Pens re-sign Riikola, 1yr/1way/$850K. Looks like a couple of dmen should be going bye-bye.

Dumo/Letang
Maatta/Schultz
Pett/Gudbranson
Johnson/Ruhwedel
Riikola

9 dmen. We should see two get moved out.

EDIT:
I know he’s not an analytics darling and I think part of that has to do with adjusting to NA hockey.

I don’t have high expectations from him, but he reminded me of a more physical version of Daley. If he tightens his game up I think he can be effective.
- Rinosaur

I didn't hate on him as much as others around here . I did see some positives in his play ..he just really needs to tighten it up. Pretty error prone.

I didn't hate on him as much as others around here . I did see some positives in his play ..he just really needs to tighten it up. Pretty error prone.
- MattStrat

Yeah, the speed was a bit much for him, but hopefully he can adjust. I love his skating, his ability to carry the puck and his physicality.

Roenick says the Coyotes are the team Phil wants to be traded to... obviously the Pens have more options with the 8 team but I think they are a greatly preferred partner.

Chychryn, Crouse, Hayton, Merkely, Grabner, Dvorak, goligoski, a top 15 1st round pick, cap space... there are lots of assets the Pens could get in trading Kessel there. Only concern (as always) is ownership situation.

So many combinations you could put together, possibly including eating JJs contract.

It would be outstanding to get Hayton or Merkely. I'd really like a bull on the forecheck like Crouse. Grabner would be nice if they need to send back a player with salary. Dvorak or Chuchryn could be nice young adds. And Gogo could be an option if you are sending JJ or Maata along for the ride to get the Pens a legit top 4 LD.

I've long thought JR has wanted to get a deal done during the cup finals, would love to see the Kessel situation resolved!
- MacPatty

Maybe Galchenyuk and Demers for JJ and Kessel

Maybe Galchenyuk and Demers for JJ and Kessel
- 123Kid

I highly doubt they move Galchenyuk.

I didn't hate on him as much as others around here . I did see some positives in his play ..he just really needs to tighten it up. Pretty error prone.
- MattStrat

I kind of feel like this was another situation where Rutherford and Sully butchered things. I thought it was pretty evident early on that he wasn't ready for the NHL and yet he stayed with the big club most of the season. I never understood why they'd rather have him sitting in press box instead of getting minutes in the AHL.

I kind of feel like this was another situation where Rutherford and Sully butchered things. I thought it was pretty evident early on that he wasn't ready for the NHL and yet he stayed with the big club most of the season. I never understood why they'd rather have him sitting in press box instead of getting minutes in the AHL.
- madmike71

Yeah. He had such an impressive camp that they went with him, but he quickly should have gone down to WBS.

I think hope this means they have a plan to get rid of JJ, but likely also means Maatta will be going as well. That leaves Gud/Riik/Ruw battling for the 5th/6th spots, assuming everyone else is still here.

I think hope this means they have a plan to get rid of JJ, but likely also means Maatta will be going as well. That leaves Gud/Riik/Ruw battling for the 5th/6th spots, assuming everyone else is still here.
- iworkatinitech

I feel it’s been a foregone conclusion that Maatta is gone for a while. It seems like at least two dmen have to be gone and maybe more if they are looking to upgrade.

Maybe Galchenyuk and Demers for JJ and Kessel
- 123Kid

Chayka is so heavy into analytics I don’t think there’s any way he takes on JJ. It would go against basically everything he stands for

I highly doubt they move Galchenyuk.
- Rinosaur

He's a UFA after this year. If he's not staying they should.

I kind of feel like this was another situation where Rutherford and Sully butchered things. I thought it was pretty evident early on that he wasn't ready for the NHL and yet he stayed with the big club most of the season. I never understood why they'd rather have him sitting in press box instead of getting minutes in the AHL.
- madmike71

Agree with all this. I don't think playing him on his off-side did him any favors either. I'm glad he's coming back, can always waive him.

I feel like Rikky could improve with more playing time but not sure how he's going to get that with a one way contract 🤔
- MattStrat

One way contract just means he gets paid the same even in the minors. As an older UFA signing, last year was his only year of waiver eligibility.

I've actually been wondering if the Pens might keep 8 defensemen next year with a spare left and a righty since they don't really have anyone who plays as well on either side like Cole used to, and they don't have any LD prospects pushing for time.

That is nonsense to give him a contract like that. He had a REALLY good year, but he has never even sniffed being a PPG player and has 1 time in his career had a + rating. $9M is nuts for AAV and 8 years is a long time to bear that cap hit.
- MacPatty

This just cant be true... Botterill doesnt do anything bad as we have read in here many many times. Everything good was botterill everything bad was rutherford.

I feel it’s been a foregone conclusion that Maatta is gone for a while. It seems like at least two dmen have to be gone and maybe more if they are looking to upgrade.
- Rinosaur

Yohe was on the radio the other day saying Sullivan loves Maatta. Combine that with the fact JJ was scratched for the 1st playoff game. I thought for sure Maatta was leaving too, but not so sure now......especially with JJ rumored to go with Kessel in the potential Wild deal.

He's a UFA after this year. If he's not staying they should.
- Tojo.

He already bought a huge place. My guess is he’s already had some really nice talks with Chayka regarding and extension. Maybe they’re agreeing to let him play out his contract first. His doorbell is the Coyotes howl goal horn. It’s pretty sweet

Zaitsev formally requested a trade now...

If you could, would you trade JJ for him straight up and trade Schultz? Could the Pens get by with Rang, Zaitsev and Gud on the right side?

Yohe was on the radio the other day saying Sullivan loves Maatta. Combine that with the fact JJ was scratched for the 1st playoff game. I thought for sure Maatta was leaving too, but not so sure now......especially with JJ rumored to go with Kessel in the potential Wild deal.
- madmike71

I’d be ecstatic if Maatta stayed.

Chayka is so heavy into analytics I don’t think there’s any way he takes on JJ. It would go against basically everything he stands for
- WSCTeton17

I know that was his MO when hired, but correct me if I’m wrong, I believe he’s made some moves the past few seasons that left those in the analytics community scratching their heads.

He already bought a huge place. My guess is he’s already had some really nice talks with Chayka regarding and extension. Maybe they’re agreeing to let him play out his contract first. His doorbell is the Coyotes howl goal horn. It’s pretty sweet
- WSCTeton17

Well then I guess maybe he plans to stay then, nevermind.

This just cant be true... Botterill doesnt do anything bad as we have read in here many many times. Everything good was botterill everything bad was rutherford.
- pens4life-66

Well played sir!

Yohe was on the radio the other day saying Sullivan loves Maatta. Combine that with the fact JJ was scratched for the 1st playoff game. I thought for sure Maatta was leaving too, but not so sure now......especially with JJ rumored to go with Kessel in the potential Wild deal.
- madmike71

If he loved Maatta, da (frank) was he scratched for?

If he loved Maatta, da (frank) was he scratched for?
- j.boyd919

Could it possibly be to our surprise and wanted to throw the baby out with the bathwater to prove a point?

Yohe was on the radio the other day saying Sullivan loves Maatta. Combine that with the fact JJ was scratched for the 1st playoff game. I thought for sure Maatta was leaving too, but not so sure now......especially with JJ rumored to go with Kessel in the potential Wild deal.
- madmike71

They need to clear 3-4M space even before thinking about adding free agents, so I could see them moving Maatta and JJ, using Pettersson in the top 4, and signing a cheaper D. Not saying that definitely happens, might depend on how things look after the Kessel trade.

They need to clear 3-4M space even before thinking about adding free agents, so I could see them moving Maatta and JJ, using Pettersson in the top 4, and signing a cheaper D. Not saying that definitely happens, might depend on how things look after the Kessel trade.
- Tojo.

Who knows, maybe they're planning on getting rid of both Gudbranson and JJ?

Who knows, maybe they're planning on getting rid of both Gudbranson and JJ?
- Rinosaur

This is also possible. Would be kind of strange to trade a guy months after you get him when he greatly outplays expectations and it would still make sense.