The whole Botterill thing is just cooked up so fancy stat fan boys don’t have to give an old time roughian like Rutherford credit for anything.
- Grinder47

Yes.

The Pens got swept by the Isle who got swept by the Canes....who then got swept by the B's. The Pens were pretty much the worst team in the playoffs this season....certainly the east.

The Pens got swept by the Isle who got swept by the Canes....who then got swept by the B's. The Pens were pretty much the worst team in the playoffs this season....certainly the east.
- madmike71

Well, at least we weren't the most disappointing team in the playoffs. Thank you, TB.

Well, at least we weren't the most disappointing team in the playoffs. Thank you, TB.
- Victoro311

Yup. Followed by Calgary.

Wasnt Botts around when they messed up the cap and had to dress 5 Dmen?

Did he hire Disco in Buff?

Either way Buff still sucks with Botts.
- sammy87

Botterill cautioned JR against the moves that lead to five D; JR’s senile ass did it anyway.

The previous GM in Buffalo hired Disco.

This Pens team is never going anywhere until the old man goes home to his front porch and bowl of Werther’s Originals.

Yup. Followed by Calgary.
- Rinosaur

I never really saw them as a team that could make a deep run.

I never really saw them as a team that could make a deep run.
- Tojo.

They were the number #1 seed in the West ousted by the #8.

I never really saw them as a team that could make a deep run.
- Tojo.

Lots of people didn’t noting that their goaltending would be their likely downfall. Surprisingly Smith actually played extremely well and they still lost. It was the most predicted “upset” across the board

They were the number #1 seed in the West ousted by the #8.
- Rinosaur

Obviously, Calgary just seemed like a strong regular season team to me, but one that would struggle in the playoffs. Of course I felt the same way about the Isles...

Botterill cautioned JR against the moves that lead to five D; JR’s senile ass did it anyway.

The previous GM in Buffalo hired Disco.

This Pens team is never going anywhere until the old man goes home to his front porch and bowl of Werther’s Originals.
- Za Warudo

Yep... This! Again, I think Rutherford is a "good" gm. But, the team of Rutherford and Botts worked extremely well together.

Media rumors are really only that until they go to a major outlet IMO. I really wasn't giving much attention until TSN reports it, but still, they are rumors at the end of the day and even major outlets get them wrong.

However, I'm still starting to believe now that Kessel is done. The only way I believe a Kessel trade actually works is if if they move him for an upgrade on defense then Maatta is moved out as a cap dump and the Pens sign a replacement on the level of Nyquist or Zucc.

Media rumors are really only that until they go to a major outlet IMO. I really wasn't giving much attention until TSN reports it, but still, they are rumors at the end of the day and even major outlets get them wrong.

However, I'm still starting to believe now that Kessel is done. The only way I believe a Kessel trade actually works is if if they move him for an upgrade on defense then Maatta is moved out as a cap dump and the Pens sign a replacement on the level of Nyquist or Zucc.
- Rinosaur

You can only go 10% past the cap and once you’ve done that you’ve shown your hand to everyone that you need to make additional moves. Since we already have a glut on D it makes sense that one of them would go first which would likely happen at or ahead of the draft. What’s too bad is that his value is surely down from a year ago

You can only go 10% past the cap and once you’ve done that you’ve shown your hand to everyone that you need to make additional moves. Since we already have a glut on D it makes sense that one of them would go first which would likely happen at or ahead of the draft. What’s too bad is that his value is surely down from a year ago
- WSCTeton17

If Rutherford was interested in Zucker, that trade probably happens earlier because he has a no move after July 1st. Or if he wanted picks.

I think Kessel has more value once Panarin is signed.

If Rutherford was interested in Zucker, that trade probably happens earlier because he has a no move after July 1st. Or if he wanted picks.

I think Kessel has more value once Panarin is signed.
- Tojo.

Absolutely, same with Duchene and the other big names and therein lies the problem. Nashville doesn’t need to move Subban until next offseason if they don’t want to. It’s possible they add Duchene and trade Smith and add some bargain guys. This offseason will shakeup the powers of the NHL moreso than any other we’ve seen recently

Watch GMJR trade Maatta and our 1st for Montreal’s 1st lol

You can only go 10% past the cap and once you’ve done that you’ve shown your hand to everyone that you need to make additional moves. Since we already have a glut on D it makes sense that one of them would go first which would likely happen at or ahead of the draft. What’s too bad is that his value is surely down from a year ago
- WSCTeton17

Dude, you argue such useless stuff sometime just to argue. Because I toootally meant the Pens HAVE to move Kessel first before Maatta or it doesn't work.

Sometimes things are anecdotal and not 100% literal.

Dude, you argue such useless stuff sometime just to argue. Because I toootally meant the Pens HAVE to move Kessel first before Maatta or it doesn't work.

Sometimes things are anecdotal and not 100% literal.
- Rinosaur

sorry, your liege. I wasn’t arguing. I hope I didn’t ruin your weekend

sorry, your liege. I wasn’t arguing. I hope I didn’t ruin your weekend
- WSCTeton17

It's not that you don't ever have useful points or information. I say plenty of dumb/wrong things, but I don't know... you're just annoying lol

I'm personally concerned that Botts may have been the calm voice in GMJR's ear over the years. Buuuttt, he did give up ROR for NOTHING so, they're all capable of mistakes.

I do love the additions of Bjugstad, McCann, Schultz, the attempt to upgrade with Pearson, Gudbranson (even if he's paid about 1 mil too much), Petterson, and the college and European UFA's ZAR and Riikola. Jack Johnson...mistake. but, it sounds like the entire staff was in on that one.

Truthfully, the team did just get younger and harder to play against. And, they're completely set for another run if they don't want to make a shake up.
- cranktheradio

If they got harder to play against... no one told the islanders that.

If they got harder to play against... no one told the islanders that.
- j.boyd919

I rack my brain going back and forth with what the main issues are. Yes, JJ in the back has a more profoundly negative effect than people realize, but I do think that Rutherford wasn't wrong about the complacency of this team.

You look at the roster and on paper they should be way better, but they aren't, and they are not hard to play against.

This team is stale.

I think the Pens will be retaining a lot of salary this off-season to move out some players.

It's not that you don't ever have useful points or information. I say plenty of dumb/wrong things, but I don't know... you're just annoying lol
- Rinosaur

Well, I’m pretty sure I was the first person who mentioned Kessel for Subban on here because Elliott Friedman stated Subban would be available on SN intermission before anyone had it in a report. And then it got reported. I always watch the CBC/SN feed for that very reason, the content is much better. I also said way back in early spring or whatever that we just stopped flipping pucks out and then low and behold the announcers started harping on the same issue. I would call both of those useful

You and I are clearly on different wave lengths. You absolutely do stay stupid things sometimes like when you said Bobby Ryan has good foot speed the other day. You also said Hornqvist for Sceviour and a 4th was a good trade for Florida but that just eats up their cap space that they just freed. For some reason you think players putting up 3rd line figures will sign for $1MM. You FINALLY responded to one of my responses on Marcus Petterson when I said if Oleksiak is worth 2+ then why isn’t MP and you said Oleksiak puts up more points, which is false. These are just off the top of my head. When was the last time I said something hockey related and someone else said “that makes zero sense”?

If you don’t want to back up your random opinions with any sort of sound logic then don’t, I’m not going to lose sleep over it. I’m just giving replies. That’s what the button says: reply. When you say every comment I make is an argument it makes you sound like some whiney Gen Z. I’ve stated numerous times that you mentioned Dzingel and that it was a good idea. Whether or not you think my statements are good don’t bother me any.

Hodor

Well, I’m pretty sure I was the first person who mentioned Kessel for Subban on here because Elliott Friedman stated Subban would be available on SN intermission before anyone had it in a report. And then it got reported. I always watch the CBC/SN feed for that very reason, the content is much better. I also said way back in early spring or whatever that we just stopped flipping pucks out and then low and behold the announcers started harping on the same issue. I would call both of those useful

You and I are clearly on different wave lengths. You absolutely do stay stupid things sometimes like when you said Bobby Ryan has good foot speed the other day. You also said Hornqvist for Sceviour and a 4th was a good trade for Florida but that just eats up their cap space that they just freed. For some reason you think players putting up 3rd line figures will sign for $1MM. You FINALLY responded to one of my responses on Marcus Petterson when I said if Oleksiak is worth 2+ then why isn’t MP and you said Oleksiak puts up more points, which is false. These are just off the top of my head. When was the last time I said something hockey related and someone else said “that makes zero sense”?

If you don’t want to back up your random opinions with any sort of sound logic then don’t, I’m not going to lose sleep over it. I’m just giving replies. That’s what the button says: reply. When you say every comment I make is an argument it makes you sound like some whiney Gen Z. I’ve stated numerous times that you mentioned Dzingel and that it was a good idea. Whether or not you think my statements are good don’t bother me any.

Hodor
- WSCTeton17

Can you repeat that please?

Well, at least we weren't the most disappointing team in the playoffs. Thank you, TB.
- Victoro311

No question TB was the biggest embarrassment. Still, the Pens played a couple of those games against the Islanders like it was November hockey.

No question TB was the biggest embarrassment. Still, the Pens played a couple of those games against the Islanders like it was November hockey.
- madmike71

By my count they played four like that against the Isles.

Thing is we’re moving Kessel just to move him apparently. Id rather just not trade Kessel, but if we are I’m more interested in making a trade that makes our team stay relatively as good as before the trade than losing or winning the trade from a technical standpoint. I think trading Kessel and Schultz is a lateral move. At worst maybe it makes us slightly worse off because of lack of finishing ability but that can be addressed. So all in all that sounds good to me.
- Victoro311

Not moving him to move him. Dude is a wiener and thinks he’s above the team as far as listening to coaches is concerned. Pretty (frank)ed up when Sydney Crosby will listen to a coach but Phil won’t. Philsgood but can’t carry Crosbys jock. There’s a reason Phil is going to be heading to his4th team.