Ryan Wilson: Mailbag: Free agent guesses, Murray, Fleury, Johnson vs Adams Mailbag: Free agent guesses, Murray, Fleury, Johnson vs Adams

19 Adams all day. Johnson would never get a shot on net.

19 Adams all day. Johnson would never get a shot on net.
- Grinder47

Agreed. Adams would block enough shots until JJ gave up a breakaway.

I asked what the people wanted me to ask. You’re welcome.

question: is this Rutherford's last year as Pens GM? How much longer can he be allowed to swing and miss?

I wouldn’t mind getting Shattenkirk if the price is right, but if given the option I’m hoping someone like a Dylan Demelo or Trevor van Riemsdyk is available at a better sticker price. I feel like either would be a good bargain at 3RD and an upgrade over Ruh.

We can only hope and pray that either poj or lee perform so damn well they usurp jj’s position. Or maybe Wilson will knock him out idk.

We can only hope and pray that either poj or lee perform so damn well they usurp jj’s position. Or maybe Wilson will knock him out idk.
- 10inchTerror

JJ would never fight Wilson. I kind of think JJ can’t wait for his career to be over.

question: is this Rutherford's last year as Pens GM? How much longer can he be allowed to swing and miss?
- Coburns_Nose

It's fairly irrelevant at this point when you consider this could very well be the last season the Pens are a legitimate contender. Maybe another GM could come in for the 21/22 season and do some massive instant overhaul, but that's probably asking a lot.

The next GM will likely be the GM who transitions the Pens in their attempts to be a bubble team until Sid retires.

It's fairly irrelevant at this point when you consider this could very well be the last season the Pens are a legitimate contender. Maybe another GM could come in for the 21/22 season and do some massive instant overhaul, but that's probably asking a lot.

The next GM will likely be the GM who transitions the Pens in their attempts to be a bubble team until Sid retires.
- Rinosaur

They aren’t legit contenders bud.

They aren’t legit contenders bud.
- Feds91Stammer

Regardless, firing JR is pointless at this juncture. If they were going to do it they should have this season. Bringing in a new GM could have righted some wrongs and put them in a position to contend, but it's too late now.

Regardless, firing JR is pointless at this juncture. If they were going to do it they should have this season. Bringing in a new GM could have righted some wrongs and put them in a position to contend, but it's too late now.
- Rinosaur

Yes you are in post 2009 red wings territory.

Yes you are in post 2009 red wings territory.
- Feds91Stammer

In general I’m fine with it because Sid and Geno have cemented their legacy with three Cups and I’m happy to see them play out the rest of their days and retire here even if it means putting off a necessary rebuild, but it’s also insanely frustrating to know that we could/should still be competing and self sabotage closed our window prematurely. We didn’t have to go this rout, we chose to.

Yeah, it's so hard to gauge value right now because of everything. I feel there will be no consistency in what happens this off-season.
- Rinosaur

The thing with DeMelo is probably 80% or more of the blogs/articles looking at RHD list him as a top choice, but all act like he's under the radar. Everyone knows him by now and he only helped himself by playing well in Winnipeg proving he wasn't just being carried by Chabot.

This is from Vensel:

A few #NHLAwards tidbits:
- Malkin was 10th in Hart voting
- Marino was 8th in Calder voting
- Jarry received one Vezina vote
- No #Pens on all-NHL teams but Rust got as many votes as Ovi at RW

In general I’m fine with it because Sid and Geno have cemented their legacy with three Cups and I’m happy to see them play out the rest of their days and retire here even if it means putting off a necessary rebuild, but it’s also insanely frustrating to know that we could/should still be competing and self sabotage closed our window prematurely. We didn’t have to go this rout, we chose to.
- Victoro311

This is the part that sucks.

In general I’m fine with it because Sid and Geno have cemented their legacy with three Cups and I’m happy to see them play out the rest of their days and retire here even if it means putting off a necessary rebuild, but it’s also insanely frustrating to know that we could/should still be competing and self sabotage closed our window prematurely. We didn’t have to go this rout, we chose to.
- Victoro311

JR is following the Holland post dynastyish era handbook perfectly. Continuously pissing away futures and mismanaging assets to keep the dream alive while never actually being a contender. As long as you accept that you can at least enjoy Sid geno and letang ride off into the sunset.

JJ would never fight Wilson. I kind of think JJ can’t wait for his career to be over.
- Grinder47

Doesn’t need to fight him. I’m fine with some serious boarding or some head shots.

JR is following the Holland post dynastyish era handbook perfectly. Continuously pissing away futures and mismanaging assets to keep the dream alive while never actually being a contender. As long as you accept that you can at least enjoy Sid geno and letang ride off into the sunset.
- Feds91Stammer

Pissing away futures is one thing, but when it comes down to the fact simply REMOVING one player would affect the team's success so profoundly.

They aren’t legit contenders bud.
- Feds91Stammer

You couldn't be more right Feds. Unfortunately, that hasn't stopped people on the site being so happy that the Pens trade away first round picks and young players and not trade #58 for first rounders or young players because they don't want to believe the run is over. So they just keep fooling themselves!

You couldn't be more right Feds. Unfortunately, that hasn't stopped people on the site being so happy that the Pens trade away first round picks and young players and not trade #58 for first rounders or young players because they don't want to believe the run is over. So they just keep fooling themselves!
- stevens87

I'd rather see Geno, Sid and Letang all retire in the black and yellow than trade any one of them for any packages to try and keep them "afloat" ala Datsyuk/Z Red Wings, unless they ask to be traded. I'm good with some dark days. I've seen 5 cups and I think it's cool to see elite players close out their careers on the teams where it all started.

I'd rather see Geno, Sid and Letang all retire in the black and yellow than trade any one of them for any packages to try and keep them "afloat" ala Datsyuk/Z Red Wings, unless they ask to be traded. I'm good with some dark days. I've seen 5 cups and I think it's cool to see elite players close out their careers on the teams where it all started.
- j.boyd919

You're good with it until it's happening, then not so much. I just can't believe that if a team gave you a decent offer for Letang you wouldn't take it. A 33 year old hasn't been good in the playoffs since 2016. Three bad years in a row and ,of course, 2017 when he watch his teammates win him another ring.

Crosby is a generational player who should play his whole career with the Pens. Malkin to a lesser extent. Letang? Nowhere near those two.

Did anyone see that Sid won an Emmy? I'm not big on all that crap but I came across this, Its pretty cool.

https://youtu.be/zhys4KOUWMA

I'd rather see Geno, Sid and Letang all retire in the black and yellow than trade any one of them for any packages to try and keep them "afloat" ala Datsyuk/Z Red Wings, unless they ask to be traded. I'm good with some dark days. I've seen 5 cups and I think it's cool to see elite players close out their careers on the teams where it all started.
- j.boyd919

We are going to find out pretty soon how much Malkin and Letang value retiring Penguins as they are two years out from FA meaning next summer they can start negotiating new deals.

They have both been at the top end of pay their whole careers with Pittsburgh, so we haven't seen a hometown discount yet.

They don't need to work for free but I think it would be a show of good faith if they both took $1-2M off their AAV. If they won't take any discount whatsoever, then get some value back for them.

I'd love to see them stay and the team stay competitive, but I'd rather the Pens do what they can to retool and stay competitive than ride with Malkin and Letang into darkness.

We are going to find out pretty soon how much Malkin and Letang value retiring Penguins as they are two years out from FA meaning next summer they can start negotiating new deals.

They have both been at the top end of pay their whole careers with Pittsburgh, so we haven't seen a hometown discount yet.

They don't need to work for free but I think it would be a show of good faith if they both took $1-2M off their AAV. If they won't take any discount whatsoever, then get some value back for them.

I'd love to see them stay and the team stay competitive, but I'd rather the Pens do what they can to retool and stay competitive than ride with Malkin and Letang into darkness.
- MacPatty

The only reason Sids cap hit is lower is because he was able to be given a 12 year deal. After that the league capped the max years at 8.