Ok. How stupid of an idea is it to package Johnson and a pick for Rasmus Ristolanen?
- Victoro311

Very stupid.

Is there a timeframe around when a player can be bought out?

For instance, if we had an agreement with X free agent to sign for X dollars but we were going to be over the cap, could we just buy out JJ at that point in time and sign the FA?

I'm just asking because the buyout is a viable option for me. No need to be desperate and trade away a 1st rd pick. If you have a trade or something in the works where you need rid of JJ, just buy him out. Though its a long duration, it's really not that big of a penalty, imo...
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Yes and we're in the buyout period right now. I'm not sure when it ends an don't feel like looking it up now, but pretty sure it ends before free agency. Unfortunately, if they were buying out JJ, they'd have to do it now, and they aren't desperate to get rid of him like we are.

It's a guy who is bordering on being a 4th line caliber player. Not all that effective when he isn't being carried around by elite players.
- MacPatty

Ah. So not Conor Sheary then.

Ok. How stupid of an idea is it to package Johnson and a pick for Rasmus Ristolanen?
- Victoro311

Risto is a dumpster fire. He’s what everyone thought Schultz was when they called him the worst player in the league.

If this league has a dumpster (a dumpster being a place where you throw your garbage you don’t want anymore) then it has to be LA, right? Phaneuf, Gaborik, Lucic

https://www.nhltradetrack...by_team/Arizona_Coyotes/1

I look at Chayka and I see a very young GM who takes pieces his coach won’t use and turns them into pieces he will use: Strome for Schmaltz, mcGinn for Demers, Wedgwood/rieder for Kuemper, he got a good haul in the Hossa trade, Duclair for Panik, Murphy for Hjalmarsson. I think the Raanta trade was a risk that has paid off. I like the Stone trade and the Hanzal trade

Really, the only one that hasn’t worked out was Domi for Chucky. A clear win for MTL so far. He had a career year which won’t last. He parties a ton. Seems like Chucky has more maturity about him

Been awhile since I have posted... JR said on TSN today that it was either Maatta or JJ... Sure sounds like he plans on keeping JJ... Not a fan and prefer buyout but that seals all the talk of getting rid of JJ.
- hipcheck_goalie

Correct. He went on to say that he would do what he needed to with the cap moving forward. Most likely we’re stuck with him, but there’s a chance that we need to shed more salary and he goes

Risto is a dumpster fire. He’s what everyone thought Schultz was when they called him the worst player in the league.
- j.boyd919

Is this a rumor?

To PIT: Neal Pionk

To WPG: 21st OA pick

People didnt want sherry with 87 or 71. As a 3rd liner he was fine.

Curious what the longevity of Rust is? He is streaky but has speed. Is a cup winner so could have some value to a team?
- sammy87

I would have preferred Sheary with Sid.

To PIT: Neal Pionk

To WPG: 21st OA pick


- TheUltimateJet

And the Jets take JJ as well.

I think we’re gonna see the same situation like we did with hunwick and sheary.. only I think it could be Johnson and rust this time around

I think we’re gonna see the same situation like we did with hunwick and sheary.. only I think it could be Johnson and rust this time around
- Islander71

I'd make that deal, they sort of brought in Rust's replacement.

And the Jets take JJ as well.
- stevens87

😂 I was going to say the same thing. We'd not only unload JJ, but get a cheap LD replacement with upside.

I'd make that deal, they sort of brought in Rust's replacement.
- Tojo.

It just depends on Rust’s value. Sounds like most people are in agreement that right around a later first is what it would take to unload JJ. Are we then saying that Rust is worth a 1st? Because I don’t think that’s true

FWIW, I would love to have Rust in AZ 😍

I'd make that deal, they sort of brought in Rust's replacement.
- Tojo.

Hell yeah.... Clear 6.75 in cap space. I like Rust....versatile player, but you could definitely improve this club with 12mil in cap space.

Oh good another JJ circle jerk.
You've all gone insane, JJ is not important to the teams success. JJ wasnt the reason the Pens got swept, they lost because they had no team identity. They played no discipline hockey and constantly forced plays right into the Isles counter attack. When the chips were down the team packed it in, last years team lacked the necessary leadership to right the ship.

JR makes one bad signing and people are calling him among the leagues worst?! He built back to back Stanley Cups, probably could have gotten the third if Malkin wasnt injured in the first round.

JR knows what it takes to win the cup, he is proven that by winning 3! Name another GM in the game that can say the same.

I would have preferred Sheary with Sid.
- j.boyd919

I don't know, it's looking more like Sheary just had a career year with Crosby and can't recapture that. And it's hard to see Crosby and Guentzel doing much better.

Sheary was fine at his price and was definitely worth trying again the following year, but he kind of looks like an ordinary middle six guy who ideally you trade away when you have young, ELC type forwards ready to replace him.

Oh good another JJ circle jerk.
You've all gone insane, JJ is not important to the teams success. JJ wasnt the reason the Pens got swept, they lost because they had no team identity. They played no discipline hockey and constantly forced plays right into the Isles counter attack. When the chips were down the team packed it in, last years team lacked the necessary leadership to right the ship.

JR makes one bad signing and people are calling him among the leagues worst?! He built back to back Stanley Cups, probably could have gotten the third if Malkin wasnt injured in the first round.

JR knows what it takes to win the cup, he is proven that by winning 3! Name another GM in the game that can say the same.
- stackthepads

Bowman can say that and I kind of think he stinks but inherited a loaded situation.

Mostly I agree with you, the team's problems went beyond JJ. I do think he's probably the biggest though. Second pair and second line need to improve. 4th line will improve with Blueger in Cullen's spot.

I'm also among those who think too many changes and late injuries kept the team from gelling as they were scrambling to figure out roles and their top defensemen were hurt. I expect better.

It just depends on Rust’s value. Sounds like most people are in agreement that right around a later first is what it would take to unload JJ. Are we then saying that Rust is worth a 1st? Because I don’t think that’s true

FWIW, I would love to have Rust in AZ 😍
- WSCTeton17

Honestly I'd be surprised if there is that type of trade. Who is really rebuilding? Ottawa, but they have a cheap owner who probably wouldn't use cap space that way. Kings and Ducks probably should. Detroit, but they've been bad for a while so probably don't want the back end of JJ's contract. Other than that, every team expects to be competing for a playoff spot next year.

I think we’re gonna see the same situation like we did with hunwick and sheary.. only I think it could be Johnson and rust this time around
- Islander71

Rust, JJ and a pick for Zucker. Done.

Bowman can say that and I kind of think he stinks but inherited a loaded situation.

Mostly I agree with you, the team's problems went beyond JJ. I do think he's probably the biggest though. Second pair and second line need to improve. 4th line will improve with Blueger in Cullen's spot.

I'm also among those who think too many changes and late injuries kept the team from gelling as they were scrambling to figure out roles and their top defensemen were hurt. I expect better.
- Tojo.

I think there's three of us that think that hahah

I think it depends on who’s available at 21. If the pens have a highly ranked player drop to them at 21, then I think it’s obvious you take that player. If those few players are gone, then hopefully JR has a backup plan for a 1st/JJ trade. I’d have to think that a rebuilding team with cap space to burn would jump on a deal to get an additional 1st round pick while reaching the cap floor. It might be easier to make this trade after July 1st. If the Panthers miss out on Panarin and Bobrovsky, they will have some cap room and might be looking to stockpile picks. Devils also have a ton of cap room, but if Taylor Hall and Vatanen don’t resign, their rebuild could take a little longer and maybe they’re ok with taking Johnson if it comes with a 1st

If you subscribe to the Athletic I recommend the Sean Gentille column posted a few hours ago, ironically same topic as Ryan’s blog today only better done.

Premise is making comps to the Lakers, they have Lebron so they went broke trying to win now, made the parallel with Sid/Geno.

Oh good another JJ circle jerk.
You've all gone insane, JJ is not important to the teams success. JJ wasnt the reason the Pens got swept, they lost because they had no team identity. They played no discipline hockey and constantly forced plays right into the Isles counter attack. When the chips were down the team packed it in, last years team lacked the necessary leadership to right the ship.

JR makes one bad signing and people are calling him among the leagues worst?! He built back to back Stanley Cups, probably could have gotten the third if Malkin wasnt injured in the first round.

JR knows what it takes to win the cup, he is proven that by winning 3! Name another GM in the game that can say the same.
- stackthepads

JJ being heavily sheltered on the 3rd pairing wouldn’t be bad if he wasn’t making $3.2 mil/year for 4 more years. That cap space could clearly go into acquiring a player that actually has a positive impact on the team. The other problem is that JR went out and used the little cap space we had left to acquire another 6th dman making 4 mil/year. This team could had simply not signed JJ, traded Sprong for Pettersson, and not trade Oleksiak.

Dumo-letang
Pettersson-Schultz
Oleksiak-Maatta

I think this defense makes a significant difference in the playoffs and you’re saving about $5 mil by keeping Oleksiak over JJ and Gudbransson.

Sheary>1st round pick
- j.boyd919

F no. Perhaps a 3rd RP...