After losing two straight games, the Pittsburgh Penguins (39-16-8) brought their offense back into the light, scoring five times in their 5-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning (29-26-8). And following a few trades by general manager Jim Rutherford, the new guys — one in particular — showed that they can contribute. Mark Streit, who played against one of his former teams Friday night, scored two points (1G, 1A) in his PPG Paints Arena debut. However, the biggest star shined on Evgeni ... Read More
Sometimes the best move is no move at all
Heading into the season, the biggest question was whether Marc-Andre Fleury or Matt Murray would be the Pittsburgh Penguins' starting goaltender. With three options on the table — trade Fleury, trade Murray or trade neither — general manager Jim Rutherford had a very difficult decision to make. Over the summer, the market for goaltenders — especially experienced and proven ones — was slightly above average. A handful of teams hadn't found a reliable and talented golaie yet, which ... Read More
Murray, Penguins agree to three-year contract extension
Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they and Matt Murray agreed to a three-year contract extension with an annual value of $3.75 million. For a Stanley Cup Champion, general manager Jim Rutherford really got a great value with this move. “We have a young goalie that has had a very good career,” Rutherford said. “He won a Stanley Cup, played extremely well, and we feel he has a bright future ahead and a long future ahead of him. Getting him on a bridge contract at that number ... Read More
Penguins re-sign veteran Matt Cullen to 1 year, $1 million contract
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that center Matt Cullen will be returning to the team for the 2016-17 season after inking a one year, $1 million contract. The 39-year-old was primarily seen on Pittsburgh's fourth line, but he was still able to rack up 32 points (16 G, 16 A) in 82 games — he was one of only three players who played in every game for Pittsburgh. Cullen also contributed six points (4 G, 2 A) during the Penguins' magical playoff run. Speculation had persisted ... Read More
Rutherford extension promotes stability within Penguins’ leadership
What a difference two years can make. After being hired on June 6, 2014, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford had some big shoes to fill. Former GM Ray Shero was a Pittsburgh favorite, but the lack of production and some questionable trades eventually led to his departure. In came Rutherford, the former Carolina Hurricanes GM. And his arrival was met by both cheers and jeers. But the former NHL goaltender — who played for the Penguins for three seasons early in his career — ... Read More
GM Jim Rutherford inks three-year extension with Penguins
When Jim Rutherford was brought in to be the new general for the Pittsburgh Penguins, it was thought to be a stop-gap move. After a letdown first season on the job with then-head coach Mike Johnston manning duties behind the bench, Rutherford turned the Penguins into a Stanley Cup-caliber team. It played out on the ice, too, as the Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks for their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history. As the NHL free agency opens up, it was Rutherford who inked the first ... Read More
Between Rutherford and Sullivan, more Cups to come
Let's continue to get wrapped up in the moment, even if it's been a few weeks since the Pittsburgh Penguins brought Lord Stanley back to the City of Champions. It's time to get excited for the future, because, with both general manager Jim Rutherford and head coach Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh has the perfect balance of leadership to continue to propel Pittsburgh deep in the playoffs. At the conclusion of Saturday's 2016 NHL Draft, one thing was clear: Rutherford wants to build more than just a ... Read More
Penguins add goalie, toughness in 2016 NHL Draft
The NHL draft signals the birth of a new season. It's a chance for teams to evaluate their roster and find players who will, one day, become major contributors to the team. On Saturday, the champion Pittsburgh Penguins finally had a shot at finding some of those contributors. Despite not having a first-round pick Friday, the Penguins had five picks entering the draft, but they ended Saturday having drafted six players. They got that extra pick through a trade; Winger Beau Bennett was sent ... Read More
Who should the Penguins draft in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft?
Tonight, the Pittsburgh Penguins will take their first major step to repeat as Stanley Cup champions when the 2016 NHL Draft gets underway. And if there is any team that knows what young players can do, it's the Penguins. But, this youth comes with some big consequences. Not only does Pittsburgh lack depth in its minor league system, but, for the fourth-straight season, the Penguins are without a first round pick. Fortunately, the lack of first-round draft picks hasn't hurt them — ... Read More
NHL Awards: Odds of bringing more hardware to Pittsburgh
Tonight, the stars will shine even brighter in Las Vegas when the NHL Awards take place. And this time, what happens in Vegas won’t just stay there. There are three Pittsburgh Penguins up for awards — Sidney Crosby for the Hart Memorial Trophy, Jim Rutherford for GM of the Year and Pascal Dupuis for the Masterton Trophy. Here’s a look at their chances and who we think will take home the hardware. Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL MVP) Finalists: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Patrick ... Read More