News Article: Rutherford and Johnston are staying. Both of them.

[KIRK]

Doesn't surprise me at all.

Whether you guys want to admit it or not, the Penguins are the Dallas Cowboys of the NHL. Decent team that consistently underachieves due to poor management. It ain't gonna change anytime soon too, so don't get your hopes up.

Mario is even worse than Jerry too

We are all TTEOT now.

Morehouse is the CEO of the team right, so I'm inclined to take statements like that with some value, as opposed to unattributed Rossi BS. However, in the end he is a political operator. "Has never given any consideration" is not the same thing as "Does not intend to give any consideration" or "Has no intention of changing GM / Coach this summer". We all know that.

Still in a media cesspool of bullcrap and rumor, it's about the best thing we have to go on right now. And it would fit with this organization's delusional nature.

“When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’

’The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’

’The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be maser — that’s all.â€

 

[Cherpak]

Doesn't surprise me at all.

Whether you guys want to admit it or not, the Penguins are the Dallas Cowboys of the NHL. Decent team that consistently underachieves due to poor management. It ain't gonna change anytime soon too, so don't get your hopes up.

Mario is even worse than Jerry too

Sir I would smack you with a glove and challenge you to a duel at 10 paces for such an insult. Problem is your right dammit.

 

[Mr Wu]

Anyone who spends any money on this joke of a franchise is part of the problem. Stop. Giving. Them. Your. Money.

 

[Darth Vitale]

Anyone who spends any money on this joke of a franchise is part of the problem. Stop. Giving. Them. Your. Money.

Been saying it off and on for years. Wallets make this team what it is ultimately.

Your money is your vote, not letters you send to them or whatever. Your TV subscriptions if you're outside Pittsburgh, your ticket purchases if you're in Pittsburgh, your merchandise budget every year. I pulled my subscription this year and let me tell you -- these dopes didn't make me regret it for more than about a month at the start of the season. And I haven't bough merchandise since the year after we won the Cup I think. Why should I?

If you're fed up, stop buying stuff for a while. They'll hear you loud and clear if enough people do it. Money rules the world, including good ole Mario and Ron.

 

[Cherpak]

Anyone who spends any money on this joke of a franchise is part of the problem. Stop. Giving. Them. Your. Money.

This was the same mantra spoken among Pirate fans at one time. They even had some stage a walkout during a game. Wasn't effective then, and it won't be effective now. Just gonna have to take our lumps as Penguin fans for now.

 

[Cherpak]

The biggest change next season for this team that I am hoping to hear is that the 3rds are now our new homes with a white being made for the road.

 

[Dinfire]

The Lovejoy trade was never, ever going to work out. If you don't understand this one fact, then you are just a fan who buys what your team is selling. Nothing wrong with that, since that's your choice. But don't come here and tell us that like to be a tad more involved with their team that we are crazy people. I find people who believe everything their told whether in school, at work or by the media to be the true crazies in our society.

Oh, come on. We're all (supposedly) fans of the team. I'm no Kool-Aid drinker. I've just been watching hockey (and this team) for over 30 years. I'm guessing that's longer than some of you have even been alive. Difference between me and some of you is that I don't jump off a cliff at the first sign of struggle. One team wins the cup every year. One. I hope to god none of the players read this board, and if they do, I hope they realize that this nonsense does not represent everyone.

Support your team, and if you can't, find another team (and board) where you can not be a real fan. The constant doom and gloom (and the god awful ad experience on mobile) made me visit this place much less this season.

 

[cassius]

On the bright side, ticket prices will drop significantly and I'll be able to go to a lot more games.

 

[Darth Vitale]

On the bright side, ticket prices will drop significantly and I'll be able to go to a lot more games.

I'll believe that when I see it.

 

[Dinfire]

Doesn't surprise me at all.

Whether you guys want to admit it or not, the Penguins are the Dallas Cowboys of the NHL. Decent team that consistently underachieves due to poor management. It ain't gonna change anytime soon too, so don't get your hopes up.

Mario is even worse than Jerry too

Another Dallas analogy is that people are either big fans or HATE them. General hockey fans and people who play the game hate the Penguins. So much so that they completely refused to even admit that the Yandle mugging was a penalty or that Staal should have even been penalized (let along suspended) for the crosscheck to the back of Sid's head last playoffs. They believe ALL of the reports about the Penguins being bigger whiners than other teams and they think it's completely justified that they get jobbed by the refs because of it. The Penguins are, undoubtedly, the villains of the NHL. Just like the Cowboys.

 

[cassius]

I'll believe that when I see it.

Game 4 tickets were going for $60 - below the prices of regular season (~$80). I think as this team continues to devolve, prices will drop even further.

 

[Cherpak]

Oh, come on. We're all (supposedly) fans of the team. I'm no Kool-Aid drinker. I've just been watching hockey (and this team) for over 30 years. I'm guessing that's longer than some of you have even been alive. Difference between me and some of you is that I don't jump off a cliff at the first sign of struggle. One team wins the cup every year. One. I hope to god none of the players read this board, and if they do, I hope they realize that this nonsense does not represent everyone.

Support your team, and if you can't, find another team (and board) where you can not be a real fan. The constant doom and gloom (and the god awful ad experience on mobile) made me visit this place much less this season.

Problem is, this isn't the first sign of struggle. There are two sides to this coin. You can support this team and not agree with all there moves or ideas. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Not surprising about Johnston. Somewhat surprising re: Rutherford after the Lovejoy / Despres ****-show. At the very least I hope we get rid of some of the "extra chiefs". Because according to Rutherford, that trade was their baby if I understand correctly. He still bears responsibility for not saying "you're ****ing nuts, I'm overruling all of you" but still. Too many chiefs in this front office. Some with their heads still squarely up their ass, apparently. Bylsm-itis infection still not cured.

Why?

He wasn't making the deals directly, and even with all of the AGM's all business attaining to roster moves went through ownership. All of them.

What people are missing is the fact they have two mega stars and they are under the pressure to compete every single season. There's no forgiveness for not trying, and that they did do, try.

Now had Letang and Ehrhoff been shut down with injury before the TDL, that's where you shut it all down and maybe you do the Bortuzzo/Cole deal still. (great trade) But....it didn't happen that way and they were looking to do some damage in the playoffs. Unfortunately, those two got shut down after the TDL and they lost any ability to service a full roster they thought they had in place.

You can't count on that stuff, and them spending to the cap is showing they are willing to do what it takes to compete but injuries keep getting in the way.

They are not willing to sacrifice years of the stars for major rebuilds, but injuries are forcing their hands in all directions.

I for one, see this season as a positive in the right direction, if they can somehow stay healthy (huge task since the cup years) they might be able to add to what they have already changed. So people who say change can't happen quickly, well they have already been changing and they're heading into season 2 of that change. Had they been healthy that change might have been enough. We'll never know.

I'm certainly entrenched in the not liking rookie coaches. That cost them some good amount of games not having any clout with the league/refs. That was beyond horribad.

The Pens brass push to contend because that's what their roster suggests and the fans expect.

You can't expect one thing and then demand another. It doesn't work that way.

 

[penspenspens]

And Morehouse blames the failure on the injuries. No reason to trade Kunitz/Scuderi/Sutter I guess.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I'll probably always watch but honestly they need to start figuring out how to open up the game. I used to miss no more than 5 games a year and usually it was around 2. After this year I won't shed a tear if I miss 15-20. Also, starting with that Kings game awhile back it's been difficult to justify to my girlfriend why we should block off an entire evening for what amounts to mediocre entertainment at best. (not that she complains because she's awesome in that way, but that's another story)

My wife is Canadian and a huge Leafs fan, so it's obviously not a problem for me. With a DVR, I can watch whenever. So if I have stuff to do, I just do it, then watch the game when I get back.

I'll always watch too -- it may just be at a certain point the Pens organization pisses on me enough that I take my TV hours (of life that I'll never get back and want to enjoy) elsewhere. Started watching hockey because the Pens played it so much differently in the Lemieux Jagr era than did every other team. I thought we'd be back to that with Sid and Geno after the Firesale horrors and the end of Devil's hockey after the last lockout, and after watching Rico Fata and Ramzi Abid poop on this franchise.

But I'm not sure what's going to happen next. It's very easy to look at this team and see "marketing trumps all" and wonder if maybe this team is really built for neophyte fans ages 15-20, and not grumpy old guys like me who started watching in the 90s. Also I have to admit there's a part of me that relates heavily to teams like Minnesota and Winnipeg. Classic hockey environs with generally smaller market forces. Watching fans in Winnipeg during the playoffs... chills.

It's still part of the modern NHL and subject to the same disappointing trends but, I dunno.

Change my mind for the better Mario, change my mind for the better. If this **** keeps up I don't really see the point.

When this team blew ass in the early 2000s, I used to fall asleep watching the games. Once they opened the game up after the lockout that hasn't happened to me even once, until last night. I found myself nodding of a few times during the first period.

When a hardcore fan like myself can't stay awake for a playoff game with my favorite team playing in an elimination game, that's a pretty sad thing for the NHL.

It's kind of ironic. The only thing that could save this organization from itself would be Sid and/or Geno saying 'enough is enough', but at that point I'm not sure a situation like that would be reparable.

They are the "brand". The jackasses in mgmt are delusional if they think this org won't become a middle of the pack team the league and fans yawn about without those two.

Malkin and Crosby put this org back on the map. This isn't a case like in Detroit where superior mgmt has kept them an elite franchise for years. It's simply a case of an org getting lucky to get two generational talents. In return they ignored building around them and have become a clown show org.

Half the org and probably more could have built a winner and wildly popular "brand" around these two. Pens ownership and mgmt did nothing special.

 

[Dinfire]

Problem is, this isn't the first sign of struggle. There are two sides to this coin. You can support this team and not agree with all there moves or ideas. Nothing wrong with that.

Making the playoffs it not truly struggling. You should have been around in the '80s or early 2000s.

 

[Cherpak]

Making the playoffs it not truly struggling. You should have been around in the '80s or early 2000s.

I was.

 

[Darth Vitale]

Game 4 tickets were going for $60 - below the prices of regular season (~$80). I think as this team continues to devolve, prices will drop even further.

Interesting. Well there's that, if nothing else. Enjoy (or put your wallet away anyhow for a year).

Why?

He wasn't making the deals directly, and even with all of the AGM's all business attaining to roster moves went through ownership. All of them.

What people are missing is the fact they have two mega stars and they are under the pressure to compete every single season. There's no forgiveness for not trying, and that they did do, try....

I grant you Rutherford made some interesting moves and some were solid. Like I said, maybe time to get rid of some of the Assistant GMs. It's a leadership cluster-**** up there IMO.

As for all moves going through ownership, do you know that for a fact? Did Morehouse or Mario say as much afterward?

 

[Dinfire]

I was.

Then you should know better.

 

[Darth Vitale]

Making the playoffs it not truly struggling. You should have been around in the '80s or early 2000s.

Struggling is a relative thing. Expectations logically change as the quality of the roster changes. I was here during the dark years when awesome talents like Rico Fata and Ramzi Abid were our goal scoring hopes -- doesn't get much worse than that.

But you don't hold those two types of teams to the same standards. This team with its core vs. the crappy core of those 80s teams or the fire-sale team, SHOULD be expected to do something beyond "make the playoffs". They should be expected to make a real run at it most years. At least win a couple rounds, make some noise, actually COMPETE.

I know this series did not yield any blowouts but easily could have barring MAF saving our ass. Ironically. He used to be the blowout, now he's the steady guy and... well, you know the drill.

Nothing wrong with people expecting more out of this team than what they deliver. I get injuries kind of screwed our D this year (I do) but some of the same problems seem to be lurking around as in past playoff flops. Just not the Fleury problem (thank God).

 

[Ugene Magic]

Interesting. Well there's that, if nothing else. Enjoy (or put your wallet away anyhow for a year).




I grant you Rutherford made some interesting moves and some were solid. Like I said, maybe time to get rid of some of the Assistant GMs. It's a leadership cluster-**** up there IMO.

As for all moves going through ownership, do you know that for a fact? Did Morehouse or Mario say as much afterward?

Just watch the draft video of the Neal trade. These guys are puppets, and JR knows all the ins and outs of setting up stuff which the AGM's are getting from him. But he doesn't have the final say in anything. When they say a group of 9, that includes ownership. They don't have that many guys who will be in on that stuff below MJ's brief suggestion. Add the 5/6 leader heads and who else could it be.

Edit: Would you trust final word from anyone after Shero?

 

[Cherpak]

Then you should know better.

I expect more from this organization. You know why? Because thats what two generational talents should expect. Sorry but I have a belief and I am not satisfied with mediocrity. Yes for me barely skating into the playoffs is unacceptable having Crosby/Malkin. Screwing up the cap the way they did in my book is worthy of a firing. The Despres trade still has me seeing red. Now if this team was say Toronto then I would be thrilled just making the post season. Problem is we are not Toronto and I refuse to accept anything less. Mediocrity breeds complacency. This organization seems fine with that, I'm not.

 

[Fleury3434*]

most of you people are insane... pens just played the best team in the league and only lost each game by one goal (? i think every game was by one goal at least? lol). They were missing their top three defensemen and dare i say TOP 4 defensemen with pouliot hurt (i think pouliot would have been one of our top four and will be next year).

What did you guys expect? we played a great series given the circumstances. for the first time in years im happy with how we played. We were severily injured going into the series against the best team in the league and we only lost each game by a goal? ill take it

 

[Cherpak]

most of you people are insane... pens just played the best team in the league and only lost each game by one goal (? i think every game was by one goal at least? lol). They were missing their top three defensemen and dare i say TOP 4 defensemen with pouliot hurt (i think pouliot would have been one of our top four and will be next year).

What did you guys expect? we played a great series given the circumstances. for the first time in years im happy with how we played. We were severily injured going into the series against the best team in the league and we only lost each game by a goal? ill take it

If not for Fleury this series is a sweep. Scoring more than 3 goals only once the entire series is unacceptable. We have plenty of issues.

 

[Fordy]

most of you people are insane... pens just played the best team in the league and only lost each game by one goal (? i think every game was by one goal at least? lol). They were missing their top three defensemen and dare i say TOP 4 defensemen with pouliot hurt (i think pouliot would have been one of our top four and will be next year).

What did you guys expect? we played a great series given the circumstances. for the first time in years im happy with how we played. We were severily injured going into the series against the best team in the league and we only lost each game by a goal? ill take it

literally the only thing to be happy about is how they played. there's nothing about the organization or the future that should be encouraging