Confirmed with Link: The Penguins have re-signed defenseman Juuso Riikola to a two-year contract.

[StroShow]

Click to read more...

 

[Gurglesons]

But the management doesn’t like him and he isn’t going to sign here.....

That being said. Super weird we are going to “get younger” and have signed two older Ds to multi year contracts.

Probably further proof we are trading Letang.

 

[StroShow]

1.15 M with Ruhdwedel signed at 7th dman money.... does this mean Jack Johnson will be moved?

 

[Allie Kitsune]

OK, so with Ruh and Rii both re-signed

WHY IS JJ STILL HERE?

 

[Empoleon8771]

JR: I was unhappy with my defense, I want to see changes to the defense
Also JR: I love my top-4, it's not all Johnson's fault, let's re-sign Ruhwedel a year before his deal expires and let's re-sign Riikola to a moderately expensive #7D price

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Nice, congrats to Riikola! I just hope he gets more games. Specifically, more games on defense.

 

[StroShow]

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Legit did not expect this. Hope he gets some more time. At worst, he's an upgrade over JJ. At best, he's a pretty solid and cheap 3rd pairing guy.

 

[Deport Ogie]

Makes sense. Otherwise the ass grooves in the press box seat would have to be totally reconfigured and thats time we just don't have right now.

 

[Empoleon8771]

This signing also makes it more difficult for POJ to get a look next year.

I'm fine with signing Riikola, but I'm really confused for why JR seems content with the status quo for everything on defense after bitching about it after being eliminated. Is his plan really just to publicly throw Schultz under the bus and just replace him?

 

[Gurglesons]

Legit did not expect this. Hope he gets some more time. At worst, he's an upgrade over JJ. At best, he's a pretty solid and cheap 3rd pairing guy.

Why? He was an RFA and was making like 600k more than he would in Europe.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Shocked at this.

Happy but shocked.

After getting jerked around like he was I was sure that he would want a new start elsewhere.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Why? He was an RFA and was making like 600k more than he would in Europe.

I thought the Penguins were definitely going to move him.

 

[Gurglesons]

I thought the Penguins were definitely going to move him.

Easily still could. But as I said, I think everything much like Phil is pointing to a Letang being the piece that gets moved out.

 

[heysmilinstrange]

I'm happy about this. I hope he gets a chance to play, but if not, at least he's getting NHL money.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Easily still could. But as I said, I think everything much like Phil is pointing to a Letang being the piece that gets moved out.

It's much less likely with him signing an extension. If the Penguins wanted to trade Riikola, they wouldn't have signed him ahead of time.

And I really hope JR isn't so dumb that he decided to trade Letang because he re-signed Riikola and Ruhwedel.

 

[mpp9]

Easily still could. But as I said, I think everything much like Phil is pointing to a Letang being the piece that gets moved out.

Maybe Dumoulin. Ruh is our only 3rd pairing RD right now so keeping him makes sense.

Having POJ, not trading JJ AND keeping Rik points to a LD being moved IMO.

 

[Dangles78]

Well this is a pleasant surprise

 

[Gurglesons]

It's much less likely with him signing an extension. If the Penguins wanted to trade Riikola, they wouldn't have signed him ahead of time.

And I really hope JR isn't so dumb that he decided to trade Letang because he re-signed Riikola and Ruhwedel.

I don’t think it’s because he signed Riikola and Ruhwedel.

I think it’s because as he laid out..

A. He wants the D to be younger. Letang is the oldest member.

B. He wants to cut cap and Letang is the richest contract.

C. He believes our core outside of Sid “doesn’t want it as much”. So using Letang as a shake-up proves that point.

D. He’s a f***ing moron.

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

Awesome, got a solid 3rd pair guy for nothin.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

Why? He was an RFA and was making like 600k more than he would in Europe.

Why wouldn't I expect this? Because the team refused to play him over legitimately the worst blueliner, arguably player, in the NHL. No part of me expected him to be re-signed.

 

[DRAGO 18]

Hopefully this means JJ is out the door

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

Letang aint going anywhere.

its jack. Its always been jack.

 

[Gurglesons]

Why wouldn't I expect this? Because the team refused to play him over legitimately the worst blueliner, arguably player, in the NHL. No part of me expected him to be re-signed.

He played nearly half the season and once again is getting paid like 600k more than he would in Europe.

 

[WheresRamziAbid]

Why wouldn't I expect this? Because the team refused to play him over legitimately the worst blueliner, arguably player, in the NHL. No part of me expected him to be re-signed.

so you thought finland was a better oppurtunity?