CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The Penguins did not add defensive depth, a backup goalie or a scoring winger for Sidney Crosby on Monday. After making a blockbuster trade for Derick Brassard on Friday, Jim Rutherford stood relatively pat at the NHL's official trade deadline.
He did acquire journeyman center Josh Jooris from the Hurricanes, sending minor-league center Greg McKegg to Carolina, then sending Jooris immediately to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Jooris, 27, had three goals and three assists in 31 games this season in the NHL. He played against the Penguins in Friday's game in Raleigh, registering one shot and going minus-1 in 9:39.
Rutherford called Jooris "a little more insurance, a little more depth at center ice."
Rutherford also announced that Patric Hornqvist is about to sign a contract extension.
More important than any of that, though, Rutherford announced, in his own inimitable ways, that his team is as ready as possible for a run at a third consecutive Stanley Cup championship:
• On his overall haul for the season, including having acquired Brassard last week, as well as Riley Sheahan and Jamie Oleksiak earlier in the season: "As a group, as we talked through it last night and today, we feel we have a real strong team. And good enough. Ready to compete."
• On the relative inactivity at the actual deadline: "We didn't add any more than what I just said, but I wouldn't suggest it was a day that we were just sitting there and not in on some things. But certainly, the way they were unfolding and the prices that were being paid for players and the players that we were interested in ... it just didn't get to the point that it made sense to make a deal."
• On the state of his defense, notably having struggling Matt Hunwick replace the departed Ian Cole on the depth chart: "We felt confident in our seven guys and a few guys we have in Wilkes-Barre. I don't want to suggest that we didn't talk to teams about defensemen today, but it was more for depth and insurance."
• On Conor Sheary, whose name was most commonly cited as an outgoing possibility: "Conor's a guy who's always been able to move up and down the lineup. We were trying to get him to a confident level and find his game. But he's a good player. He's contributed to two Stanley Cups here. He'll contribute to another. We have full confidence in him."
• On the goaltending depth of Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith, this after Matt Murray was hurt Monday in practice, followed by Jarry being returned to Wilkes-Barre and DeSmith being recalled: "We have not changed. We have confidence in our young goalies. We recognize like any player, but more so a goalie, they're going to have their ups and downs. But we know what Matt Murray can do, but with Jarry and DeSmith we feel both those guys are capable guys and are as capable as any goalie that may have been out there for us to add depth."
• On Daniel Sprong, the talented 20-year-old who has 21 goals in 43 AHL games: "We feel that he needs some work on his overall game. Everyone knows he can shoot the puck like nobody else. He can score goals, and he's going to score goals in the league. But our assessment of him at this point is that he needs his overall game to get there."
• On Matt Cullen, upon confirming he reached out to the Wild to try to bring him back, only to be left seemingly perplexed that he couldn't: "I don't know exactly how to describe it."
Rutherford's full press conference:
This will be Jooris' fourth team in four seasons after playing previously with the Flames, Rangers and Coyotes. In 204 career games, Jooris has 23 goals and 55 points. He enjoyed his best season in 2014-15 with Calgary, recording 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points, but he hasn't scored more than 13 points in an NHL season since.
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Penguins practice, Lemieux Sports Complex, Feb. 26, 2018. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS