I’m not sure about much when it comes to the 2020-21 Pittsburgh Penguins.
I’m not sure who will be on the roster. I’m not sure if they’ll make the playoffs. I’m not even sure if head coach Mike Sullivan will make it through the season.
But I am sure that it won’t be Jack Johnson’s fault. Because the Penguins bought out the defenseman’s contract Monday.
I am also sure that Penguins fans will find a way to blame him anyway.
I mean, old habits are hard to break.
TribLive Penguins beat writer Seth Rorabaugh joins me on Tuesday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast to discuss a not-so-fond farewell for the favorite whipping boy of Penguins fans. We also talk about what plans the franchise may have to replace him on the roster.
Seth and I get into the future of restricted free agent goaltender Matt Murray, too. The Penguins made him a qualifying offer. But the belief is the Penguins will still try to trade him, perhaps this week.
“I wouldn’t read too much into Matt Murray getting a qualifying offer,” Rorabaugh told me. “It’s a mere formality to retain his NHL rights. And it will allow them to move forward if they want to re-sign or, in most likelihood, trade him.”
The NHL draft begins Tuesday. Free agency starts Friday. And the team has already given an extension to goalie Tristan Jarry. So it appears that a deal involving Murray is a fait accompli.
So long as general manager Jim Rutherford can find a dance partner. That could be the Minnesota Wild, with one of Rutherford’s former assistants (Bill Guerin) in charge.
“They just jettisoned their goalie Devan Dubnyk to San Jose. They are basically in a rebuild operation under Bill Guerin. On paper, a guy like Matt Murray would be an enviable option to rebuild for the future,” Rorabaugh said.
Rorabaugh also said there may have been some fire to the smoke surrounding a report that the Chicago Blackhawks were interested in Murray. But Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said that deal isn’t going to happen.
Hearing CHI/PIT had Matt Murray conversations and the Blackhawks had permission to discuss an extension. Things did not work out, so everyone continues examining their options.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 5, 2020
Plus we tackle Dominik Simon’s future after he wasn’t qualified by the Penguins. Could Bryan Rust be on the move? And is the top four on defense as ironclad as Rutherford wants us to believe?
