On the Ryan Reaves Acquisition
Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is never afraid to pay a price for filling a need and that’s what he did with the Ryan Reaves acquisition on Friday night.
“When you want to get the guy that’s the best at doing what he does then you have to pay a price,” Rutherford said. “Regardless of what we paid, we’re very happy to have him.”
The Penguins in dealing the 31st overall pick and prospect Oskar Sundqvist in return for Reaves and the 51st overall pick has been met with outrage from many in the media, to team bloggers, to the fan base.
Jim Rutherford is being ridiculed like he’s gone back in time to 2014-2015 Rutherford.
Here are the facts.
This trade is really Ryan Reaves for Oskar Sundqvist.
Scouts contend this is a poor draft where prospects 20-90 is a crapshoot. There’s little to no separation at all.
The Penguins moving a first round pick for Reaves looks worse on paper than it actually is. They haven’t lost much of any value moving down 20 spots in this draft, multiple NHL people tell me.
As for Oskar Sunqvist, the narrative of him being this long-term two-way 3rd line shutdown centerman was coming from pundits who have barely watched him nor have good contacts.
Despite an offensive breakout this season in Wilkes Barre, the Penguins top evaluators came to the conclusion that Sundqvist would never be good enough to create his own shot to be an impact centerman at the next level and the Penguins have viewed him as just another projected 4th line player. Penguins coaches also didn’t like the foot speed for a centerman in their system.
If the Penguins truly believed Sundqvist was going to be their answer for years to come as the third line center, they would have never parted with him, sources say.
Sundqvist was also going to struggle to find a regular role the next couple seasons, despite potential openings at center. He’s not better than Scott Wilson right now. Josh Archibald, Carter Rowney are better players at this point. Daniel Sprong is going to be a factor with the NHL club. The organization is very high Zach Aston-Reese who’s close to pushing for NHL time along with Dominik Simon.
From players to coaches in the organization, they are giddy about the Reaves acquisition.
“He’s a guy that brings a physical dimension to our team, which is something that I think can help us moving forward,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s good on the forecheck. He’s a sound two-way player that we can put on the ice.”
Penguin coaches watched a lot of tape on Reaves leading up to Friday night and Mike Sullivan’s confidence that Reaves can play a regular role on the 4th line and a belief there’s some untapped ability Rick Tocchet can get to closed the deal on making this happen.
“I think he’s a good skater. He can get there,” Sullivan said of Reaves skating ability. “We think he can fit right in. The challenge is to try to play the style of play that the Penguins are trying to play and do what he does best, that’s bring that physical dimension to our team.”
Are liberties against the Penguins stars going to come to an end?
Absolutely not.
That’s not the point here.
Yeah, they’ve won two straight Stanley Cups, but the Penguins have had a need to get tougher and add players who can play. Reaves is not some Tom Sestito.
This is a good step and adding toughness in the mold of how the Penguins were built those few years in 2009-2011 when they had the likes of Mike Rupp, Arron Asham, Deryk Engelland on the roster.
At the end of the day, the cost to acquire Reaves looks worse on paper than it actually is.
This is going to be one of those acquisitions where in time fans and pundits will likely realize Oskar Sundqvist is just another 4th line guy and I think by mid-season many will be singing a different tune on what Reaves brings to the Penguins lineup.
What concerns me, though, a bit is Reaves [hide] age (30 years old) and he’s only signed for one more season.
A Georges Laraque for example who could play some, started to wear down quickly in his 30’s from playing the aggressive bruising style that made him unique as the NHL’s best tough-guy (who could play) and Laraque started to forget what teams acquired him for as the Penguins found out in 08.
If Reaves avoids that, this is going to a good acquisition for the Penguins.
As for the contract, the Penguins are looking at this like they’ll sign Reaves to an extension and he’ll be here for 3-4 years.
[/hide]
Class act through and through
https://theplayerstribune.com/marc-andre-fleury-thank-you-pittsburgh/
Sam, how about $10.5 million “top 100” player of all time Jonathan Toews basically crawling on his hands and knees and asking for Brandon Saad back? An American.
I guess Americans can play more pressure games then Russians
#MorePressureGames
Where does Parise and dipietro, Ryan rank on top 100 list. Oh wait they do but top 100 frauds / thieves. Lists
They’re not top 100 players, fat stuff. BUt…neither is Toews.
Hey sammich… what country is Daigle from… no scratch that… what area of said country is Daigle from?
#wannabecanadian
At least D updates the Pirates scores within 24 hours from the actual game time.
I learnt a knew word tueday:
“Sticked”
Wing….I don’t think we need any. Reaves, Kuhnhackl, Wilson, Rust, Sheary, Kessel, Horni, Hagelin, Guentzel = 9, plus if Kunitz wants to come back, that’s 10 for 8 spots. Ideally you move Hagelin and free space. I’ll throw this name out there for Sam since he likes the old guys….Marleau for 1 year and a cup run playing top 6 with Crosby and Guentzel?
Center targets….Brian Boyle was someone I wanted to add at the trade deadline, so he’s my #1 option for the 3rd line. Other options are Sam Gagner, Martin Hanzal (almost traded for). Ryan Wilson wrote a couple times about Joe Thornton….but I don’t see it. I wouldn’t mind keeping Bonino, but somebody is gonna overpay. 2 cups on the resume makes your price tag go up on the free agent market. Cullen coming back for another is ideal, but I don’t see it. Is Rowney ready for 82 game at 4c? How about getting Dominic Moore on the cheap to… Read more »
I dont’ know how Hanzal is an option, but you “can’t see” Thornton.
Big problem = Brian Boyle hasn’t been a 3rd line center since 2012-2013. His ice time is going down the last several years as he’s gotten older. He was a 4th line center on NYR as his career winded down there, then TB, and then b/w Martin and Kapanen on the TOR 4th line the 2nd half of this past year. He’d be a perfect 4th line center, but NOT 3rd line.
Goalie targets….Bernier, Mason, Elliott would be the top guys I go after.
Why would we sign another goalie?
Rutherford had alluded to going the veteran route to keep Jarry playing rather than sitting.
Because fraud Murray can’t stay healthy a full season
2 Cups as a rookie = fraud. This is a board whereby an idiot can make this claim in one breath, and in the next say “that is because stan, npl and zeroFOOL bring nothing to the board aside from hot dogs and #blackcoccks matter movement and go around thumbs downing people all the time.”
Get lost box score
Nice retort – way to “bring something to the board.” You fat little pig.
I don’t think Jarry is ready to play 25-30 games this year. Need a vet for 1 more year.
Assuming they sign Schultz and Dumo, that puts the D at Dumo (L) and Letang (R), Maatta (L) and Schultz (R), Cole (L) in the 3rd pairing with Ruhwedel (R) as the extra 7th D. With a questionably healthy Letang and Schultz as your 2 right handed shots, I would think they would be trying to get a right handed shot for their free agent D. The right handed shots that are worth while are very slim pickings. I broke it down to 3 Shattenkirk (gonna be too high), Michael Stone or Cody Franson. I think pappy throws 4 million… Read more »
I think a dman for our top 4 should be a priority. I wouldn’t mind one of those guys. Cole and maatta as a third pairing would be nice.
I think Del Zotto is a reasonable puck mover not mentioned.
Ive noticed him on the lists… I am curious but tentative… Guy can play our game without question but has a lot of career struggles in his own end. That said guys seem to figure out in this system… could be worth a look. He made 4MM last year with an AAV of 3.85MM. wonder what he cold be had for
He kind of fell off the face of the earth for some reason. What happened to him…injuries? Bad team fits? Personal problems?
I was just reading DePaoli’s new article on who the pens reached out to today…wait, there is no new article.
Tampax reached out to shattenkirk another Overrated and soon to be overpaid American Fraud. Once again same was right. Shattenkirk will a bust with caps and it happened word by word
Hey gaydogg. Another one in a million that sticked on the wall
Sticked!
Hey sammich… was it you that organized the debocle that was the diversity float in that festival parade? Four black kids pushing a float of all white women with like two dozen other white people dressed in white behind? I mean the optics of that are brutal lol!
I wonder if he does anything other than eat whoppers and post on here.
Spends most of his time eating whoppers, posting here, and not having sex with people.
I love sams methods… throws out incoherent attacks but goes into quiet thumbs down mode when he’s shut down in his arguments lol #fakeasspensfan #wannabecanadian
Sam seems extra pissy today. Mom probably doesnt want to drive him to McDonalds.
I don’t eat that crap. You Fat Slob
Nothing better than a Big Mac on a leg day if you add a 40 minute heavy bag session… why you hef to hate McDonalds? Is this overcompensating for your high glycemic index diet making you a heart case?
You still haven’t answered my question… what is a republican in the context in which you’ve used it and how does it apply to you?
#wannabeamerican
Sam’s a Burger King kinda guy. His fatasss loves some double whopper
5 more days for this site to crash
And 9 more days for the biggest event in the U.S. Hot dog contest with Joey Chestnut
So sad and dumb. Soon USA birthday will be replaced by a dumb hot dog event anything to entertain those fat slobs.
Apparently U.S obesity went down by 0.5% all thanks to pokemon Go
Look how well the sammich is doing… universally disliked and all those thumbs up lol
I like how he uses his other account to thumbs up himself
Haha all his posts had a thumbs up and the other ones had 2 thumbs down
Amazing how often that happens.
Sams mom pays for him
And the government pays your mom from some taxpayers money
I guess the gang bang events are not very paying for your mom
If Sam had Facebook he’d like his own statuses
Unfortunately Sam doesn’t have fb for last 6-7years it’s called I have a life
Yeah. You spend your time thumbs downing people here and spending your mom’s money. Everyone knows that.
Why did Ruhwedel resign?
we needed someone slow.
Another moron that doesn’t know what he’s watching.
How do you know more then cbauer when half the time you turn off your TV when pens are down by a goal or two . And the other half the time thumbs downing everyone here without even reading their comments
I believe the correct vernacular is “close” your TV
We already have Cole and maatta
Man, D is yet again all over whatever free agents we’ve been speaking to today. D is killing it this offseason. Killing it. Between this and the draft coverage, I don’t know what else we could all hope for – maybe sam to go post on some other board, but aside from that….
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/trudeau-marching-in-toronto-pride-parade-1.3475181
Npl,zeroTool and stain must be happy and confused today
Hey Npl your BlackCocksMatter causing problems at the gay parade. Which side will you take this time
There goes sam thumbs downing people again.
No need to share your hobby. We all know it’s you, npl or tbj
I thumbs down myself? That’s…impossible fatty
I’m confused as to why I’m supposed to care. So you’re half right.
You mean because we have a leader showing an inclusive vs a devicive stance? Sure, good for him. He’s not a hateful bigoted trashcan like yourself and the PM you long for lol
Hey D any news when Sexton joining the sabres
Just check thefourthperiod.com
Ah sorry was a source outside the 4thperiod. now you may thumbs down
You mean like you just did? Again? Go grab some cash off of your mom fatty
Dude how many times I will tell you I am conservative/ Republican I work for my money i pay my own car and Sirus XM radio, this site’s subscription. While
You and that fat fuckk Npl probably pay for this from tax money. Some tax payer probably paid your subscription this year you Fat Democrat.
You’re a republican? Sam… what is a republican, in the context in which you’re using it? How does it apply to the political system in Canada and more specifically its armpit… Quebec?
PS… Quebec is receiving 22 billion of a possible 79 billion in transfers, 11 billion of that for the equalization program, this year to lead the country again…. shhhhhhhhhh
Draft coverage? Write up on selections?
Its so cute when Sam tries to give his thoughts. Its like listening to a 4 year old trying to explain where a baby comes from.
It’s so cute when you thumbs down everyone’s comments thinking their opinions are no good while your non sense hockey garbage talks matter more
You and shitstain
I just gave you a thumbs up, because it doesnt matter.
I thumbs downed him, because it matters to him.
I thumbs downed him too. Because he lives off of his mom and doesn’t bathe.
Ok, ive recinded my thumbs up. Its now a thumbs down for me.
I gave you a thumbs up for changing your mind.
Thanks, man! Thumbs up for respecting my decision.
Thumbs up for giving me props for respecting your decision!
Thumbs up to all except the virginal bandwagon.
Thumbs up to you for being a team player.
Two thumbs up gentlemen, great thread… only one counts of course unless I can borrow one of sams accounts
-8?! Wow! we have to be able to get to double digits
Did my part 😉
-9
Can’t even begin to tell you how proud I was to be #10. It was my 1st and last time ever rating someone’s comment because I’m not a 12yo girl but I felt this was a worthy enough cause for me to break my rule.
Good acquisition, end of story.
Really? There’s no more to the story? Just take your word for it?
what’s the story Yoda II ?
Good luck with that, bub
Ruff joining the rags, isles trading hamonic to flames. Where are you D
Ruff. Just like the way your mother likes it, Trebek.
I’ll tell you one place D doesn’t get his information. Thefourthperiod.com
When does the draft begin?
This draft day(s) coverage is off the charts. Almost as good as the coverage for the Pre-games of games 4,5 & 6.
D you are giving Ek a good name.
DePaoli, glad to write another column for you
Sam going around thumbs downing people again.
That is his idea of a big Saturday
Oshie. Tarasenko. Pietrangelo. Backes. Players that have been brained and concussed with Reaves in St Louis. #deterrent
Were they done twice? NO
Done? Like fuckked?
And yeah. Backes has had numerous. As did Oshie. So…get your facts right.
Most of their were because of their style of play so get your facts right and compare apples to apples. ok YODA II
So good. “Here’s why it’s ok that he deterred nobody”. Style of play! That’s what caused most of theirs! I think we found someone to fill yoda’s chair on the three seat tiops retard bus.
Style of play! Oshie is a kamikaze wing!
Stanch hasn’t even played this game before! Go get him CBauer!
Stan is a moron that brings Nothing to this site all of his comments are replies to others comments and always negative. Don’t forget him and Npl (sam) also thumbs down people except to zeroTool
I could start new topics. But you repost everything from thefourthperiod.com before I get a chance to.
Yeah I think you are a great replacement for Yoda
Yeah. But you need help figuring out how to use a bottle opener so, how much does your opinion matter? Style of play!
OMG reading the reactions on here to this trade I now know where code Pink started.
My question is who sits so this guy can play? Penguins who play RW include: Kessel, Hornqvist, Sheary, Rust, Archibald, Rowney. Unless Rutherford trades Hornqvist for a top 2 dman, this trade for Reaves will always annoy me.
Hornqvist is a very important player for pens we all saw pens struggled in playoffs when he was injured. Trade the HBK line and get younger and hungrier players that flavor of the month is expired longtime ago
Yeah. They can’t win with those guys.
Hags may be on his way out and “B” might sign elsewhere???