Yikes. That’s a terrible take if I’ve ever seen one.
- j.boyd919

As a day one philly phil hater, i agree, (frank)ing terrible take

If Letang is so good like a lot of the apologists here are saying, shouldn't JR be able to name his price?
- stevens87

That's not exactly how things work in the era of salary caps.

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

If the Pens core stars are truly in decline, there's really not a magic trade that will fix them. They don't have time for a mini-rebuild. But the team is going to try and take a couple more shots at it anyways because who knows when they'll be in position to be a contender again. Can't see how they move Letang and get better today as that would create a gaping hole in the lineup.

As far as deserving to retire as Pens, after 3 Cups, it just depends on how far they want to extend that and if guys want to spend their last years on a rebuild. A couple years from now, we're not contenders for anything if we even still are now.

Of course, I kind of doubt everyone stays patient for years waiting for them all to retire.

If Letang is so good like a lot of the apologists here are saying, shouldn't JR be able to name his price?
- stevens87

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...points&page=0&pageSize=50

you just don't get that value from many other players...

in the last decade, 4th in pts, 2nd in ppg

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
- Feds91Stammer

So were keeping Domi at wing and our 2nd line center is Bonino or a prospect that hasnt reached the NHL yet? lol

It’s really pointless to try to explain how good Letang is to Anti-Letang guys. Facts are irrelevant.

If Letang gets traded and Johnson stays, your GM should be put in a straight-jacket and live out the rest of his life under sedation in a padded room.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=season&seasonFrom=20092010&seasonTo=20192020&gameType=2&position=D&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,100&sort=points&page=0&pageSize=50

you just don't get that value from many other players...

in the last decade, 4th in pts, 2nd in ppg
- joecool2931

Puts into perspective how great he has been. But #1 on that list got traded a year ago and it worked out really well for the team that traded him away!

If Letang gets traded and Johnson stays, your GM should be put in a straight-jacket and live out the rest of his life under sedation in a padded room.
- GalacticStone

Unfortunately one thing has nothing to do with the other.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=season&seasonFrom=20092010&seasonTo=20192020&gameType=2&position=D&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,100&sort=points&page=0&pageSize=50

you just don't get that value from many other players...

in the last decade, 4th in pts, 2nd in ppg
- joecool2931

Ironically, the only other Pens defenseman on that list is JJ at #34, with 280 points (61g/219a) . Of course, nearly all of that was before he became a Penguin and his play nosedived even before he became a Penguin and Letang is still producing significantly.

There is no truth to Rossi's article. The moment Letang is traded the Pens' Crosby-era window slams shut. Even if Rutherford gave consideration to trading Letang he probably dropped that now, if for no other reason than out of spite over Rossi. Rutherford can't stand him. But I don't think even Rutherford would make a move as dumb as trading Letang, or even give it any consideration in the first place.

Puts into perspective how great he has been. But #1 on that list got traded a year ago and it worked out really well for the team that traded him away!
- MacPatty

I can't tell if youre being sarcastic ??? but they went from conference finals to bottom tier in 3 years, so idk if it really worked out that well, i think we are still 2 years away to tell for sure.

Anybody else surprised Recchi got the same job with NJ he had with us?

Anybody else surprised Recchi got the same job with NJ he had with us?
- Tojo.

Nope. Why?

Nope. Why?
- Rinosaur

Didn't seem like he got good reviews.

Didn't seem like he got good reviews.
- Tojo.

I wouldn't be surprised if other teams feel he got scapegoated.

So were keeping Domi at wing and our 2nd line center is Bonino or a prospect that hasnt reached the NHL yet? lol
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Yes. It’s time to get rid of the soft ego maniacs and get some hard nosed team players.

I can't tell if youre being sarcastic ??? but they went from conference finals to bottom tier in 3 years, so idk if it really worked out that well, i think we are still 2 years away to tell for sure.
- joecool2931

You might recall the Sens didn't have Crosby, Malkin and Guentzel.

They were a bottom feeder in Karlssons last season there, they got a massive haul and he has not been good (his standard) or healthy since getting to SJ.

If the Leafs offered Kerfoot, Liljegrin, the #15 and a 2nd id take it all day... for the record Ottawa got much more than that.

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

Nah bro.

You might recall the Sens didn't have Crosby, Malkin and Guentzel.

They were a bottom feeder in Karlssons last season there, they got a massive haul and he has not been good (his standard) or healthy since getting to SJ.

If the Leafs offered Kerfoot, Liljegrin, the #15 and a 2nd id take it all day... for the record Ottawa got much more than that.
- MacPatty

Umm, are you just gonna ignore age difference here?

If Letang were moved. I could see it being Montreal, Winnipeg, and Toronto as the top 3 candidates. I feel Winnipeg and Toronto could potentially make a deal happen if they involved another team. Maybe the Hurricanes who are looking at goalie options. Murray and Letang going in a 3 way trade with a Defender and players/prospects coming back. Or Letang and Murray to Toronto. Anderson getting moved out to another team and a bunch of players/prospects coming back. The only thing I hope is if Letang does get moved, JR better not be getting fleased in the deal.

Didn't seem like he got good reviews.
- Tojo.

It’s all an old boys club. Chia is currently in consideration for yet another GM job. Once you break in as a coach/front office exec you have to seriously piss people off on a personal level to stop getting jobs.

It’s all an old boys club. Chia is currently in consideration for yet another GM job. Once you break in as a coach/front office exec you have to seriously piss people off on a personal level to stop getting jobs.
- Victoro311

Not to mention the Devils aren’t exactly a desirable destination at the moment.

To me, GMJR has always loved JJ. And now its more about being right than making decisions that are right for the club. Johnson should be bought out if he cant be traded. That will improve the team by subtraction. But JR is doubling down.

---Im Justafan

Couldnt say it any better myself

Seriously, does JJ have compromising photos of GMJR or Sullivan? Its insane. The numbers clearly indicate everyone is better when JJ is not playing with them. RW has even in the past shown the numbers from JJ's time with LA and Columbus...and the results are the same there.

Kessel didnt have a bad year in 2018-19 either. Like Malkin, he was saddled with playing on the ice with JJ. And GMJR believed Kessel had to go. Make no mistake, Kessel vetoed the trade to Minnesota last summer because Jack Johnson was a part of it. He wanted no part of being subjected to ice time with JJ again. I just shake my head at times...

Seriously, does JJ have compromising photos of GMJR or Sullivan? Its insane. The numbers clearly indicate everyone is better when JJ is not playing with them. RW has even in the past shown the numbers from JJ's time with LA and Columbus...and the results are the same there.

Kessel didnt have a bad year in 2018-19 either. Like Malkin, he was saddled with playing on the ice with JJ. And GMJR believed Kessel had to go. Make no mistake, Kessel vetoed the trade to Minnesota last summer because Jack Johnson was a part of it. He wanted no part of being subjected to ice time with JJ again. I just shake my head at times...
- Amanion

Kessels never had a bad season with us, I mean his worst regular season here was his first but he killed it in the playoffs, he was awesome here.