Happy Thanksgiving to all of our PenguinPoop readers and commenters and welcome to the second installment of Rating Rutherford’s Moves. This one covers the 2015-16 season.
To say the Penguins finished the 2014-15 season and playoffs in disarray would be a vast understatement. Although injuries contributed a great deal to the team’s poor showing, general manager Jim Rutherford drew his share of heat from the local media.
“Rutherford has botched an attempted retooling job of the Penguins,” wrote Tribune Review columnist Rob Rossi in a particularly scathing critique.
Under intense scrutiny, GMJR promptly pulled the trigger on the blockbuster deal of the summer, acquiring five-time 30-goal man Phil Kessel from Toronto. The price was steep…a first-round pick, a third-round pick, former first-round pick Kaperi Kapanen along with spare parts Nick Spaling and Scott Harrington. But Rutherford secured one of the league’s most dynamic skaters and scorers with one bold stroke.
The trade underscored his approach for the coming season. JR intended to add speed, skill and leadership while following Chicago’s model of rolling four productive lines.
Several of his moves were a study in understated brilliance. On July 28, he acquired gritty Nick Bonino from Vancouver for Brandon Sutter, one of the team’s best players down the previous season’s stretch run. Following a slow start, Bonino would establish himself as a vital cog while anchoring the third line.
A week later Rutherford inked 39-year-old Matt Cullen, a linchpin on his ’06 Cup winner in Carolina. Cullen filled an elder statesman role similar to Bryan Trottier’s on the Pens’ first Cup teams. He also notched 16 goals and won 55.7 percent of his faceoffs.
JR really found his stride on December 14, plucking Trevor Daley from the Blackhawks in exchange for shopworn Rob Scuderi. A perfect fit for new coach Mike Sullivan’s attacking style, the quicksilver defenseman helped jump start the stalled transition game.
The hits kept comin’. In yet another signature swap, Rutherford peddled snake bitten David Perron to Anaheim for puck hound extraordinaire Carl Hagelin. The supersonic Swede joined forces with Bonino and Kessel to form the deadly “HBK Line.” The trio would lead all lines in postseason scoring.
At the trade deadline, JR culled talented right-shot defenseman Justin Schultz from Edmonton for a third-round pick. Once so highly regarded the Oilers sent Hall of Famer Paul Coffey to recruit him, Schultz’s game had fallen apart. Staked to sheltered minutes on the third pairing, the former Wisconsin star regained his confidence and proved to be a steal.
Not every move JR made was gold. He signed KHL power forward Sergei Plotnikov for $3.775 million (including signing bonus). With two assists in 32 games, the husky Russian never found his footing. Likewise, hulking Eric Fehr…a Penguin-killer with Washington…failed to mesh with the team’s up-tempo style.
Yet for the most part Rutherford displayed a Midas touch. Indeed, with the possible exceptions of Jack Button in the mid-‘70s and Craig Patrick in the early ‘90s, it’s doubtful a Pens GM ever did better work.
A perfect team-building storm. One that propelled the black and gold to a Stanley Cup and earned JR General Manager of the Year honors. Richly deserved.
TRADES
|
Date |
Team |
Acquired |
Traded |
Rating |
|
Jul. 1, 2015 |
Toronto |
Phil Kessel (rw), Tyler Biggs (rw), Tim Erixon (ld), 2nd round pick 2016 (PIT) |
Kasperi Kapanen (rw), Scott Harrington (ld), Nick Spaling (c), 1st round pick 2016, 3rd round pick 2016 (NJ) |
A+: Kessel magic on the power play, the Pens wouldn’t have won two Cups without him. |
|
Jul. 28, 2015 |
Vancouver |
Nick Bonino (c), Adam Clendening (rd), 2nd round pick 2016 (ANA) |
Brandon Sutter (c), 3rd round pick in 2016 (VAN) |
A: “Bones” the definition of a third-line center. |
|
Dec. 14, 2015 |
Chicago |
Trevor Daley (ld) |
Rob Scuderi (ld) |
A+: JR moved the immovable object for a quality player to boot. |
|
Jan. 16, 2016 |
Anaheim |
Carl Hagelin (lw) |
David Perron (lw), Adam Clendening (rd) |
A: Warp drive speed; meshed beautifully with Bonino and Kessel. |
|
Feb. 27, 2016 |
Edmonton |
Justin Schultz (rd) |
3rd round pick 2016 |
A: Grand larceny. |
|
Feb. 29, 2016 |
Arizona |
Matthias Plachta (lw) |
Sergei Plotnikov (lw) |
C: Swap of disappointing Euros. |
FREE AGENT/WAIVERS
|
Date |
Old Team |
Free Agent |
Contract |
Rating |
|
Jul. 1, 2015 |
Yaroslavl (KHL) |
Sergei Plotnikov (lw) |
1 year, $3.775 million |
F: A flop. |
|
Jul. 1, 2015 |
Washington |
Steve Oleksy (rd) |
1 year, $575 thousand |
C+: Depth d-man noted for toughness and leadership. |
|
Jul. 1, 2015 |
NY Islanders |
Kael Mouillierat (c) |
1 year, $575 thousand |
C: Depth forward. |
|
Jul. 1, 2015 |
Detroit |
Kevin Porter (c) |
1 year, $575 thousand |
C: Depth forward. |
|
Jul. 1, 2015 |
Boston |
David Warsofsky (ld) |
1 year, $600 thousand |
C+: Valued for leadership. |
|
Jul. 1, 2015 |
Baby Pens (AHL) |
Conor Sheary (rw) |
2 years, $925 thousand (AAV) |
B+: Forty-one goals over a two-season span. |
|
Jul. 13, 2015 |
Pittsburgh |
Bobby Farnham (rw) |
1 year, $575 thousand |
C: Feisty role player. |
|
Jul. 28, 2015 |
Washington |
Eric Fehr (c) |
3 years, $2 million (AAV) |
C: Poor fit but scored key goals in playoffs. |
|
Aug. 6, 2015 |
Nashville |
Matt Cullen (c) |
1 year, $800 thousand |
A: “Team Dad” leadership personified. |
|
Oct. 26, 2015 |
Pittsburgh |
Bobby Farnham (rw) |
Claimed on waivers by New Jersey |
NA |
|
Feb. 1, 2016 |
Baby Pens (AHL) |
Tom Sestito (lw) |
1 year, $575 thousand |
C+: Tough guy protected the kids on the farm. |
|
Feb. 29, 2016 |
New Jersey |
David Warsofsky (ld) |
Claimed on waivers |
NA |
|
Mar. 9, 2016 |
Baby Pens (AHL) |
Carter Rowney (rw) |
2 years, $612.5 thousand (AAV) |
B: Solid late-blooming depth forward. |
OVERALL GRADE: A
I know it’s late but..
Happy Thanksgiving to my American Poop followers!!
As some of you know, i am not a fan of Rutherford, but the Kessel trade helped win two cups.
The problem as I have wrote on here before ..is the window has closed maybe 2 seasons ago….and in what three seasons or so Pens are going to be bad.
No 1st rounders in three straight years, the prospect cupboard is bare, only Poulin?
I realize that is the price you pay for winning but he should always have an eye for the future too.
Hey Pen’s4ever,
Thanks for the wishes and good to hear from you!
Like you, I have felt that the window closed a while ago (the Cole Trade – I was irate over that one). However, I didn’t think/don’t think that it is locked shut just yet. I think that if JR and the team would have been honest with itself 2 years ago and acknowledged the passing of time, they could have retooled in time to be on the Cusp again.
Unfortunately, the team (and many fans), like almost every team (and fan base), throughout time, refused to see the crumbling all around.
So now you are right, the team is about ripe for a hard fall. I would love for Poulin, Legare, and all of the other prospects beat the odds and all make an impact but…..
Hello Pen’s4ever,
Good to hear from you and a very astute point about Rutherford needing to keep an eye on the future.
In my opinion, Rutherford’s greatest flaw is a tendency to overpay, often in the form of draft picks as you pointed out. It’s part of his aggressive style…he tries to get there quicker than other GMs and probably feels a need to sweeten the pot a bit in order to seal the deal.
Heck, a glance at the trade he made for Jordan Staal when he was still the GM in Carolina says it all. He gave up Brandon Sutter, Brian Dumoulin and the eighth overall pick in the draft for Jordan…who’s never quite lived up to the promise he flashed in 2011-12 (25 goals in 62 games).
That’s a lot to give up for a third-line center, albeit a very good one.
Rick
Hey Rick,
I agree with your trade assessments 100%, even the Plotnikov trade. When you give nothing and get nothing it is a C. I really wanted Plotnikov to workout but wanting doesn’t mean much.
The Signings.
I might bump the Porter signing up to a C+ or B-. He played very well on the PK, logging the 4th most time on that unit during the 2015-16 season while only playing 41 Gs and the teams GA while he was on the ice was below the expect GA, all the while getting paid less than $600k. Porter gave value.
Warsofsky, sorry, to me he was at best a C-, more like a D or even a D-. He did not get paid much, and quite frankly he added less. In my book he was a roster spot thief, he blocked out a spot that cold have gone to a player with more upside. I do value leadership ability but despite some people saying he provided it, I did not see any evidence of it.
While I agree with your grades of the Fehr and Sestito signings, part of me would have like to see a little more TOI for at least Sestito on the big team. But as the way things actually played out, your grades are pretty much spot on.
As much as I liked Rowney, I think I only give his signing a C. l think had he been deployed differently he may have earned a higher grade for his signing, but for the limited role he was given a think a C is what I would give him.
Hey Rick,
Just a quick side note (still musing over this article), did you see PHN’s report – which they caution is just a rumor, that there may be a trade in the works, where the Penguins would acquire Vitaly Kravtsov (6′-3 or 6′-4, 183lb, left handed winger). No mention was given as to what asset(s) the Penguins would have to cede to acquire the Winger.
Hey Other Rick,
I did see that. Kravtsov’s numbers aren’t all that dazzling, but as a general rule you don’t get drafted ninth overall by being a stiff.
I did a real quick read on him, and I guess he’s very skilled, possesses excellent vision and playmaking skills. Has a pass-first mentality…the Rangers would like to see him shoot more. Also needs work on his overall game and play without the puck.
I mentioned his numbers aren’t all that impressive. It sounds like he had a difficult first year. Didn’t make the Rangers, got sent down to Hartford…pouted…and eventually returned to Russia to finish the season in the KHL.
Not a hugely ringing endorsement of his character. Still, scouts think he’s going to be an impact player.
What we’d give up to get him is the million-dollar question. The Rangers need help on ‘d’ but they don’t have a ton of cap space. Hate to suggest this, but I wonder if Juuso Riikola goes to New York along with…and I really hate this…Nathan Legare.
I don’t want to trade either of these guys…especially Legare…he’s got that bomb of a shot and he plays with fire and passion. Precisely the reason the Pens would part with him, I’m afraid.
A wilder idea. Marcus Pettersson to the Rangers for this kid? I don’t think it’s too likely…the Pens really like Pettersson…again the Rangers don’t have a ton of cap space (which is why they signed Jack Johnson on the cheap)…and Pettersson might be a lot to part with for an unproven kid, talented or not.
Anyway…we’ll see what transpires…
Rick
PS–Another thought. Pierre-Olivier Joseph for Kravtsov?
Hey Rick,
When I was younger, I really only paid attention to the players that were on the team and/or playing in the NHL. As I got a little older, I started to pay attention to the kids in the minors. A little later on I started going back and forth with checking in on what the next draft class would look like, but I was inconsistent with that from one year to the next.
However, after getting to read some comments from our friend Jim back in his early days here on PP, I really have been getting more and more consistent with scouring scouting reports and trying to keep tabs on what may be coming down the pike. (Your knowledge of what the kids were doing made me jealous, Jim) So, over the last several seasons I have been pretty diligent with knowing which kids I would have liked to see the Pens draft. I don’t remember why, but Kravlsov underwhelmed me. If I recall, I was more interested in Grigori Denisenko, Evan Bouchard, Rasmus Kupari, and Ty Smith, not to mention the guys like Dahlin, Svechnikov, Tkachuk, Hughes, and Boqvist, who went ahead of Kravlsov. (Not that any of that mattered since the Pens didn’t have a 1st round Pick) However, considering the lack of players in the pipeline anything could be a help.
I would not give up Legare for him. Nor would I give up Riikola. I would definitely give up Pettersson, but as you said his $4 mil Cap hit may be to high for NYR. Even if they were not up against the Cap, they still may not want to pay that much for Pettersson. Maybe he develops, but then again maybe he does not.
Your PS, P-O Joseph. Joseph may be listed among the team’s top prospects, but JR has continually traded top prospects with great alacrity and the team is still loaded with LHD. If the team really thinks it can turn Matheson around (I do not!!) then Joseph is expendable. I may not trade Joseph for Kravlsov (but I would trade him before I traded Riikola), but I could see JR do it, especially if NYR is in the market for a D -man.
Interesting take, Other Rick.
You’re a lot more plugged into prospects than I am. And your assessment seems to fall in line with the limited amount that I’ve read about Kravtsov. It sounds like the tools are there, but…
The fact that the Rangers don’t plan to invite him to training camp…and are perhaps looking to deal him…speaks volumes.
Rick
Rick & The Other Rick
IMO – this is your typical change of scenery player who
allowed his attitude to be affected when he didn’t make
the Rangers NHL roster. From my understanding after
bouncing from the AHL, Russia and back to the AHL his
attitude and work ethic are much improved.
From everything I hear the consensus is the kid
projects as a top six forward. It’s a no brainer if
JR can pick him up with a modest return. I personally
would give up Riikola – Theirs a lot to like about his
game but something’s missing with his overall feel
and Hockey IQ that concerns me. Like Rick I love his
willingness to take the body something this team is
desperate for but to pick up a future top 6 forward I
would make that trade in a heartbeat.
Hey Mike,
Sorry, if I appeared to be saying I don’t want JR to deal for the kid. I didn’t mean to sound that way. With our lack of prospects anything is welcome, depending on price.
I may not have used that high of a pick on him but in exchange for any of our LHD, except for Dumoilin, I would take a chance. I just would rather trade Pettersson or Joseph for him rather than Riikola.
Nor would I give up Legate to get him. That would at best be treading water maybe trading down.