Looks like there's photo evidence. Hockeybuzz is blocking me from embedding the tweet for some reason, but here's the link:

https://twitter.com/grung.../1309711338424459264?s=20

Or he's airing it out before a move.
- Victoro311

He’s definitely not airing it out lol

I'm just saying last week Wilson was lamenting a potential trade of Bryan Rust so we could sign Chris Tanev

Instead we moved Patrick Hornqvist and got Mike Matheson

Relatively speaking, he should be relieved and take it as a positive
- TheGame316

Lmao it’s not a positive in any way shape or form at this time.

Is it at all possible Rutherford is playing dumb to not give away future moves?
- Rinosaur

I don't know what people expect him to say. He doesn't owe us or fans any insight to his moves

Would we be in a better position if he came out and said "Ya, Jack Johnson is terrible. I definitely wouldn't sign that contract again and I'm desperate to trade him this offseason to free up capspace"? How does any GM who's willing to take on JJ now sell that to HIS fanbase? He becomes untradable because the new GM couldn't explain away the bad PR from his old team

And if you can't move him, does it benefit anything to publicly say it for the player to hear, and his teammates wonder if one day a comment like that will be about them?

I know it would make *SOME* feel better, but please tell me how that helps?

or

We are absolutely going to trade a defenseman, probably Petterson now that we have Mike Matheson

Would that garner better offers for Petterson, or is Rutherford better off waiting for other GM's to call him and make their offers?

Lmao it’s not a positive in any way shape or form at this time.
- Feds91Stammer

So trading Rust and signing Tanev would have been a better move? (While adding 1.5 Million to the cap AND still having Hornqvist on the roster)

Rust > Hornqvist

Matheson > Tanev

+.5 Million > -1.5 Million

All things considered, Better Move than the alternative

What a baby... Good Riddance
- TheGame316

Don't be a douche.

Don't be a douche.
- Rinosaur

I think making a public statement by throwing your former teams gear on your driveway for everyone to see is a douche move. Have some professionalism

Lol with what assets?
- Feds91Stammer

Marino + Rust

I think making a public statement by throwing your former teams gear on your driveway for everyone to see is a douche move. Have some professionalism
- TheGame316

He's obviously hurt. I know pro athletes understand the life they chose, but they're still human at the end of the day and you know what, the Pens handled it poorly.

I think making a public statement by throwing your former teams gear on your driveway for everyone to see is a douche move. Have some professionalism
- TheGame316

At least the guy gave a poop and wanted to be a Penguin.

If they don't pick up a few guys with a little bit of heart before the start of the season, both JR and Sully are going to be gone mid season.

So trading Rust and signing Tanev would have been a better move? (While adding 1.5 Million to the cap AND still having Hornqvist on the roster)

Rust > Hornqvist

Matheson > Tanev

+.5 Million > -1.5 Million

All things considered, Better Move than the alternative
- TheGame316

Except it’s not an alternative. One move was for an LD. Tanev is a RD. By all means keep defending JR. Didn’t make the playoffs this year and got swept the year before. Clearly he’s got it under control.

Marino + Rust
- stackthepads

So JJ can be 2nd pair RD?

I think making a public statement by throwing your former teams gear on your driveway for everyone to see is a douche move. Have some professionalism
- TheGame316

Hahaha you’re such an idiot.

Except it’s not an alternative. One move was for an LD. Tanev is a RD. By all means keep defending JR. Didn’t make the playoffs this year and got swept the year before. Clearly he’s got it under control.
- Feds91Stammer

JR is cleverly setting up the Pens to tank for the 2022 draft. I have no idea who the top dog in that one is, but he probably already knows it's next Sid. He's ten steps ahead of everyone. That kid will play with Sid and Geno... CUP

He's obviously hurt. I know pro athletes understand the life they chose, but they're still human at the end of the day and you know what, the Pens handled it poorly.
- Rinosaur

How did they handle it poorly?

The hangup was the Florida insurance concerns, How do you know the Penguins leaked the info?

For all we know, JR made the trade, Called Horn, he didn't want to move, but waived anyways, *someone leaked the info* then the insurance hangup, then the done deal

He had a NMC, He didn't exercise it. A NMC doesn't mean the GM can't talk to other GM's about trading you. Be upset if you want, but don't air your dirty laundry (literally)

So JJ can be 2nd pair RD?
- Feds91Stammer

Just answering what assets.

But I’d play Matherson on RD over JJ in this scenario.

So trading Rust and signing Tanev would have been a better move?
- TheGame316

Here’s the thing: we didn’t have to do either. This is why GMJR has overstayed his welcome here. We’re to the point of judging his moves based on what other worse moves he won’t make now because he made this move. Same thing as a hypothetical JJ trade. He didn’t have to get Matheson to trade JJ. Trading JJ is a no brainer regardless of who we are or aren’t bringing in at LD. Yet we all know the only way he considers trading JJ is if he brings in another overpaid bottom pairing D man he loves even more

"The system in Pittsburgh, for me, was a little bit – obviously, I had to do other stuff," Kahun said earlier this month. "Here, the hockey is more fun for me again. Obviously I want to win more games with Buffalo, but just to play my game, play with the puck and make plays. That’s for sure more fun for me right now."
Trading JJ right now for anything isn’t a smart trade? I disagree. it was a mistake to sign him for sure but I think we can all agree moving him is in our best interest.
All I’m saying is the man wants to make trades so bad other gm’s know that and throw their junk at him. You would be lying if you said you would offer a gm like Chiarelli anything of value. We are in a bad place right now cap wise for sure, however my point is you don’t know anything about that is going on in the GM world right now.
- Chuck-Norris

Kudos, you can copy a quote from the article about HOW THE TRADE BLINDSIDED HIM. (frank) off, you're a joke.

You can disagree all you want, you inability to read and comprehend anything gives your opinion zero value. Trading JJ doesn't make it a smart trade. Any moron knows to trade JJ. Doing that after his many consecutive years of failure isn't a smart move, its a given move.

Here’s the thing: we didn’t have to do either. This is why GMJR has overstayed his welcome here. We’re to the point of judging his moves based on what other worse moves he won’t make now because he made this move. Same thing as a hypothetical JJ trade. He didn’t have to get Matheson to trade JJ. Trading JJ is a no brainer regardless of we are or aren’t bringing in at LD. Yet we all know the only way he considers trading JJ is if he brings in another overpaid bottom pairing D man he loves even more
- Victoro311

Yup. The defense, minus Johnson, is more than a formidable group. That money could have gone towards shoring up either a quality LW for the 3rd line or a quality 3C via trade somehow.

The Pens really didn't need to do much.

Rutherford as GM for the Pens reminds me of the movie Butterfly Effect if anyone remembers that film. He makes a bad move, but each time he tries to correct he does something more stupid and makes things worse.

What a baby... Good Riddance
- TheGame316

Why is he a baby? He can be mad about being requested to waive his NTC and doing so to not become hated by management. The GM wanted him out... he accepted it but doesn't have to like it. Much better than going on a twitter rant or posting some crap to his instagram tearing about JR (as much as we would love JR getting shredded).

Why is he a baby? He can be mad about being requested to waive his NTC and doing so to not become hated by management. The GM wanted him out... he accepted it but doesn't have to like it.
- Guile

I'm pretty sure they didn't ask him until after the deal was negotiated either. If a player has an NTC you do the right thing. Approach the player, say look, we don't want to move you, but we need to make some major changes and we'd like to explore other options for you. Are you ok with this?

Just answering what assets.

But I’d play Matherson on RD over JJ in this scenario.
- stackthepads

Can we get that cardboard cutout of Brooks Orpik to play over JJ?

I'm pretty sure they didn't ask him until after the deal was negotiated either. If a player has an NTC you do the right thing. Approach the player, say look, we don't want to move you, but we need to make some major changes and we'd like to explore other options for you. Are you ok with this?
- Rinosaur

Its very rare for a player to be happy about waiving a NTC or NMC. They want those because they enjoy the team and location and want to stay there.

Its very rare for a player to be happy about waiving a NTC or NMC. They want those because they enjoy the team and location and want to stay there.
- Guile

That's part of it, but I think in general it's just so they have some control in their future. Regardless, you don't work the deal, have it all ready to go and then go ask the player. Let the player know this is going on.

JR is cleverly setting up the Pens to tank for the 2022 draft. I have no idea who the top dog in that one is, but he probably already knows it's next Sid. He's ten steps ahead of everyone. That kid will play with Sid and Geno... CUP
- Rinosaur

That draft is loaded. Wright. Savoie. Lambert.

That's part of it, but I think in general it's just so they have some control in their future. Regardless, you don't work the deal, have it all ready to go and then go ask the player. Let the player know this is going on.
- Rinosaur

I legit think JR had the deal mostly done before asking... but only because its JR and I hate how hes done deals the last three years.