One of the posts in the comments of the Kings blog said "Sam Bennett (Kunitz 2.0)" hahah...had a good chuckle at that.

One of the posts in the comments of the Kings blog said "Sam Bennett (Kunitz 2.0)" hahah...had a good chuckle at that.
- MattStrat

Bennett is nothing special.

One of the posts in the comments of the Kings blog said "Sam Bennett (Kunitz 2.0)" hahah...had a good chuckle at that.
- MattStrat

Extremely disrespectful to Kunitz.

One of the posts in the comments of the Kings blog said "Sam Bennett (Kunitz 2.0)" hahah...had a good chuckle at that.
- MattStrat

Sam Bennett sucks balls.

One of the posts in the comments of the Kings blog said "Sam Bennett (Kunitz 2.0)" hahah...had a good chuckle at that.
- MattStrat

You know I’ve been known to try to make Sam Bennett happen myself, but Christ balls.

You know I’ve been known to try to make Sam Bennett happen myself, but Christ balls.
- Victoro311

Ive been kinda warm on acquiring Bennett at times too but to put him in the same league as Kunitz is ridiculous.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ve-penguins-organization/

Rutherford admits to leaving because of a disagreement, but won't say with whom or what it is. Also says that no one tried to offer anything for Sid...

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/jim-rutherford-made-sudden-move-leave-penguins-organization/

Rutherford admits to leaving because of a disagreement, but won't say with whom or what it is. Also says that no one tried to offer anything for Sid...
- Beatnic57

Full story will come out one day. I think it has a lot to do with Rutherford not being offered an extention and ownership liminting his ability to make moves (since perhaps they had no intention of extending him)

Question is, If this team makes the cup final, or wins, as constructed, with Hextall's only move being the trade for Carter - How does that reflect on Rutherfords tenure and exit. Given it would clearly still be HIS team?

Full story will come out one day. I think it has a lot to do with Rutherford not being offered an extention and ownership liminting his ability to make moves (since perhaps they had no intention of extending him)

Question is, If this team makes the cup final, or wins, as constructed, with Hextall's only move being the trade for Carter - How does that reflect on Rutherfords tenure and exit. Given it would clearly still be HIS team?
- TheGame316

I think that is a great question. But if you look at how the season progresses for the Pens after Rutherford left... people are already giving credit to GMHex and Burke, and they only grabbed Friedman off of waivers.

I think that is a great question. But if you look at how the season progresses for the Pens after Rutherford left... people are already giving credit to GMHex and Burke, and they only grabbed Friedman off of waivers.
- Beatnic57

But i think you could pretty confidently say that GMJR would have made about 6 trades to change the team, including probably one Higher value player...such as mccann or dumo. So making virtually no changes, is changing what GMJR's team would have been.

Full story will come out one day. I think it has a lot to do with Rutherford not being offered an extention and ownership liminting his ability to make moves (since perhaps they had no intention of extending him)

Question is, If this team makes the cup final, or wins, as constructed, with Hextall's only move being the trade for Carter - How does that reflect on Rutherfords tenure and exit. Given it would clearly still be HIS team?
- TheGame316

Easy. Rutherford built the team. Carter added by Hextall. But they ain't gonna go to the cup so lets not get in our feels. I'd definitely give GMJR the credit for this season.

But i think you could pretty confidently say that GMJR would have made about 6 trades to change the team, including probably one Higher value player...such as mccann or dumo. So making virtually no changes, is changing what GMJR's team would have been.
- joecool2931

lol true.

I think that is a great question. But if you look at how the season progresses for the Pens after Rutherford left... people are already giving credit to GMHex and Burke, and they only grabbed Friedman off of waivers.
- Beatnic57

I think a few things are obvious:

1. The players on this team had no respect for him.

2. He would have made 5 different moves already, we would likely have given up POJ and a 1st for Taylor Hall. The moves you don't make are important too.

3. I honestly think this became a Sully vs JR thing. I believe JRs next move was to fire Sully but the team/players were not on board with that.

If the Pens win the cup this year though, I think Carter will have to be a big part of it... that is a deal JR would not have pulled off.

Full story will come out one day. I think it has a lot to do with Rutherford not being offered an extention and ownership liminting his ability to make moves (since perhaps they had no intention of extending him)

Question is, If this team makes the cup final, or wins, as constructed, with Hextall's only move being the trade for Carter - How does that reflect on Rutherfords tenure and exit. Given it would clearly still be HIS team?
- TheGame316

JR definitely gets credit for those first 2 Stanley cups. But he also deserves criticism for taking a Stanley cup team and neutering it.

It’s blatantly obvious ownership wants to be more conservative with trading their picks/prospects in order to get a head start on a reboot/rebuild

But i think you could pretty confidently say that GMJR would have made about 6 trades to change the team, including probably one Higher value player...such as mccann or dumo. So making virtually no changes, is changing what GMJR's team would have been.
- joecool2931

Lol, yea we'd probably have at least 3 different players that would have made the team worse.

Full story will come out one day. I think it has a lot to do with Rutherford not being offered an extention and ownership liminting his ability to make moves (since perhaps they had no intention of extending him)

Question is, If this team makes the cup final, or wins, as constructed, with Hextall's only move being the trade for Carter - How does that reflect on Rutherfords tenure and exit. Given it would clearly still be HIS team?
- TheGame316

If we won the Cup he would deserve a ring.

But i think you could pretty confidently say that GMJR would have made about 6 trades to change the team, including probably one Higher value player...such as mccann or dumo. So making virtually no changes, is changing what GMJR's team would have been.
- joecool2931

I agree. I’m glad Rutherford is gone and I’d put money on us being in a much worse spot right now if he were here making random ass trades. That said, all (Carter hasn’t played a game yet) of the positive impact moves made from last season to this one were made by him. He gets credit, if only because he wasn’t here long enough to undo the good with more bad.

I agree. I’m glad Rutherford is gone and I’d put money on us being in a much worse spot right now if he were here making random ass trades. That said, all (Carter hasn’t played a game yet) of the positive impact moves made from last season to this one were made by him. He gets credit, if only because he wasn’t here long enough to undo the good with more bad.
- Victoro311

That last part is so true. Hextall being calm and evaluating the team for 2 months before making a move resulted letting a team build chemistry and showcase its best assets. Jim would have been too rash and we would be stuck with a guy like Turris or something.

Sam Bennett sucks balls.
- j.boyd919

I do like that when Bennett drops the gloves he’s in it to knock someone out or get knocked out. I’m sure he’s held on high regard by anyone he plays with.

I agree. I’m glad Rutherford is gone and I’d put money on us being in a much worse spot right now if he were here making random ass trades. That said, all (Carter hasn’t played a game yet) of the positive impact moves made from last season to this one were made by him. He gets credit, if only because he wasn’t here long enough to undo the good with more bad.
- Victoro311

Maybe

but at the end of the day, with GMJR's "team" (and a slew of injuries) The Pens are 9th in the entire league right now, 1 win out of 5th and 2 wins out of 2nd (and thats with games in hand over some teams and few freebie OT loss points)

People can b1tch about all the moves, could haves and should haves, but it's obviously a very good roster

Maybe

but at the end of the day, with GMJR's "team" (and a slew of injuries) The Pens are 9th in the entire league right now, 1 win out of 5th and 2 wins out of 2nd (and thats with games in hand over some teams and few freebie OT loss points)

People can b1tch about all the moves, could haves and should haves, but it's obviously a very good roster
- TheGame316

I disagree with the last part. I don’t think the roster is really very good. I think a lot of guys are playing above their means, and that’s a huge credit to those guys and the coaching staff. Hopefully they can continue to play above themselves into and through the playoffs and give us a fun run.

The over/under for goals by Carter tonight against his former team is 2.

Maybe

but at the end of the day, with GMJR's "team" (and a slew of injuries) The Pens are 9th in the entire league right now, 1 win out of 5th and 2 wins out of 2nd (and thats with games in hand over some teams and few freebie OT loss points)

People can b1tch about all the moves, could haves and should haves, but it's obviously a very good roster
- TheGame316

Doesn't mean poop till they win a playoff series. 1-10 in their last 11 playoff games.

Doesn't mean poop till they win a playoff series. 1-10 in their last 11 playoff games.
- j.boyd919

11 games is a super small sample size....

How about in the last 4 years of actual playoffs, last year (August) wasn't playoffs, they're 36-23

I do like that when Bennett drops the gloves he’s in it to knock someone out or get knocked out. I’m sure he’s held on high regard by anyone he plays with.
- Grinder47

The problem with a player like Sam Bennett is not realizing what he is. He's not a top-nine forward in any capacity and is paid like one. He's a fourth line player. No more. No less. I feared him being brought in here with the idea he could slot next to Geno and find success.