Well, the Penguins website has released images of the Pittsburgh Penguins 2009 Stanley Cup Championship rings. You can see them here. My thoughts and description after the jump.

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Everyone on here seems to be concerned, rightly, with the Pens moves, or lack thereof, on the first day of free agency. I think it's also important to look at our opponents in the East and how they've reloaded after one day of free agency. I'm only gonna point out the Atlantic division and the other big moves in the East.

Taking in the Atlantic Division:

• Philly seems to have made their move with the trade for Pronger, I don't think it will be enough. Their goalie troubles seem bound to continue with Emery between the pipes.
  
• New Jersey hasn't really made any moves yet, definitely have slid a little in losing Gionta, and only resigning Oduya so far.
  
• The Islanders are at a stand still, having only signed the dreaded Roloson.
  
• The New York Rangers seem to stand a good chance of being the most improved team in the Atlantic next year, provided they can lock up guys like Dubisnky, Mara, and Zherdev. The loss of Gomez is more than made up for in the signing of Gaborik. They also have brought in the enforcer Brashear from the Caps.
  

In other news around the East, Tampa Bay seems to be taking steps to be only a few years away from a legitimate contender by signing Ohlund. He will give them depth on a blueline that sorely needed it this year. Remember, Lecavalier and St. Louis are still on the team.

Toronto also has yet to have a free agent leave the team, but has added Komisarek and Orr. They could be moving up a little next year.

If the Rangers could be the most improved team in the Atlantic next year, then Montreal has a great chance of being the most improved in the EAST next year. Picking up Gionta, Cammalleri, Gill, and Spacek; they are adding scoring in both Gionta and Cammalleri, while making up for the loss of Komisarek with Gill and adding scoring to their blueline With Spacek. They do have quite a few free agents to re-sign, but assuming their minor league system isn't awful, they shouldn't have any problems replacing those they can't sign.

It will certainly be intersting to see what further moves these teams, and others, make in the coming days.

I was wondering if anyone would be interested in doing a March Madness pick 'em? Yahoo runs one, and I know some of us already do Fantasy Hockey over there (If Frank doesn't mind we could even use the PensBurgh name!). If anyone is interested I could even set it up, you'd just have to join. Let me know in the comments. This wouldn't be for money or anything, just bragging rights and something fun to do.

Hey guys, my Christmas gift from my girlfriend was a pair of tickets to the Sabres/Pens game in Buffalo, so I thought I might share some of my impressions of the game.

First, a few disclosures. Though I am an avid Pens fan, I had never been to a game until this Monday, so the entire experience was a new one for me. I have been to college games, but never an NHL game. Therefore, the arena and the fan behavior was all new to me. Also, my girlfriend lives in Bradford, PA but goes to school in Pittsburgh; hence why she's a Pens fan, but got me tickets to a game in Buffalo.

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