Goaltending Prospect Filip Gustavsson viewed around the league as a significant trade asset
Penguins GM Jim Rutherford appeared on 937 The Fan in a wide ranging interview that delved into several topics. Here are six Takeaways from the Rutherford interview on the Cook and Poni Show. LINK TO INTERVIEW 1. Cullen return in play? [hide] Rutherford was quickly asked during the interview about Matt Cullen and let’s just say, it’s something the Penguins are not pursuing now but will keep on the table as the deadline inches closer. On Matt Cullen: “I can’t talk about players on other teams. Everybody’s well aware of what he did in Pittsburgh……. He’s one of the closest players to me,” said Rutherford. [/hide] 2. On Adding a third line center: Rutherford said today one deal fell through
Pens-Sharks fallout: Vintage Murray, Rust Impact Night, Cole-Oleksiak Pairing Struggles & More Buzz
Penguins 5 – Sharks 2 PIT LEADERS Matt Murray | 40 Saves, .952 SV% Evgeni Malkin | 3 Goals (26) Bryan Rust | 2 Goals (6), 1 Assist The Pittsburgh Penguins were outshot 42-31 by San Jose but a big night from Matt Murray with a 40 save performance and an opportunistic offensive night saw the Penguins come away with a 5-2 win over the Sharks as the Penguins keep on rolling, now 9-3 in January and currently in second place in the Metropolitan Division. — The big story of the night for the Penguins was Matt Murray’s performance. This was vintage Murray. He was big in the net, his angles were very good, an area that was a bit
Latest Pens Buzz: Murray back in goal; RH center search; Matt Cullen & Lineup Buzz
Murray to start vs San Jose Matt Murray who last played in relief on January 8th, will make his first start tonight vs the San Jose Sharks since the passing of his father. The top priority for the Penguins coaching staff moving forward is getting Murray back to form. As Murray has gone through the grieving process, the Penguins 8-3 in January have rode the hot hand of Casey DeSmith recently who is 3-1 with a .944 save percentage in the Penguins last four games. DeSmith’s emergence has given Pittsburgh the luxury of returning Tristan Jarry to Wilkes Barre and let him handle a starters workload in the minors. The combo of DeSmith/Jarry as back-up options also takes Pittsburgh out
Rumblings: Count Penguin star’ players among those involved in the Heavy Recruitment of John Tavares
NHL All-Star weekend in Tampa Bay saw the recruitment of John Tavares from multiple star players in full steam. And it’s going to continue as July 1 inches closer. If Tavares leaves the New York Islanders, it won’t be because of money where the Islanders are already prepared to put an 8 year offer worth at least $12-$13 million per season on the table for when Tavares and his agent Pat Brisson are ready to discuss numbers, something that won’t happen until the summer. Tavares is extremely loyal to the Islanders organization but the recruitment of Tavares this weekend was so strong because of a belief from NHL executives and players close to Tavares that he is wide open to
Latest Pens Buzz: Scoring Surge, Cole Latest, Sprong & Rick Nash Trade Market
The Pittsburgh Penguins went into the All-Star break Thursday night in making a mockery of the Minnesota Wild with a 6-3 win on 80’s night. With just over two months left in the regular season, here come the Penguins who are 8-3 in January, back to playing a high-end offensive brand of hockey, a relentless puck pursuit game and that Sidney Crosby guy is creeping up the NHL Points leaderboard. Crosby who had 35 points in his first 40 games of the season, now has 20 points in 11 games this month and has been an assist machine with 17 helpers during that span. Crosby’s goal totals are down this season but he’s on pace to smash his assist totals
Penguins X’s & O’s: Youth Shines, Top-Lines excel defensively in forcing poor zone entries from Hurricanes
Penguins 3 – Hurricanes 1 GAME LEADERS Casey DeSmith | 34 Saves, .971 SV% J.S. Dea | Goal (1), 1 SOG, 5:35 TOI Dominik Simon | Goal (2), 3 SOG, 10:52 TOI Sidney Crosby | Assist, 1 SOG, 72.7 FO% Jake Guentzel | Goal (15), 1 SOG, 9:40 TOI Since the Carolina Hurricanes embarrassed the Penguins on Pittsburgh’s home ice in early January, the Penguins are now 6-3. The Hurricanes by contrast are slowly falling out of the playoff picture and 2-6 since their win vs Pittsburgh on Jan 4. What we saw tonight in the Penguins 3-1 win at the PPG Paints Arena was how much the Penguins have improved in certain areas since they were a floundering club
Monday’s Practice Buzz: Murray back; Sprong headed back to WBS; D-men Group Now at 8
Monday’s Practice Buzz An emotional Matt Murray thanked the Penguins organization, teammates and fans for the support he’s received since the passing of his father. [hide] “I just want to say a big thanks, first of all, to Pittsburgh,” Murray said with tears in his eyes after practice. “The team did a lot for me, helping me get home. I also want to say thanks to my teammates.” Every grieves at their own pace and the Penguins told Murray to take as much time as he needed. Murray: “Hockey definitely took a back seat for a couple days, but when you’re out there, it’s kind of a sanctuary.” pic.twitter.com/OFBO3J6sdD — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 22, 2018 From coaches to
Latest Pens Buzz: Sullivan’s handling of Cole, DeSmith, Pacioretty Trade Chatter & More
TIOPS LATEST *Trending up, out of a playoff spot* *Should DeSmith start vs Carolina?* *Private Trade Demand impacting Cole’s role?* *Specific Asking price for Pacioretty coming into focus* Flyers move into playoff spot The Pittsburgh Penguins lost 2 of 3 on their West Coast trip, but the defending Stanley Cup champions continue to trend up in how the way they’re playing is starting to look like the Penguins of the past two seasons. Saturday’s loss to the Sharks was another fast paced game by the Penguins in how they out-skated the Sharks for long stretches, something that was missing the first three months of the season. Over the Penguins last eight games they are +49 in scoring chances during 5-on-5
Industry Chatter: A look at why the Penguins have been front & center recently in trying to swing trade for Mark Letestu
Story Highlights *Personnel Decisions from LA Win *On the Sheahan/Kessel fit *Penguins in deep trade talks for Center *Sharks Tierney one trade scenario that got away? *Insight on why staff favors Hunwick over Cole The Pittsburgh Penguins in a back-to-back situation turned to Casey DeSmith in goal and Pittsburgh came away with a 3-1 win over the Kings on Thursday. Mike Sullivan has been lukewarm about playing DeSmith at any point and what do you know, DeSmith backstopped the Penguins to victory in making 28 saves and flashed very good side-to-side quickness. He was peppered in the first period as Pittsburgh was out-shot 11-3 in period one but unlike Jonathan Quick, DeSmith avoided letting soft goals win and the Penguins got
Rumors: Sabres turned down offer from Penguins for Kane, letting market play out
Penguins moving on from Kane? Penguins GM Jim Rutherford earlier this month made his annual push to make a splash well before the trade deadline. NHL sources confirm the Buffalo Sabres turned down a legitimate [hide] offer from the Penguins for Evander Kane. Pittsburgh and Buffalo ratcheted up talks just after the New Year as the two sides have had back and forth discussions on multiple players and not just Kane. “Evander Kane is one of the players that Jim Rutherford has been talking to Jason Botterill, his former employee about,” TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported this week, further confirming the Kane trade talks.” The Penguins, though, stepped up with a formal offer, a source says, that included a young roster