Sprong and Maatta to Kahun and Petterson

With Marino and Pettersson being established as your 2nd pairing, is Addison most likely to be moved? He was lights out with Canada at the worlds. Their defensive core is still relatively young. Letang 32, dumo 28, Pettersson 23, and Marino 22. If these players stay consistent, that’s a solid core for the next 5 years.
- drummer829

I wouldn't say he is. The pens are likely going to let Schultz walk this summer so Addison will be able to get his shot at the roster.

I agree he has the pedigree, but a full 82-game grind the NHL is different than a WHL championship. And what medal does the WHL hand out?

I'm not saying he's bad, just that it's a small sample size.
- jmatchett383

Sorry it was Canada world championship gold in 2011 typo my bad. Anyways we definitely have time to wait this year and see, but if it actually comes down to Murray wanting 8 and Jarry was still good I'm passing on that 8mil. And I know you know best of what it's like to not have goaltending so I understand where you are coming from. Hopefully Hart is the real deal for you guys.

Yea from that .902 save I think is his low end. You maybe missed the convo from last thread but I did say I didn't expect his ridiculous numbers to stay but he has that potential to go on runs like that. However obviously I could be wrong and we have time to see if Jarry can bump it back up a little.
- 668710

I did. I agree with that. I'm just not super confident at this point in time he is an NHL goalie to the level were we trade Murray.

Maybe after the season for sure. I don't see it happening during the year. So I asked in the last thread to the whole group. Does this mean possibly we just go after a rental now? Or can we still go with someone with term? If they keep both Murray/Jarry it concerns me a bit.
- 668710

I think this depends on we he gets at the deadline. Galch bjug and schultz will probably all be gone and that’s a good chunk of cap. If Ruth can get his man in Zucker that might force his hand to trade mm even if he would prefer not to just due to cap constraints. If he can only acquire a rental I imagine he’d prob try to resign mm

I really hope that every time Rutherford agrees to let one of his assistants interview/take a new position....he tells them that they owe him one favor. Obviously something within reason. For instance, say Guerin has two similiar offers for Zucker between the Pens and some random team... he'd pick the pens.

And on that note... time to see what favor ol' Tommy Fitzgerald can help out JR with...cough... Blake Coleman... cough
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Fitz don't like JR I would guess. JR got into that argument with Fitz over Kessel/Oshie and Fitz got fired.

Schultz will definitely be gone as he will want more money than Pens will be willing to pay. Not sure about JJ. His game is better this year and for the money, he seems like a good investment since he can play up and down the lineup if needed. Unless GMJR can find another Marino, JJ will be back. Don’t see anyone at WBS ready to take his minutes next year either.
- Dr Blob

Actually playing JJ up and down the lineup and his ability to play up and down the lineup are two very different things.

I did. I agree with that. I'm just not super confident at this point in time he is an NHL goalie to the level were we trade Murray.
- burgh4life87

Yea, and I'd love to keep both but if Murray wants 7/8 and say Jarry 4/5 you can't keep both. However if Jarry is asking for 4/5 he had a good year. So I guess we'll see.

Actually playing JJ up and down the lineup and his ability to play up and down the lineup are two very different things.
- j.boyd919

Lol, yea he best served on the third pair.

I need some recommendations... I'm new to Twitter and looking to follow QUALITY Pens reporting. Who would you recommend? I follow inside scoop, McKenzie, and 31 thoughts.
- hipcheck_goalie

Boyd got most, especially Marshall and ck.

I like the team from the PG, DeFabo and Vensel, for news. And Haase from DK because she gets social media and posts things like scouts and videos of most WBS goals.

I think this Petts signing really pushes the JJ gotta go narrative back up a bit more again hahah
- MattStrat

I'd be comfortable going with Riikola as the #6 with POJ (who is playing top pair over their vets in WBS) having a chance to beat him out provided they got someone solid for the right spot. I would not say the same about Ruhwedel and Addison is less likely to factor in next year.

The cap has also gone up since the Maatta extension kicked in. Maatta accounted for 5.5% of the team's cap hit his first year. Even if the cap remains stagnant, Pettersson's will account for less than 5%. For contending teams where every cent counts, that a noticeable difference.
- jmatchett383

From ck:

Maatta's cap hit %: 5.72%
Pettersson: 4.94%*

*this might get adjusted based on next year's ceiling, not sure how that works when a deal is signed a year out

via @CapFriendly

I was comfortable at 3.5M in case he moved back to a good 3rd pair and worried about 4.5M which is fair market rate for a young #4 defenseman. They split the difference and the risk so this is fine by me.

Straight cash no bonuses so a painless buyout if necessary. 8 team NTC which I think guarantees him the 3rd protect spot, but with Marino exempt they have their top 4 and can rule out a FA defenseman splurge.

Schultz will definitely be gone as he will want more money than Pens will be willing to pay. Not sure about JJ. His game is better this year and for the money, he seems like a good investment since he can play up and down the lineup if needed. Unless GMJR can find another Marino, JJ will be back. Don’t see anyone at WBS ready to take his minutes next year either.
- Dr Blob

Every single player on that team can move up and down the lineup, hell, the D could play forward and vice versa, they've been playing hockey their whole lives, they could wing it.....now....whether its effective and net positive is a completely different thing. JJ is the worst D-man on the team being paid millions more than 4 other D-men on the current roster.

Actually playing JJ up and down the lineup and his ability to play up and down the lineup are two very different things.
- j.boyd919

He has the ability to do it, he just may not be very successful.

He has the ability to do it, he just may not be very successful.
- jmatchett383

I will say this, he's had some better games than I expected on the first pair. I won't say he's been good there, but he hasn't been the poop show I was expecting. There's my JJ compliment for the month.

I will say this, he's had some better games than I expected on the first pair. I won't say he's been good there, but he hasn't been the poop show I was expecting. There's my JJ compliment for the month.
- Rinosaur

I dont know man. There have been some wins but they werent really convincing to my eyes like before he went to 1st pair, usually winning on the back of one good period played. How many games with 3+ or more goals against since he went there? Their overall team D stats have somewhat plummeted since ...Letang's stats have dropped a fair bit but JJ's have risen a bit. So some good of Letang (and the forwards the 1st pair usually get) is rubbing off on him and he's bringing down Letang.

Every single player on that team can move up and down the lineup, hell, the D could play forward and vice versa, they've been playing hockey their whole lives, they could wing it.....now....whether its effective and net positive is a completely different thing. JJ is the worst D-man on the team being paid millions more than 4 other D-men on the current roster.
- MattStrat

Riikola has outplayed JJ in every game he has been in. The team generates more shots, scoring chances and high dangers for when he is on the ice as opposed to Jack and also limits shots, sc, hdc at a better rate. I think it's time Riikola got some more playing time to prove himself.

I dont know man. There have been some wins but they werent really convincing to my eyes like before he went to 1st pair, usually winning on the back of one good period played. How many games with 3+ or more goals against since he went there? Their overall team D stats have somewhat plummeted since ...Letang's stats have dropped a fair bit but JJ's have risen a bit. So some good of Letang (and the forwards the 1st pair usually get) is rubbing off on him and he's bringing down Letang.
- MattStrat

I think you misunderstood what I meant. I didn't say he looked good on the 1st pair. I just said he wasn't poop show I expected. I just expected the first pair to be far worse.

Riikola has outplayed JJ in every game he has been in. The team generates more shots, scoring chances and high dangers for when he is on the ice as opposed to Jack and also limits shots, sc, hdc at a better rate. I think it's time Riikola got some more playing time to prove himself.
- burgh4life87

Riikola has been better this year than last year and I'd be more than satisfied if he was retained as the 3rd LD for the Pens after this year. JJ should still be moved due to his contract.

Riikola has outplayed JJ in every game he has been in. The team generates more shots, scoring chances and high dangers for when he is on the ice as opposed to Jack and also limits shots, sc, hdc at a better rate. I think it's time Riikola got some more playing time to prove himself.
- burgh4life87

Totally agree 100%...unfortunately, there's some sort of infatuation with JJ being in the lineup from the coaching staff.

I think you misunderstood what I meant. I didn't say he looked good on the 1st pair. I just said he wasn't poop show I expected. I just expected the first pair to be far worse.
- Rinosaur

Ahh gotchya, sorry.

I dont like him in the lineup anywhere. On the 3rd pair, with much more favorable matchups and deployments, him being dressed was much more digestible...but again, I think they have a better option for there as well.

Ahh gotchya, sorry.

I dont like him in the lineup anywhere. On the 3rd pair, with much more favorable matchups and deployments, him being dressed was much more digestible...but again, I think they have a better option for there as well.
- MattStrat

I said there were a couple of games where I thought he actually looked ok, a couple lol. I don't want him anywhere. The fact of the matter is this team is playing so well defensively as a cohesive unit it's able to mask players who aren't cutting it, so they're able to make up for JJ's shortcomings.

He's been marginally better in some areas this year vs. last year, but not enough to justify keeping him, but they do seem to like him. I think MM's future along with any possible moves in the lineup will very much dictate his future with the Pens.

More interested in the Marino status.

The Petterson deal is fine if it doesn't force him to be protected in the upcoming expansion draft. If he's forced to be protected, that's El Stinko.

If he's getting $4, what is Marino going to get? I'm assuming more. $6?

More interested in the Marino status.

The Petterson deal is fine if it doesn't force him to be protected in the upcoming expansion draft. If he's forced to be protected, that's El Stinko.

If he's getting $4, what is Marino going to get? I'm assuming more. $6?
- coohill

Why does that stink? I'm not sure what reality people on here live in sometimes that $1M 2nd pairing dmen or middle six forwards just grow on trees.

Let's say he wasn't protected and they select Pettersson. What do the Pens do next? How do they replace him? It's not like the market is just going to hand over a cap-friendly 2nd pairing dman to the Pens.

Plus, it may not even matter then. I'm not saying the Pens are done after next season, but I will venture to say this and maybe next season are the last one the Pens will be a true contender in dependin on how they build this team after this season.

It's also wayyyy too early to know what Marino will go for. Who knows how he will be through the rest of the season let alone in his second year. I mean, HE could wind up being Maatta for all we know.

Riikola has outplayed JJ in every game he has been in. The team generates more shots, scoring chances and high dangers for when he is on the ice as opposed to Jack and also limits shots, sc, hdc at a better rate. I think it's time Riikola got some more playing time to prove himself.
- burgh4life87

I know you check too, so I'm guessing you've noticed Riikola has some of the better play driving stats on the defense and Ruhwedel among the worst. Imagine Riikola with a more solid partner.