The following is a couple of thoughts about the first few of days of free agency for the Pens.  I don’t know if I’m just expecting too much, but I expected the Pens to do a little better.  I’m not saying that the people they signed suck, but there is a loss, not a gain. I feel that there is a large void on defense, that I’m not sure they will be able to fill with the players they signed.  I guess free agents are not looking to win, they just want paid, and in this economy, can you blame them?   

We lost two starting defensemen that I have mixed feelings about it as follows……

Gill needed to go.  He was so slow back to the corner, and he looked almost afraid to hit people or clear out the front of the net.   I can’t believe the Montreal paid him 2.25 a year for two years.  His size is great, but I don’t feel that he has ever been shown how to fully use it….Go back to Canada you bum!!!!

 I expected to see Rob Scuderi go.  I think Rob really cemented his future with his performance over the entire playoffs.  I knew the Pen were not going to pay him that much a year.  They would not be able to afford it.  Four years, 13.6 million to go to Cali and play for the Kings sucks, but at least he will be paid decently.  I am not mad at Scuds.  It’s great to win, but you got to make that money before you can’t in sports.  Here today, gone tomorrow.  Rob might be able to help the Kings make the playoffs next year.  I hope so because they got all that young talent that needs to be shown when it counts, in the playoffs. 

Who the hell did they get to fill in for the two starters on defense?  I don’t know who they are and don’t get the moves by Ray Shero, but he has not disappointed in the past.  Yea they did it again.  They signed a local product, Nate Guenin to a one-year contract.  He played with Philly last season, but he only played one game in the NHL.  They are going to pay him 400,000 more dollars if he plays in the NHL.  What the hell does that mean?  They also signed Brian Strait for three years at entry-level contract.  He is 6-1, 205 lbs and has played the last three years for BU (Boston University).  He collected a total of 23 points in 111 games for BU.  It sounds like they got Scuderi’s replacement, but his future is unclear with the team.  Why are the Stanley cup champs putting these types of players potentially in front of the Flower?  Not sure if either one will play next year for the Pens in the NHL.  I expect to see both of them in the minors.   

Now to offense………..

I really like seeing Fedotenko come back for a reduced salary as well as Craig Adams.  They want to win another one and that’s great for us.  Both guys bring a lot of grit, hard work, and both seen to be clutch.  They both came up big this year in big games.   I now think that Fedotenko will play on the second line with Malkin and Talbot.  Sound like a pretty good line.

I don’t get the Mike Rupp deal.  Don’t you think the Pens have a large supply of players like Rupp.   Yea he is huge and can fight, but his skills are limited, and he is injury prone.  The Pens don’t have many LW’s, but this deal I don’t get. 

So far I think the Pens are not doing well to fill the holes left by free agents.  I hope they know something we don’t, because the roster doesn’t look to strong on paper.

CITY_OF_CHAMPS

Poll

How do you think the Pens have done so far in free agency

70%

They look strong for next year

61 votes

29%

Not so good

25 votes

86 votes | Poll has closed

 

                                                                    via wzus1.ask.com

Well the 2009 NHL draft is finally over. Let me just say how nice it is to be the last pick of the first round. It really tells you that you did something right the year before, like win something. I like the Pens picks and strategy in this year’s entry draft. They realized that they don’t necessarily need any more fire power on offence, but on defense. They just picked the best available, which I feel was a good move. Saint John’s defenseman Simon Despres will be a good fit in the future.

NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Bordeleau
"I think for a potential pro player, he's got the size and mobility. I've seen him many games, and he never seems to make a bad play. He's never going to get 100 points, but definitely, when you want a guy to play defense, he's your guy. He does it all, he'll block shots and he moves the puck at the right time.”

Saint John Sea Dogs head coach Jacques Beaulieu
“Simon is a very good skater with and without the puck. He has good hands for a big man and he has outstanding vision as well as hockey sense. To make it to the next level he will need to improve his upper body strength and his shot, but overall Simon is an outstanding person on and off the ice. He loves the game. He is without a doubt an NHL prospect.”

http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=5238&tab=scr

 

I feel a lot of other teams have made strong efforts to improve their franchise. This would include the New York Islanders, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Anaheim Ducks, the Toronto Maple leafs, and again the Pittsburgh Penguins. Over the last couple of years, these teams seem to have been aggressive with rebuilding their teams into champions. It will be interesting to see what happens next year…..I think we will see the Pens and the Duck next year. Write it down; today is June 30th of the year 2009. Any ways, back to the Pens.

 

Let’s talk Defense. As many Pens fans know, Alex Gologoski (aka…go-go) just signed a three year extension with the Pens and will be without a doubt playing in the NHL next season. I dont understand why they didnt let him finish out last season playing. But the Pens did win the cup, so I guess they knew something we didn’t. Go-go is a great player that will make it hard for lots of forwards to score. He posesses the ability to be not onlt a shut down player, but also a offensive threat. Now I cometo the whole reason for this paragraph……Have any of you heard that DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS? Goligoski, Christopher Letang, and 09 first round pick, Simon Despres will be a force in the upcoming future. Team them with Sergei Gonchar, who looked pretty old during the finals, and they will improve the break out and puck possession of the team as a whole. That means fewer shots on THE FLOWER, and more on the opposing goalie. I don’t expect to see Simon Despres for a year or two(unless of injury). The kids only 17 and I don’t think is quite ready yet. And then there is Ben Lovejoy who is good in minors, but will it carry over to the NHL? He needs another year to find himself and his game. I don’t think we will see big Hal Gill in a Pens uni any more. Hopefully… I think gill left a lot to be desired. He has his great moments, but plenty more of the bad ones. Remember when he skated behind THE FLOWER in game six against Washington. He interfered with his own goalie which leads to a goal. Good thing the pens lit up Washington during game six, or Gill would have been run out of town with pitchforks and axes.

Good luck WOLRD CHAMPS…pick wisely

CITY_OF_CHAMPS

Poll

Will simon have any significant playing time this year?

11%

YES

3 votes

88%

NO

24 votes

27 votes | Poll has closed

I have grown up in burbs of the burgh, and never have I seen such a closer bond than this team has made with everyone in western PA, and all over the world.

I am also a huge Steeler fan. When the 2008-2009 Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII, and a NFL record 6 Super Bowls, it was a big deal. It was estimated that 350,000 people made it to the Steelers victory parade downtown in the cold of February. The Steelers are without a doubt the heart of the City of Pittsburgh. But I feel that a strong shift has been made on the side of the young and upcoming Penguins.

Tvia www.pittsburghlive.com

The victory parade for the Pens was estimated to have about 375,000 people. You can make an argument that the cold had something to do with it, but I don’t think it did. The Steelers had done something that has never been done before. Win a NFL record 6 Super Bowls. How could the Penguins turn out 25,000 more fans?

  via i2.cdn.turner.com

It's simple, you love these guys because the emotion that they bring to the ice every night for our viewing pleasure. They are good boys who dont beat their kids or wives, or get caght with a fat sack of weed near the Mellon. They are a group of mostly young, talented, superstars, which are great role models and leaders for our next generation of hockey fans and young men. Sidney Crosby is the best role model of all.

It’s funny because I visited an "old folk’s home" during the second round of the cup finals, and everyone there was into it. They were watching game 7 between the Rangers, and the Capitals. They were talking about how great it would be if Crosby, Malkin, and that "caveman" Ovechkin met in a series. That just goes to show how these players have impacted the area. Hockey in Pittsburgh is mostly a younger people sport.

The old people in Pittsburgh usually only care about the Steelers, and their great teams of the past. The 2009 Penguins Hockey Team has changed all of that.

That reminds me of a joke….Did you hear about the new drink they are making at Starbucks in honor of the great Marian Hossa? Yeah…It comes without a cup…………. Sorry Hossa, maybe next year.

Let me know what you think….I accept all forms of feedback

Poll

Will Marian Hossa ever win the cup?

19%

YES

26 votes

80%

NO

109 votes

135 votes | Poll has closed