Ryan, We Hardly Knew Ya...

Yesterday the Penguins traded Ryan Whitney to Anaheim for forward Chris Kunitz and prospect forward Eric Tangradi. While this will finally quiet the Whitney bashers out there, I am here to present a different viewpoint. To do so requires that we take a ride in the way back machine...to 2005.

In the 2005 off-season, Sergei Gonchar was signed by the Pens to a 5 yr, $25 Million contract. He started off 2005 horrifically. The Pens fans rode him harder than they rode Whitney as of late.

Referring to his time off this season rehabbing his injury Gonchar says, "They [Pens fans] hated me in the beginning, but it seems like they've turned around....A lot of people cheered me up by talking to me during my injury. I had a lot of really good support."
"Pen's Gonchar Happy To Be Home", Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 2-20-09

Why was Gonchar's first year with the Pens so horrific? We found out later he was trying to play through a severly injured groin. You can see it in his stats - 100 PIM and a +/- of -13. When you can't skate with the competition you tend to take many penatlies, which Gonch certainly did that year. Also, anyone that PLAYS the game of hockey (and I do) knows that you can still play with an injured groin - just not very effectively.

Fast forward to today...I don't think anyone in their right mind would disagree that Gonchar is one of the top three offensive defensemen in the NHL (Lidstrom and Zubov are the two others) and not one person wouldn't like to see the Pens re-sign him. Now the Pens nation, who clearly LOVE to bash players in the face of adversity, must know that Ryan Whitney's value is the sum of ALL of his seasons. You can't just look at his performance this year. When Ryan bounches back -as Gonch clearly did after his first season- this trade will have to be re-evaulatued. At that time it might not pass the "stink" test.

At least one person agrees with me...

Consol Energy Center?

Well money talks...and apparently allows for crappy arena names. Wish I had Bill Gates money - I would purchase the naming rights and call it the only thing it should be called - Mario Lemieux Arena!

Early bet on nickname..."The Coal Mine" (kudos to Seth at Empty Netters)



Names/Sponsorship I would have like to have seen....

...Wholey's Fish House
...Iron City Arena
...Primanti's Place
...Quaker Steak Center

Priceless

Ovie *Hearts* Malkin

From NHL.Com after the October 16, 2008 Pens vs Caps game...

"Ovechkin had five shots but didn't get a point. He did do a lot of banging with fellow Russian Malkin, who assisted on the two goals he didn't score.

"Ovechkin is a great player, but every time he hits me — I don't know why," Malkin said when asked why Ovechkin seemed to be going out of his way to hit him. So why all the physicality?

"It's just a hockey game. I hit hard with everybody," Ovechkin said."

**BS ALERT!**

Ovie is *cleary* playing with the intent to injure Malkin. He has been for the last several games. So what gives?

Did it all start when Ovie allegedly broke the jaw of Malkin's agent (also reported here and discussed here) after said agent insulted him or -allegedly- his mother?

Some suggest the Ovie hatred escalated when Malkin "showed him up" ducked from, then shrugged off a blantant Ovie run at him at the Jan 21, 2008 game. Later in that game Ovie tried to run Malkin again only with bad results for Ovie.

While it's not clear why Ovie is headhunting Malkin, a local sports writer has noticed and agrees as I do that someone named Eric Goddard needs to put an end to it.

-GGG

The Utility of Zigomanis

Early on in Ray Shero's tenure with the Pens when they were sucking great wind with regards to face-off wins (and game wins, for that matter), the league premier face-off specialist Yanic Perreault became a free agent. Shero passed on signing Perreault and the Pens suffered for it.

The question is why did he pass? Was Perreault too old? Did he make too much money in Shero's eyes for his role?

While we do know that Shero had experience with Yanic Perreault when he was asst GM at Nashville, we may never know the real reason he failed to sign a proven face-off specialist and 20 goal - 30 pt/season guy.

Today Perreault continues to lead the NHL with face-off win percentage at >60% (last year he lead with 64.33%!!)

Enter Mike Zigomanis.

Has Shero finally found the face-off specialist they Pens so desperately needed?
Looks like it.

And Shero got him on the cheap at $650,000/yr.!

-GGG

UPDATE: Looks like the P-G is reading my blog again. Here is a story about Zig-o's face-off prowess.

Le Magnifique turns 43!

Today the best hockey player -EVER- turns 43! Happy Birthday, Mario!

Rumor has it he is in the greatest shape of his life...

The Penguin versus the Joker

.............................

"Areenalla" just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?!

The Pens take on Jokerit from the Finnish Elite League tommorrow in their last pre-season warmup before they open the season this weekend with a two game set in Stockholm versus the Ottawa Senators.

Unfortunately it's not likely to be broadcast. Too bad, I think it would be a fun one to watch.

These next news snippets brought to you by mighty "Thor" (thanks to EN for the pict)

- the Pens had a little "team building exercise" in Sweden. It's not West Point, but, hey, at least its something.

- The Pens take in a Swedish museum. Malkin declares "I like it!"

- Puck Daddy thinks the Pens are in trouble on "d".

- Gonch's injury is a good thing???

- Mirtle thinks the Atlantic division is now wide open due to Gonch's injury.

- Former potential Pens "saviors" Boots and Bals have problems

- Kris Beech is AWOL. Pens fans yawn.

And...this just in....The Maple Leafs still suck.

Until next time...GGG