Penguins Post-Trade Deadline Fallout
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Penguins GM Jim Rutherford made a trade Monday at the deadline for the sake of just making a trade in shipping underperforming winger Tanner Pearson to the Vancouver Canucks for rugged defenseman Erik Gudbranson.
There are complications to keep trying to fix one mistake with what will surely be another mistake in acquiring Gudbranson.
Gudbranson, 27, carries a $4 million cap hit through the 2020/2021 and that’s the real problem with this deal. From the eye test to several metrics, this is one of the worst value defenseman in the NHL and it’s not close. I’m always going to be somebody who trust the eye test over any metrics but the concern with Gudbranson is his game doesn’t bring optimism from either direction and it’s a Jack Johnson situation where the player is who he is at this stage of his career.
This is not a player who has a Justin Schultz skill set that just needed a change of scenery in the right system to flourish.
Gudbranson leads the NHL with a minus-27 rating and has a league-worst 34% To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
PENGUINS BLUELINE CAP COMMITTMENTS FOR 19-20
Kris Letang | $7.25MM Cap Hit | Signed Through 2022-2023
Justin Schultz | $5.5MM Cap Hit | Signed Through 2019-2020
Brian Dumoulin | $4.1MM Cap Hit | Signed Through 2022-2023
Olli Maatta | $4.083MM Cap Hit | Signed Through 2021-2022
Erik Gudbranson | $4MM Cap Hit | Signed Through 2020-2021
Jack Johnson | $3.25MM Cap Hit | Signed Through 2022-2023
Marcus Pettersson | RFA
Juuso Riikola | RFA
Chad Ruhwedel | UFA
The biggest concern with Gudbranson playing a regular role in the Penguins lineup is how bad he struggles in the transition game. Gudbranson had the worst controlled To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Gudbranson was basically run out of town by Vancouver fan base and things likely won’t be easier in Pittsburgh with this fan base.
Rutherford in his post-trade deadline press conference was obviously aware of how poor the metrics are for Gudbranson. Rutherford, though, feels Gudbranson being a heart and soul guy outweighs the on-ice concerns. Similar to the 2015 trade deadline and the 2017 summer, the Penguins organization is back on this toughness element.
“That doesn’t describe why you want certain players,” Rutherford said of Gudbranson’s poor numbers, even indicating they might not improve in Pittsburgh . “In Erik’s case, he’s a real heart-and-soul guy. He’s a good dressing room guy. He’s got good character, and he can protect our players. He puts us in a stronger position to push back when we get into more physical games.”
It’s an alarming direction for the Penguins to take, basing high-risk decisions on a trade acquisition being a good dressing room guy and being able to provide leadership as a primary reason to make this move and act like the major deficiencies in Gudbranson’s game can be out-weighed by leadership qualities and being able to break up a scrum after a whistle.
This isn’t the Steelers locker room where a bunch of maniacs like Antonio Brown who have never won on the big stage are running around causing issues as the Penguins are not outside of the playoffs right now or lost in the second-round to Washington last year because they are or were lacking heart and soul type players in their room or on the ice.
The Penguins are on a scary road in just overlooking a players’ actual on-ice capabilities when making a high-risk decision like this. They did it in giving Jack Johnson a five year deal and are doing it again in adding Gudbranson. It’s a lot harder to hide a third pairing defenseman than a 4th line winger whose only attribute is toughness.
Feeling the need for more character and having a ‘good dressing room guy’ is what led Rutherford down the road of bringing Matt Cullen back that is keeping younger players like Teddy Blueger from being embraced for a full-time role. A lot lower risk with Cullen, though, when he’s eating up $650,000 of cap space compared to $4 million.
— Once the Penguins’ coaching staff became down on Tanner Pearson, that was it, and whether it was at the deadline or in the summer he was going to be moved. But, you can’t make the mistake of moving Pearson just to move him.
Pearson is still at the age and had past production in Los Angeles where the Penguins were in position to wait things out until the summer to facilitate a deal that could have opened up cap space. There was going to be a team like Ottawa or others scrambling to meet the cap floor and sense is Pearson would have had a market in the summer for the Penguins to move him for a mid or late draft pick.
The Penguins have nearly $80 million tied into 16 players for next season, several depreciating assets in their 30’s with high cap hits where the team is hamstrung against the cap moving forward.
That needed to be a focus with a player like Pearson but instead the Penguins went the ‘we’ll give you our bad decision (trading for Pearson) for your bad decision (Canucks signing Gudbranson).
“The fact that we trade Pearson after acquiring him doesn’t mean we didn’t like him,” Rutherford said. “We were looking for somebody to produce a little bit more than Hagelin did, and Pearson did that. But, at the same time, when you have a chance to get a player like Gudbranson, you have to give something for him.”
To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
The Sens just fired Guy Boucher with less then 20 games to go. They should have fired him a while ago or let him finish out the season.
Because it was his fault to tank a medicore team. When he had a decent team he took them to Conference final and 1 goal away to the finals
Hes a terrible coach with a shlt system
What do you know about system assholee. Go cheer DB
http://www.wisebrother.com/public/tcs/articles/images/dog%20ice.jpg
Ahahahaha this is priceless
That team was riding on the emotional season that Anderson was having with his wife. Same thing the Rangers did when St. Louis’ mother died. GB had nothing to do with that. Once they got eliminated all the behind the scenes BS came out.
Sam wanted the Pens to hire him.
Sam wanted gallant as coach and brisbois as GM. When pens got rid of shero/DB. assholee
Pearson with a goal lol
Drool Sam(e) drool.
If you’re not Stan, why did you show up after Stan “left”?
Nobody in their right mind would join this site as a new customer, unless you are creating a 2nd account….stan!
So according to your brilliant logic Stan was the only reason to join up here and since he is gone there is no reason to be here. So then why don’t you leave and take Sam(e) with you. You two play the same broken record 5 times a day. It has gotten well past old and you and Sam(e) are the only two who think I am this Stan person. Something ironic about that. Keep trying.
Stan also referred me as Sam(e)
Even a blind can see this is stan
The only fools that doesn’t see this zeroFool and npl.
He replies to everything 24/7 just like Stan used to. Wait till he brags about how rich he is.
Dustin, are you Sam(e)’s personal parrot? He says something stupid and you repeat it word for word. You two are like a retarded version of Dumb and Dumber but you are not funny nor are either of you original. It is amazing how you two have the exact same views on everything. How convenient.
Because that is how you spelled your name before because your english is atrocious and it seperates you from the other Sam. Common sense goes a long way. Go buy some.
How would you know to call him sam(e) if you just started posting here a couple months ago? Stan was doing that for years.
Get your boy D to run an IP address. I guarantee they will not match.
Well you said you are rich and travel a lot hard to track your IP
Also Stan and you made fun of my car and sirus Xm radio
Must be coincidence
Dude Stan slept on this website he was 24/7 on it and any comments you made he came to reply. Impossible he left just like that and never came back.
There is not 1 part of you that I can say ahh I guess he is not stan after all
Everything you do is a copy of Stan 110%.
This site is too mall with 10 members or so can’t be 2 guys identical character like you here
Doesn’t exist same type of idiot on this small website
NOW GO ACTIVATE YOUR stan ACCOUNT and come here and pretend they are not the same people
Well since you and Dusty copy each other “thought” for “thought” you must be the same person.
This is inaccurate, per usual. Stan was like a more educated Maloni. He was a bitter gen Xer who bltched and complained about almost everything, but he actually offered good points when challenged. One way RamRod is like Stan is that he knows Sam sucks, and if that is the criteria, we are all Stan.
Actually I have sirus xm radio, when and why would I make fun of it? You are scrapping the bottom of the barrel. And I could care less about what car your drive. I am sure it is very stylish. You probably have a misspelled customized license plate on it.
Stay Classy Islander Fans. They are booing JT, chanting assholee, someone threw a Jersey at him… If I was him I would have left years ago the way Snow ran that team.
Hey Stan, how’s Anders Lee doing this year? Remember when I said the Pens need a forward like him and you said he sucked and was a 4th liner?
No, actually I don’t bc I am not Stan. Don’t you and Sam(e) have a date tonight?
Stan has a PJ party with npl Npl made a tent in his backyard.and later on they will fly a kite before they blow each other off
Well I hope they have a good time.
Not saying they should boo, but JT did screw them over. If he didn’t say he was coming back, they could have got a couple first rounders for him at the deadline.
And who would have given the Islanders the ransom they would have wanted for a rental player who was most likely going to bolt after the season was over. He played out his contract. The Islanders surrounded him with nothing, played in a old building everyone hates, have no real home anymore, had a GM who was a goalie but could not find a decent one to anchor the team, and played to an empty building almost every night. He is about to pass his prime, he did what was best for him and I do not blame him one… Read more »
Typical new York arrogance now that the team is in playoffs without JT they think they are better little that’s they know Lou and Trots played a role for this turn around.
As I always said coaching and system has a big role for teams success I did say this summer when caps loss trots he will do good with islanders. But wow didn’t expect this good.
“As I always said coaching and system has a big role for teams success“
Did you come up with this all by yourself or did Dustin teach you that one?
“I always said coaching and system has a big role for team success” – praises Therrien… hates Sullivan lol
He probably heard Don Cherry say that and thought it would make him sound smart.
Again sorry but another hockey comment (<- sarcasm) However what does that say about our captain if we need help in the locker room and that is why we picked up the Guber?
It’s a bit of an indictment of his leadership if we are still looking for “veteran” leaders in the dressing room… especially if those guys are younger.
Reality? I think the Gudbranson leadership chatter is from morons that are doing what they can to justify what looks like another questionable move on paper.
Good point I will be interested to see if they either don’t make it or get to round 2, what the spin will be. The Pens business model has always been they need two rounds of playoffs for it to be a successful season. I have a feeling that we will see GMJR being “promoted” up and someone taking over. We will see how this plays out.
I think Sid is a terrible locker room leader. I don’t think he is a leader who can get in a players face or give a motivational speach. I think he leads by action and is a great representative for the team and the NHL. This teams needs a locker room voice. Nobody understands Malkin because he speaks russian and nobody can understand Cullen after his dentures fall out.
Malkin speaks english just fine, probably better then Sam(e). Cullen was brought back as a locker room guy and Hornqvist is very respected in the locker room. Crosby seems more like an on the ice leader then a guy who loses his shiit in the locker room to make a point. At this point in their careers Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Domo… should not need outside help to control the locker room.
Sam, what version blackberry do you have?
48% of players still think Crosby is the best player in the NHL, according to The Athletic players’ poll. Remember when Sam agreed with the Flyers journalist that Giroux was the best back in 2012?
2012 you weren’t even on this website fatso
Nice try
Thats actually the year I joined. You were just 5 years old at the time and only had one account because you werent kicked off yet.
btw made prior comment just in case someone on here wanted to talk hockey.
looks like Wideman was just an insurance d he is playing in WBS which means hanging Chad and others are better than him…..yikes.
I had a feeling that is where he was headed.
The Trump-Kim Summit was the worst thing to happen on Vietnam soil in US History.
Anyone find it interesting that the “master deal maker” has only struck one major deal in 2+ years, and all he had to do was ‘convince’ millionaires to cut taxes on the wealthy?
How many deals obama achieved? Obama doesn’t care plan was the best
I mean, President Obama led the US out of Bush’s recession to give us the vibrant economy we *currently* have today… so there’s that… But please, continue to defend your man by deflecting rather than attempt to use evidence to how Trump isnt to America what you are to this board – a know-nothing fukwad that embarrasses himself and his country every day.
Every 10 years or so there is a stock market crash or so correction now stock market is due to crash you and your democrats can blame trump
When you have overpriced stocks like apple and etc.. Right now market is so high and things are out of hand it is due for a crash real soon. And next democrat comes up youll probably think he saved the country again. Dude just stick to hamburgers don’t talk about economy, politics or hockey
Haha. Wow. No evidence of success from the past so you decide to apologize for the future F ups. Youre a treat.
At least he’s not a closet Muslim
Dude, you’re off message. Did you not get the MSNBC talking points
How was the obama- Kim summit oh wait it never even happened in the first places because he never tried
Not the French getting their azz kicked at Diem Phu ?
So, I see this site still blows.
We should all send a mail to Trump about Ottawa’s 27 round picks.
Maybe we can email him about getting Sprong to dress for more than one game in Anaheim
Sprong’s arrogance is written all over the wall that he is.
Hey D. Nobody reads your articles, all we would like is a new thread to post on at times. After games or big news, just state the obvious. Pens win 5-2 or, Dumo concussion. Don’t waste your time writing more than the headline, nobody comes here for your inside scoop or your take on how players/team perform.
You are wrong.
Because npl does
Once upon a time the content actually created hockey conversation, shit deteriorated when columnist left and D stopped writing compounded by a couple of fucken idiots shit posting
It wasn’t as bad back in the days ever since npl and his multiple accounts arrived it hasn’t been same . He has done a marvellous job chasing good posters away
Also when I was a member 2008 twitter wasn’t as popular as it is today media didn’t used as aggressively as today Internet wasn’t as fast . Now everything is on your finger tip with notifications
Then to top it all on off you have npl that made this website become his personal playground. What more do you except
And back then there was not even a thumbs down or up option. Now you have these millennial generation thinking they are powerful with that tool
100 bucks says this dumbshit is a millennial but doesn’t understand what the definition in years is
NPL’s thumbs down account scared away Mark Madden?
Npl been here since 2016
How do you know this? Are you writing a book about the guy?
No but I’ve been here since 2008 and this puke wasn’t around back then and so were you. All you little jerkoffs came around the 2016 penguins stanley cup year
Including camrrod since 2018 since he claims not to be Stan apparently when his arrogance is written all over the wall that he is
“Including camrrod since 2018 since he claims not to be Stan apparently when his arrogance is written all over the wall that he is”
WTF does that even mean? That is not a lost in translation issue, that is straight up stupidity. If I am Stan then you have multiple accounts.
This kids remiedial, I wouldn’t even sweat it at this point. I mean it’s not like we could take the guy seriously in the past it’s just another reason to laugh at the fucken clown.
Like I said if he cannot pick up on not so subtle clues in writing style and bits of people personality that come out during posts he has no business claiming he knows a fucken thing about… well anything… at all
I’ve been here a LOT longer than 2016, re-check your notes.
Also, since you are calling Stan a wall, does that mean he works? If so, that’s better than scum NPL!
Except you’re the shit posting idiot I was referring too and we know you have multiple accounts you fucken retard
First off the trade deadline should be February 1st! That way the player acquired actually spends time with his team. Some of these guys may only play 19 games. stupid!!!!!!. Also the fan base is already running Grudbrason out of town and he hasn’t played a game yet. Big win last night 5-2 at Columbus…no Letang, No Dumolin, No Grudbrason and the team flat out brought it and played good defense. Give the coaching staff a little time with Weidman and Grudbrason… If Grudbrason plays 3rd pairing 12 to 14 minutes a game, and is physical, and is a deterrent… Read more »
I would take all 3 of those guys over Wideman. He’s going to be 36 in March and probably shouldn’t be on an NHL roster. Also, Maatta will be back.
Wasn’t wideman in the ahl at Ottawa? Why would he be top 6 herr?
You just realized half penguins defence are 6- 7 D or so in other teams
Petterson , Jack Johnson, oleksiak ,lovejoy ,gudbranson,wideman been the case for a long time
This organization pays a lot of money to get offence and nothing to the defence crossing their fingers offence will cancel defence mistake. Even mid 90s. Good goalies super power offence and medicore defence at its best
It’s been teams recipe last 20-25 year.
Lovejoy has more cups than any Canadien since 1993… Petterson is fucken 22 lol
There is no way JR lets JJ be a reserve. Not with that contract. Plus I would pump the breaks on that win last night. The CBJ had a lot of new pieces. It will take time for them to acclimate to each other. I do not take much stock in that game. I want to see them do this for a few games against a well adjusted team.
Ok yes or no ….Do they make the playoffs…..lets hear from all of you except for the one ignore for being a person with out honor.
They squeak in and probably go out in a quick 5 games
Agreed with zero
Unless fraud Murray gets injured again and they miss the playoffs either ways this team is just to painful to watch
Then do everyone a favor and don’t watch. Your tv is off as soon as they go down anyway, as you’ve proven on many occasions.
And I’m calling the first wild card and beating the islanders in the first round.
In as #3 and play the Islanders. Washington will win the division.
Pens beat Islanders and then Caps. They then lose to either Tampa or Toronto in thr ECF.
Stop kissing zero’s ass.
Someone is jealous….
Out of their final 19 games 11 of them are against playoff teams. I am counting CBJ’s because they are in an out depending on the night. They have a back to back with Columbus, 2 more games against Carolina , and 1 against Boston, Washington, and Montreal. For some reason this team can not beat non playoff teams and their last 3 games of the year are against Detroit (back to back) and the Rangers. I say they squeak in as well and get bounced in the first round. If that is the case I would rather them not… Read more »
Yes, I believe they will get in.
I am going with them squeezing in. CBJ changed the chemistry to much could blow up in their face. I look for them to struggle to make the first round to go 6.
Yes, the Stars will get them in albeit it will be shaky.
I’m going to send a mail to Trump and ask if he can shut down this fraudulent website and make sure we all get our money back except for npl since he used tax payers money foolishly on multiple account on this website
You can just leave. No one would mind. The over all IQ of the site would greatly improve.
Only if he takes Simply Dusty as well.
You’re a fucken idiot lol! Just leave
Send a mail!
Turns out Trump is a piece of shlt… shocking.
You are just mad because Trump made you go back to work
Wtf is this circus show on CNN
That would be Trump’s former fixer airing out Trump’s very dirty laundry. It’s on Fox News as well. #WannabeAmerican
Is this a hockey website or a tump website why is anyone talking about that cheating, lying orangatang..
How did he cheat? Lol
When his wife was cooking his youngest he was screwing a porn starlette ♂️
BC Sam(e) is obsessed with America. He is jealous so he bashes it.
Who knew McCann would be best player in that deal … who knew Bjugstad would be so below average
Bjugstad is not below average. He is down right Brassard.
McCann is an an animal. Bjugstad is flat Stanley. His shadow could knock him off the puck.
I know he came with a lot of intrigue on my end, high pick and only 22 but I’m surprised at how well he’s fit in rather quickly
MCcann solid player indeed good move! i think Bjugstad will come around and winger is his position…with that shot
What a painful loss for the jets tonight wow
I say Pettersson sits when all healthy. Maatta plays 2nd pairing with Schultz and Johnson plays with Gudbranson. I really like that 6.
So the Pens will just role out 3 defenders and 3 traffic cones.
# 1 Letang & Dumolin # 2 Schultz & Petersson # 3. Weidman & Grudbrason
in reseve Rikola, johnnson, rudwhedel Prow Matta if he comesbacks at all hearing that shoulder was heavily damaged…
Having the sudden “depth” allows the team to keep Pettersson from playing too much. Kids still developing but he’s probably going to better than a couple of those names overall. I wouldn’t just sit him for the sake of doing so
Olli matta isint coming back this year…..if he does it will be in to the playoffs he will be weak and slow…
Who knew the more you play Johnson the better he plays.
hope the hell that is the way it works….hopefully GUBER will be the same way
Guber= orpig
You seem mad the Pens won. Why?
The worse the Pens do, the better the chance Montreal has at getting a wild card.
We don’t want a wild card we want either the # 2 seed or # 3 seed in the metropolitan and hopefully a match up with the Islanders…Washington will catch and pas the islanders and we want to avoid a wild card…
Jack Johnson +2 tonight. 😉
boo hoo
holy shit, bob is alive
Who was it that said the Penguins should go after Quick?
There was also a clown that wanted Howard I wonder how he is doing tonight
This fucken turd would have welcomed it, he’s only running his frog mouth because he watched the Canadiens drop Detroit while the rest of us watched Pittsburgh
I’d trade Murray and a #1 for Quick right now.
Or a #2….wait.
Yes, i would trade Murray for a good dump also.
Me. Who wouldnt take Quick over Murray.
McCann was worth trading Robert Bortuzzo, Filip Gustavsson, a 2018 1st, Scott Wilson, a 2018 3rd, Oskar Sundqvist, a 2017 1st, a 2018 4th and a 2019 2nd, a 2019 4th, and Josh Archibald for.
Nice!
Won 2 cups with cole (bortuzzo). let’s also see how z.lauzon (reeves trade) and hallinder (brassard trade) do. Also Archibald has nothing to do with this tree. The fourth round the pens got was used immediately for oleksiak.
Also the gustavsson pick was acquired with bonino while dropping Sutter. Tree can sway bAck the other way too.
It was an interesting look at the assets moved to acquire McCann and Bjugstad lol. Not sure why it seems to be a personal issue it’s just effectively the assets the Pens moved out of the organization to hold those two guys.
Gee open season on the Pens any one want to guess why? Its a soft team after all…..feel free to sign along. Nope don’t need someone like Reeves…..
The neanderthals were silent for 2+ years while the Pens were winning cups without a goon. Now theyre back because THAT is clearly the issue…
Exactly. I love the people beating the Ryan Reaves drum. Since he’s been a beacon of success his whole career, including getting scratched on the playoffs last year.
Pens will be fine.
Gudbranson will be fine in the 5/6 role.
Murray, he’s not fine. Drag him into Betty Ford and let DeSmith and Jarry see what they can do.
I thought they would have announced that by now.
Why? It’s an offseason type announcement. Why would you want that media mess in the locker room. They’re not the Steelers.
Get rid of JR – Please
I hope they miss the playoffs and fire him. 3 years was enough. I never liked the extension.
He came and everything came together, but now it’s deal to make up for the next. Wait till Bjugstad gets traded.
What a glove hand. PEDRO PEDRO
Sam said Bobrovsky would be traded yesterday so who is net for Columbus?
He is a big fan of regular season success regardless of how bad the post season meltdown is
Dear Sully: Hope debate is done #72 needs to be with 59 & 87
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/racist-hockey-fans-taunt-black-player-and-family-1.4313253
Should I play Murray tonight in my hockey pool
Whats the Murray number tonight?
Do it so if they lose something good will come out of it.
We are Tuesday I am making him play
From the tweeter via a FB page I follow
VIA Ian Altenbaugh on Twitter:
“I spent too much time compiling the trade genealogy (?) of Bjugstad and McCann. When all is said and done, GMJR traded the following for those two players:
Robert Bortuzzo, Filip Gustavsson, a 2018 1st, Scott Wilson, a 2018 3rd, Oskar Sundqvist, a 2017 1st, a 2018 4th and a 2019 2nd, a 2019 4th, and Josh Archibald.”
Stop doing research. There is no room for it on here!
Lucky for me someone else did the work, I wouldn’t take credit for some else’s work straight faced like it was my own
That is so true he kept doubling down on bad cards.
He has run his course here-hopefully ownership sees even though they gave him an idiotic extension
DePaoli, good for you. nailed it.
If Rutherford got him because he’s tough, that’s really weird because 2 weeks ago he said the pens don’t need toughness because they played through that stuff to win them cups. They had reaves which was the move to make if you want toughness and then they changed their minds on him. If the coach hated reaves, what makes Rutherford think he will want this guy around? The coach doesn’t believe in getting tough. This organization is getting weirder by the day.
He got him so malkin doesn’t look bad anymore with his minuses and his penalty leading.
Now he won’t look as bad with his dumb penalties
Also he got him because some droolers miss orpig.
This guy is a clone of orpig. Gets caught out position often ,he is slow. Takes dumb penalties only difference he is taller and drops the gloves more than orpig.
You’re literally the only one who talks about Orpik lol
And Bylsma, Sheary, Fleury, the State of Florida and Democrats.
Sam’s Drool Counter – Feb 26:
Spain
Brassard
Round picks
More to come…