Ryan Wilson: Does Jim Rutherford's big trade target reside in the Big Apple? Does Jim Rutherford's big move reside in the Big Apple?

a first round pick and Daniel Sprong. i think not. Rutherford isn't chiarelli. no body beside pays that steep price for that steamy pile of crap.

Over 30 years old....check.
Under 5'9".....check.
Overpay for impending UFA....check.
Giving up a 21 year old who isn't good defensively for a 31 year old who isn't know for playing well defensively......seems like a great idea.
Getting a guy who plays mostly RW these days......sure, need another RW.

Make a play for someone like Tanner Pearson in LA, or see what it would take to pry Haula out of Vegas.

Zucarello doesn't seem to be the answer, unless Rutherford wants another mess to cleanup this summer.

I would rather Namestnikov or Kreider from the NYR. I wouldn't mind Zucc, but I wouldn't pay such a high price for him.

Ryan Reaves 4 goals.

Whoa, some unreasonable reactions in here. I doubt Rangers would make that deal tbh.

A consistent 50-60 point scorer with low cap-hit and playoff-experience. Including a cap dump, I dont think a 1st and a prospect is enough. This year is pretty stacked at pending UFAs but still.

The Pens played a decent game last night. I liked that they got two garbage goals. When was the last time we saw that? Defense was better but still gave up too many odd man chances. Improvement is what we are looking for. Next step is consistency.

I also liked that they showed some feistiness. Good to see from the old boys. And that leads me to the topic of this article. Any moves that are to be made need to make this team younger and more aggressive. The only way trading Sprong and a first does that is by getting someone else's problem.

Those two assets should be used in two different transactions. Sprong's best return would be for a defensemen, straight up. The first needs to be in combination with an aging player, ei. defenseman, Hagelin, Brassard or I hate to say it Hornqvist.

Phil Kessel got a Gordie last night. That’s all I really care about.

Phil Kessel got a Gordie last night. That’s all I really care about.
- Victoro311

Video link? I couldn’t watch the game, but that’s the most exciting and disturbing news of the last two seasons.

Whether they end up making a play for Zuccarello or not, it seems the Penguins are primed for a shake up. Trading away yet another first round pick and a young asset, although it may keep them in the hunt for another year or two, the day of reckoning is coming soon. Sid, Malkin, Phil, Brassard, Hornqvist and Letang are now all on the wrong side of 30. They have an aging core, in an increasingly young mans league.

The wise thing would be to ride this out for another year. Hope to catch lightning in a bottle and then cash in and start the rebuild. Its been a great ride. I'm sure Gary will gift the Pens another Crosby so they don't go bankrupt again

Video link? I couldn’t watch the game, but that’s the most exciting and disturbing news of the last two seasons.
- Grinder47

Grindaaa... don't expect here any Benn-action but more softcore (indeed he just got 2min for roughing, his opponent being ~20kg lighter), but still: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bWC9q8u5-g Some say he bailed out our defense here, foreseeing and preventing a goal(/scoring chance).

I know how much people hate on +/-, and I get it, but in the microcosm of one game when I look at Letangs -4 and having watched it.....get JJ the F out of there for F sakes. What an anchor.

Letang was JJ free for the last 2 goals against.

Letang was JJ free for the last 2 goals against.
- willi

The damage was already done.

Whether they end up making a play for Zuccarello or not, it seems the Penguins are primed for a shake up. Trading away yet another first round pick and a young asset, although it may keep them in the hunt for another year or two, the day of reckoning is coming soon. Sid, Malkin, Phil, Brassard, Hornqvist and Letang are now all on the wrong side of 30. They have an aging core, in an increasingly young mans league.

The wise thing would be to ride this out for another year. Hope to catch lightning in a bottle and then cash in and start the rebuild. Its been a great ride. I'm sure Gary will gift the Pens another Crosby so they don't go bankrupt again
-BernardShakey

My God Bernard, this is a revelation. Did you come up with this or did you read it on My Space? I need to check them out.

I think they've had pretty good effort and 3 strong games in a row but only a 1-2-0 to show for it. I think this team as is, is capable of winning more. Few tweaks to the lines and maybe the scratch of a vet or two.

This isn't to say I'm not open to a trade if it improves the team but I'm certainly not panicked about this season when they're sitting one game over .500 in the middle of November, only several points out of a playoff spot and having played the way they have the past few games.

14th in November isnt a big deal when you look at team's point total differences and number of games played.

To Ottawa:
- Sprong
- 1st 2019

To Pittsburgh
- Dzingel
- Harpur

Whether they end up making a play for Zuccarello or not, it seems the Penguins are primed for a shake up. Trading away yet another first round pick and a young asset, although it may keep them in the hunt for another year or two, the day of reckoning is coming soon. Sid, Malkin, Phil, Brassard, Hornqvist and Letang are now all on the wrong side of 30. They have an aging core, in an increasingly young mans league.

The wise thing would be to ride this out for another year. Hope to catch lightning in a bottle and then cash in and start the rebuild. Its been a great ride. I'm sure Gary will gift the Pens another Crosby so they don't go bankrupt again
- BernardShakey

Day of reckoning is cool with me if the pens compete for a cup for another 3-4 years. I’ll completely accept some basement dwelling days after seeing them win 3 cups and go to 4 SCFs in 15-20 years. Better than most teams.

My God Bernard, this is a revelation. Did you come up with this or did you read it on My Space? I need to check them out.
- stowerkraut

I know how much people hate on +/-, and I get it, but in the microcosm of one game when I look at Letangs -4 and having watched it.....get JJ the F out of there for F sakes. What an anchor.
- MattStrat

One was an empty net goal. One of the stupid things with +/-. The other wooooooof lol why they both pinched the blue line and let Hallsy walk in ALONE. That was bananas. But yeah. It’s almost like JJ is as bad as his stats indicate. Weird how that poop works.

Hagelin, Sprong, and a 1st rounder for Zuccarello? Noooooooooooo. Cut that nonsense out.

I thought Letang largely earned his crap game all on his own. Shades of last year.

Day of reckoning is cool with me if the pens compete for a cup for another 3-4 years. I’ll completely accept some basement dwelling days after seeing them win 3 cups and go to 4 SCFs in 15-20 years. Better than most teams.
- j.boyd919

Yeah we've had a ton of success. Letting Crosby and Malkin, and probably Letang and hopefully Kessel finish their careers here is more important to me than accelerating a rebuild.

This team is underperforming from top to bottom, this is not the time/place for yet another 1st rounder dump for an aging veteran who will likely underperform, especially when the team is locked into playing Cullen, JJ, etc.

I'd rather dump the new Beau Bennett (DB) and get a top 6 (likely 5-6 D) who can skate a handle the puck somewhere better than a hand grenade. After that, I think you explore the waiver wire for 4 liners who are younger and cut bait on JJ/MC. This team needs to get younger and better...this doesn't look like a year in which we're a front-runner for the cup so don't go all out to get to the 2nd round. I'd rather correct some bad moves GMJR has made and keep a 1st rounder for a change. [that being said I don't think this team has the ability to groom talented younger players - DS, BB, DP, etc]