28 May 2007

Pens Sign Jonathan D’Aversa

Hey pens fans,
The Pens have siged Jonathan D’Aversa to a 3 year entry level contract. He is 21 years old and has spent th last 3 years playinig for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. He has had 150 pints in 259 games. His defense partner was Jordan Staal's brother Marc.

22 May 2007

Crosby gets another honor/ rumors

Hey pens fans,
Crosby has been named the sportsman of the year, by the Sporting News.

Rumors - Poti is rumored to have a "good possibility" of being a Penguin next year. Gary Roberts is more than likely going to wind up with Toronto and not return with the Pens, but that still holds a small possibility. I don't care what everyone says Recchi is NOT leaving Pittsburgh and that is from a good source. That's all for now.

18 May 2007

Rumor Time

Hey pens fans,
That's right it is back to rumors. So, here's what I have heard. Tom Poti is again being mentioned as a good possibility of coming to Pittsburgh, but we've all heard that one before. Gary Roberts seems to be split between the Pens and the Leafs. I am unsure how this will turn out. Craig Rivet is a longhot, in my opinion, but he is rumored to be a possible Pen next season. As for the rueaccuring Recchi Rumor, I don't care how many people say he is leaving or going back to Carolina. He is not. Shero isn't going to lose him and Recchi would not leave Pittsburgh with this group of guys. He's been around long enough to know, when a shot at the cup is not far off. That's it for now.

12 May 2007

Team Report Card Part 3

Hey pens fans,
Here is the thhird and final segmet of the team report card.

Nils Ekman
Nils only played in 34 games this injury plagued season. He was -14 and besides a few patches, his play was ineffective. I think we should be able to expect more from him, but this year was a disappointment.
Grade: C-

Josef Melichar
How is he still a Penguin? Every season I ask my self how he is still here. His play is streaky and mediocre at his best. He makes bad passes and game decisions. Melichar just continues to disappoint each year. This was no exception.
Grade: F

Robert Scuderi
One thing was his play was consistent. I think his play could improve a bit. At least you knew what to expect night in and night out.
Grade: C+

Joel Kwiatkowski
Since he came to us at the deadline, he did not make much of an impact. In the few games he played, I did not think he was doing much of anything that contributed positively.
Grade:F

Ronald Petrovicky
He played fairly well. His contribution was not stellar, but not bad, as well. I think more time will allow for him to improve.
Grade: C

Brooks Orpik
This season his play improved quite a bit. He did have a few slumps, but they were rare. He became one of our more solid defenseman and I think next year he will be evene better. He needs a little polishing, but his play exceeded my hopes for him.
Grade: B

Chris Thorburn
I was not impressed by him this season. I do not think he is particularly bad, but I do not see him contibuting any more than this. I think that his play was his best, but I do not think it is what the team needs. I ama just not impressed by his play and he needs to work at it to improve. If not, he will not be here long.
Grade: C-

Alain Nasreddine
When he was playing at his best, I was quite impressed. Unfortunetly, that occured less and less often, as time went on. He was streaky and played poorly most of the time. I think if he cacn play at the higher level we caught glimpses of, he could be a solid player. Unortunetly, that did not happen this year.
Grade: C-

Mark Eaton
He started off the season well and then just got progressively worse. I think he can play much better than he did. Perhaps, he will improve next year.
Grade: C

Marc-Andre Fleury
Fleury was turning into the goalie we all knew he could be. With a little more experience and a bit of polishing he can be a true star. He dazzled in many games and held the team together. If he gets a little more help fomr the D, he will be amazing.
Grade: A-

Jocelyn Thibault
This year his play was far better than last year. He was a backup that could be relied upon when needed most of the time. He did have some weak moments, but overall his play was quite good.
Grade:B+

That is all the players. Now the GM and coaching staff.

Ray Shero, GM
Shero had big shoes to fill replacing Craig Patrick. He proved he is up to the task. He has a different style, but you can see a clear vision, as to where this team is going. He did well at the trade deadline, for the most part.
Grade: B+

Michel Therrien and the coaching staff
Therrien is truely one of the best coaches in the league this season. He and his staff turned this team around. He is not afraid to change things if somthing is not working, but he knows when he needs to ive things some time.
Grade: A

This gives the team (players and staff) a B average, which is far better than last year.
In case you are wondering there is a grading scale I use eachc year, so these comparisons are based in fact,

10 May 2007

Saskin Fired

Hey pens fans,
The NHLPA has fired Saskin.

07 May 2007

Team Report Card Part 2

Hey pens fans,
Sorry this took so long to post, but life has been hellish, as of late.

Colby Armstrong
He had 34 points this season, which included 12 goals. Colby had a strong season. He played well and is really coming into his own, as a player. I think he will only improve, as time progresses.
Grade: B+

Erik Christensen
This season he had 33 points. He played well and became quite the master at the shootout during the season. I think he has a lot of promise. He has room for improvement, though.
Grade: B

Ryan Malone
Ryan played well this season with 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points. His play improved and he became more solid. His downfall was his streaky patch around the trade deadline. He plays well each night and is basically solid. He isn't one of the those players, who will dazzle us nightly, but he is solid.
Grade: B+

Max Talbot
He is player that the Pens need. He is in your face each night and plays strongly. He had 24 points this season. He played well, but could also make less small errors.
Grade: B

Georges Laraque
He definelty made an impact when he came to the Pens. The team needed sosmeone to stand up to the other teams, when they took cheap shots at Sid, Geno, and Staal. Georges did just that. He did one thing better, though. He is not just the heavy; he can play too. I think he was just what the team needed going into the deadline. Sometimes, he did let the fighting get the best of him and took a few more penelties than we may have liked, at times.
Grade: B

Jarkko Ruutu
Ruuuuuuutuuuuuu! Yeah, I am sure that was an interesting sound to the opponents. He didn't set the world on fire, but when he was on, he was good. Ruttu needs some improvement, but he is a solid guy who just grinds through the game, night in and night out. I think he can play better more consistently. He needs to make more of an impact.
Grade: B-

Part 3 to come soon....

02 May 2007

NHL Award Nominees

Hey pens fans,

Following are the finalists for each trophy, in alphabetical order:CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY (outstanding rookie): Evgeni Malkin, Penguins; Jordan Staal, Penguins; Paul Stastny, Avalanche.FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY (outstanding defensive forward): Rod Brind'Amour, Hurricanes; Samuel Pahlsson, Ducks; Jay Pandolfo, Devils.HART MEMORIAL TROPHY (most valuable player to his team): Martin Brodeur, Devils; Sidney Crosby, Penguins; Roberto Luongo, Canucks.JACK ADAMS AWARD (outstanding coach): Lindy Ruff, Sabres; Michel Therrien, Penguins; Alain Vigneault, Canucks.JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY (outstanding defenseman): Nicklas Lidstrom, Red Wings; Scott Niedermayer, Ducks; Chris Pronger, Ducks.LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY (sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct): Pavel Datsyuk, Red Wings; Joe Sakic, Avalanche; Martin St. Louis, Lightning.LESTER B. PEARSON AWARD (most outstanding player as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA): Sidney Crosby, Penguins; Vincent Lecavalier, Lightning; Roberto Luongo, Canucks.VEZINA TROPHY *** (outstanding goaltender): Martin Brodeur, Devils; Miikka Kiprusoff, Flames; Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers; Roberto Luongo, Canucks.*** tie for third place in balloting; four finalists named
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