JJ will probably get packaged to the Wild w/ Murray.
- 123Kid


I heard this too, just can't remember who said it. I mean JJ was going their way with Kessel but Phil (frank)ed us.

Do you blame Kessel? He knew EXACTLY why his 2019 season was sub par. It wasn't because of Geno.... And he smartly exercised his right to block a trade when he learned JJ was a part of it. Kessell didnt "Frank" us. GMJR did.

Do you blame Kessel? He knew EXACTLY why his 2019 season was sub par. It wasn't because of Geno.... And he smartly exercised his right to block a trade when he learned JJ was a part of it. Kessell didnt "Frank" us. GMJR did.
- Amanion

Jack Johnson at 3.25M and Schultz at 5.5M as a 3rd pairing? Yet JJ saw more time on the ice than petersson. Then there is the issue with him being -6 for the playoffs. Whats murrays save % with JJ on or off the ice? Something like a 200 point swing.

JR wanted toughness so he gave up sundqvist and a 1st for reaves. Sullivan played him 4 min a night and then he was the throw in for the brassard deal. Then the gudbrandson experiment. Sullivan didnt like ian cole so he was sent out of town. Oleksiak was also a JR victim. zero love for any of those guys but the johnson love affair has been a decade and a half in the making. And because of all of the bumbling, you cant package him with a young asset because you gave them all away.

GMJR does not have the luxury of spending 8.75M on the bottom pairing.

GMJR does not have the luxury of spending 8.75M on the bottom pairing.
- i'mjustafan

This is logic JR needs to adopt. Whether or not he believes JJ is good, given the cap situation he should realize they can't afford to spend $3M+ on any 3rd pairing dman right now.

He was projected to get picked in the middle of the first round. Cozens would have been the better player up next.
- Rinosaur

I don’t give a poop about projected picks.

I don’t give a poop about projected picks.
- Feds91Stammer

Everyone was surprised. Not to mention you guys need a good C prospect.

Do you blame Kessel? He knew EXACTLY why his 2019 season was sub par. It wasn't because of Geno.... And he smartly exercised his right to block a trade when he learned JJ was a part of it. Kessell didnt "Frank" us. GMJR did.
- Amanion

Lol, I agree GMJR (frank)ed us. But sub par 2019 season?! He had 82 points! He was (frank)ing awful this year though.

We might be witnessing the end of the Cap "window."

By playing with the right guy he means someone who can cover up as many of Johnsons blunders as possible. Feel bad for whoever gets paired with Johnson.
- OfManNotMachine

The right guy was Marino. They started the year on the 3rd pair and were decent together. Turns out Marino is really good and best of luck finding a guy of that quality to carry JJ for the 3rd pair.

Unfortunately, that fooled Rutherford and Sully into thinking JJ was better this year, because it was only during that stretch.

I thought there was something open only to teams not still in the playoffs. I think it was trades? Can anyone confirm this? Maybe there is a gentleman's agreement among GMs not to trade until the playoffs are over?
- Hockey66

Teams are able to trade once eliminated, I believe, but why not wait until you can at least talk to all the teams.

So can we work a deal with Minnesota for Suter? I'd do it. He still was eating top pair minutes this year and had 48 points. He's getting older but putting him on the second pair with a young kid who is no passenger. I'd like that and it frees the Wild of one of those big contracts. Work a deal around Murray maybe some picks, obviously sending JJ their way, maybe Bjugstad? Horny? Pettersson?
- 668710

I was clamoring for the Pens to target Suter last offseason (probably to the point of obnoxiousness, shocker, I know). Yeah he's old and has a long, expensive contract, but he is still a damn good hockey player. A top pairing of him and Letang would be pretty sweet. It would knock Dumo down to the second line and Petts down to the third line, which would make for a great defense.

The problem is the timing because I don't think the Wild, especially with Guerin in his first year, were even contemplating a rebuild, even though they should have been. Maybe now they will/are now? I would still be targeting him.

Added bonus is that most of his contract was front-loaded, so he will only make $8M, 6, 2, 1, 1 in actual salary for the remainder of his contract. Mario and Burkle have to like that.

I mean, as anemic as our offense was, we do have alot of depth. and we have alot of money leaving in the offseason, Bjug (4.1)can be moved, shultz (5.5)will be gone, channce murray can be moved (3.75), sheary (3) may not be re-signed . thats 16.35 million that can be moved somewhat easily. at the very least 8.5 with sheary and shultz, which we could directly use towards a big name FA.
- joecool2931

Don't forget raises for Pettersson, Jarry, McCann, Simon. They also were over the cap with Guentzel. They don't have that much cap space to play with.

Teams are able to trade once eliminated, I believe, but why not wait until you can at least talk to all the teams.
- Tojo.

Yeah, I thought of that, too. I guess it can work both ways, though. Maybe what the Pens are offering for a target (Pulj?) gets it done now, but if we wait maybe a playoff team comes in with a higher offer later. I wouldn't be surprised if there is some unspoken agreement (or spoken but not written) not to trade until after the Cup. This is a unique year so they probably want to preserve the tradition if for no other reason.

I was clamoring for the Pens to target Suter last offseason (probably to the point of obnoxiousness, shocker, I know). Yeah he's old and has a long, expensive contract, but he is still a damn good hockey player. A top pairing of him and Letang would be pretty sweet. It would knock Dumo down to the second line and Petts down to the third line, which would make for a great defense.

The problem is the timing because I don't think the Wild, especially with Guerin in his first year, were even contemplating a rebuild, even though they should have been. Maybe now they will/are now? I would still be targeting him.

Added bonus is that most of his contract was front-loaded, so he will only make $8M, 6, 2, 1, 1 in actual salary for the remainder of his contract. Mario and Burkle have to like that.
- Hockey66

That or Suter plays with Marino. Id love to add him, but depends on if they actually are going to move him.

I don’t read these blogs ever but I wanna see this clown write up a blog on how he thinks the isles win playing Matt Martin, Ross Johnston, Leo komarov, and cizikas... last year he was saying how badly the isles 4th line would get lit up before the series and the isles turned around and intentionally put the 4th line out against the pens top lines. 1 player can sink a team but 4 players or more won’t I guess.....

That or Suter plays with Marino. Id love to add him, but depends on if they actually are going to move him.
- 668710

Ehhh...I know Pens fans like Dumo, but IMO, he is borderline top pairing on a Cup team. His offense is almost non-existent. Good defender and minutes-eater, but I think Suter is superior and should get the first line minutes and assignments. It'll never happen, though.

Even if we did get him, I'm sure Sully would neuter his mean streak. He would probably say something like, "Hey, cut out those mean cross-checks and "just play," ok?" This is also why I don't want to get Nurse. He would turn into a soulless automaton under Sully. Our whole team is soulless automatons. Except Horny, who Sully doesn't like. We should trade that dude.

Ehhh...I know Pens fans like Dumo, but IMO, he is borderline top pairing on a Cup team. His offense is almost non-existent. Good defender and minutes-eater, but I think Suter is superior and should get the first line minutes and assignments. It'll never happen, though.

Even if we did get him, I'm sure Sully would neuter his mean streak. He would probably say something like, "Hey, cut out those mean cross-checks and "just play," ok?" This is also why I don't want to get Nurse. He would turn into a soulless automaton under Sully. Our whole team is soulless automatons. Except Horny, who Sully doesn't like. We should trade that dude.
- Hockey66

I'm just thinking because they have played together basically forever now, do you really wanna mess with chemistry? I'm with you that Suter is the superior player but he would help Marino out tremendously and the second pair would be as good as the first, if not better. You wouldn't even need a third pair haha.But like you said won't happen lol.

I don’t read these blogs ever but I wanna see this clown write up a blog on how he thinks the isles win playing Matt Martin, Ross Johnston, Leo komarov, and cizikas... last year he was saying how badly the isles 4th line would get lit up before the series and the isles turned around and intentionally put the 4th line out against the pens top lines. 1 player can sink a team but 4 players or more won’t I guess.....
- pens4life-66

All those players are superior to JJ in any aspect and i don't even know Ross Johnston. JJ has a low hockey IQ which puts him out of position. He relied on his "skills" when he was younger and was able to score points and that is now drier than 100 year old womans VA Jay Jay.

Ehhh...I know Pens fans like Dumo, but IMO, he is borderline top pairing on a Cup team. His offense is almost non-existent. Good defender and minutes-eater, but I think Suter is superior and should get the first line minutes and assignments. It'll never happen, though.

Even if we did get him, I'm sure Sully would neuter his mean streak. He would probably say something like, "Hey, cut out those mean cross-checks and "just play," ok?" This is also why I don't want to get Nurse. He would turn into a soulless automaton under Sully. Our whole team is soulless automatons. Except Horny, who Sully doesn't like. We should trade that dude.
- Hockey66

Yeah, I really like Dumo but he isn't a top pair defender. He is a solid 2nd pair who happens to play really well with Letang.

Suter is the far better player.

Also, I think Sullivan has tried to stop the after the whistle BS because Sid and Geno always get pulled into the middle of it. Don't think he would have a problem with laying a little lumber in front of the net. Nurse would also be a great pickup.

Do you blame Kessel? He knew EXACTLY why his 2019 season was sub par. It wasn't because of Geno.... And he smartly exercised his right to block a trade when he learned JJ was a part of it. Kessell didnt "Frank" us. GMJR did.
- Amanion

Did JJ sewer his 2020 season also?

Phil stopped giving a poop. Its fairly simple.

That Rutherford quote “Maybe Jack isn’t as good as I think he is.” is damn funny. Just gotta laugh at it.

So are people losing faith in Dumo because of this qualifying round?

That Rutherford quote “Maybe Jack isn’t as good as I think he is.” is damn funny. Just gotta laugh at it.
- Victoro311

hahah it is...then he goes on to say he's a solid 3rd pair defenceman...how many fvcking 3rd pairing d-men are getting 3.25 mill per for 5 years??

Thats not what you thought of him when you signed him, Jim. You've always been wrong about him and still are...he's below replacement level, let alone 3rd pair.

Yeah, I really like Dumo but he isn't a top pair defender. He is a solid 2nd pair who happens to play really well with Letang.

Suter is the far better player.

Also, I think Sullivan has tried to stop the after the whistle BS because Sid and Geno always get pulled into the middle of it. Don't think he would have a problem with laying a little lumber in front of the net. Nurse would also be a great pickup.
- MacPatty

I think everything in this post is spot on.

Even if you get a better LHD than Dumo, I still keep him with Letang.

However, they aren't getting a LHD. They're happier with Pettersson than many fans (I agree with them there) and they're much happier with JJ (don't agree at all there). And they're high on POJ who should see some time this year.

For the record, I think you can upgrade Pettersson and add either a more offensive defenseman or a more physical one, it just wouldn't be a priority for me

So are people losing faith in Dumo because of this qualifying round?
- Rinosaur

Should definitely get rid of your top HDCF% d man from the Montreal series.

I suggest Dumo and JJ for Dekeyser and Cholo