Ryan Wilson: Backed into a corner Backed into a corner

The worst part is the way the media enables Rutherford. No one asks tough questions because they want continued access.

Even when the media does ask, GMJR says nothing of substance or is a different spin on something he said before and he finds himself having to back track. The whole mess with Kessel sums up his incompetence. So many problems and little in the way of solutions. Don’t blame the smaller than expected salary cap. Blame GMJR. He created this mess. Given this roster does anyone expect them to have more points than last year? Will it take not making the playoffs for ownership to face the harsh reality that the window has closed?

Damn, was hoping a review our of drafted kids... I REALLY want to know why that kid fell to the 3rd round that we snagged. Saw a handful ranking him as very early 2nd rounder to mid 2nd... not a mid 3rd.

Yep, I agree with this blog. I don't advocate for JR to trade Malkin and Letang but I think JR expected teams to lineup with offers to blow him away and didnt happen. Same with Kessel, now he looks like a fool. That being said, he's got another trade coming, that's just him.

With the cap at 81.5 he’s going to have to move a contract.

With the cap at 81.5 he’s going to have to move a contract.
- Rinosaur

I can think of an easy way to clear two million off of this year’s cap....

I can think of an easy way to clear two million off of this year’s cap....
- Za Warudo

Sadly we all know that won’t happen.

Was hoping for a draft review more than the veiled attempt to complain about the same old same old.

He tried to trade Kessel, looked to make a deal that could help but Phil said no.

He put Malkin and Letang on the market and obviously got no good offers. You can’t just give those guys away.

He opened up SOME wiggle room by moving Maatta. A D-man that has been hot and cold. Ideal...no, but it is something.

Bad locker room? Look no further than Phil and Sullivan. Cause and effect?

We all wish the JJ and to a lesser extent Gudbranson were moved. But if you can’t trade Malkin, Kessel and Letang, how can one look to move them?

The cap being lower is a culprit for sure. And the league will react accordingly.

The Metro is gonna be a war. And I loved the quote, “Teams in the Metro are playing chess and the Pens are playing checkers”, but what can be done without hurting things even more. Maybe patience and standing still is better than digging a deeper hole.

If I am wrong, I am sure I will hear about it but WOW. How about a draft analysis.

That being said, he's got another trade coming, that's just him.
- nelson911

He also has no choice. It’s math.

The Metro is gonna be a war. And I loved the quote, “Teams in the Metro are playing chess and the Pens are playing checkers”, but what can be done without hurting things even more.
- Doogs

To be fair, the Pens don’t have to play chess. They’re playing for right now. The strategy should be as simple as checkers:

1) Sign players who fit with what has worked.
2) Spend wisely.

That’s about as complex as it should be. Spending $7M+ on two third-pairing dmen is dumb. It doesn’t help you win checkers or chess.

It will be hard to fix our D with all the money spent. 💰

Kessel is a keeper considering what’s been thrown around theses days really. I was in favour of trading for Zucker but that ship has sailed.

All in all, POULIN and LÉGARÉ will be good penguins for the future.

Before reading the blog just wanted to share this Sportsnet article https://www.sportsnet.ca/...mbers-p-k-subban-decline/

Pretty good breakdown on P.K. Subban
Also, apparently NJD was the only team willing to take him on without NSH retaining money AND they didn’t send significant salary back. Huge steal by Shero. It’s assumed that Fabbro will be top 4 next year and Santini will play on the third pair while they bring in Duchene. So not a great haul by Poile but he gets Duchene then maybe it works out

Glad to see other people are bothered by RWs blog order. I agree that this is the absolute perfect time to sum up our prospects, since, ya know... that’s what all the bloggers are doing rn 😂

RW loves to just beat this same drum over and over so allow me to do the same: trying Reaves was clearly GMJRs idea. But with roster decisions and what’s going on in the locker room more recently that’s gotta be coming from Sully. He’s the one who played JJ over Maatta and gives Guds decent TOI. There’s no way GMJR is talking about leadership without hearing from his coaches and his captains. & lets be real.. Sid had an impact on bringing on JJ

I’d say Hornqvist to the canucks, but they got J.T. Miller now. I’m hoping a team like the panthers strike out on the major free agents and maybe they’ll make an impulsive trade for Hornqvist or something.

I’m also hoping some team throws stupid money at wayne Simmonds and that also makes the Hornqvist contract look a little better to other teams

How exactly is the rest of the metro playing chess? Only team that did anything was NJD who had the cap room to take Subban.
What other big strategic moves did they make?

Trouba? Only wanted to go to rangers
Wait I know JR didn’t draft Kakko or Hughes, we’ll ya got him there RW.

Offseason has just started and RW has already called it a failure. What a surprise.

I’d say Hornqvist to the canucks, but they got J.T. Miller now. I’m hoping a team like the panthers strike out on the major free agents and maybe they’ll make an impulsive trade for Hornqvist or something.

I’m also hoping some team throws stupid money at wayne Simmonds and that also makes the Hornqvist contract look a little better to other teams
- drummer829

Problem is Hörnqvist’s NTC :cry:

I’m hoping for us to bring Perry (seriously) to play with Malkin or Crosby as I think he’ll be a cheap option for us.

Well, to keep a 23 man roster , the Pens must make a move and that's not an option. Here is exactly what I think should be done in order of importance:

1) Buyout Jack Johnson (which we all know won't happen). Just under a $3M cap savings.

2) Trade Jack Johnson for either an equally bad salary, but one that could possibly work for the Pens, or sweeten the deal and retain salary.

3) Move Gudbranson. This could be used to either free up some or all of his space, or trade him for a forward that can help. Add sweeteners to the deal, etc..

4) Cap-dump Hornqivst. Not an easy task, not impossible, but also not something I believe is even something they're considering. Yes, he could rebound this year, but he's still on the decline on a bad contract and the Pens could simply spend wiser.

5) Trade Hornqvist for a less expensive player + pick/prospect, i.e. to MIN for someone like Foligno or Fiala + pick. This I'm willing to bet they've pondered, but not something they've seriously considered.

Sadly, the players I think we could see moved: Rust, Bjugstad and Schultz. Not names we've heard in rumors, but it just seems par for the course at this point.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...-unrestricted-free-agent/

Scorey Perry article. I think someone in need of a discount, short term RW will give him a year or 2 up to $4MM per season. I think this could be Nashville if they move on from Turris but COL wouldn’t surprise me. With Perry’s family probably staying in OC my guess is he wants to stay out west. If Zucc doesn’t re-sign maybe Dallas offers to take him for a year

Reminder: teams start talking to UFAs tomorrow and the buyout window ends June 30th

Do we know for sure that Cullen ISN’T coming back? Because according to JR, the locker room needs help.

How exactly is the rest of the metro playing chess? Only team that did anything was NJD who had the cap room to take Subban.
What other big strategic moves did they make?

Trouba? Only wanted to go to rangers
Wait I know JR didn’t draft Kakko or Hughes, we’ll ya got him there RW.

Offseason has just started and RW has already called it a failure. What a surprise.
- stackthepads

Carolina picked up a 1st rounder which is a sizable trade chip. Hall approved NJD to get Subban so you can figure they’ll probably add another impact player or two. The Aislanders are doing their best to retain their dudes. Plenty of rumors around Philly not being done and NYR getting Panarin (although rumor is he’s meeting with FLA first). I wouldn’t count out Zucc returning to the Rags either

But I agree with your last statement. RW does get all fem and swings from one extreme to the other regularly

Carolina picked up a 1st rounder which is a sizable trade chip. Hall approved NJD to get Subban so you can figure they’ll probably add another impact player or two. The Aislanders are doing their best to retain their dudes. Plenty of rumors around Philly not being done and NYR getting Panarin (although rumor is he’s meeting with FLA first). I wouldn’t count out Zucc returning to the Rags either

But I agree with your last statement. RW does get all fem and swings from one extreme to the other regularly
- WSCTeton17

I don't believe Philly improved... and 1 player (Trouba) will not improve the Rangers, they need a few moves still.

Florida... they could get back into the swing, but I still laugh at how they gutted the team on the last expo draft year.


Also do not forget... Blue Jackets, gone... done... finished. So that is 1 less team to worry about.

Do we know for sure that Cullen ISN’T coming back? Because according to JR, the locker room needs help.
- Za Warudo

Add him to our list of ex players in the coaching team/front office. Why not

Well, to keep a 23 man roster , the Pens must make a move and that's not an option. Here is exactly what I think should be done in order of importance:

1) Buyout Jack Johnson (which we all know won't happen). Just under a $3M cap savings.

2) Trade Jack Johnson for either an equally bad salary, but one that could possibly work for the Pens, or sweeten the deal and retain salary.

3) Move Gudbranson. This could be used to either free up some or all of his space, or trade him for a forward that can help. Add sweeteners to the deal, etc..

4) Cap-dump Hornqivst. Not an easy task, not impossible, but also not something I believe is even something they're considering. Yes, he could rebound this year, but he's still on the decline on a bad contract and the Pens could simply spend wiser.

5) Trade Hornqvist for a less expensive player + pick/prospect, i.e. to MIN for someone like Foligno or Fiala + pick. This I'm willing to bet they've pondered, but not something they've seriously considered.

Sadly, the players I think we could see moved: Rust, Bjugstad and Schultz. Not names we've heard in rumors, but it just seems par for the course at this point.
- Rinosaur

I’m all for a JJ for Zaitsev swap and then moving Rust for cap space. I think this would allow Zaits to play with Schultz and Geno (Geno would probably enjoy playing with another euro defender) and then Petts can continue to prop up Guds. Rust would be an unfortunate casualty of the cap.

Really hoping we don’t move on from Bjugstad

I don't believe Philly improved... and 1 player (Trouba) will not improve the Rangers, they need a few moves still.

Florida... they could get back into the swing, but I still laugh at how they gutted the team on the last expo draft year.


Also do not forget... Blue Jackets, gone... done... finished. So that is 1 less team to worry about.
- Guile

Philly improved, albeit slight, but they improved. Gudas, outside of being a goon, plays solid hockey, but Niskanen is better. Maybe not worlds better, but he will have a more positive impact.

Braun is a slightly lesser player than Gudas, but solid and Hayes obviously improves their offense.

Philly will be a better team.