Rutherford is honest to a fault. When asked if either Dumo or Petts were available, Ruth firmly said "NO". You could tell he thought the question was ridiculous. I think Petts is average at best and I have little doubt Rutherford was telling the truth.

Some way/some how JJ gonna be gone.
- madmike71

You're probably right. Just an odd trade. I'm guessing we're going to see a defenseman playing his off-side, probably Matheson at 3RD. Maybe Riikola at 3LD. That's really the only thing that makes any sense.

Looks delicious
- 668710

It was good af and considering it was my first time I was blown away.

You're probably right. Just an odd trade. I'm guessing we're going to see a defenseman playing his off-side, probably Matheson at 3RD. Maybe Riikola at 3LD. That's really the only thing that makes any sense.
- Hockey66

Or ..
Dumo-Tanger
Petts-Marino
Matheson-Ruh
Just leave JJ off the starting roster.

Do what you have to do in the last year or two of the window. I don't care if he was acquired yesterday.
- Hockey66

Windows is and has been closed for a while now

It was good af and considering it was my first time I was blown away.
- Feds91Stammer

Damn, nice job. You'll get more into it for sure.

Damn, nice job. You'll get more into it for sure.
- 668710

The wife loved it so I have approval to do more smoking lol.

Windows is and has been closed for a while now
- Feds91Stammer

Some fans are just delusional.

Do what you have to do in the last year or two of the window. I don't care if he was acquired yesterday.
- Hockey66

Yeah, let's give up the very little assets they have now and in the future so the Pens can have a slightly better chance of remote to win.

Or ..
Dumo-Tanger
Petts-Marino
Matheson-Ruh
Just leave JJ off the starting roster.
- 668710

Well, I don't know how good Matheson is at RD vs LD, but I do know that I think Riilola > Ruh. I used to like Ruh, but it's been a while since I've thought he has played well. I'd say he's very underwhelming as a starter. Speaking of JR and his honesty, he came out and said that Ruh is a good depth piece and keeps himself in shape for his spot duty, so I don't think JR has any designs on him being the starter.

Yeah, let's give up the very little assets they have now and in the future so the Pens can have a slightly better chance of remote to win.
- stevens87

So you've given up on the Crosby/Malkin era? Ok, good to know. Unfortunately for you, no one in the Pens management thinks that way. Maybe they should, but they don't. So I want to make a legit run while we can. You can join the negative Nancy peanut gallery if you want.

So you've given up on the Crosby/Malkin era? Ok, good to know. Unfortunately for you, no one in the Pens management thinks that way. Maybe they should, but they don't. So I want to make a legit run while we can. You can join the negative Nancy peanut gallery if you want.
- Hockey66

No, I'm just not delusional to think this team is even close to winning another Cup. What the heck gives you any thought that this team can make a run following the last two playoff collapses? Oh, that's right, Letang is great!

So you've given up on the Crosby/Malkin era? Ok, good to know. Unfortunately for you, no one in the Pens management thinks that way. Maybe they should, but they don't. So I want to make a legit run while we can. You can join the negative Nancy peanut gallery if you want.
- Hockey66

There’s no legit run left chief. Crosby is 33. Malkin is 34. You technically missed the playoffs this season and were swept the year before.

No, I'm just not delusional to think this team is even close to winning another Cup. What the heck gives you any thought that this team can make a run following the last two playoff collapses? Oh, that's right, Letang is great!
- stevens87

You're barking up the wrong tree, dude. But whatever, have a good night.

You're barking up the wrong tree, dude. But whatever, have a good night.
- Hockey66

Again answer the question:

What the heck gives you any thought that this team can make a run following the last two playoff collapses?

Haha it’s been going for almost 2 hours now.
- Feds91Stammer

How long did you leave it there total?

Detroit is not the worst place as a humanitarian to fire Jack Johnson too. Detroit is only a few hours away from his family’s roots in Ohio. There certainly could be worse geographic places for him to be sent. Johnson also played two seasons at the University of Michigan, so he has some familiarity with the general area.

As of now, Detroit looks like a great candidate to move Jack Johnson to. Even after taking on Marc Staal, the Wings have $27 million of cap space for 2020-21, the third highest total in the league. Perhaps more importantly, unlike other cheap or poor teams with cap space (Ottawa!), the interesting part is Yzerman’s public utterance that he will basically take a bad LHD if it gets him some future asset.

Yeah, let's give up the very little assets they have now and in the future so the Pens can have a slightly better chance of remote to win.
- stevens87

This is still a playoff team. Anything you can do to make the team better you do.

I do think it is time to start to look to the future though. I don't think the Hornqvist trade does either.

Again answer the question:

What the heck gives you any thought that this team can make a run following the last two playoff collapses?
- stevens87

To play devils advocate, what would have given you any thought that the Stars would be in the cup finals? They were ready to blow that thing up, publicly calling out star players.

By no means do I think the Pens are shoe ins at this point but maybe they need to be the underdog again. More change is coming, so hard to judge this roster as final.

-Sid, Geno and Jake are going to do their thing and be great.
-Kapanen might put up 30 goals playing with either sid or geno.
-Matheson could be a legit top 4 defender.
-JJ might actually get pulled out of the lineup.
-Not out of the realm of possibility that Poulin comes up and slots into the 3rd line and can put up 15 goals.

We also don't know what moves are left to come:
- what can we get for Murray?
- can we unload JJs contract and be in play for any quality, cheap FAs?
- does JR have a rabbit in his hat with a Kessel type trade, bringing in a game changer?

You are absolutely correct the Pens aren't front runners anymore but magic does happen sometimes. I dont like where they are at at this moment but I'd rather stay optimistic they get a spark than spend the next 10 months moping about them sucking and their run being over.

How long did you leave it there total?
- Barnaby36

Think it went for around 13 hours and I sped it up at the end so I could finish it before it got too late.

I was convinced that Hornqvist would be here one more year and then they’d pull a Fleury with him at the expansion draft. Now I wonder if they attempt that with Johnson. Bench him for a season then deal with Seattle.

Think it went for around 13 hours and I sped it up at the end so I could finish it before it got too late.
- Feds91Stammer

Awesome. Looked great. I’ll try some ribs to see how it goes (of course with less time in the oven lol)

I was convinced that Hornqvist would be here one more year and then they’d pull a Fleury with him at the expansion draft. Now I wonder if they attempt that with Johnson. Bench him for a season then deal with Seattle.
- Rinosaur

Aside from the fact nobody wanted Matheson or Sceviour in a deal for Hörnqvist, we look like a FAST team right now and this is exciting. I was banking on us bringing back Sheary and Simon but wouldn’t mind if only the latter is kept on the team and somehow we bring a heavier player that can skate and play physical.

To play devils advocate, what would have given you any thought that the Stars would be in the cup finals? They were ready to blow that thing up, publicly calling out star players.

By no means do I think the Pens are shoe ins at this point but maybe they need to be the underdog again. More change is coming, so hard to judge this roster as final.

-Sid, Geno and Jake are going to do their thing and be great.
-Kapanen might put up 30 goals playing with either sid or geno.
-Matheson could be a legit top 4 defender.
-JJ might actually get pulled out of the lineup.
-Not out of the realm of possibility that Poulin comes up and slots into the 3rd line and can put up 15 goals.

We also don't know what moves are left to come:
- what can we get for Murray?
- can we unload JJs contract and be in play for any quality, cheap FAs?
- does JR have a rabbit in his hat with a Kessel type trade, bringing in a game changer?

You are absolutely correct the Pens aren't front runners anymore but magic does happen sometimes. I dont like where they are at at this moment but I'd rather stay optimistic they get a spark than spend the next 10 months moping about them sucking and their run being over.
- MacPatty

I sure didn’t expect the Stars to reach the finals. Playoffs, yes. They are overachieving by a lot.

AZ appears, at least from what I read, to be heading towards a rebuild of sorts. I wonder if they become a destination for garbage contracts.

Again answer the question:

What the heck gives you any thought that this team can make a run following the last two playoff collapses?
- stevens87

Well for me, Im not sold there is a window, but when I look at the last two playoffs I see an awful lot of banged up important players and/or a lot of key players who missed F loads of time and came back just for the playoffs. This was a huge factor in 2019 IMO, they were so out of f'n sync on the ice with I think 5 key guys returning after long layoffs in last game or two before playoffs. Take Guenzel for instance this year, he was not himself at all after major surgery and very long layoff, but I think he could get back to himself with more time and game reps. Sid and Geno were both injured this year. vs Habs. Dumo missed loads of time before coming back. Then this leaves us with JJ and the 3rd pairing that may of been one of the worst of the Pens the past 15 years. If JJ isnt there it is immediately improved, I'm not sold he wont be there, but it sure sounds like JR is trying for him not to be.

This team was top two in almost all stats and underlying November and December, sporting either the 1st or 2nd best record in that time frame, and when the calendar turned 2020 they were only a few points out of 1st in the whole league.

So long story short, with some better injury luck/timing and some roster tweaks, I think they could be right in the mix this season....but whether those things happen or not, there's no way of knowing at this point.