make the pairing more viable.
- Victoro311

During his presser, GMJR said they see Riikola possibly pushing into their top 6 in his second year. That's my hope.

If they're trading Rust (or whomever), what I'm hoping they target is an inexpensive LHD puck mover like they did with the Maatta/Kahun trade that has a better chance of pushing JJ out.

During his presser, GMJR said they see Riikola possibly pushing into their top 6 in his second year. That's my hope.

If they're trading Rust (or whomever), what I'm hoping they target is an inexpensive LHD puck mover like they did with the Maatta/Kahun trade that has a better chance of pushing JJ out.
- Tojo.

Riikola needs to take a massive step forward to be any kind of upgrade over Johnson and the guy is not young. Not holding my breath on this one.

Could be, but not really necessary Rust fits the mood of the new Pens identity.

What does the team look like now? Prepare for spelling errors:

Guentzel Crosby McCann
Chuck Malkin Rust
Simon Bjukstad Hornqvist
Kalun Bleugar Tanev

Letang Dumo
JJ Schultz
Pets Guddy

That’s a pretty good team, of JR can find a way to upgrade JJ then that’s a team that is going to work hard every night.
Shades of 2016.
- stackthepads

They have to move someone to sign Pettersson, Blueg, and ZAR. they only have 1.5ish mil left for those 3 per capfriendly.