Well boys and girls, it's time to breakdown how I view the local hockey club this season in my 2008/2009 preview. I'm going to take a detailed look at the roster, grading the team's personnel and special teams. I'll also offer a few predicitions on the regular season, including but not limited to where I think the Penguins will finish.
So without further adieu ...
OFFENSE
The Penguins sustained meaningful free agent losses in the off-season, losing Marion Hossa and Ryan Malone, among others. They remain, however, one of the strongest offensive teams in the NHL. They have the best 1-2 punch down the middle in the game in Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin and proven scorers on the wing in Petr Sykora and Miroslav Satan. Does anybody thing Satan is going to finish with 16 goals again this year? I don't think so.
The team also added Ruslan Fedotenko to the mix this season, and he could find himself on the scoresheet upwards of 25 times. And with the Penguins' plan to play Jordan Staal regularly at LW on Malkin's line again, a significant increase in his production is in order. All in all, the Penguins have two strong scoring lines among a top 6 that many teams in the league would love to have.
Don't forget ... the Penguins have a decent collection of 10-goal scorers on the 3rd line in guys like Max Talbot, Pascal Dupuis and Matt Cooke. That's meaningful depth at the NHL level.
The flightless birds also usually are able to trot out some offensive punch from the blueline as well; however, with Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney on the shelf to start the season, the Penguins certainly can't consider themselves as proficient in this area as they usually are. Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski have great potential to pick up a fair amount of the slack because both skate well and are excellent puck movers, but only time will tell whether they can get that done on the ice.
OVERALL GRADE: A-
DEFENSE
Because of their offensive firepower, the Penguins get overlooked as a solid team defensively. Last season, they finished 10th overall in the league in goals against, and were 3rd in the East only behind defensive stalwarts New Jersey and New York. Don't expect that to change this season. Penguins coach Michel Therrein has a good defensive system in place and holds his players accountable in their own end. This includes their superstars up front, Crosby and Malkin.
On the backline, the Penguins have a reliable group filled largely with veterans. Orpik has developed into a steady defender who knows when the right time is to start dishing out "FREE CANDY". Mark Eaton also is a dependable defenseman and excellent shot blocker. Daryl Sydor -- someone many thought the Penguins would have dealt by now -- is an experienced guy who can play both ends of the ice. Hal Gill, although slow afoot, brings a physical edge and adds a great penalty killing dimension because of his size. Rob Scuderi doesn't get noticed a lot, which is exactly what you want from him.
Even Letang showed himself to be fairly capable defensively last season, and that's really not his game. For a smaller defenseman, I've always been impressed with how physical he plays along with wall. He has great leverage and uses it wisely.
Goligoski is a little green in his own zone -- which is to be expected to some degree -- but he'll have to quickly acclimate to Therein's system and be reliable in his own zone. Until he does, the veterans can help cover for him and allow him to bring the offense that the Penguins need from the backline with Gonchar and Whitney out.
Together, this is a solid group, although the grade would obviously be higher if Gonchar and Whitney were in the lineup.
OVERALL GRADE: B
GOALTENDING
After his work in the playoffs last season, and 2 relatively strong regular seasons in a row, few are questioning Marc-Andre Fleury as one of the better netminders in the NHL anymore. To think how young Fleury still is -- he has many great seasons in front of him. Under the watchful eyes of goaltending coach Gilles Meloche, Fleury has honed his game the last few years. He's more in control and relies less on his athleticism except when absolutely necessary. He's also fast becoming a guy that looks ahead and quickly forgets the last goal. And who can forget about his improved puck-handling skills? Fleury is almost near a complete package in the net for the Penguins.
For as strong as Fleury is, the Penguins are another injury away from having to make Dany Sabourin their main netminder. That's a concern for me. Sabourin can be effective in spot starts and small stretches, but he hasn't demonstrated the consistency necessary to take his good size and put that to successful use over a long period. He was given the chance to do that last year when Fleury got hurt and couldn't hold the fort, which is why Ty Conklin got his chance to shine in the first place. Unlike Sabourin, Conklin took advantage of it. There's a legitimate question mark as to whether Sabourin could get the same job done if Fleury gets hurt again.
OVERALL GRADE: A-
POWER PLAY
The Penguins power play has been in the top of the league the last 2 seasons, and has most of the personnel to do it again this year. Crosby, Malkin, Sykora, Satan, and Staal will all see time. In fact 4 of those guys will probably comprise the top unit, with Malkin sliding to the point in Gonchar's absence. Letang will probably man the opposite point. He certainly won't be the quarterback that Sarge is, but he's got a good shot, and he's right handed. That will give the power play a different look. Expect Malkin to be more of the "quarterback" out there in #55's absence.
The second power play unit is likely to feature Sydor and Goligoski at the points, with Sykora and Fedotenko joining Tyler Kennedy up front. Not an intimidating unit, for sure, but when the top power play unit is probably going to play for 75/90 seconds, the 2nd unit matters less.
OVERALL GRADE: A-
PENALTY KILLING
The Penguins penalty kill was really strong after the trade deadline and into the playoffs last year, in part because Gonchar and Orpik really came into their own, and in part because Hal Gill joined the team. Of course, Gonchar is missing from this underrated unit, but Gill returns, and will be joined on the PK by Rob Scuderi and, likely, Mark Eaton. Eaton will help the cause, as he's a reliable shot blocker and intelligent defender.
I still believe the Penguins miss some snarl in front of their net. Orpik brings some of that, but he's always been a more physical player on the boards and in the corners than in front of the goal. Gill also will help in this area, which is critical because your best penalty killer is often your ....
Goaltender. Fleury's work in the Penguins' penalty killing successes down the stretch shouldn't be overlooked. He was great during that period and will need to continue to be mentally sharp around the net. He also needs to make sure he continues to do a good job reducing or eliminating rebounds for the opposing team.
OVERALL GRADE: B
COACHING
Michel Therrein was rewarded in the off-season with a 2 year contract extension on top of the year left on his contract this year. He's led the team to the playoffs the last 2 seasons, and the Cup Final last year. During those years, he's a combined near 35 games over .500.
The Penguins have adopted his system well, largely due to the success they've seen it can bring them. And even though there have been rumblings about him not being a players coach, the guy who was said to have the greatest beef with him -- defenseman Brooks Orpik -- signed a multi-year contract to stay with the team in the offseason. That speaks volumes on that issue, in my opinion.
Therein has 2 capable assistants in Mike Yeo, who controls the offense and directs the power play, and Andre Savard, who assists the defense and penalty killing. Savard has been talked about in a few places as a possible head coaching candidate, but so far, he remains with the team. The continuity having the same staff for nearly 3 years in a row brings to the team should not be underestimated.
OVERALL GRADE: B+
PREDICTION
I believe the Penguins will finish with 46 wins, 25 losses and 11 OTL this season, for a total of 103 points. I expect them to win the Atlantic Division again, and again finish 2nd in the Eastern Conference behind the team I hate more than any other -- the Montreal Canadiens.
A few other Penguin predictions for the season:
Sidney Crosby will lead the league in scoring again, finishing with 124 points in 78 games.
Miroslav Satan will score 34 goals playing with Crosby most of the season.
Jordan Staal will score 29 goals (again) saddling up next to Malkin for most of the season.
Marc-Andre Fleury will win 39 games.
Overall, it should be another successful season for the Penguins. Let the season get underway in earnest today in Stockholm.
LET'S GO PENS!!!!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Letters and More
Well, it's official. Brooks Orpik and Evgeni Malkin will start the season as alternate captains for the Penguins, coach Michel Therrein announed today. I believe Malkin will be a part of the rotating assistant captaincy in Sergei Gonchar's absence. Therrein plans to rotate the "A" around every month until Sarge returns. I believe Orpik will wear the other "A" all season.
I like both choices. Malkin has shown he has increased his ability to speak English, and that he is ready for a greater leadership role. Orpik would be a good captain, let alone an assistant captain. He's not a *rah-rah* guy, but then again, neither is Sid. Orpik let's his play do the talking on the ice and his locker-room respect do the talking off it. He reminds me a little of Jason Smith when he was in his prime for the Oilers. Now, Smith is a bit-player for the Ottawa Senators we'll probably abuse beginning this weekend, just like we did in the playoffs last year when he patrolled the blueline for the Flyers.
In other news, the Penguins beat Jokerit of the Finnish Elite League today in their final exhibition game, 4-1. Malkin, Fedotenko, Kennedy and Dupuis (empty net) got the Penguins goals, while only Dany Sabourin allowed a goal to the Fins, and that on a penalty shot in the 3rd period. Otherwise, he and Fleury slammed the door.
Max Talbot (leg) and Petr Sykora (groin) missed the game, although both are expected to be ready to go on Saturday.
The Penguins finished the preseason 4-0-1, which isn't bad considering they haven't had a lot of time to work on things. We'll see if they can continue that trend going into the regular season.
In other news, Center Kris Beech has apparently refused to report to the Baby Penguins. I'm not sure what the Penguins are going to do with him, but he's obviously unhappy with not making the big club. Personally, I think Beech shoudl be hard pressed to gripe. By all accounts, he didn't stand out in training camp and besides, we all know he's really nothing more than a fringe NHL player anyway. He's never shown himself to be any better than that.
I'd actually like to keep Beech in the organization because he provides us some depth, but if we move him, I can't say I'm going to lose sleep over it.
Ryan Stone also wants to be moved, apparently. The PG's Seth Rorabaugh reports in his Empty Netters blog that Stone didn't clear waivers, or was waived again, or that the team is trying to trade him. Maybe it's a combination of all 3. Regardless, Stone's time with the organization has probably run its course. Like Beech, he's a depth player, so although it would be nice to keep him, it won't slow the organization down much if he's not around.
Until Saturday, when I'll try to preview the Penguins upcoming season .....
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Penguins in Stockholm
Sheesh. I've been away too long. That's what happens when you go to Las Vegas. Recovery takes awile. My apologies ...
Needless to say, there have been many happenings in the Penguins' world over the last week or so. Last week, our Boys of Winter knocked off the sad-sack Toronto Maple Leafs in 2 exhibition games by respective 3-2 and 5-4 scores. Winger Ruslan Fedotenko made a big impact on Friday's game with 3 helpers. Crosby scored in that game, as did Janne Pesonen. It was nice to see him on the board. Even Mark Eaton scored. Hey -- like I said, the Penguins were playing the Maple Leafs. Sabourin got the win on Wednesday; Fleury did on Friday.
Probably the most encouraging thing about those games -- and all of the preseason so far -- has been the play of Kris and Go-Go. Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski both have gotten a lot of ice time in the exhibition games, and both have contributed on the scoresheet. The Penguins are going to need each of those two to play significant roles this season, given the unfortunate news that was just made official on Monday.
Defenseman Sergei Gonchar -- the Penguins lynchpin on the backline -- decided to undergo surgery to correct his dislocated shoulder. He's going to have some ligament repair while under the knife, too. Indications are that he'll be gone for the bulk of the regular season, or around 4-6 months. If things go well, he could return in March. Hopefully he won't have any setbacks and will be able to shake the rust off in 2-4 weeks before the playoffs begin. We'll need him more than ever in the postseason.
One thing the Penguins have going for them -- aside from their depth on defense -- is that they won't rely on key injuries as an excuse. They didn't last year, and proved they could win without key players for long stretches. That should give them a lot of confidence as they enter the season with both of their top guns from the point (including Ryan Whitney) on the shelf.
There was one other notable happening last week. The Penguins signed winger Tyler Kennedy to a 2-year contract extension. "KENNEDY" was entering the final year of his contract, and now is signed to play into the time when the new Igloo will open. Kennedy is a useful player with speed, tenacity and some skill who has the potential to improve on his 10-goal total from last season. He'll have to work at it, though, because it looks like he'll be starting the season on the 4th line. And in a different position: center.
On Saturday, the team got on a transcontinental flight for Stockholm, Sweden, where they'll open up the season this coming weekend with a 2-game set against Jarkko Ruutu and the Ottawa Senators. Coach Michel Therein welcomed them to the ground by having them hit the ice for practice. Since then the team has tried to adopt a regular schedule, mixed in with several team building activities, including a stop at a museum. They even have a scavenger hunt set for today.
So much for West Point.
As we get closer to Saturday's opener (2:30 PM EST), the Penguins are trying out Fedotenko on Sidney Crosby's left side. He played the last half of last Friday's exhibition game against the Leafs there and Therrein obviously liked what he saw. I think they're going to take the twosome for another spin in the team's final exhibition tuneup Thursday against Finnish Elite Club Jokerit in Finland.
Fedotenko has the ability to play with Crosby. He's not the best skater, but neither was Ryan Malone, and we know Malone took his turn with Crosby at times during his tenure with the Penguins. More importantly, Fedotenko has the size and game to go up and down the wing, bang in the corners a little bit, set up in front of the net, and clear some space for Sid and Miro to do their thing. I'm anxious to see how Crosby and the Islanders play out.
There's one other thing to mention. I can't neglect to talk about who made the roster out of camp. Aside from the expected players, the Penguins took to Sweden wingers Bill Thomas and Paul Bissonette. Thomas played well in camp and most agree -- this writer included -- that the Pittsburgh product has the potential to play a useful role for the Penguins this season.
Bissonette is the most interesting case, however. This is a guy who the Penguins drafted 3 years ago as a defenseman. He played so poorly that, after camp last year, he wasn't sent down to Wilkes-Barre, but was instead dispatched all the way to the Wheeling Nailers in the East Coast League. To his credit, he worked hard and made his way back to the baby penguins later in the year, and all after changing his position to wing, too. His solid play obviously continued in camp -- so much that the Penguins decided to keep him.
I believe that one of the big reasons the Penguins kept Bissonette is because he provides an element which the team lost some of when the likes of Gary Roberts, Ryan Malone and Ruutu left to join other clubs: toughness. Bissonette can be hard to play against and he isn't afraid to mix it up out there. He's a big, physical guy who will bang well along with wall. I think that's what attracted the Penguins to him the most. He had an opportunity to fill a need and, to his credit, he took advantage of it. I'm eager to see him out there.
Okay. That's enough for now. I'll try to post again before the season opener Saturday. We'll see where the lines stand at that point.
3 more days until my world resumes.
Needless to say, there have been many happenings in the Penguins' world over the last week or so. Last week, our Boys of Winter knocked off the sad-sack Toronto Maple Leafs in 2 exhibition games by respective 3-2 and 5-4 scores. Winger Ruslan Fedotenko made a big impact on Friday's game with 3 helpers. Crosby scored in that game, as did Janne Pesonen. It was nice to see him on the board. Even Mark Eaton scored. Hey -- like I said, the Penguins were playing the Maple Leafs. Sabourin got the win on Wednesday; Fleury did on Friday.
Probably the most encouraging thing about those games -- and all of the preseason so far -- has been the play of Kris and Go-Go. Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski both have gotten a lot of ice time in the exhibition games, and both have contributed on the scoresheet. The Penguins are going to need each of those two to play significant roles this season, given the unfortunate news that was just made official on Monday.
Defenseman Sergei Gonchar -- the Penguins lynchpin on the backline -- decided to undergo surgery to correct his dislocated shoulder. He's going to have some ligament repair while under the knife, too. Indications are that he'll be gone for the bulk of the regular season, or around 4-6 months. If things go well, he could return in March. Hopefully he won't have any setbacks and will be able to shake the rust off in 2-4 weeks before the playoffs begin. We'll need him more than ever in the postseason.
One thing the Penguins have going for them -- aside from their depth on defense -- is that they won't rely on key injuries as an excuse. They didn't last year, and proved they could win without key players for long stretches. That should give them a lot of confidence as they enter the season with both of their top guns from the point (including Ryan Whitney) on the shelf.
There was one other notable happening last week. The Penguins signed winger Tyler Kennedy to a 2-year contract extension. "KENNEDY" was entering the final year of his contract, and now is signed to play into the time when the new Igloo will open. Kennedy is a useful player with speed, tenacity and some skill who has the potential to improve on his 10-goal total from last season. He'll have to work at it, though, because it looks like he'll be starting the season on the 4th line. And in a different position: center.
On Saturday, the team got on a transcontinental flight for Stockholm, Sweden, where they'll open up the season this coming weekend with a 2-game set against Jarkko Ruutu and the Ottawa Senators. Coach Michel Therein welcomed them to the ground by having them hit the ice for practice. Since then the team has tried to adopt a regular schedule, mixed in with several team building activities, including a stop at a museum. They even have a scavenger hunt set for today.
So much for West Point.
As we get closer to Saturday's opener (2:30 PM EST), the Penguins are trying out Fedotenko on Sidney Crosby's left side. He played the last half of last Friday's exhibition game against the Leafs there and Therrein obviously liked what he saw. I think they're going to take the twosome for another spin in the team's final exhibition tuneup Thursday against Finnish Elite Club Jokerit in Finland.
Fedotenko has the ability to play with Crosby. He's not the best skater, but neither was Ryan Malone, and we know Malone took his turn with Crosby at times during his tenure with the Penguins. More importantly, Fedotenko has the size and game to go up and down the wing, bang in the corners a little bit, set up in front of the net, and clear some space for Sid and Miro to do their thing. I'm anxious to see how Crosby and the Islanders play out.
There's one other thing to mention. I can't neglect to talk about who made the roster out of camp. Aside from the expected players, the Penguins took to Sweden wingers Bill Thomas and Paul Bissonette. Thomas played well in camp and most agree -- this writer included -- that the Pittsburgh product has the potential to play a useful role for the Penguins this season.
Bissonette is the most interesting case, however. This is a guy who the Penguins drafted 3 years ago as a defenseman. He played so poorly that, after camp last year, he wasn't sent down to Wilkes-Barre, but was instead dispatched all the way to the Wheeling Nailers in the East Coast League. To his credit, he worked hard and made his way back to the baby penguins later in the year, and all after changing his position to wing, too. His solid play obviously continued in camp -- so much that the Penguins decided to keep him.
I believe that one of the big reasons the Penguins kept Bissonette is because he provides an element which the team lost some of when the likes of Gary Roberts, Ryan Malone and Ruutu left to join other clubs: toughness. Bissonette can be hard to play against and he isn't afraid to mix it up out there. He's a big, physical guy who will bang well along with wall. I think that's what attracted the Penguins to him the most. He had an opportunity to fill a need and, to his credit, he took advantage of it. I'm eager to see him out there.
Okay. That's enough for now. I'll try to post again before the season opener Saturday. We'll see where the lines stand at that point.
3 more days until my world resumes.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Penguins Make 2nd Round of Training Camp Cuts
Well, the Penguins reduced their roster again yesterday, sending 13 people to the Baby Penguins.
Without naming all of them, I'll say that there weren't really any surprises in the cuts. Among the more notable players sent down were Ryan Stone, Jonathan Filewich and Kris Beech. Ben Lovejoy and Joey Mormina -- 2 of the Penguins fringe prospects on defense behind Goligoski -- also were sent down.
Those still with the team include forwards Janne Pesonen and Bill Thomas, as well as defenseman Dany Richmond. Of course, Go-Go is still with the big club, too. Paul Bissonette has stuck around, too, although I'm not sure at this point whether he's a defenseman or forward. Of course, he was drafted as a defenseman, but has been playing more up front recently.
At this point, the Penguins have 16 forwards, 10 defenseman and 3 goaltenders. Expect about 4 or 5 more players to go down, one of whom will almost surely be goaltender Jonathan Curry.
Hopefully we'll know more about the status of Gonchar's injury soon. Even though I'm on my way out of town, I'll try to post as soon as I know something.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Payback at the Hands of the Kris and Go-Go Show: Penguins Beat Lightning, 3-2
Continuing their exhibition slate last evening, the Penguins visited one of my favorite cities in the U.S., Tampa, to face-off against the Lightning for the 2nd straight game. If there's a place you want to see the Penguins play on the road, Tampa is the place. Aside from the nice weather, you'll find spectacular entertainment in the area. And not just on the ice.
But back to the game at hand.
The Penguins prevailed 3-2 behind something Penguin fans may become very used to seeing in the first month or two of the season: The Kris and G0-Go Show. Defensemen Kris Letang ang Alex Goligoski, teaming up on the power play, each had 2 helpers to lead the way for the Penguins. Tyler Kennedy scored the tiebreaking goal in the 3rd period, while Max Talbot added a score in the second. Pittsburgh native Bill Thomas had the Penguins' other goal, and added an assist in a nice performance.
I didn't see Janne Pesonen on the scoresheet, but I believe Ruslan Fedotenko chipped in with a helper. The Penguins left just about all of their big guns at home and, although Tampa dressed a few players who didn't suit up in Pittsburgh -- including Ryan Malone -- they still didn't ice their best lineup. Vinny Lecavalier continues to come back from a shoulder injury, and Martin St. Louis didn't play either.
The Penguins, did, however, get a chance to torture Olaf Kolzig, who started and went the distance for Tampa. He should be used to fishing out pucks from Penguin sticks by now.
In the Penguins net, Dany Sabourin and John Curry split duties. Sabourin let up both goals, while Curry shut the door in the 2nd half. Nice performance for him.
The action also was reportedly a little rough out there. There were 5 fights in the game. Tampa Bay forward Zenon Konopka was in 3 of them, and Sergei-Gonchar basher David Koci the other 2. For the Penguins, things were a little more spread out. 5 players dropped the mitts, including Boogie Man Jr. -- Aaron Boogard -- little brother of known and large Minnesota Wild pugilist Derek Boogard.
Speaking of Gonchar, there's no word yet on the severity of his injury. The suspicion is a separation, which would be consistent with the hit he took. He's waiting for an MRI, and the fact that he's still waiting for it probably suggests there's a lot of swelling in the area.
Like I said, we could be seeing a lot of the Kris and Go-Go Show.
The Penguins return home to resume their exhibition slate tomorrow against the Toronto Maple Leafts at Mellon Arena.
I'll be out of town for a few days, so posting may be more difficult. But I'll return at the end of the week and hopefully, by then (if not sooner), we'll at least have an udpate on Gonchar's status. I would also expect the Penguins to make their final roster cuts this weekend, as they prepare to travel to Sweden in just less than a week.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Exhibition Opener: Penguins Lose to Tampa Bay in a Shootout, 5-4
Ah, hockey again.
Finally.
Even a 3 month offseason is too long for me. It was great to see the boys back on the ice Saturday night, even if their efforts added up to a 5-4 shootout loss to Tampa Bay.
The good news was that Miroslav Satan looked good on Crosby's flank, and the power play chipped in with 2 goals thanks to Petr Sykora.
The bad news was that Jussi Jokenen and #1 overall draft pick Steven Stamkos smoked Fleury in the shooout, and that the overall team defense and goaltending were shaky, at best. Even though the defensive work may be expected to be shaky in the first preseason game, that doesn't mean I have to like it.
The (potentially) worst news surrounds the injury that defenseman Sergei Gonchar suffered to his left shoulder when Lightning and ex-Penguin wanna-be thug David Koci drove him into the boards. I don't think the hit was illegal, but I also don't think it was necessary. Obviously, Koci was trying to make a name for himself in front of new Tampa coach Barry Melrose, but someone needs to tell him he's already spent a career trying to make a name for himself and it isn't likely to change anytime soon.
Anyway, Gonchar got up relatively quickly and did leave the ice favoring the shoulder somewhat, but he also didn't appear to be in overwhelming pain. He's supposed to get an MRI sometime in the next day or two, and word is that he may be out for a while. If that proves to be the case, it will be very unfortunate for the Penguins, especially with Ryan Whitney already on the shelf. All of their depth on defense may be needed after all.
Tonight the Penguins are back in action to resume their exhibition slate against the Lightning, this time in Tampa. Ruslan Fedotenko will be making his Penguin debut against the guy he will try to replace, Ryan Malone, who should be in the lineup for Tampa Bay.
Let's hope we come out of this one injury free.
Look for a post-game report tomorrow, if possible.
Finally.
Even a 3 month offseason is too long for me. It was great to see the boys back on the ice Saturday night, even if their efforts added up to a 5-4 shootout loss to Tampa Bay.
The good news was that Miroslav Satan looked good on Crosby's flank, and the power play chipped in with 2 goals thanks to Petr Sykora.
The bad news was that Jussi Jokenen and #1 overall draft pick Steven Stamkos smoked Fleury in the shooout, and that the overall team defense and goaltending were shaky, at best. Even though the defensive work may be expected to be shaky in the first preseason game, that doesn't mean I have to like it.
The (potentially) worst news surrounds the injury that defenseman Sergei Gonchar suffered to his left shoulder when Lightning and ex-Penguin wanna-be thug David Koci drove him into the boards. I don't think the hit was illegal, but I also don't think it was necessary. Obviously, Koci was trying to make a name for himself in front of new Tampa coach Barry Melrose, but someone needs to tell him he's already spent a career trying to make a name for himself and it isn't likely to change anytime soon.
Anyway, Gonchar got up relatively quickly and did leave the ice favoring the shoulder somewhat, but he also didn't appear to be in overwhelming pain. He's supposed to get an MRI sometime in the next day or two, and word is that he may be out for a while. If that proves to be the case, it will be very unfortunate for the Penguins, especially with Ryan Whitney already on the shelf. All of their depth on defense may be needed after all.
Tonight the Penguins are back in action to resume their exhibition slate against the Lightning, this time in Tampa. Ruslan Fedotenko will be making his Penguin debut against the guy he will try to replace, Ryan Malone, who should be in the lineup for Tampa Bay.
Let's hope we come out of this one injury free.
Look for a post-game report tomorrow, if possible.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
3 Days Into Camp ...
3 days into training camp on-ice workouts and here are the team storylines ..
- The Penguins are already set to play their first exhibition game against Tampa Bay tonight at Mellon Arena. It appears as if Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts didn't make the trip for the Lightning, but No. 1 overall draftpick Steven Stamkos did. Among the Penguins' bubble players, Ryan Stone and Pittsburgh native Bill Thomas will be in the lineup tonight. I'm anxious to see what Thomas can do out there.
- With the exception of one player, all of the promising prospects in the organization -- Luca Caputi, Dustin Jeffrey, Kevein Veilleux, Casey Pierro-Zabotel, and Alex Grant -- all were already returned to their junior teams or the baby Penguins. The Penguins made their first cuts yesterday. In Caputi's case, he seems to have been the victim of a shorter camp and a hip injury that didn't give him a meaningful chance to show what he can do. The one prospect who remains with the team right now, not surprisingly, is defenseman Alex Goligoski.
- Rob Scuderi hasn't been practicing for the last 2 days due to injury. This can't help his efforts to ensure his spot on the team.
- New free agent acquisition Miroslav Satan has started out camp on Sidney Crosby's wing. Both will be in the lineup and expect to play together tonight.
- Jordan Staal has been getting a lot of time on Evgeni Malkin's left side in camp. It looks as if the Penguins are going to try that combination at the start of the season.
That's the latest. I'm eager to see the boys on the ice beginning tonight. Janne Pesonen is another player I'll be following closely. I'd love more than anything for him to take Pascual Dupuis' spot on Crosby's left wing -- not because I dislike Dupuis, but because he's miscast in that role. I'd rather see Fedotenko than Dupuis there, in fact. I suppose we'll see. Any combination is possible with Therein behind the bench.
Let the game action on the ice begin ....
- The Penguins are already set to play their first exhibition game against Tampa Bay tonight at Mellon Arena. It appears as if Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts didn't make the trip for the Lightning, but No. 1 overall draftpick Steven Stamkos did. Among the Penguins' bubble players, Ryan Stone and Pittsburgh native Bill Thomas will be in the lineup tonight. I'm anxious to see what Thomas can do out there.
- With the exception of one player, all of the promising prospects in the organization -- Luca Caputi, Dustin Jeffrey, Kevein Veilleux, Casey Pierro-Zabotel, and Alex Grant -- all were already returned to their junior teams or the baby Penguins. The Penguins made their first cuts yesterday. In Caputi's case, he seems to have been the victim of a shorter camp and a hip injury that didn't give him a meaningful chance to show what he can do. The one prospect who remains with the team right now, not surprisingly, is defenseman Alex Goligoski.
- Rob Scuderi hasn't been practicing for the last 2 days due to injury. This can't help his efforts to ensure his spot on the team.
- New free agent acquisition Miroslav Satan has started out camp on Sidney Crosby's wing. Both will be in the lineup and expect to play together tonight.
- Jordan Staal has been getting a lot of time on Evgeni Malkin's left side in camp. It looks as if the Penguins are going to try that combination at the start of the season.
That's the latest. I'm eager to see the boys on the ice beginning tonight. Janne Pesonen is another player I'll be following closely. I'd love more than anything for him to take Pascual Dupuis' spot on Crosby's left wing -- not because I dislike Dupuis, but because he's miscast in that role. I'd rather see Fedotenko than Dupuis there, in fact. I suppose we'll see. Any combination is possible with Therein behind the bench.
Let the game action on the ice begin ....
Thursday, September 18, 2008
5 Burning Questions
With Day 1 of Camp in the Books, there's already much to say about the happenings on the ice. However, I'm going to have to bite my tongue for a day before talking about those things; otherwise, camp will be over before I get to address what I think are the Penguins' top 5 issues heading into camp (and, to a degree, the season).
So, without further delay, let's get to it. The questions are listed in no particular order:
1) WILL THE SHORT OFFSEASON, SHORT CAMP AND START OF THE SEASON OVERSEAS HURT THE PENGUINS?
This is the issue that could rear it's ugly head all season long. The off-season was extremely short for the Penguins. That's what happens when you go all the way to the Cup Final (and just another reason why you want to win it when you get there). I don't think the short offseason will hurt the Penguins early on -- in fact, their timing may not be as off as some other teams. The jury is out as to how fatigued they'll be later in the year, though.
The short training camp, on the other hand, could indeed result in the Penguins being rusty. It also doesn't give them meaningful time to evaluate their young players, which hurts the chances of guys who have been on the fringe of the roster in prior years -- players like Jonathan Filewich and Ryan Stone -- as well as the chances of some younger players like Luca Caputi and Kevin Veilleux.
Of course, the shorter camp is a result of the Penguins traveling overseas to start the season in Sweden with 2 games against the Ottawa Senators. Provided the Penguins aren't overrun by Daniel Alfreddson fans, they stand a good chance to open up the season 2-0 and make the trip a rousing success. That won't come without cost, however. Aside from reducing the time of camp, the Penguins only have 4 exhibition games. These games also require that the Penguins take nearly a week off before and after the games just to travel and get acclimated. Historically, teams that have played overseas to start the year -- including the Penguins when they opened up their season against the Nashville Predators in Japan a handful of years ago -- have been sluggish on the ice in their return to North America.
The Penguins didn't start well last year; let's hope their overseas trip to start the season this year doesn't put them in the same predicament, because slow starts are not always easy to overcome.
2) HOW WILL RYAN WHITNEY'S INJURY AFFECT THE TEAM AND WHO WILL BE THE STARTING 6 DEFENSEMEN TO BEGIN THE SEASON IN HIS ABSENCE?
Defenseman Ryan Whitney is a little more than a month removed from his surgery to correct a deformed foot. Although his recovery and rehabilitation is said to be going well, the earliest he'll be back is in mid-November. Potentially, he could be out for the rest of 2008.
Fortunately for the Penguins, they have good depth on the blueline. There are no less than 7 NHL-experienced defenseman on the team, excluding Whitney: Sergei Gonchar, Rob Scuderi, Brooks Orpik, Mark Eaton, Kris Letang, Daryl Sydor, and Hal Gill. Of course, that list doesn't include the man knocking on the door for a spot on the backline, top prospect Alex Goligoski.
As it is now, two of those 8 won't be in the starting lineup. Gonchar, Orpik, Letang and Gill are vitrutal locks. Eaton can probably be counted on for one of the other spots. Whether Sydor, Scuderi or Goligoski gets the other one remains to be seen. It has long been known that GM Ray Shero has been shopping Daryl Sydor. He hasn't found any takers, though. Assuming that continues to be the case, there's a good chance he'll be scratched come game time. If Goligoski wows the brass at camp, he could make Scuderi a healthy scratch, too.
What happens when Whitney returns is anybody's guess. Depending on how Kris Letang performs in Whitney's absence, #19 could end up being good trade bait.
Now, I'm not a Whitney basher like most people are. I think he fills a valuable role on our squad -- a role that would be even more valuable when Gonchar's contract expires in 2 years because, given his age, it's doubtful the Penguins will pay what is likely to be necessary to bring him back at that time. However, there's no denying that the Penguins' strong depth on the blueline makes a trade or two possible. Whitney is a guy that would be attractive to a lot of other teams in exchange for a nice scoring winger.
On the ice, the Penguins will miss Whintey, but because of Letang's skill-set, losing him doesn't drastically alter the approach the Penguins will take to offense or the power play.
3) WILL THE PENGUINS' OFF-SEASON FREE AGENCY ACQUISITIONS OFFSET THEIR FREE AGENCY LOSSES
This is perhaps the most obvious question facing the team this year. The Penguins lost forwards Marion Hossa, Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, Jarkko Ruutu and Georges Laraque in the off-season. With those players gone, the Penguins lost primary and secondary scoring, and individual and team toughness.
Replacing those players up front are former New York Islander wingers Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko, former Washington Capital Matt Cooke, and former Calgary Flame Eric Goddard.
Goddard will replace Laraque as the team enforcer. Although he's a skilled fighter, Laraque was unquestionably at the top of the NHL-food chain in that regard. The Penguins lose in this area, even if they did save on salary.
Cooke will replace some of the abrasiveness that Ruutu brought, and will be a better offensive player. A lot of fans probably don't know much about Cooke. He's not going to score 30 goals, but could chip in 15. He plays all 3 forward positions and does an excellent job along the boards. He's a gritty, in-your-face player like Ruutu.
All that said, Roberts and Malone brought physiciality to the team, as well. The Penguins will miss the intangibles they bring, and I wouldnt' be surprised to see Shero bring in an experienced veteran with an edge at some point this year to help make up for those losses as the Penguins (hopefully) head towards the playoffs again.
Hossa is one of the best wingers in the game. Nobody can replace him. But don't underestimate what Satan can do. He scored at least 25 goals for 8 seasons in a row until the Islanders were putrid last season. He can easily recapture that form, and exceed it. He already showed some good chemistry playing in Hossa's old spot on Sidney Crosby's wing in the first day of camp.
I also think Fedotenko is an underrated player. He could score as much as Ryan Malone did. He's just as good on the wall, although maybe not the presence in front of the net. Time will tell if he ends up playing in Malone's old spot riding portside to Evgeni Malkin, or whether Jordan Staal gets that role.
Overall, any reasonable observer has to look at the Penguins and see they took somewhat of a step backwards in the offseason. However, I don't believe the step back is that big -- and certainly less than many people think.
4) WHAT WILL THE PENGUINS DO WITH JORDAN STAAL THIS YEAR?
By all accounts, Jordan Staal met the expectations of the organization last year. Sure, his statistics went down, but there's no question he improved as a player, especially defensively. Nobody in the league questions his ability to be a top 2-way center in this league and if Ray Shero put him on the block, every other team in the NHL would be knocking his door down. Yesterday.
One other reason why Staal's statistics decreased last year is that he didn't play alongside Evgeni Malkin during any stretch of time, nor did he get any meaningful minutes on the power play. Staal is a great player. Obviously, he's going to put up better numbers if he plays with better players.
This year, it looks as if #11 is going to get a legitimate crack at the power play. Ideally, he's able to replace Jordan Malone in front of the net there. He's got the size and hands to do it. He'll have to want to take the punishment, though.
In addition to that -- and if the 1st day of training camp is any indication -- it seems as if coach Michel Therein wants to give Staal a permanent spot in the top 6 by slotting him next to Malkin again. He had Ruslan Fedotenko, Matt Cooke, and Max Talbot on the 3rd line.
If Staal ends up playing with Malkin, in addition to being a valuable offensive contributor, he'll be an excellent defensive consience to the 2 very creative offensive linemates in Malkin and Petr Sykora. If Staal stays there the entire season, he could be a 35 goal scorer.
5) WHAT WILL THE PENGUINS DO IF MARC-ANDRE FLEURY GETS HURT AGAIN
This could be the quiet thorn in the Penguins side all year. It's not that #29 is injury-prone. Despite his ankle sprain last year, he doesn't have that kind of track record. The problem is that the Penguins' proven backup, Ty Conklin, was let go in free agency. To think he signed a whopping $770,000 deal to back up Chris Osgood with the hated Red Wings. For a backup of his known caliber, that's a bargain, and I still don't know why we couldn't have brought him back for that much.
I am concerned that, if Fleury goes down for a stretch of time, Dany Sabourin won't hold the fort nearly as well. He had a chance to do that last year and failed to make the most of it. Having Fleury stay healthy will be a huge key for the Penguins this year, because if he doesn't, I wouldn't be surprised to see the team give John Curry a shot. He looked great for Wilkes-Barre in his first professional season last year and I think the team expects him to be the regular backup for Fleury as soon as next season when Sabourin becomes a free agent. In light of all those circumstances, don't be surprised to see him if Fleury gets hurt because there's at least a 50/50 chance that Sabourin will only provide the Penguins with inconsistent goaltending --- at best.
Well, those are the 5 key issues facing the team as it heads to camp and, not long after, into the regular season.
In the coming days, we'll talk more about the battles going on at camp and how the roster and lines may be starting to shake out.
So, without further delay, let's get to it. The questions are listed in no particular order:
1) WILL THE SHORT OFFSEASON, SHORT CAMP AND START OF THE SEASON OVERSEAS HURT THE PENGUINS?
This is the issue that could rear it's ugly head all season long. The off-season was extremely short for the Penguins. That's what happens when you go all the way to the Cup Final (and just another reason why you want to win it when you get there). I don't think the short offseason will hurt the Penguins early on -- in fact, their timing may not be as off as some other teams. The jury is out as to how fatigued they'll be later in the year, though.
The short training camp, on the other hand, could indeed result in the Penguins being rusty. It also doesn't give them meaningful time to evaluate their young players, which hurts the chances of guys who have been on the fringe of the roster in prior years -- players like Jonathan Filewich and Ryan Stone -- as well as the chances of some younger players like Luca Caputi and Kevin Veilleux.
Of course, the shorter camp is a result of the Penguins traveling overseas to start the season in Sweden with 2 games against the Ottawa Senators. Provided the Penguins aren't overrun by Daniel Alfreddson fans, they stand a good chance to open up the season 2-0 and make the trip a rousing success. That won't come without cost, however. Aside from reducing the time of camp, the Penguins only have 4 exhibition games. These games also require that the Penguins take nearly a week off before and after the games just to travel and get acclimated. Historically, teams that have played overseas to start the year -- including the Penguins when they opened up their season against the Nashville Predators in Japan a handful of years ago -- have been sluggish on the ice in their return to North America.
The Penguins didn't start well last year; let's hope their overseas trip to start the season this year doesn't put them in the same predicament, because slow starts are not always easy to overcome.
2) HOW WILL RYAN WHITNEY'S INJURY AFFECT THE TEAM AND WHO WILL BE THE STARTING 6 DEFENSEMEN TO BEGIN THE SEASON IN HIS ABSENCE?
Defenseman Ryan Whitney is a little more than a month removed from his surgery to correct a deformed foot. Although his recovery and rehabilitation is said to be going well, the earliest he'll be back is in mid-November. Potentially, he could be out for the rest of 2008.
Fortunately for the Penguins, they have good depth on the blueline. There are no less than 7 NHL-experienced defenseman on the team, excluding Whitney: Sergei Gonchar, Rob Scuderi, Brooks Orpik, Mark Eaton, Kris Letang, Daryl Sydor, and Hal Gill. Of course, that list doesn't include the man knocking on the door for a spot on the backline, top prospect Alex Goligoski.
As it is now, two of those 8 won't be in the starting lineup. Gonchar, Orpik, Letang and Gill are vitrutal locks. Eaton can probably be counted on for one of the other spots. Whether Sydor, Scuderi or Goligoski gets the other one remains to be seen. It has long been known that GM Ray Shero has been shopping Daryl Sydor. He hasn't found any takers, though. Assuming that continues to be the case, there's a good chance he'll be scratched come game time. If Goligoski wows the brass at camp, he could make Scuderi a healthy scratch, too.
What happens when Whitney returns is anybody's guess. Depending on how Kris Letang performs in Whitney's absence, #19 could end up being good trade bait.
Now, I'm not a Whitney basher like most people are. I think he fills a valuable role on our squad -- a role that would be even more valuable when Gonchar's contract expires in 2 years because, given his age, it's doubtful the Penguins will pay what is likely to be necessary to bring him back at that time. However, there's no denying that the Penguins' strong depth on the blueline makes a trade or two possible. Whitney is a guy that would be attractive to a lot of other teams in exchange for a nice scoring winger.
On the ice, the Penguins will miss Whintey, but because of Letang's skill-set, losing him doesn't drastically alter the approach the Penguins will take to offense or the power play.
3) WILL THE PENGUINS' OFF-SEASON FREE AGENCY ACQUISITIONS OFFSET THEIR FREE AGENCY LOSSES
This is perhaps the most obvious question facing the team this year. The Penguins lost forwards Marion Hossa, Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, Jarkko Ruutu and Georges Laraque in the off-season. With those players gone, the Penguins lost primary and secondary scoring, and individual and team toughness.
Replacing those players up front are former New York Islander wingers Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko, former Washington Capital Matt Cooke, and former Calgary Flame Eric Goddard.
Goddard will replace Laraque as the team enforcer. Although he's a skilled fighter, Laraque was unquestionably at the top of the NHL-food chain in that regard. The Penguins lose in this area, even if they did save on salary.
Cooke will replace some of the abrasiveness that Ruutu brought, and will be a better offensive player. A lot of fans probably don't know much about Cooke. He's not going to score 30 goals, but could chip in 15. He plays all 3 forward positions and does an excellent job along the boards. He's a gritty, in-your-face player like Ruutu.
All that said, Roberts and Malone brought physiciality to the team, as well. The Penguins will miss the intangibles they bring, and I wouldnt' be surprised to see Shero bring in an experienced veteran with an edge at some point this year to help make up for those losses as the Penguins (hopefully) head towards the playoffs again.
Hossa is one of the best wingers in the game. Nobody can replace him. But don't underestimate what Satan can do. He scored at least 25 goals for 8 seasons in a row until the Islanders were putrid last season. He can easily recapture that form, and exceed it. He already showed some good chemistry playing in Hossa's old spot on Sidney Crosby's wing in the first day of camp.
I also think Fedotenko is an underrated player. He could score as much as Ryan Malone did. He's just as good on the wall, although maybe not the presence in front of the net. Time will tell if he ends up playing in Malone's old spot riding portside to Evgeni Malkin, or whether Jordan Staal gets that role.
Overall, any reasonable observer has to look at the Penguins and see they took somewhat of a step backwards in the offseason. However, I don't believe the step back is that big -- and certainly less than many people think.
4) WHAT WILL THE PENGUINS DO WITH JORDAN STAAL THIS YEAR?
By all accounts, Jordan Staal met the expectations of the organization last year. Sure, his statistics went down, but there's no question he improved as a player, especially defensively. Nobody in the league questions his ability to be a top 2-way center in this league and if Ray Shero put him on the block, every other team in the NHL would be knocking his door down. Yesterday.
One other reason why Staal's statistics decreased last year is that he didn't play alongside Evgeni Malkin during any stretch of time, nor did he get any meaningful minutes on the power play. Staal is a great player. Obviously, he's going to put up better numbers if he plays with better players.
This year, it looks as if #11 is going to get a legitimate crack at the power play. Ideally, he's able to replace Jordan Malone in front of the net there. He's got the size and hands to do it. He'll have to want to take the punishment, though.
In addition to that -- and if the 1st day of training camp is any indication -- it seems as if coach Michel Therein wants to give Staal a permanent spot in the top 6 by slotting him next to Malkin again. He had Ruslan Fedotenko, Matt Cooke, and Max Talbot on the 3rd line.
If Staal ends up playing with Malkin, in addition to being a valuable offensive contributor, he'll be an excellent defensive consience to the 2 very creative offensive linemates in Malkin and Petr Sykora. If Staal stays there the entire season, he could be a 35 goal scorer.
5) WHAT WILL THE PENGUINS DO IF MARC-ANDRE FLEURY GETS HURT AGAIN
This could be the quiet thorn in the Penguins side all year. It's not that #29 is injury-prone. Despite his ankle sprain last year, he doesn't have that kind of track record. The problem is that the Penguins' proven backup, Ty Conklin, was let go in free agency. To think he signed a whopping $770,000 deal to back up Chris Osgood with the hated Red Wings. For a backup of his known caliber, that's a bargain, and I still don't know why we couldn't have brought him back for that much.
I am concerned that, if Fleury goes down for a stretch of time, Dany Sabourin won't hold the fort nearly as well. He had a chance to do that last year and failed to make the most of it. Having Fleury stay healthy will be a huge key for the Penguins this year, because if he doesn't, I wouldn't be surprised to see the team give John Curry a shot. He looked great for Wilkes-Barre in his first professional season last year and I think the team expects him to be the regular backup for Fleury as soon as next season when Sabourin becomes a free agent. In light of all those circumstances, don't be surprised to see him if Fleury gets hurt because there's at least a 50/50 chance that Sabourin will only provide the Penguins with inconsistent goaltending --- at best.
Well, those are the 5 key issues facing the team as it heads to camp and, not long after, into the regular season.
In the coming days, we'll talk more about the battles going on at camp and how the roster and lines may be starting to shake out.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Training Camp Begins
Is it here already?
It's hard to believe that the Boys are back in camp. Seems like yesterday I was saying some things I can't repeat here to Red Wings' netminder Chris Osgood when he carried the Stanley Cup around Mellon Arena ice.
Let's not go there.
This year, the Penguins will look to break an ugly trend. In the last 12 years, the teams which have gone to the Stanely Cup Final and lost have only won ONE playoff series in each subsequent year.
There's no question that the Penguins' have had a shorter off-season -- like any Cup finalist would. There's also no question that the lack of sufficient summer down time could catch up to them at some point this season.
Let's hope not.
I think the bigger challenge for the Penguins will be coming out of the gate strong. Their training camp is extremely short. They are here for only 10 days before heading off to Sweden approximately one week in advance of their season opening 2-game set in Stockholm against the Ottawa Senators. During that period, they play only 4 exhibition games -- the first of which is this Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Mellon Arena. They also play a final *tuneup* game against the Finnish National Team while overseas, before they play Ottawa.
The Penguins finished the rookie tournament last weekend with a 2-1 record, beating Toronto and Florida's squads, but losing to Ottawa's minor league group. Among the Penguins who participated, defenseman Alex Goligoski was said to look fabulous. Kevin Veilleux, Dustin Jeffrey and Casey Pierro-Zabotel also were said to look good. All were invited to the main camp, which begun yesterday with physicials and off-ice workouts. We'll see how they perform on the ice today.
Luca Caputi -- someone I'm excited to see -- was held out of the last 2 games of the rookie tournament due to a hip pointer. He, too, will be at the big camp, however. Hopefully he'll be able to play because, as set forth above, there isn't much time to make an impression.
In the coming days, I'll talk about 5 training camp questions -- things to watch for during camp and heading into this coming season.
For now, let's watch the boys go back to work.
It's great to be back.
It's hard to believe that the Boys are back in camp. Seems like yesterday I was saying some things I can't repeat here to Red Wings' netminder Chris Osgood when he carried the Stanley Cup around Mellon Arena ice.
Let's not go there.
This year, the Penguins will look to break an ugly trend. In the last 12 years, the teams which have gone to the Stanely Cup Final and lost have only won ONE playoff series in each subsequent year.
There's no question that the Penguins' have had a shorter off-season -- like any Cup finalist would. There's also no question that the lack of sufficient summer down time could catch up to them at some point this season.
Let's hope not.
I think the bigger challenge for the Penguins will be coming out of the gate strong. Their training camp is extremely short. They are here for only 10 days before heading off to Sweden approximately one week in advance of their season opening 2-game set in Stockholm against the Ottawa Senators. During that period, they play only 4 exhibition games -- the first of which is this Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Mellon Arena. They also play a final *tuneup* game against the Finnish National Team while overseas, before they play Ottawa.
The Penguins finished the rookie tournament last weekend with a 2-1 record, beating Toronto and Florida's squads, but losing to Ottawa's minor league group. Among the Penguins who participated, defenseman Alex Goligoski was said to look fabulous. Kevin Veilleux, Dustin Jeffrey and Casey Pierro-Zabotel also were said to look good. All were invited to the main camp, which begun yesterday with physicials and off-ice workouts. We'll see how they perform on the ice today.
Luca Caputi -- someone I'm excited to see -- was held out of the last 2 games of the rookie tournament due to a hip pointer. He, too, will be at the big camp, however. Hopefully he'll be able to play because, as set forth above, there isn't much time to make an impression.
In the coming days, I'll talk about 5 training camp questions -- things to watch for during camp and heading into this coming season.
For now, let's watch the boys go back to work.
It's great to be back.
Friday, September 5, 2008
The Countdown To Camp
Now that September is upon us, it's time to get back in hockey mode.
IT'S ABOUT TIME!!
Okay. I can't complain. The Penguins run to the Stanley Cup finals really shortened the off-season. It wasn't that long ago when we were celebrating Petr Sykora's triple overtime winner in game 5. After the meaningful period of free agency, there's really only been about 6 weeks or so without significant news, Ryan Whitney's injury notwithstanding.
Now, however, it's time to get in the swing again. Penguins' training camp starts in approximately 10 days on September 16. Prior to that, the Penguins will hold their annual rookie camp beginning next Wednesday, September 10. The Penguins' top prospects will be in Pittsburgh for 3 days of conditioning and workouts under the tutilige of Wilkes Barre head coach Dan Blysma (and under the watchful eyes of Penguins' head coach Michel Therrein and GM Ray Shero) before heading off to Kitchener, Ontario Canada to play in a tournament against the prospects from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, and Ottawa Senators.
This is the 2nd or 3rd year the team has done this. Last year, the "junior" Penguins had a pretty good showing in that tournament.
This year, all eyes will be on defenseman Alex Goligoski in both the rookie camp and the main camp. Goligoski, who will be wearing number 13 now, has every opportunity to crack the top 6 and push Darryl Sydor back into the press box or out of town to start the year.
Although Goligoski will deservedly command most of the attention, left wing Luca Caputi will also be on the radar of a lot of observers, myself included. Caputi has really come on as a prospect in the last year, and the challenge for him will be to establish himself as an offensive force at the pro level, whether that be in the NHL or initially at the AHL. Caputi contribued in the Baby Penguins' playoff run when he arrived last season, but didn't dominate as he did with the Niagra Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League. He's proven to be a quick learner and has the work ethic to do what it takes, but only time will tell if he sees any action with the big club this year. For as much as I'd love to see him crack the Penguins' roster, I think he's probably ticketed for Wilkes-Barre. Hopefully I'm wrong.
I'll post more next week on the rookie camp.
Until then ...
IT'S ABOUT TIME!!
Okay. I can't complain. The Penguins run to the Stanley Cup finals really shortened the off-season. It wasn't that long ago when we were celebrating Petr Sykora's triple overtime winner in game 5. After the meaningful period of free agency, there's really only been about 6 weeks or so without significant news, Ryan Whitney's injury notwithstanding.
Now, however, it's time to get in the swing again. Penguins' training camp starts in approximately 10 days on September 16. Prior to that, the Penguins will hold their annual rookie camp beginning next Wednesday, September 10. The Penguins' top prospects will be in Pittsburgh for 3 days of conditioning and workouts under the tutilige of Wilkes Barre head coach Dan Blysma (and under the watchful eyes of Penguins' head coach Michel Therrein and GM Ray Shero) before heading off to Kitchener, Ontario Canada to play in a tournament against the prospects from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, and Ottawa Senators.
This is the 2nd or 3rd year the team has done this. Last year, the "junior" Penguins had a pretty good showing in that tournament.
This year, all eyes will be on defenseman Alex Goligoski in both the rookie camp and the main camp. Goligoski, who will be wearing number 13 now, has every opportunity to crack the top 6 and push Darryl Sydor back into the press box or out of town to start the year.
Although Goligoski will deservedly command most of the attention, left wing Luca Caputi will also be on the radar of a lot of observers, myself included. Caputi has really come on as a prospect in the last year, and the challenge for him will be to establish himself as an offensive force at the pro level, whether that be in the NHL or initially at the AHL. Caputi contribued in the Baby Penguins' playoff run when he arrived last season, but didn't dominate as he did with the Niagra Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League. He's proven to be a quick learner and has the work ethic to do what it takes, but only time will tell if he sees any action with the big club this year. For as much as I'd love to see him crack the Penguins' roster, I think he's probably ticketed for Wilkes-Barre. Hopefully I'm wrong.
I'll post more next week on the rookie camp.
Until then ...
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