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

[Cherpak]

Yeah, this is definitely the biggest area of concern for me as well. But I've felt this all along. I have compared our situation with the LA Kings of the Gretzky era a few times now, and it's just getting to be more and more accurate. The Kings decided to go all in, all the time with Gretzky. They stopped producing their own talent, and eventually were forced to trade The Great One because they weren't able to successfully ice a competent team around him anymore. And they didn't get a king's ransom (pun intended) in return for Gretzky, either...Roman Vopat, Patrice Tardif, Craig Johnson and a first round pick one year after that draft year.

If we don't watch out, this is going to be us in a few years.

It will be the second time its happened. Remember Jagr for Beach, Sivek, and Lupashuk? I cringe at that happening again.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Yeah, this is definitely the biggest area of concern for me as well. But I've felt this all along. I have compared our situation with the LA Kings of the Gretzky era a few times now, and it's just getting to be more and more accurate. The Kings decided to go all in, all the time with Gretzky. They stopped producing their own talent, and eventually were forced to trade The Great One because they weren't able to successfully ice a competent team around him anymore. And they didn't get a king's ransom (pun intended) in return for Gretzky, either...Roman Vopat, Patrice Tardif, Craig Johnson and a first round pick one year after that draft year.

If we don't watch out, this is going to be us in a few years.

And this is why I was so bummed that Crosby failed to win the Art Ross this year. I have zero faith in this club winning the big one (Stanley Cup), so each season I root for Sid or Geno to take home as much individual hardware as they can since it's all they'll have to show for their careers from here on out. Unless something drastically changes in how this organization is run (which I have zero faith will happen).

 

[Pancakes]

TIOPS claims Rutherford is pushing for changes to the front office structure and that Butterbeans future with us is unclear now.

So much for JR just being temporary. We'll be probably be stuck with this old geezer until he dies.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

TIOPS claims Rutherford is pushing for changes to the front office structure and that Butterbeans future with us is unclear now.

So much for JR just being temporary. We'll be probably be stuck with this old geezer until he dies.

Sadly, I don't even know what to root for in this situation. We don't know for sure who is the truly incompetent one. At this point, I have to assume every single one of them has no clue.

 

[Cherpak]

TIOPS claims Rutherford is pushing for changes to the front office structure and that Butterbeans future with us is unclear now.

So much for JR just being temporary. We'll be probably be stuck with this old geezer until he dies.

Sounds like a lot of turmoil going on behind the scene in Penguin land.

 

[gdsmack267]

TIOPS claims Rutherford is pushing for changes to the front office structure and that Butterbeans future with us is unclear now.

So much for JR just being temporary. We'll be probably be stuck with this old geezer until he dies.

where did he post that? I dont see it

 

[Pancakes]

where did he post that? I dont see it

On his twitter

 

[Zirakzigil]

Not surprised by this. They have both only had a year. If you start firing coaches after a year then you turn into the Oilers. Another offseason to trim some of the useless fat on this roster and hopefully having a healthy Maatta will do wonders for the team. Its not like the Pens were blown out of the water. They were all 1 goal games with our entire top pairing and 2 other starting defensemen out.

 

[SEALBound]

With Butters gone...perhaps the perfect transition for Babcock. Him being in a AGM/HC or AC role would be great. Pleeeeeeeeeease.

 

[Coastal Kev]

I have no clue what you people are talking about

May I ask your sources without you getting to specific. Is it personal, business or a connection???

 

[ColePens]

TIOPS hasn't been right since they had one spectacular offseason/deadline. They have been 0 for the world in the last couple years.

 

[Dinfire]

All the Babcock pining is interesting considering he's only won one Cup and allegedly has the best GM and farm system in the league.

 

[Jackpot Jaret]

Ive been a Penguins fan since Jagr's rookie season, I remember the "Igloo Report" online, I cried when Stevens was carted off the ice, and I have lived through the Generation X days. This is the most dejected ive been as a Penguins fan.

I will never, ever stop supporting this team fulltime, but I am done with this team for now. I basically couldn't care less anymore at this point, and even though I don't spend a ton on the Penguins throughout the year, the Pens now won't be getting a single penny out of me, im embarrassed to wear Penguins gear

The lack of accountability in this management is pathetic to say the least

 

[Joejosh999]

Ive been a Penguins fan since Jagr's rookie season, I remember the "Igloo Report" online, I cried when Stevens was carted off the ice, and I have lived through the Generation X days. This is the most dejected ive been as a Penguins fan.

I will never, ever stop supporting this team fulltime, but I am done with this team for now. I basically couldn't care less anymore at this point, and even though I don't spend a ton on the Penguins throughout the year, the Pens now won't be getting a single penny out of me, im embarrassed to wear Penguins gear

The lack of accountability in this management is pathetic to say the least

Put that in a letter and send it to Pens front office. Seriously.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Yeah, this is definitely the biggest area of concern for me as well. But I've felt this all along. I have compared our situation with the LA Kings of the Gretzky era a few times now, and it's just getting to be more and more accurate. The Kings decided to go all in, all the time with Gretzky. They stopped producing their own talent, and eventually were forced to trade The Great One because they weren't able to successfully ice a competent team around him anymore. And they didn't get a king's ransom (pun intended) in return for Gretzky, either...Roman Vopat, Patrice Tardif, Craig Johnson and a first round pick one year after that draft year.

If we don't watch out, this is going to be us in a few years.

I wouldn't say this situation is anything like the Kings situation. McNall defaulted on a 90m loan, was forced to sell the Kings, and the franchise was put into bankruptcy by 95. They didn't have the money to pay Gretzky, so he was traded 6-7 months later.

 

[Hophog]

Sadly, I don't even know what to root for in this situation. We don't know for sure who is the truly incompetent one. At this point, I have to assume every single one of them has no clue.

Well, I think we can safely assume that anyone who was here before Rutherford is incompetent so the only question I have is whether or not we can trust that JR won't be even worse. I like the idea of someone pushing for change but it makes me nervous if that someone is JR. I'd like to think that he couldn't do any worse but I fear that he can.

At some point someone has to take a gamble with this team and make some drastic changes. It could go really good or it could go really bad but there is no sense in continuing to play it safe by surrounding Sid and Geno with guys that they hope are only good enough to not screw things up. They seem so concerned with making move that will send the team in the wrong direction that they don't do anything that would help them move in the right direction.

 

[Cherpak]

On his twitter

Why would a NHL GM post anything like that on his twitter account?

 

[Tender Rip]

So, I didn't bother reading the thread....

I find it unsurprising AND unproblematic that they are staying. Johnston has to be better next year, hopefully aided by some vet zits being traded away, so he don't overplay them, but our problems were injuries, a missing piece or two, injuries again and an atrocious PP.

My only problem with Rutherford was the Despres deal, and that one seemingly was not just on him (or at all? the weirdness is strong with this one).

Johnston.... well, certainly not perfect, but unless we can get Babcock, which I would of course jump through hoops to see happen, I don't think it is really obvious that he should go after one season.

All about how we do roster management wise before next season. Dead weight needs traded. We need to see the kids up from the very start to let them grown and estimate what we have.

 

[KIRK]

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.



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.



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.

One could argue that what they've done is quite the opposite.

I mean, think about it, you are gifted two generational talents. Your entire organizational approach to team building SHOULD be to build around those two first and then worry about everything else second. This organization has worried about everything else first and then put thought into building around Sid and Geno last.

You couldn't script a way to **** it up much better than they have.

 

[ColePens]

The thing about the dead weight... we sitll have roster spots to fill, too. So I don't know how they are going to do all of this. I have zero faith.

 

[Coastal Kev]

One could argue that what they've done is quite the opposite.

I mean, think about it, you are gifted two generational talents. Your entire organizational approach to team building SHOULD be to build around those two first and then worry about everything else second. This organization has worried about everything else first and then put thought into building around Sid and Geno last.

You couldn't script a way to **** it up much better than they have.

This is true so I have one question. Why does anyone think next year will be any different? I sure as heck don't.

I can't wait until their first Vet D signing.

 

[Tender Rip]

This is true so I have one question. Why does anyone think next year will be any different? I sure as heck don't.

I can't wait until their first Vet D signing.

I'd like a good one of those.... after Scuderi is traded and Ehrhoff let go.... who knows, maybe Martin too, we are sure going to need one.

If we go into next season with Scuderi and Kunitz on the roster.... OK. I have issues also.

 

[KIRK]

I'd like a good one of those.... after Scuderi is traded and Ehrhoff let go.... who knows, maybe Martin too, we are sure going to need one.

If we go into next season with Scuderi and Kunitz on the roster.... OK. I have issues also.

Push comes to shove, the Pens are better off eating some salary or buying them out just to be rid of them. Obviously, you'd prefer to do neither . . . I'm just not sure that will be an option with Scuderi.

 

[Darth Vitale]

I just went out with a friend who is very tuned into anything deal with the Pens. He said he heard/read that the moves made, Botteril was not on board with them. JR did them any way. Botteril new about the cap hell that could potentially occur and no one listened. It's like the one captain for the Titanic. We can't go any faster, the ship can't handle it. **** it...fire the engines up. The move for Lovejoy smacks of a JR move anyway. The dude loved trading for vets in Carolina. He loves experience.

Didn't respond to this earlier. Thanks for posting it. Don't know if this is a rumor type thing or if your friend actually knows people in the organization (directly), but it's interesting if nothing else.


NHL.com now reporting this about Johnston and Rutherford, witha more expansive quote. Probably alreadty been noted somewhere but in case it hasn't

Morehouse via Trib: "I know there's been a lot of speculation out there, but [co-owners] Ron [Burkle] and Mario [Lemieux] never once considered a change. Jim Rutherford's our general manager, and Mike Johnston's our coach."

Nice work with the politician-speak, jerk-ball. Please punch yourself in the face for me. Never once considered = past tense, no bearing on current or future considerations. Then stating what everyone knows as if it's news. This is like having David Axelrod or Karl Rove as our CEO. Good times.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Fantasy land scenario: Mike Babcock, coach/GM. Dave Tippett, assistant.