Rumors: Release or Extension for Big Ben in 2021?

Release or Extension for Big Ben in 2021? The Pittsburgh Steelers brass has been operating for several months under the mindset that an extension for Ben Roethlisberger after the 2020 season was going to be inevitable compared to the alternative of being released or retired. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported prior to Monday Night’s game that Roethlisberger has all intentions of returning in 2021 and that’s how the Steelers internally have been operating. However, has the last couple weeks completely changed the situation? It’s a valid question as the Steelers brass see’s what everyone else see’s right now.   If the rest of the season plays out like the last couple weeks and Ben Roethlisberger holds firm on wanting to return in

Rumors: Penguins continue to hold high asking price for Casey DeSmith

  Latest on Casey DeSmith As the NHL trade deadline inches closer, [hide] Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is said to continue to hold a high asking price for 28 year old goaltender Casey DeSmith, multiple NHL sources say. Feeling no pressure to move DeSmith prior to the deadline, Pittsburgh has placed a value of a third round pick on DeSmith, according to one Eastern Conference executive, who called the asking price ‘excessive’. DeSmith has two years left on his contract with a $1.25 million cap hit. He is 15-11-2 with a .905 SV% in Wilkes Barre/Scranton this season.[/hide]

Rumors: Pat Narduzzi to receive a 2 year extension?

Pitt Officials discussing another extension for Narduzzi [hide] Pat Narduzzi on Wednesday squashed rumors about the Michigan State opening. The rumors squash them, whatever you want to call them,” Narduzzi said. “I’m here at Pitt, I want to be here at Pitt. That’s where I want to be.” That said, Pitt officials were scrambling with the sudden news of the Michigan State job becoming open. In fact Narduzzi is in position to work this into an extension where whispers among high-profile donors is that Narduzzi is likely to receive a two year extension that would extend his contract through 2026. [/hide]

Rumors: Pens, Sabres talked Galchenyuk – Vesey swap?

Tick-Tock on Alex Galchenyuk’s Future in PIT Penguins GM Jim Rutherford has soured on winger Alex Galchenyuk to the point that Rutherford has informed rival teams of his hope to move Galchenyuk by the middle of January, at the latest, one s[hide]ource alluded to. Pittsburgh’s coaching staff no longer believes Galchenyuk can fill a top-6 role and the feeling on Galchenyuk among coaches and the front office is that Galchenyuk is a player in the present and future without a fit. The most likely scenario at the moment Galchenyuk was acquired is that he would have a short stay in Pittsburgh and become trade bait than a player who would help move the needle this season. That is now playing

Post-Trade Deadline Buzz: Penguins have planted seeds for a summer Kessel trade

Penguins Post-Trade Deadline Buzz [hide] The Pittsburgh Penguins did not aggressively put Phil Kessel back on the market in the days leading up to the deadline. But, what the team has tried to do is plant seeds for a summer trade. Based on the actions behind the scenes in pursuing deals for Kessel at varying points since the summer, league executives have indicated for months that Kessel is likely in his last season in Pittsburgh. What the Penguins have quietly done is try to evaluate what the market will be in the summer. A trade market for Kessel has and will be complicated due to his reputation (which I feel is unfair) among coaches of being very difficult to coach.

Post-Trade Deadline Buzz: Penguins thought they had a deal in place to re-acquire Carl Hagelin

Post Penguins Trade Deadline Buzz An odd situation has emerged out of the trade deadline in that the Penguins not only tried to re-acquire Carl Hagelin, the team thought they had a deal in place to acquire Hagelin from the Kings just prior to Hagelin being traded to the Washington Capitals. What makes this so odd is when Hagelin was traded on Nov 28, it was crystal clear in the CBA that’s been around since 2013 that the Penguins would not be eligible to trade for Hagelin again this year since the team retained $250,000 of his salary. Yet, no one from either team initially realized [hide] this as two league sources confirm reporting from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. “In the

Latest Pens Buzz: Future of Tristan Jarry in PIT; 3rd Line center search back to Ottawa?

What the DeSmith Extension Means Casey DeSmith’s three year contract was a no-brainer for the 27 year old netminder. Maybe DeSmith could have got a few hundred thousand more on the open market, but for a player who has never been on a one-way contract, the security of a one-way contract for three seasons is significant. For the Penguins, there’s little risk with this extension and the three year commitment shows they are sold on DeSmith being a high-level backup caliber goaltender moving forward. “Since joining the Penguins’ organization, Casey has excelled for us at every level, first in Wheeling and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and now here in Pittsburgh,” GM Jim Rutherford said Friday in a released statement. “We’re pleased to have

Latest Pens Buzz: Penguins-Hurricanes exchanging names in Ferland trade talks?

Latest Penguins Trade Deadline Buzz As the Penguins are surging, is Jim Rutherford looking to strike again well before the deadline? As some targets the Penguins have kicked tires on won’t truly become available till next month, there’s one scenario to monitor already. [hide] It’s the Penguins pursuit of Hurricanes winger Micheal Ferland (6-2, 208). There’s been a lot of smoke surrounding the Penguins and Ferland for weeks now. NHL insiders Craig Custance, Elliotte Friedman among those to throw the Penguins out as a landing spot over the last little while. And things are in fact heating up a bit between these two clubs, industry sources say. As contract talks have stalled, Carolina over the last week has begun taking

Rumors: Penguins showing interest in a deal of at least 4 years for Bryan Rust?

Penguins GM Jim Rutherford talked at his season ending press conference last month of the Penguins having trade assets other teams would want when it comes to likely changes with the roster this summer. 26 year old winger Bryan Rust, a pending restricted free agent (technically a year away from unrestricted free agency), would be at the top of the list of non-core players on the roster who carry high trade value. The Penguins coaching staff, though, wants to add more players like Rust, who play a speed/2-way game and Pittsburgh’s belief that Rust has sustained trade value into his mid-late 20’s is leading to the Penguins eyeing a new deal with Rust of at least [hide] four years, sources

Latest Pens Buzz: Penguins are open for business on Kris Letang

Where are Things Headed Between the Penguins, Letang? As stated here for months, Penguins General Manager Jim Rutherford has three untouchables on his roster: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Matt Murray. There are some others who are 100% going nowhere this off-season and pretty much unavailable like Brian Dumoulin who Penguin coaches regard as the clubs best defenseman, Jake Guentzel is another one who is tremendous value for one more season on an entry level contract and of course Patric Hornqvist who begins a new 5 year contract next season. For others like Phil Kessel and Kris Letang, vital members of the team, the Penguins are wide open for business on them. Basically where things stand for both is the