Ryan Wilson: Kris Letang deserves better Kris Letang deserves better

Imagine defending a turnover machine.

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

I honestly don't know a damn thing outside of the Pens prospects. What could be a realistic return from the Avs?

I honestly don't know a damn thing outside of the Pens prospects. What could be a realistic return from the Avs?
- nateca44

The rights to Namestnikov and a 3rd.

another whiny "I'm right and everyone else is wrong" article from RW. though this one I happen to agree with.

I don't understand the anti-Letang crowd. I don't even get how he is a "frustrating player". He makes a few questionable decisions but he also plays 30 minutes a night against top competition, is a one man break-out, and is our only defenseman adept at scoring.

The only way to trade Letang is if you've already signed Pietrangelo but we all know that's not going to happen. Are we ready to shell out $10-11M for Pietrangelo (assuming he doesnt get re-signed by the Blues and wants to come here) while also trading more players to make that cap room while also trading Letang in a low-leverage situation?

Jesus, relax buddy. Nothing in that article suggested he was being traded, other than the GM gauging his value.

Right, so the Avs have two at very good and the Pens have one.

"Legit" is above "NHL potential" but I'm still surprised to see so many names in either for the Pens haha.
- MattStrat

The Avs guys are in a higher tier, but yeah, most of their remaining prospects aren't blue chip guys. A couple might be rated too low.

Legit tier is either bottom 6/defensive pair or if they're upper half they have some concerns to answer. Potential is there are tools worth noting, but don't bet on them. They're worth keeping an eye on.

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

Half the Avs guys are already in the NHL as it's a 22 and under list. But that's why they might give a better prospect than another team. They are deep with top young talent so some of the guys that might be top 5 prospects for us they won't have a spot for.

Jack Johnson could break Hedman. And Hedman has hauled around Dotchin, Girardi, and Bogosian.

I honestly don't know a damn thing outside of the Pens prospects. What could be a realistic return from the Avs?
- nateca44

It's hard to gauge Murray's value, but judging by how much he's mentioned in other team's goalie searches, I'm starting to think we might get a little more for him than we probably should. I wouldn't give more than a 3rd ir equivalent prospect/player, but we might get a 2nd.

Marc Andre Fluery is easily the most overhyped and over appreciated Penguin of this generation and Letang is the most under appreciated Penguin.

You arent going to replace Letang nor would you get enough value for him in a trade in order to justify it.

Marc Andre Fluery is easily the most overhyped and over appreciated Penguin of this generation and Letang is the most under appreciated Penguin.

You arent going to replace Letang nor would you get enough value for him in a trade in order to justify it.
- SuperHenderson13

Yeah exactly, I would just let his contract run out. If Pittsburgh Sucks in two years trade him at the deadline and start the rebuilding phase.

another whiny "I'm right and everyone else is wrong" article from RW. though this one I happen to agree with.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

lol ur bashing the guy even though you completely agree with him? the ppl in this sub sometimes rofl..

Yeah exactly, I would just let his contract run out. If Pittsburgh Sucks in two years trade him at the deadline and start the rebuilding phase.
- Ben_66

If they suck in two years? They suck now.

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.

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.

Unless Jack Johnson's boat anchorism is intended to reduce the amount of salary Letang can solicit when his contract is up, it makes no sense to play them together. Though glass half full, maybe that's where JJ's value is - to drag down performance and thus reduce the cap hits of future contracts? Cynical sure, but it might actually work.

Imagine defending a turnover machine.
- Feds91Stammer

And that player also has the hockey IQ of a rock!

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

100%.

It's especially damning when Tanger is still playing very well, doesn't have a bad attitude, has matured a lot and takes way fewer penalties.... I mean why should that guy be fearful of being traded.

Nothing wrong to listening to offers.

Anti-Letang people are the same as Anti-Big Ben people. The second Letang is gone and we have the metaphorical Duck Hodges in his place, we'll realize how special Letang is.

Letang for Gardiner straight up

Letang won't be traded and if he is JR's days would be numbered.
Sullivan needs to let the players play and let the best players play.
Chad and Jusso are better options than JJ
JR just doesn't want to bench his bad contact or attempt to move him. If that's possible. 🤔

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

The article does say Letang was convinced he was being traded in 2012 too and that he's a bit paranoid everytime his name comes up.

But I do agree, if you're a win now team, I don't see what you are getting for Letang worth more than Letang. And the fact JJ seems safer than Letang is insane.