Penguins/NHL
[TIOPS HEADLINES]
[Johnson seen by management as potentially taking tough minutes away from Letang]
[How the Johnson signing ended the ability to sign Grabner]
[Neal camp approached Penguins about a return?]
[Dominik Simon part of coaching staff’s plans]
[Cullen expecting to play a lot of wing]
Latest Pens Buzz
— Jim Rutherford drove the bus in signing Johnson, sources say. This wasn’t some consensus organizational decision that Jack Johnson is the answer to the Penguins solidifying their top-4.
Rutherford see’s something the rest of the hockey world doesn’t as the Penguins negotiated against themselves for Johnson as he had a one year offer from the Anaheim Ducks and was in discussions on a two year deal with the Detroit Red Wings as a fallback plan if Mike Green signed elsewhere.
Montreal expressed interest at the draft but were quickly told the player would not consider playing in Montreal.
Pittsburgh not only see’s Johnson fitting into a second-pairing role, I’m told one prominent member of the organization (not the coaching staff) has looked at tape of Johnson and see’s signs of Johnson being able to play the right side in a potential top pairing role with Brian Dumoulin, to free up some defensive responsibilities for Kris Letang.
The signing will be fascinating on how it plays out in the short-term and the long-run.
Jim Rutherford may end up being the smartest man in the building or not………..
— The signing has executives around the league scratching their head in how Pittsburgh was willing to do this type of contract with Jack Johnson but they weren’t willing to make the Ian Cole relationship work last season.
Prior to the start of last season Rutherford told one of the local papers that he was thinking of signing Cole before the season. Pittsburgh ended up never making an offer before the season, sources say, and we obviously know where things went from there.
I checked in with the Ian Cole camp and they bluntly told me [hide] hypothetically if Pittsburgh approached them last fall with an offer similar to the Jack Johnson contract, there would have been little negotiation from their end.
“He loved Pittsburgh,” the source said of Cole who landed a three year deal with Colorado on July 1.
What the Penguins did and didn’t do last summer makes this Johnson signing even more interesting from throwing Cole to the side as the 2017-2018 progressed, to signing Matt Hunwick for three years but not willing to do a three year, $9 million contract with Trevor Daley last summer and so on.
Another sidebar to all of this, you have to wonder what Mike Sullivan really thinks of the signing.
Sullivan and John Tortorella are not only best friends, Sullivan thinks the world of Tortorella as a hockey evaluator.
— When you have Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin with a Stanley Cup window of realistically 3-4 years left, every roster spot has value when it comes to the cap.
That’s why you don’t negotiate against your self like the Penguins did with the Johnson signing in going five years.
What’s been interesting in hearing from agents is what the Penguins also had cooking prior to the team agreeing to terms with Johnson on Wednesday, June 27.
Michael Grabner was very, very interested in signing with the Penguins, even met with the organization on Monday the 25th, but once the Penguins went ahead with Johnson, things got dead quiet from the Penguins end with Grabner’s agent Jerry Buckley.
The Grabner camp To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Meanwhile, If the Penguins wanted to go bold when they opened $5.25 million in cap space briefly with the Sheary, I’m told Pittsburgh had information during the interview period that To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Some other rumblings out there is that the coaching staff had a desire for the organization to pursue PTo read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
— Dominik Simon has a lot more support on the Penguins coaching staff than even realized. He’s part of their plans next season and right now pegged as one of their 12 regulars.
Told assistant coach Mark Recchi see’s a ton of ability in Simon and Pittsburgh remains intrigued about Simon’s ability to play with Sidney Crosby.
One edge Simon, Zach Aston-Reese have over Daniel Sprong entering next season is the trust of the coaching staff.[/hide]
— Matt Cullen has been told the preliminary plan is to start him next season on left wing with Riley Sheahan as the fourth line center. Of course it’s early July and things can change with the personnel but that’s where things stand in regards to how the roster is currently constructed.
— For the second straight summer, the Penguins DID NOT MAKE Chris Kunitz an offer. Any talk of the Penguins having interest in him was agent driven I’m told. There was not much consideration from the Penguins end.
To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Is there still black lives matter movement going in the states or that faze finally cooled off?
Maybe Marian Hossa joined the movement when he played for Montreal.
Obvious you know only 1 hossa names. Marcel does it ring a bell ah it’s true your hockey started in 08 when Marian joined pens that’s when you got to know who he is
They’re idiots. It’s obvious to me when NPL mentioned bummer, no Hossa to Montreal, you meant the Hossa that hasn’t played in the NHL since 2008. He’d be a perfect fit for Montreal using your strategy of crap players no longer in the NHL.
LMAO! Guy was fucken garbage over here so why would anyone on this planet want to even discuss him in the wake of his HOFer brothers contract being dumped? Fuckoff
The top pairing is a given with Dumouln and Letang. How do the bottom 4 shake out? Something tells me they want Johnson and Schultz together, but it’s too big a defensive liability if you ask me. Johnson and Schultz are the better skaters of the bottom 4 also, with Maatta by far the worst skater. Can you do Johnson and Maatta and then Schultz with Oleksiak?
Sam makes out with Trumpy Bear.
Reports that the Pens signed Oleksiak to a 3 year deal at 2.1375 AAV? I mean… I like the guy, he played well more than he didn’t and he has the numbers to back this up but this is more than double… anyone else hear anything?
Guess it’s confirmed!
If that’s what they ageed on, wtf was he asking for? $3 a year?
It just gets better… In hilarious les habitant news… simon Despres has been invited to camp.
You can’t make that shit up hahahahahaha. Start drooling sam, it’s even a French last name
Montreal did?
Big rig is resigned for 3 years at 2.1M.
Not bad.
Heard npl signed to the mental hospital for the next 3 years
And only trudeau can visit him during the 3 years
Will Marion Hossa be there or is he still in montreal?
Dave Righetti?
It’s funny, the same guy that thought Weber for 8 years past 30 was a better option than Subban has apparently subtly blamed Max Pac for why the Habs are garbage. What a dip shit, watching Montreal turn into a Springfield tire fire is hilarious and sad… I feel bad for Price
They havent been the same since Marion Hossa left… way back before we were all born.
Did he leave or did Bergevin trade him for some other worthless asset? They’ve been bad for so long it really does feel like Bergevins been there decades
They got screwed by Brent Johnson.
Coming from a guy his oilers been picking 1st overall picks year after year and only made playoffs once since their cup final changed couple dozen coaches. And a fail yakupov, and hall trade .Edmonton turn into Springfield tire fire is hilarious and. Sad. I feel bad for mcdavid
Oh yeah got to love lucic and his contract told you morons be won’t live up to his contract. He will be traded come TD or bought up come summer .
Then you can have tbj drool over lucic to play with sid. A slow dinosaur that skates like poni, and fedotenko
I wanna reply to this but google translate can’t sort it out either…. Lucic to the Habs lol
Lol not once did I ever say a word about Lucic. He’s such a clown.
Ok… see I’m a Penguins fan you dumb fuckk while you’ve made it clear that Montreal is first in your heart.
But while we are on the subject… how much longer do you think the Oilers are gonna be Montreal bad? Even if i entertain this argument you’re gonna lose it, probably, soon lol
McDavid has like 17 years left, Price has what… 5 lol! So you lost that part already dumbfuck
Mcdavid will be like tavares he will see oilers are a miserable organization changing coaches every 2 year or so
Ok…
At least we know shit hole he won’t be interested in… not only are they shit but they’re also French, yuck
On that note, Mclellends on to year 4… swing and a miss
Oh ya, and I’m a Penguin fan, just a reminder dumbfuck
Bummer Montreal didnt get Hossa. Sam would have loved him.
Habs had hossa once but you weren’t born back then
Who wants to tell him?
I hope he is fucken up the way I think he is here… can’t wait for the back pedal after he sorts it out.
Funny, he seems to be a Habs bandwagon fan too lol
Marcel hossa? Rings a bell that’s what thought you weren’t born
Lol you thought it was Marion.
You had to google it… you didnt know the Hossa you had was the bum that flaked out after scoring a whopping 30ish goals while the one worth discussing never played for Montreal did you hahaha
WTF are you talking about? Ottawa is not Montreal.
The Chicago Blackhawks traded Marian Hossa’s contract, forward Vinnie Hinostroza, defenseman Jordan Oesterle and a 2019 third-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for forwards Marcus Kruger, MacKenzie Entwistle, Jordan Maletta, defenseman Andrew Campbell, and a 2019 fifth-round pick, the team announced Thursday.
Fuckingg Arizona!!! Yet another eating of a contract? What a bullshit franchise, time to pull the fucken plug here. Pronger, Datsyuk and now Hossa all escaped because of that garbage franchise. We shouldnt have a team that functions as a dumpster for old contracts that cannot be handled by the initial franchise that gave them out. If they cannot ice a functional team and meet the floor with real players than move them to a fucken market that will support them and where they can attract managers that will actually build a team!
Didnt they once have savard contract too
Minute tachuck and ronnick left that team it was a shithole and will stay they same unless they move back to Canada.
I dont understand whats the hard on that jew batman has for teams like Arizona, Phoenix florida, Carolina, he does his best no matter what to keep them there thanks to Canadian teams paying there BS
Arizona is Phoenix.
Bruce Wayne is Jewish?
Lol like Quebec? Didnt that experiment already fail and the team won immediately upon moving to Colorado?
No…. fuckoff
If Hellebuyck‘s season was not a one hit wonder then the Jets got him cheap.
2 years ago he was good too the following season he sucked. Last season he was good so his do to another shitt season or was the soft more luck he had
Yes sam, the 25 year old with 149 total GP has clearly developed an obvious pattern after 3 seasons! Also… it’s “due” you fucken moron
But.but but what about fraud Murray
Lol, so you linking and on again off again “pattern” after 3 seasons is akin to Murray’s lights out game in two seasons vs this years performance hampered by multiple variables?
I get it, you’re fucken stupid and thought me calling out the concept of up and down years not being some kind of predictable pattern after only three seasons would somehow be linked to a tenders overall worth in the same time frame but it’s not.
But, but, but…. yes… you’re a fucken moron sammich
6.17 million per… 6th highest cap hit in the league for the position, also the youngest by far in the top 10
Npl thinks trudeau should be US next president
That would be awesome. Wish he could start yesterday.
Yeah so he can attend every gay parade in the states since he has nothing to do
Well, he did extend the equalization payments as they are currently designed… Quebec is the big winner from that decision. Now you can still take lunchables to your free daycare you leech
Sam thinks Chris Pronger would be a good pickup
Npl thinks dipietro is the ideal back up for fraud Murray
Retired players are more your thing
D can’t even make up an article about “kicking tires” or talking about useless stats that only Sam’s brother Gaydog cares about?
Bergevin agrees to trade Pacioretty to Vancouver in exchange for Daniel Sedins cell number.
Florida suckss so does npl
Florida isnt great, youre right. Unless youre comparing it to Quebec. Then its fantastic.
Creep van city
I was not aware that people called Quebec that. Thanks for sharing that fun fact!
Island of misfit toys
rumours is that max pac won’t start the season with habs and his days are numbered. Hey tbj /stan you may start drooling
Oh yeah didn’t forget to dumbs down this the way you do for every posts
You do know stan and tbj are different people tho… right?
I thought I was Stan?
I was stan once before
I wonder if sam thinks he is Eminem off the drugs… the quality of writing is about the same right now lol
Both tbj and Stan support the acquisition of American hero Max Pacioretty. We feel that he has been held down by the lackluster abilities of his team, management and city and would thrive in a successful American environment. Knowing that he will actually have a chance to win will allow him to play with the hope the Quebec would not allow.
Sam is dumb, specially about hockey.
Trump hates Sam
Sam smuggles Saucony shoes.
Trump hates fat democrats specially the ones from Florida.
Since florida sucks
Mar-a-lago is in a Florida you fucken retard… he spends a significant amount of time there, has since he bought it 30 years ago! Fuck you’re stupid lol
Your own mom hates you
Your mom loves everybody… all the way to the taint
This is inaccurate.
see’s? That means SEE IS. My god, do a spellcheck before you submit.
So Kuch is getting 9.5 Million, this would mean TB would have to shed some major salary to retain Karlsson past this season if they were to land him!
That was the reason the Rangers got involved. Ryan C. may go back to the Rangers but I am sure they will want draft picks too since his contract sucks.
Wonder if torts want him in Columbus since his 2 favourite players are Ryan C and dubinsky reunite them together and annoy the shitt out of Crosby
Callahan has a modified no trade clause.
That would free up about 6, they have about 3 now, next year when Kucherovs deal kicks in they will have to sacrifice something even getting rid of Callahan due to the 10+ Karlsson is gonna ask for
If Tampa can land him I am sure they will take him in heart beat and Steve Yzerman will worry about it next year. He has become a great GM. They will be fine.
Such a negative thread lol.
Hopeful… I really dont wanna see Karlsson in Tampa
Nobody wants except for npl
But you know what I’ll be fine for it anything to make npl leave here
Sam, im a Pens fan. Thats why im on here. Why are you on here again?
NPL is a liar.
And fat
And gay. Dont forget gay.
Big fat gay liar
^sams ideal husband
That part we already knew
But thanks for reassuring us
Shocking call by PGH Hockey now “Despite recent national reports, multiple sources at different levels of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization have confirmed to Pittsburgh Hockey Now the Penguins are not in serious talks to acquire Montreal Canadiens left wing and captain Max Pacioretty.” “With the free agent market mostly picked over, the Penguins appear to be patiently waiting for a good deal rather than aggressively shopping. The team has just over $2.8 million of salary cap space and a pending arbitration hearing with defenseman Jamie Oleksiak. A deal or arbitration award could consume most of that cap space, so any… Read more »
So McDavid either?
Can’t see Vancouver moving away from him at this point… Although they may wanna trade McDavid to make room for the retired Sedins. Thoughts sammich?
Specially that JM coached max pac in montreal he wouldn’t want that cancer in team they already have kessel can’t have 2 of same type of players. Both similar players
Good point, he scored tons of goals for a dog shit coach. Imagine how good he’d be on a team with good management and winning coaches!
2015 – 2016 Kessel and Crosby played 193.01 minutes together 5v5 which is more than the last 2 seasons combined. This is evidence that they did in fact skate together for a handful of games near the beginning of the 2015-16 season contrary to the belief of some! The line possession numbers with them together was 50.91% w/ a 50.90% Fenwick score. 6 goals scored by the line w/ 7 against With the two split the CF was 55.47% Crosby and 49.40% Kessel; Fenwick 57.17 Sid and 50.04% Kessel. Interestingly both were still in a scoring deficit with Sid seeing… Read more »
There it is…. From October 8th 2015 through October 22nd 2015 Kessel and Crosby played together. The team went 3 – 4 and scored a total of 11 goals in that period. So yoda to answer your question why they don’y play together is because of how bad they looked over this period. It also refutes your claim that they didn’t skate together… Now I will be willing to consider that Johnson was destroying the team at the time, maybe that factored… Watching Kessel not shoot with Geno leads me to believe we would see more of that with one… Read more »
Where do you find the time
I don’t have fat fingers so the internet works easily for me…
Valiant efforts by Dustin and comeback dumba$s of the year Yoda, but Sam remains the dumbest Fn person on the board
Just the fact that you live in Florida automatically makes you the dumbest person here
https://youtu.be/VHpePQ6FCkM
Outside of you, no one will ever know what that is.
Wtv you say stan wtv you say
If I created that handle, why wouldn’t it still be on here? Your the only dip$hit on here with multiple accounts. Everyone knows that. It’s pathetic, but true.
Your the only one that acts exactly like stan. Fight with everyone .all of comments are reply to others trying to make fun of them .
Can’t be 2 of the same idiot on this small site.
Coincidence the minute people can give multiple thumbs ups or downs that stan character disapeared.
I don’t fight with everyone. Just you, because you’re a racist idiot that only roots for Canadians. And Wtf do multiple thumbs have to do with anything? Christ, you trying to make a point is like my dog trying to build a rocket. It’s unreal how someone can be on this earth as long as you have and be that stupid. Then on top of everything, you log into your second account and give your first one 5 thumbs up. Why do you think all this board does is make fun of your and idiotic comments? Every time I see… Read more »
Oh and Cbauer, being that he values players based on the last game they played and nothing else. Hilarious!
Nice try stan I mean tbj keep paying for Scuderi’s of the world
For last time I swear God I don’t have and never did have a 2nd account on this site
You’re just jealous some people like me and give me thumbs up and you always get thumbs down specially when npl is here .and talk about multiple account that scum bag for sure has a few accounts here .
His probably related to D
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough and gosh darn it people like me” – The sammich
Lol he’s like a sad, lonely little child.
Well yes… that and the fact stans account disappeared at least a couple of weeks prior to the change. One thing that has been consistent? How you get a +5 vs the -5 for every single post from you vs people like tbj and I. You’re so fucken transparent dude lol “I swear god”
This got a +5? you don’t even attempt to hide it lol “I swear god”
54 people forgot to drink water on 30+ temps in PQ… try again sammich
Maroon Is going to the Blues.
If this deal is under $1 mill, then it means Rutherford thought this free agent crop of wingers totally sucks.
Rumours have Markov talking to Montreal about a return… lmmfao
Rumours have jagr talking to Pittsburgh about a return. Lmmfao
Keep drooling Samantha. Maybe he can play with the Sedin brothers, right chubster?
Wtv makes you happy stan
Lotta stan’s on this board. We need more gaydogg’s.
He must be swamped in his big bar a lot of dishes to wash
Haha – said no one…
Ooooooooh sick burn… damn sammich turn the heat down! This is like a modern day rap beef lol (sans Pusha Ts adidon lol)
See thats fan speculation… Markov is Markov speculation and with how your GM destroyed the team its probably a viable option hahahahahaha
None of this matters when your goalie refuses to stop the puck
Very true. Defense definitely doesn’t have anything to do with pucks going into your net. Samaloni dropping samaloni logic.
#freezatkoff
He just signed in Germany. Dude can play.
Germany’s gain is Pittsburghs loss. Zatkoff would be the piece!
We missed out on Grabner $3.3 million phoenix at was doable, we missed out on 25 year old speedy winger Tobias reider $2.1 million,signed Edmonton great 3rd 4th liner 15 plus goals,. we mised out on anthony duclair 23 year old talented winger $650.000 columbus…what the blepp rutherford..oh year 27 yrear old dman john moore top 4 guy ufa new jersey he signs with boston $2.75aav less than jack johnson…
3 million for the 5th or 6th D man to keep sid happy is worth it. this was not a hockey move.
Whether or not it was the correct move is up for debate to some, I am keeping my fingers crossed and will reserve judgement until we see him play in the Pittsburgh system. End of the day they needed a defenceman, that was their biggest need from last year. So no it wasn’t just to keep Sid happy, it addressed and organizational need and if the collateral impact Is keeping Sid happy then so be it.
Duclair signed for 650k 1 year
Ya… he said that retard
Haha what a clown
I love the way you abuse that moron. Really funny stuff sometimes!
So what you’re saying is that it finally sunk in for you that he has 0 interest in the free agent crop of wingers regardless of what clowns like Depaoli say? Duclair signed for league min…you really don’t think JR could beat that if he wanted to?
here is what nobody can explain. everyone says there are “reasons” but i haven’t heard any yet. why aren’t sid and kessel allowed to play together? kessel could score 50 playing with sid. i don’t get it.
Depth…. they won twice without them skating together. Kessel is a shooter when he’s forced to be. With high end talent he opts to pass. Anyone that has watched any games since he arrived should have been able to note this without it being explained to them…
Yeah but what if they skated together for an entire season. Kessel could score 50. Aren’t you a little curious?
Sure, a little but I do know they struggled to find chemistry when Kessel arrived and I also know that the depth created by utilizing Kessel in the 2nd and 3rd lines is why the team was a bitch to match up again
Because they had no chemistry. Did you just start watching the Penguins an hour ago?
When did Sid and Kessel ever skate together? I’ve watched every game and they haven’t ever played together for more than the occasional shift.
The year Kessel was acquired he spend the first 7 or 8 games together, was like oil and water!
No he didn’t. I’m saying a total of 20 shifts over 3 years.
crosby’s stats next year skating with hornqvist and guentzel…40 goals 70 assists, 110 points and an art ross trophy. the reality, sid with rust and simon. 32 goals 50 assists, 82 points. F this crap
Who needs skill when you have hard working guys that skate hard, play a 200ft game but can’t put the puck in the net.
Crosby literally skated with Guentzel more than any other combination! 17.1% of all 5v5 shifts the team took Sid played with Guentzel. The only one remotely close was Malkin and Hags!
Simon was one of the least used wingmen for Sid the entire season…
the johnson signing has nothing to do with hockey. they are throwing a bone to crosby and that is it. crosby was mad they traded reaves last year. i’m sure he was mad when he was putting up 2.5pts per game skating with guentzel and hornqvist and then in game 4 and 5 vs the caps sullivan has to F it up and break that line up to give the love child simon first line duties….we all saw how that turned out. so lets face it, the johnson signing is to kiss sid’s rear end and appoligize for the fact… Read more »
No way he skates with Simon next year. I never agreed with it and I think that experiment is over. Him, Guentzel and Horny absolutely lit it up and you at least have to go into the year with that. It’ll be interesting to see how the middle six work out, though. I’m still not putting it past GMJR to get a LW somewhere along the line.
Do you think they put Rust on the right side then? That would bump Sprong down to the 4th line and imo, that would be a disaster for him.
Been wondering that since we extended him. A third line of Brassard, Rust and Sprong would be really interesting. You’d have a little of everything on that line. May work, may not. I’d rather have Rust on the right side though.
I think Aston-Reese, Cullen, Sheahan, Simon juggle around the bottom 3. Crosby, Guentzel and Hornqvist should be top 3. Brassard, Malkin, Kessel, Sprong, Rust, Hagelin are the middle 6.
All this goes out the window with a trade, and who knows how Sullivan will treat Kessel.
I still do not understand signing JJ over Cole and for 5 years. There was no competition for him. And Humwick over Daley made no sense either.
Or when they brought back lovejoy he was a nightmare to watch every shift he took
He did his job in the playoffs and they lost nothing of value in that trade. That was a very good depth trade that paid off very well.
He was worst then letang. Every goals team scored be was on the ice
Comparing Lovejoy to Letang! Finally admitting that useless frog is a fraud. He’s making 7+ and Lovejoy still played better defense.
Who is BE?
That season Letang was on the ice for 59 5v5 goals against to Lovejoys 42…
You think Cole is better than he is. He’s an average #5 at BEST. He has no ability to ever be more than that.
Cole proved himself in the playoffs, twice. What did JJ ever do? He didn’t even play in the playoffs last season. I would rather have the player I won with, who is 3 years younger and has played 350 + less games. JJ has a lot of miles for a defensemen who is walking into a 5 year deal. You can have JJ, I will take Cole any day of the week over him. The team never looked right after they traded him.