Did Tom Wilson destroy the Penguins?

[Empoleon8771]

-Trading a 1st rounder for Ryan Reaves
-Trading Pearson for Erik Gudbranson with a heinously bad contract
-Trading for Oleksiak only to get rid of him after he got knocked out by Wilson
-The Penguins being among the league leaders in fighting majors, despite multiple players getting hurt in fights
-Constant media barrages about how the Penguins are going to "deal with" Tom Wilson, including saying that the Penguins felt like Garret Wilson was how they would "deal with" Tom Wilson

All of these have happened since the end of the 2017 playoffs. Today, the Penguins are outside of a playoff spot due to the multiple bad players on the roster, and the moves today showed that the team has no clue what the right direction to do is. Did Tom Wilson cause the Penguins to go insane, in a fit of rage and retribution? Or is this just Jim Rutherford being exposed as a bad GM, the same bad GM he was in Carolina?

 

[Rich Nixon]

This is a scalding hot take.

 

[Kreegz2]

No

 

[Pancakes]

I'd say it was more Wayne Simmonds. Him injuring Dumo and Letang literally led to today.

 

[Hatter of the Beach]

Tom Wilson DESTROYS naive general manager with GRIT and PHYSICAL PLAY.

 

[JaegerDice]

I wouldn't say Tom Wilson did.

But this does seem like the latest in a long line of similar 'oh noes, we got out-muscled!!!' overreactions.

 

[God King Fudge]

Poor asset management is causing the Pens problems. Not Tom Wilson.

 

[Devil Dancer]

Oh man, glad a Caps fan didn't start this thread.

 

[Empoleon8771]

This is a scalding hot take.

It's really not. The Penguins have had a really clear trend of obsessing about toughness ever since 2017, and it has absolutely ruined them compared to what they used to be.

Poor asset management is causing the Pens problems. Not Tom Wilson.

"Poor asset management" doesn't cause you to trade a 1st for Ryan Reaves, being obsessed with getting a tough guy to "prevent Crosby and Malkin from taking shots". Either Jim Rutherford is an idiot (super possible) or they've been freaking out about toughness ever since Crosby took a shot from Niskanen in the playoffs since 2017.

 

[Ainec]

You're not giving credit to the greatest gm of this generation, Jim Benning

 

[Dirty Dan]

Yeah its pretty bad, penguins dynasty is ending if they miss this year

 

[Nadal On Clay]

Rutherford just isn't a good GM. He's been absolutely brutal in the last year+.

 

[trick9]

I think he's a part of it, but no.

Honestly no idea what the main idea behind this is. They won the Cup with speed and suddenly started to move away from that philosophy for no reason.

 

[harmonica]

OP needs to put down the internet and go get some beer.

 

[Rich Nixon]

It's really not. The Penguins have had a really clear trend of obsessing about toughness ever since 2017, and it has absolutely ruined them compared to what they used to be.

So, which of the player that hasn't yet played for your team, the players that no longer play for your team, or the first round pick (that wouldn't yet be playing for your team) have ruined your team?

 

[Midnight Judges]

Pens won championships by out-skilling other teams. I have no idea why they would want to get away from that.

 

[66-30-33]

Atleast we got 2 cups out of JR, now we wont be making the playoffs for a while.

JJ-Gudbranson

Good one.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

Yikes. This thread is really cringeworthy.

 

[ManwithNoIdentity]

Legend says Tom Wilson is also responsible for lung cancer

 

[Empoleon8771]

So, which of the player that hasn't yet played for your team, the players that no longer play for your team, or the first round pick (that wouldn't yet be playing for your team) have ruined your team?

Or maybe it's all of the other collective moves that have dealt with the Penguins becoming more physical/tough/big? I can list a bunch of them off. Playing Garret Wilson regularly because he's their guy that can "deal with" Tom Wilson. Signing Jack Johnson because he throws big hits and can clear the crease. Signing Derek Grant because you thought he'd be a physical and tough player for you (that's not a joke, they legitimately thought he'd be a tough guy for them based on quotes when he was traded). Trading Ian Cole because you acquired Oleksiak earlier in the year, only for him to be so ineffective that you have to heavily shelter him in the playoffs. I can list a bunch of others if you want.

Like what was said above, the Penguins won 2 cups based on an identity, and then completely went away from it. Before they won the cup in 2017, Rutherford was *****ing up a storm about all of the abuse Crosby and Malkin take, after Crosby was taken out by Niskanen. Then look at how Rutherford has been hellbent on acquiring toughness/physicality since. It's not that hard to connect the dots here.

 

[66-30-33]

Not mentioned in here but JR tried to trade for Hagelin again not knowing him retaining means he has to wait a year or until he's a UFA. Guy is out of his mind.

 

[God King Fudge]

It's really not. The Penguins have had a really clear trend of obsessing about toughness ever since 2017, and it has absolutely ruined them compared to what they used to be.



"Poor asset management" doesn't cause you to trade a 1st for Ryan Reaves, being obsessed with getting a tough guy to "prevent Crosby and Malkin from taking shots". Either Jim Rutherford is an idiot (super possible) or they've been freaking out about toughness ever since Crosby took a shot from Niskanen in the playoffs since 2017.

Trading a first for Ryan Reaves IS poor asset management.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Good Lord.