Alleluia!!!

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Penguins to break ground on arena next week
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Penguins and local and state officials will break ground next week on the $290 million arena.
Gov. Ed Rendell broke the news during an appearance in Pittsburgh to announcement the award of money for bridge repairs and other economic development projects.

The ground breaking will take place at 11 a.m. August 14 at the arena site bordered by Fifth Avenue, Washington Place and Centre Avenue. Mr. Rendell is expected to attend, along with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Penguins and other public officials.

The Penguins are hoping to begin construction in earnest by fall and expect to have the facility completed in time for the start of the 2010-2011 hockey season.

Blogstipation

Sorry folks, I know it has been a long time since the last post. Even though the NHL/hockey news is slower in the summer than Hillary Clinton's rush to pay off her failed campaign debt, I do have a few interesting random thoughts....

Worried that there might be another lockout soon? You should be. It seems that the NHL might have created themselves a situation by instituting a salary cap floor in addition to a salary cap ceiling. Problem is it's too high.

Wanna see a cheap imitation of the Stanley Cup; a has-been ex-NFL quarterback; and, an aged rocker all in the same photo? Click here.

When I was a little mucker and grinder I loved the NY Islanders dynasty of the early 80's. Who didn't? Here is a pictorial tribute to the joke that organization has become since then.

Oh yeah, Michel Thierren got a new 3 yr deal. I could tell you how I feel but actually Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sums up my feelings pretty well.

Puck Daddy covers Sid's 21st birthday this Thursday - what should be a celebrated holiday in Pittsburgh and Cole Harbor, NS. We all learn that Sid likes Crown Royal and Jack - we're just not sure if that is separately or together!

Also, Puck Daddy is running a photoshop contest to help paint Gary Bettman in a more positive light.

Penguins are confirmed as having a third jersey this year based on last year's Winter Classic jersey. Apparently several other teams are intro-ing 3rd jerseys this year as well. Great way to get a few extra bucks out of your already cash-strapped fan base!

Until next time ... GGG

Who Makes The Best "Joke"-er?

A. Heath Ledger


B. Jack Nicholson


C. Cesar Romero


D. Marian Hossa

-or-

E. The NY Islanders

And the winner is...
...E. narrowly edging out D.

Pens 2008-2009 Schedule Released!

EN has a pretty nice breakdown of the Pens schedule next season.

While you really shouldn't miss any home games featuring the Rangers, Flyers, or Caps (just 'cause we like to spank them and that selfish tool of a hockey player) the game I am double circling on my calendar is The Maple Leafs on October 18th!

Why?
1. Because the TML nation descend upon the Mellon Arena in a mass druken stupor and you get to see idiots like this and this (of course fans like this and this are always welcomed with open arms)
2. The games are ALWAYS entertaining
-and-
3. the Leafs are really gonna suck this year, esp. if they don't resign Sundin - so you're likely to see a Pens victory!

...just remeber TML losers since 1967

Oh, yes, and I almost forgot...here's a new cat video as requested by my one fan out there.



That's all for now...GGG

Shero Signs Three

Shero signed three players today : Beech, Thomas, and Stone.

My take.... while all are one year, two-way deals I can see Stone and Thomas - both are young with upside potential, but why Beech? I realize that Shero wants some depth - and a player with NHL experience - but Beech played 5 games before sustaining a season-ending broken wrist. Beech has done nothing but underachieve after being selected in the first round in 1999 (seventh overall!).

I realize Beech comes cheap, and on a two-way deal to boot - meaning the Pens can pay him a fraction of his salary if they demote him to WBS - but why not use that money to resign an Adam Hall or Georges Laraque? Okay some would argue that a.) both Hall and Laraque would be on one-way, multi-year deals; and, b.) whatever money they paid Beech would not have been enough to bridge the contract gaps to either Hall or Laraque, but I say chop a Beech here and a Godard there and resign to valuable role players in Hall and Laraque,

Whatev.

The over and under on Beech's goals and games is 5 and 25, respectively. I'll take the under.

Here is the take on Thomas from Forecaster.Info...
ASSETS: Has a good-sized frame and the ability to put the puck in the net. Shoots the puck with aplomb and knows where to go in order to light the lamp.
FLAWS: Needs to work on his play without the puck, as well as display greater consistency from game to game in order to reach the NHL permanently.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Third line right wing.

And Stone...
ASSETS: Is an industrious winger with physical toughness and two-way skills. Will also drop the gloves if the situation warrants it.
FLAWS: Will likely never meet early offensive expectations. Must start showing more game-to-game consistency in the professional ranks.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Fourth line winger.

Free Agency Predictions - Revisited

Let's take a look at how my free agency predictions turned out...

Let's start with the easy ones....

I said: "Dupius, Rutuu, Laraque, Hall signed"
What Actually Happened: Dupius Signed. Rutuu (Sens); Laraque (Habs); and Hall (TB) all gone.

The skinny: Shero signed Dupius because he needed a speedy winger that showed some flash on his limited time with the Pens. Ruutu and Hall were victims of contract length more than $ (each got 3 years - Shero offered only 2). Laraque was a victim of both length and $. Shero wasn't going to pay him the $1.5 M he wanted, never mind for 3 years!

The repercussions: It'll be nice to see what Dupius can do on Crosby's/Malkin's wing for a full year. I think Hall brings excellent utlilty for the measly $600K he commands....but with him gone others can get more ice time. Ruutu will be missed but should be adequately replaced by Cooke. Which leaves Laraque...this one is tough. Good to see the Pens save some $ for other key players, but they gave up the premier enforcer in the entire NHL! I know they signed Godard for toughness and Cooke for peskiness, but I can't help to feel that this decision might come back to bite them in the ....


I said: "Eaton, Orpik, and Hossa - Gone"
What Actually Happened: Eaton and Orpik signed. Hossa gone.

The skinny: Okay so I was 33% right on this one. I was surpirsed to see the Pens sign the injury prone Eaton - especially at $2M per - but it'll be a good deal if he stays healthy. But that's a BIG "IF"!

The Orpik signing was a bit surprising, too. Good value for punishing D-man. Thought he would be more actively persued by other teams, but when Buffalo walked away it became clear that he would resign with the Pens. Hopefully will see more than just "The Shift" out of him this season.

Hossa was the talk - and the SHOCK - of free agency. If it went down according to some reports then we are good to be rid of him - he didn't want to be in Pittsburgh anyhow. Pffllt!

The repercussions: Over time the Orpik deal should look like a steal. Eaton's might, too, IF HE STAYS HEALTHY. Hossa is simply hard to replace. Period.

Scraps and Snippets...

Empty Netters has nice tributes to the dearly departed Penguins: Adam Hall, Georges Laraque, and Marian Hossa.

Mike Chen from FOXSports says that GMs need to stop spending like crazy. Can you say Lockout-Round 2, anyone?!

Faceoff Factor compiled a Penguins depth chart based on the recent acqusitions and depatures.

Puck Daddy has a rundown of the new NHL '09.