Oh, right, I had it backwards. JR hired Johnston a couple of weeks into his tenure in 2014 after Shero had drafted Pouliot in 2012, presumably (at least in part) trying to make Pouliot work out.

Oh, not only Forsberg, but Trouba was taken the pick after us, so even if he was obsessed with defensemen, he still managed to pick the absolute wrong one way higher than he was supposed to go.

And speaking of Maatta, he continues to kick ass in Chicago on a second line with de Haan with another helper and holding VGK to one goal.
- Hockey66

Coaches were turning Rutherford down before he hired Johnston. Peters and Dejardins or whatever his name was. Two of the hotter names at the time went to more "stable" situations. Ownership kind of butchered their firings and it obviously didn't go over well in the coaching world. Fired Shero first and let Bylsma twist in the wind for weeks. Really was a sh!tty mess the way they handled it. I think Rutherford was hoping for lighting in a bottle instead of going with a retread.

Shaping up to be an interesting off season. Reading thru the comments there are a number of holes to fill. I think everyone is correct in the assumption this team, as constructed just isn't good enough. How to go about changing is as varied as can be.

I listened to Phil Bourque about a week ago on 105.9. His analysis was, third line center was the number one issue. Personally I would like to see if Blueger can fill that spot. But if you aren't even going to consider him as anything but a fourth liner then frankly he needs to go. He is already 26 and you have basically given every other player in the organization a shot, even Lafferty got time against Montreal, then it is time to move on from him.

Blueger out played and out scored McCann against Montreal. He actually got more ice time in the regular season also.

Shaping up to be an interesting off season. Reading thru the comments there are a number of holes to fill. I think everyone is correct in the assumption this team, as constructed just isn't good enough. How to go about changing is as varied as can be.

I listened to Phil Bourque about a week ago on 105.9. His analysis was, third line center was the number one issue. Personally I would like to see if Blueger can fill that spot. But if you aren't even going to consider him as anything but a fourth liner then frankly he needs to go. He is already 26 and you have basically given every other player in the organization a shot, even Lafferty got time against Montreal, then it is time to move on from him.

Blueger out played and out scored McCann against Montreal. He actually got more ice time in the regular season also.
- Thunderbolt

1st line RW and 3C are neck and neck for highest priority IMO. I've been begging for a real RW for Sid for years. Hopefully that player can handle PP duty as well.

1st line RW and 3C are neck and neck for highest priority IMO. I've been begging for a real RW for Sid for years. Hopefully that player can handle PP duty as well.
- madmike71

Does Kunitz have a right shooting son?

Looking back at some older playoff videos during the break Kunitz was so good. The perfect compliment to Sid. There aren’t a lot of players that fit that mould. I don’t think Domi could cut it.

Arvidsson maybe but I can’t see the preds giving him up.

What's going on with that O'Conner kid. Does he have a shot this camp?

1st line RW and 3C are neck and neck for highest priority IMO. I've been begging for a real RW for Sid for years. Hopefully that player can handle PP duty as well.
- madmike71

What’s the point with a 3rd pairing like we got. Thankfully schultz will be gone but jj will sink any line. Pettersson I think is going to be a liability too. Left D is too weak.

Coaches were turning Rutherford down before he hired Johnston. Peters and Dejardins or whatever his name was. Two of the hotter names at the time went to more "stable" situations. Ownership kind of butchered their firings and it obviously didn't go over well in the coaching world. Fired Shero first and let Bylsma twist in the wind for weeks. Really was a sh!tty mess the way they handled it. I think Rutherford was hoping for lighting in a bottle instead of going with a retread.
- madmike71

Yeah, Johnston did a good job in Portland but it obviously didn't translate to the NHL. I applaud the effort of going outside the box and not hiring a retread, but I would be more inclined to go with the safe pick for a Cup contending team. Trying out a minors coach completely outside the organization is ok for a rebuilding team.

Shaping up to be an interesting off season. Reading thru the comments there are a number of holes to fill. I think everyone is correct in the assumption this team, as constructed just isn't good enough. How to go about changing is as varied as can be.

I listened to Phil Bourque about a week ago on 105.9. His analysis was, third line center was the number one issue. Personally I would like to see if Blueger can fill that spot. But if you aren't even going to consider him as anything but a fourth liner then frankly he needs to go. He is already 26 and you have basically given every other player in the organization a shot, even Lafferty got time against Montreal, then it is time to move on from him.

Blueger out played and out scored McCann against Montreal. He actually got more ice time in the regular season also.
- Thunderbolt

I think Blueger is about as good and as cheap as you'll find for a 4C. Plus he's a RFA after next season and that line has done pretty well. I would definitely hold onto him. I could see McCann used as an asset in a trade, but I would rather see what he develops into. He's only 24 and a former 1st round draft pick. Not sure what his contract demands are, which might be a factor.

1st line RW and 3C are neck and neck for highest priority IMO. I've been begging for a real RW for Sid for years. Hopefully that player can handle PP duty as well.
- madmike71

Agree with all of that. People are talking about a right shot for the left half wall, but if we were to find Horny's replacement for 1RW and net-front on the PP, well, that would be ideal. Just put Rust over there on the left side like he should have been all along.

Pavelski with the hatty. Not bad for a 36 year old. 5 for the playoffs now.

Would you do...

Letang + JJ for Nylander + Kerfoot (even cap hits but TOR actual salaries are much lower)

IF we were able to unload Bjug and Murray with no salary coming back and then sign Pietrangelo?

Solves every issue and it seems within the realm of reason.

Yes, it is crazy season for trade proposals.

Would you do...

Letang + JJ for Nylander + Kerfoot (even cap hits but TOR actual salaries are much lower)

IF we were able to unload Bjug and Murray with no salary coming back and then sign Pietrangelo?

Solves every issue and it seems within the realm of reason.

Yes, it is crazy season for trade proposals.
- Hockey66

If we signed Pietrangelo first then moved out Letang. Then yes I would take that trade. Too bad Toronto wouldn't lol.

Would you do...

Letang + JJ for Nylander + Kerfoot (even cap hits but TOR actual salaries are much lower)

IF we were able to unload Bjug and Murray with no salary coming back and then sign Pietrangelo?

Solves every issue and it seems within the realm of reason.

Yes, it is crazy season for trade proposals.
- Hockey66

I mean I'd love it haha but Toronto won't lol

What's going on with that O'Conner kid. Does he have a shot this camp?
- 668710

Hard to see him make the team since he'd have to beat out a guy like Simon or maybe McCann as well as Poulin for the last LW spot. Think he starts in WBS which at 21 is fine.

I also want to keep an eye on that big Czechoslovakia forward we signed that plays all 3 positions. Forget his name. Again, it will be a hard team to crack unless you're a top prospect so not expecting him to make it.

Honestly, I wouldn't even guarantee Lafferty a spot with the current numbers game. He still doesn't need to clear waivers.

Would you do...

Letang + JJ for Nylander + Kerfoot (even cap hits but TOR actual salaries are much lower)

IF we were able to unload Bjug and Murray with no salary coming back and then sign Pietrangelo?

Solves every issue and it seems within the realm of reason.

Yes, it is crazy season for trade proposals.
- Hockey66

I would take that all day but likely the Leafs wouldn't.

Also, as much as I'd love to get him, Pietrangelo isn't coming to Pittsburgh. Too many bigger city, bigger cap space teams out there.

I think the Leafs are going to go hard after Pietrangelo, but to do that they are going to have to clear space. Probably disqualifies the Pens from the running unless they have an outlet for JJ and Bjugstad.

Does Kunitz have a right shooting son?

Looking back at some older playoff videos during the break Kunitz was so good. The perfect compliment to Sid. There aren’t a lot of players that fit that mould. I don’t think Domi could cut it.

Arvidsson maybe but I can’t see the preds giving him up.
- Thorny87

Kunitz really was fantastic. Always showed up with a big hit or a big goal when it counted. Great player.

He doesn't hit like Kunitz, but Hornquist has also had a knack for being there when it counts. Thats why id love to see him stick around.

I would take that all day but likely the Leafs wouldn't.

Also, as much as I'd love to get him, Pietrangelo isn't coming to Pittsburgh. Too many bigger city, bigger cap space teams out there.

I think the Leafs are going to go hard after Pietrangelo, but to do that they are going to have to clear space. Probably disqualifies the Pens from the running unless they have an outlet for JJ and Bjugstad.
- MacPatty

Agree. There are a lot of ideal plans out there involving getting Pietrangelo but that's so unlikely and there really isn't a good plan B for a #1 defenseman. They just don't come available that often, and I can't understand why St. Louis screwed up their cap situation enough that they might lose him.

It's August 17th and Phil Kessel is still in the playoffs.

Agree. There are a lot of ideal plans out there involving getting Pietrangelo but that's so unlikely and there really isn't a good plan B for a #1 defenseman. They just don't come available that often, and I can't understand why St. Louis screwed up their cap situation enough that they might lose him.
- Tojo.

I still think the best move the Pens could make is to trade Pettersson for a full cap-dump, not to mention should be able to get a decent return, then clear out what they can between JJ, Bjug and Horn and sign Krug. Between Petts and one of those players they can make the room necessary to sign Krug.

Geno with successful surgery on his elbow.

Geno with successful surgery on his elbow.
- j.boyd919

So he was playing through an injury. Sid definitely was too IMO.

Geno with successful surgery on his elbow.
- j.boyd919

Even with the long ass break we still had a star hurt

I still think the best move the Pens could make is to trade Pettersson for a full cap-dump, not to mention should be able to get a decent return, then clear out what they can between JJ, Bjug and Horn and sign Krug. Between Petts and one of those players they can make the room necessary to sign Krug.
- Rinosaur

I'm torn on the idea of replacing Pettersson with Krug. Gets older and more expensive. Improves the PP. I don't think we've seen the best of Pettersson yet. I do think Marino may be more of a 2 that you can pair with an offensive defenseman.

Yeah, I could go either way. See if they could actually sign Krug.

Interestingly people talk about wanting to get younger, but 2 of the 3 youngest players are Pettersson and McCann. I throw them with Jarry as young players who've had uneven play but have shown at their best to be good players.

So he was playing through an injury. Sid definitely was too IMO.
- MattStrat

Right. Sid and Geno were both hurt. Guentzel never had his timing. The idea the Pens benefited the most from the pause didn't really play out.

Right. Sid and Geno were both hurt. Guentzel never had his timing. The idea the Pens benefited the most from the pause didn't really play out.
- Tojo.

Hahaha no it certainly didnt. Three of those guys plus Tanger were not themselves at all...and its hard to think it was natural age regression for 3 of the 4 them in just four or five months haha. Even still, with the 4 most important skaters on the team playing like that, I firmly believe if the coach made better decisions in game and with the lineup they would of took that series...and perhaps more.

I think Jake will get back to normal. A major part of his problem to my eyes seemed to be confidence with the puck. I remember him hesitating and passing up a good shot once, with a defender between him and Sid, and taking the puck on behind the Habs net and I yelled at him (TV screen) haha. Most of the shots he did have, he'd usually of hit the net with, he missed.