On a side note, while the Pens are likely holding on to their 1st pick, I think Tampa is a team to speak with regarding some of their forwards.

Tampa has to sign four players to fill out their roster, one of them being Point. Someone is going to score big off them by giving up a high pick or pick/prospect.

I could see Tampa moving Miller, Johnson or Killorn.
- Rinosaur

I would be over the moon with a trade for Johnson but I don’t know how to make that work. I guess if we dumped one more mid tier contract we’d be just about able to offer strictly futures and send no salary back which may interest a cap strapped TB, but or futures aren’t great.

I would be over the moon with a trade for Johnson but I don’t know how to make that work. I guess if we dumped one more mid tier contract we’d be just about able to offer strictly futures and send no salary back which may interest a cap strapped TB, but or futures aren’t great.
- Victoro311

The Pens have roughly $3M free when calculating Blueg and Petts, so there's a couple of ways...

1) Ideally JR find a way to move JJ without much if any salary coming back and little retention and Riikola takes his place in the lineup.

2) Cap-dumping Rust.

I'd give a 1st for either Johnson or Miller.

You’re going to enjoy Kahun’s motor and willingness to bird-dog the puck for possession - he’s got a great attitude to boot.

Kahun plus a 5th rd pick for a glacial-moving Maatta and his $4M salary?... I’m less than thrilled right now...

You’re going to enjoy Kahun’s motor and willingness to bird-dog the puck for possession - he’s got a great attitude to boot.

Kahun plus a 5th rd pick for a glacial-moving Maatta and his $4M salary?... I’m less than thrilled right now...
- Chief4Feathers

Hey, it could have been Jack Johnson

So this is what I'm reading: Fast, avoids contact, plays all 3 positions though mostly LW last year.

1.89pts/60 at ES. All his relative rates were positive and those often impressive after a rookie year.

Was used all over the place including top 6. Played very little at special teams (Sully uses almost everyone at one or the other).

That's an intriguing guy. 35 ES points is a lot for a guy who bounced around the line up, and getting it from a guy who seems to play well at both ends means you could play him anywhere.
- Tojo.

He played on PP2 all season. He also isn't contact averse except for a brief stretch of games where he may have dinged up and playing through it. And he actually spent most of the season on RW.

From Rossi at the Athletic....

Restocking the Penguins’ prospect system is not his current priority, though. Notably, Rutherford did not rule out more trades — including one involving the Penguins’ first-round pick — before the NHL Draft that opens Friday in Vancouver.

“Our priority certainly is to be in a win-now mode,” Rutherford said. “We have to continuously look at that.”
- madmike71

Yeah JR has to follow the Patriots model...As long as you have Brady/Crosby...dont worry about tomorrow. Find players that work with your system and keep moving forward.

He played on PP2 all season. He also isn't contact averse except for a brief stretch of games where he may have dinged up and playing through it. And he actually spent most of the season on RW.
- Gramps28

Thanks for the info, I'm just going off what I'm reading.

Didn't think 86 minutes was much PP time, but looks like Chicago is like Pittsburgh and the top guys just don't leave the ice.

I threw this together based on the Tampa stuff and the idea the Pens would be stuck with Johnson.

https://www.capfriendly.c.../armchair-gm/team/1224666

EDIT: I padded the cap space a bit in case I'm far off on Blueger and Pettersson

From Rossi at the Athletic....

Restocking the Penguins’ prospect system is not his current priority, though. Notably, Rutherford did not rule out more trades — including one involving the Penguins’ first-round pick — before the NHL Draft that opens Friday in Vancouver.

“Our priority certainly is to be in a win-now mode,” Rutherford said. “We have to continuously look at that.”
- madmike71

What a quote on Kessel in that article:

Look, I really respect Phil. I like Phil, and so does Sully. There were times they had different opinions. There were times when they won two Cups, too. This is a player who steps up. So, it can absolutely work with Phil coming back.

Enjoy the gift Pittsburgh.

Jason Botterill is directly responsible for this trade.

Thanks for the info, I'm just going off what I'm reading.

Didn't think 86 minutes was much PP time, but looks like Chicago is like Pittsburgh and the top guys just don't leave the ice.
- Tojo.

Exactly on the PP. First unit stays out there for well over a minute on most opportunity.

The emergence of Gudbranson as a “fine(while snubbing noses looking at fancy stats)” d man made this deal possible also. One love.

Planarian would be awesome though.....If Skinner can get 8, Planarian will get 10+. He reminds me of St. Louis in a way.
- sammy87

I agree. His creativity is a ton of fun to watch. Really amazing Chicago just dumped him for Saad. The kind of contracts that guys like Skinner are getting just shows why hanging onto Kessel is a good idea unless you get a great offer.

Jason Botterill is directly responsible for this trade.
- Grinder47

Glory to this post

Glory to this post
- stackthepads

Agreed! HOWLING!!

That jab isn't exclusively at Toews for being in the top 100... was quite a few that should not have been ahead of Malkin
- Guile

Cough, Joe Niewendyk, Cough

Anyone else see the local Pittsburgh hockey pages comparing Kahun to Simon over and over again based on scouting reports? I just don't think that's a good comparison. I like Simon, but he's semi bland. Fun to watch in person because of the little things that he does, but rarely makes you excited just watching the game at home.

Every time I've seen Kahun he's been noticeable. Like, a non stop motor, tenacity on the puck, and great vision at the highest speeds. Am I missing something? I don't expect him to be Guentzel, but he just doesn't remind me of Simon at all.

Won't pretend to know a ton about Kahoun but by everyone's description he is exactly the type of player I was hoping the Pens would target.

Heck, I would have been ok with it if it was just Maata for that 5th. Great start to the off season!

Anyone else see the local Pittsburgh hockey pages comparing Kahun to Simon over and over again based on scouting reports? I just don't think that's a good comparison. I like Simon, but he's semi bland. Fun to watch in person because of the little things that he does, but rarely makes you excited just watching the game at home.

Every time I've seen Kahun he's been noticeable. Like, a non stop motor, tenacity on the puck, and great vision at the highest speeds. Am I missing something? I don't expect him to be Guentzel, but he just doesn't remind me of Simon at all.
- cranktheradio

I think the Simon comparisons are because he gave everyone an analaytics bump while being moved up and down the line up (though not as big as Simon) and didn't score enough goals.

I think offensively those are fine middle six numbers, and 17 of his 24 assists were primary ones. That's what you want to buy on: guys who can score at ES and get a huge slant towards primary points.

I agree the play style doesn't seem similar at all.

I honestly think the the only thing left they really need to do is rid of JJ. Addition by subtraction.

I'm going to be f'n disgusted if JJ is there to start the season and Olli is gone. I can only accept Olli gone if JJ is too...

We'll see what happens in the days that come.

Having watched all Blackhawk games, I so good riddens to Kuhun. He is a turnover machine in the offensive zone. He is a poor passer and decision maker under pressure. He is undersized and rarely wins puck battles. skates with speed but lacks purpose

On a side note, while the Pens are likely holding on to their 1st pick, I think Tampa is a team to speak with regarding some of their forwards.

Tampa has to sign four players to fill out their roster, one of them being Point. Someone is going to score big off them by giving up a high pick or pick/prospect.

I could see Tampa moving Miller, Johnson or Killorn.
- Rinosaur

I just think JT Miller would fit our team very well. If we could bring him and Zucker somehow and trade Jacko’s contract and Phil...

I honestly think the the only thing left they really need to do is rid of JJ. Addition by subtraction.

I'm going to be f'n disgusted if JJ is there to start the season and Olli is gone. I can only accept Olli gone if JJ is too...

We'll see what happens in the days that come.
- MattStrat

Honestly, assuming Pettersson is actually good enough to make up a second pairing with Jultz, this trade is pretty darn good and should have been made regardless of Johnson. And I’m saying this as one of the bigger Maatta fans on here.

It will be interesting to see if Rutherford can pull off a Johnson trade. If we dump Johnson it would really open the door to a big splash that would make this offseason an absolute win. It would open the door to exploring trades for guys like Trouba and Tyler Johnson or signing a guy like Gus.

You’re going to enjoy Kahun’s motor and willingness to bird-dog the puck for possession - he’s got a great attitude to boot.

Kahun plus a 5th rd pick for a glacial-moving Maatta and his $4M salary?... I’m less than thrilled right now...
- Chief4Feathers

Hey I think you’ll like Määttä. He has good hockey IQ and is good positionally. His knock is foot speed but he was a good Penguin while here. I don’t talk poop abou him like a lot of people here. Enjoy his simple and effective game.