I think this is one of the times that RW’s pompous tone is warranted. If Letang is openly telling teammates that he expects to be traded our organization is doing it wrong. Like why does our star defenseman think he’s on the cusp of being traded when Rutherford is publicly going to bat for Johnson and one of the league’s most credible insiders goes on a podcast behind suppressed chuckles and says he truly believes Johnson is highly valued by the organization and Rutherford does not want to trade him. This is all ass backwards.
- Victoro311

Even though I agree and believe RW is in the right here, I stopped reading after

"Evgeni Malkin didn’t have a bounce back season this year. He got to play with Kris Letang and Jake Guentzel!"

If he seriously believes it was solely deployment that caused Malkin's subpar 2018-2019, he doesn't bother watching games. Something was definitely off and he was noticeably different this season, and imo the best he's looked since 2012. His writing style and attitude make him so easy to dislike...

Even though I agree and believe RW is in the right here, I stopped reading after

"Evgeni Malkin didn’t have a bounce back season this year. He got to play with Kris Letang and Jake Guentzel!"

If he seriously believes it was solely deployment that caused Malkin's subpar 2018-2019, he doesn't bother watching games. Something was definitely off and he was noticeably different this season, and imo the best he's looked since 2012. His writing style and attitude make him so easy to dislike...
- abasin

All of the articles boil down to “the stars are precious, perfect creatures who dare not be questioned, and all failures come from stupid and evil management.”

boo hoo letang has to deal with trade rumors. We all feel so bad for him.

So neither Rutherford or Sullivan said they are pursuing a trade with Letang. You’re freaking out about nothing.

Articles like these look more like a PLUG for THE ATHLECTIC… maybe it’s just me.

Sufi-Judge

I am a huge Pens fan and watch nearly every game. Letang was very good, but he has been bad for 2 or 3 years now. He is not getting any better, was awful in the playoffs and has a bad attitude. He is Phil Kessel on Defense. If we could get a solid offer in return I would trade him in a heartbeat....but that's the rub, I don't think anyone would offer much for him.

I am a huge Pens fan and watch nearly every game. Letang was very good, but he has been bad for 2 or 3 years now. He is not getting any better, was awful in the playoffs and has a bad attitude. He is Phil Kessel on Defense. If we could get a solid offer in return I would trade him in a heartbeat....but that's the rub, I don't think anyone would offer much for him.
- cspera77

Yikes. That’s a terrible take if I’ve ever seen one.

100% correct. JJ is a black hole from which there is no escape. The best players on the team should get together and ask to be traded until they no longer play with JJ. put him out with the 4th liners...

I always default to not even considering Letang because it's so implausible

Can anyone come up with a realistic Letang trade scenario?

- Assuming no FA signings
- Makes the Pens better this year and next
- Letang would reasonably waive his M-NTC to go there (we can only guess but doubtful he wants to Detroit, for example)
- Subtracts or minimally adds cap space

I am a huge Pens fan and watch nearly every game. Letang was very good, but he has been bad for 2 or 3 years now. He is not getting any better, was awful in the playoffs and has a bad attitude. He is Phil Kessel on Defense. If we could get a solid offer in return I would trade him in a heartbeat....but that's the rub, I don't think anyone would offer much for him.
- cspera77

Letang is soft and has no heart. He’s a bum.

Letang is soft and has no heart. He’s a bum.
- Feds91Stammer

Stop trying to lower his trade value.

Every time RW post those charts, I get flash backs to those 3D posters, still have no idea what I'm looking at.

I always default to not even considering Letang because it's so implausible

Can anyone come up with a realistic Letang trade scenario?

- Assuming no FA signings
- Makes the Pens better this year and next
- Letang would reasonably waive his M-NTC to go there (we can only guess but doubtful he wants to Detroit, for example)
- Subtracts or minimally adds cap space
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Send the frenchies to Montreal. Letang and Poulin for petry and Domi

The status quo obviously isn't working. The Pens have been in steady decline since winning their last Cup in 2017, going from a 2nd round exit, a 1st round sweep, to failing to qualify for the playoffs. You can blame it on Jack Johnson all you want, but Johnson isn't the reason why Pittsburgh got shut out in an elimination game.

With the Pens cap situation (I wouldn't go so far as to say they're in "cap trouble" but they have no cap flexibility), they can't afford to make anything but peripheral changes to try and reverse the decline. They need to make a big change, and Letang is one of the few players that can actually be moved for value.

If the team is performing well, then players can be afforded the luxury of "deserving to retire as a Penguin." If not, then players are going to get moved, core players included. Letang is the only core piece without a full NMC, so he's the guy that's going to get moved. I'm not surprised.

Send the frenchies to Montreal. Letang and Poulin for petry and Domi
- Feds91Stammer

I'd put this in the realm of realistic trade value but I dont think it helps the Pens.

If Domi was a lock as 3C it might work. But he's seemingly always being put on wing and we can't afford an experimental 3C again, imo.

He's also due for a big pay day. He and Petry combined will be $10-12 million. Poulin is no sure thing but we can't take on cap while losing our one NHL-ready ELC player.

The status quo obviously isn't working. The Pens have been in steady decline since winning their last Cup in 2017, going from a 2nd round exit, a 1st round sweep, to failing to qualify for the playoffs. You can blame it on Jack Johnson all you want, but Johnson isn't the reason why Pittsburgh got shut out in an elimination game.

With the Pens cap situation (I wouldn't go so far as to say they're in "cap trouble" but they have no cap flexibility), they can't afford to make anything but peripheral changes to try and reverse the decline. They need to make a big change, and Letang is one of the few players that can actually be moved for value.

If the team is performing well, then players can be afforded the luxury of "deserving to retire as a Penguin." If not, then players are going to get moved, core players included. Letang is the only core piece without a full NMC, so he's the guy that's going to get moved. I'm not surprised.
- tkecanuck341

The status quo never worked. GMJR changed his formula for the team after they lucked their way to a cup with Letang hurt.

I always default to not even considering Letang because it's so implausible

Can anyone come up with a realistic Letang trade scenario?

- YouMeAndDupuis9

Like with all the Malkin trade bullpoop, there's no trade Letang scenario that you'd win. I think the major end-game would be freeing up cash to sign either Krug or Pietrangelo. Maybe you can pick up a 3C + quality futures in the trade. Also because of his cap-hit, any dream of making said team take back Bjug or JJ isn't plausible in case anyone throws that crap out there.

GMJR on what he expects to get in return for Murray:

"We've talked about different things with different teams," Rutherford said Tuesday. "We can do it either way. In a deal like this, based on where we sit (relative to the cap ceiling), it's hard to take much money back, so it's probably more apt to be futures."

The status quo obviously isn't working. The Pens have been in steady decline since winning their last Cup in 2017, going from a 2nd round exit, a 1st round sweep, to failing to qualify for the playoffs. You can blame it on Jack Johnson all you want, but Johnson isn't the reason why Pittsburgh got shut out in an elimination game.

With the Pens cap situation (I wouldn't go so far as to say they're in "cap trouble" but they have no cap flexibility), they can't afford to make anything but peripheral changes to try and reverse the decline. They need to make a big change, and Letang is one of the few players that can actually be moved for value.

If the team is performing well, then players can be afforded the luxury of "deserving to retire as a Penguin." If not, then players are going to get moved, core players included. Letang is the only core piece without a full NMC, so he's the guy that's going to get moved. I'm not surprised.
- tkecanuck341

Status quo? What status quo? You'd be hard pressed to find another team that's had the amount of roster turnover this Pens team has had the past 3 seasons due to Gunslinger Trader GM Jim and the persistent never ending crazy a$$ injury bug this team has almost every season. Yeah, a lot of teams deal with injuries but the Pens are almost always at the top, or near the top, of the man games lost list. I believe this last season their cap hit/production ratio on injuries was astronomically insane. I think they had like 25/30 mill in cap hit out for long stretches. Despite the revolving door of player personnel we still had a team that was only a few points out of 1st overall in the league when the calendar turned 2020.

They're obviously getting older and on the decline but with a few right moves they could be in the mix another season or two...thing is though, most people here including me do not believe JR will make the right moves to do so.

EDIT: I think the true status quo, one thats needs to be shook up, is Rutherford and Sullivan.

GMJR on what he expects to get in return for Murray:

"We've talked about different things with different teams," Rutherford said Tuesday. "We can do it either way. In a deal like this, based on where we sit (relative to the cap ceiling), it's hard to take much money back, so it's probably more apt to be futures."
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Maybe they'll be good enough futures to package with other things for things that can help this season and next....maybe.

We dont have to pity Letang for hearing he could be traded. He's ok... he has made $60M or something so far in his career all in Pittsburgh.

In this environment it would be wrong to not at least see what his value is. If someone is willing to offer up an absurd package for him then I'm all ears. If not I'm really happy to have him.

carryover from last blog...reagarding Avs prospects

Good lord. I thought that Bowers might be a stretch as a return for Murray and he's their 10th ranked prospect
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Thats why I think they are the perfect partner to trade with. They can give away one of their top prospects because they have more of them than they will have holes in the lineup the next several years. Also, no need to send salary back for the Avs.

If the Athletic and Rob Rossi's articles were on physical paper I would not deem that paper worthy enough to be used for TP (shortage or no shortage). I would shred it before throwing it out with the regular trash. This is 100% fake news (or more accurately put, controversy-starting opinion shaping bs).

As for Letang, yes, he does turn the puck over a lot more now than he used to. That is because he is older and slower yet still trying to do as much as he did 5+ years ago. His ice time and role need to be reduced a bit but he is still very effective. None of the other defensemen can feed the offense as good as he does. Without players like him the offense and defense become very disjoint and the whole team does bad.

If Letang is so good like a lot of the apologists here are saying, shouldn't JR be able to name his price?

I'd put this in the realm of realistic trade value but I dont think it helps the Pens.

If Domi was a lock as 3C it might work. But he's seemingly always being put on wing and we can't afford an experimental 3C again, imo.

He's also due for a big pay day. He and Petry combined will be $10-12 million. Poulin is no sure thing but we can't take on cap while losing our one NHL-ready ELC player.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

You put Domi in the top 6 and put Zucker on the 3rd line where he belongs. Then trade the enigmatic Russian to Nashville for bonino tolvanen and tomasino