In what even NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman acknowledged was probably one of the worst-kept secrets around, the National Hockey League formally announced on Friday that the game's premier mid-season attraction -- The Winter Classic -- would be hosted @ Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on 1-1-11 between Sidney Crosby and the Penguins, and Alexander Ovechkin and the arch-rival Washington Capitals.
As we all know, this will be the 2nd go-round for the Pens at The Winter Classic, after playing -- and defeating in a 2-1 shootout victory -- the Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo on 1-1-08.
Since that time, the Classic has been played at two baseball stadiums: Wrigley Field in Chicago in 2009 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, and Fenway Park in Boston between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.
This will be the first time since then that the game returns to a much larger, more viewer-friendly football stadium venue.
Either that or that's just the treatment the Penguins get.
While further details and ticket availability to the event are still being planned and haven't been released to the public yet, officials from the team and the City were obviously excited about hosting the contest.
"The Winter Classic has become an iconic event in its four years of existence, and the opportunity to host the game here in Pittsburgh before a packed stadium of 65,000 is a tremendous honor for our organization," Penguins President David Morehouse said when the announcement was made last week.
"There's no better way to ring in the New Year than to host this pre-eminent winter festivity, which symbolizes the resurgence of hockey in this great city," said City of Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. "From the Penguins' 2008-2009 Stnaley Cup Championship season to the opening of the CONSOL Energy Center next season, the Classic will be another historic highlight to continue the legacy of the current Pittsburgh Penguins' team."
I prefer the way Pens' winger Pascal Dupuis described the excitement that goes along with the game, which was delivered without all the PR spin:
"If you're going to play in the Classic, this will be the one to play in because it's going to be a big Pittsburgh party."
I'll obviously have a lot more on this game in the months to come, as it's sure to be another storied chapter in the great rivalry between the Penguins, Capitals and their respective Captains.
Meanwhile, on the transaction front, there isn't much happening for the Pens as it relates to any of their upcoming unrestricted free agents.
Defenseman Sergei Gonchar, Mark Eaton and forward Matt Cooke -- to name 3 of 8 -- are still waiting for talks to commence in earnest between their agents and Pens' GM Ray Shero.
I expect those discussions to pick up in earnest over the next 10 days or so.
Until then, the Penguins have to settle for transactions which fall a bit more under the radar.
Like the signing of 2009 4th round draft pick Nick Petersen to a 3-year contract, for instance.
Petersen was signed last week after just completing his third year in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) -- and his first with the St. John Sea Dogs, where he was a teammate of Pens' 2009 first round pick Simon Despres. Petersen tallied 39 goals, 40 assists, and 79 points in just 59 games this year, and added 7 goals and 28 points in 21 post-season contests, as well.
Petersen, 6' 3", also finished an impressive +46 on the year, and has played well enough in the "Q" to see his stock rising up the Penguins' prospect depth chart.
Speaking of the prospect depth chart, a new addition to that list is goaltender Mattias Modig, 23, who Shero first acquired from the Anaheim Ducks over the weekend in exchange for a 6th round draft pick in this year's draft, and then promptly signed to a 2-year contract to give Pittsburgh some additional goaltending depth.
Modig has played his entire career in Sweden, and has been the starting goaltender for Lulea HF the last several seasons. He has posted a respectable 2.35 GAA and 91.4 SV% in the last 2 years (combined) across the pond.
Modig was originally drafted by Anaheim in the 4th round of the 2007 draft.
Finally, today is the day when junior hockey players who remain unsigned 2 years after they were drafted go back into the draft pool, and it looks like the Penguins have a player who fits that description.
It seems as if the organ-I-zation has decided against signing 2008 4th round draft pick Nathan Moon of the Kinston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League.
Moon, a center, has shown flashes of talent since he was drafted, but he also has shown some character issues during that time, too. To be more specific, he has required team-imposed discipline for several incidents the last few years, and aparently, the Penguins don't wish to carry that burden going forward. While no team wants to lose draft picks, Moon's departure from the franchise shouldn't be an overwhelming loss for the club.
More soon.
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