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Saturday, July 4, 2009
Fitzgerald returns to Penguins front office - NHL - Yahoo! Sports
Fitzgerald returns to Penguins front office - NHL - Yahoo! Sports:
"PITTSBURGH (AP)—Tom Fitzgerald is returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ front office in the newly created position of assistant to general manager Ray Shero.
Fitzgerald, a former NHL player, was the team’s director of player personnel before becoming an assistant coach after Dan Bylsma replaced Michel Therrien as coach on Feb. 15. Since the Penguins won the Stanley Cup on June 12, Fitzgerald had been deciding whether to stay in coaching or return to the front office.
Dan MacKinnon will take over as director of player personnel, overseeing the team’s pro scouting.
Fitzgerald will be in charge of tracking prospects in junior hockey, college, Europe and the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton."
"PITTSBURGH (AP)—Tom Fitzgerald is returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ front office in the newly created position of assistant to general manager Ray Shero.
Fitzgerald, a former NHL player, was the team’s director of player personnel before becoming an assistant coach after Dan Bylsma replaced Michel Therrien as coach on Feb. 15. Since the Penguins won the Stanley Cup on June 12, Fitzgerald had been deciding whether to stay in coaching or return to the front office.
Dan MacKinnon will take over as director of player personnel, overseeing the team’s pro scouting.
Fitzgerald will be in charge of tracking prospects in junior hockey, college, Europe and the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton."
Friday, July 3, 2009
Changing already
Three weeks ago today, the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, and everything was blissful and perfect in the Pens nation.
Now, the whole of what made up that championship team has already started to slowly dissolve. Not that it was unexpected, a couple guys.. well, it was a given someone was going to have to leave.
Most notable being defensive stalwart Rob Scuderi. Taking a deal worth $3.4 million a year for four years with the LA Kings. I've not always have been one of "the piece's" biggest fans, in years past he has been consistently inconsistent. This year however, he had a stellar season, and thru the playoffs was outstanding, even to the point he probably saved the Pens in game 6 thru his miraculous goalie like saves in front of Fluery and the net.
All that said, now the guy has the cup. Who is to say he'll have another great season that he had this year? Might as well go out and snag the cash while you can, you can't fault the guy for that. It's not like he didn't want to stay, he did, but in the age of the CBA, and the salary cap... the Pens just couldn't give him the money other teams could.
To that I wish him all the luck out there on the left coast.
Hal Gill was another one to part ways with the Pens. No more references to the USS Hal Gill, now he's off in Montreal with the Habs, his deal for 2 years... can't remember the $ amount on it.
I liked Gill, and he played his roll well, but was slow and sluggish at times. In this new and improved NHL, the forwards are fast, and you need the d men that can keep up as well. Sure you have Letang, but in an effort to make further cap space letting Gill go was as well understandable. We'll miss you Hal... every last inch of you.
All this saying goodbye hasn't been all for not. The Penguins get to keep Fedetenko! Resigned just today for one year with no financial terms released as of yet. Very good move. I get the impression Ruslan is one of those walk quietly and carry a big stick kinda guys, and it's rumored after that horrible Game 5 loss in the finals he gave a very uplifting speech to his teammates in the locker room. I for one am glad he's staying.
Still no word yet if Petr Sykora will be staying, the Pens have (I think) something like a little over $2 million in cap space left. Ray Shero on Sykora: "We will pick up talks next week".
That's all for now, be back Mondayish (if not sooner) to go over the new acquisitions and any trades! Have a happy/safe July 4th, and I want to add... a happy birthday to my husband, Robin on the 5th! :)
Now, the whole of what made up that championship team has already started to slowly dissolve. Not that it was unexpected, a couple guys.. well, it was a given someone was going to have to leave.
Most notable being defensive stalwart Rob Scuderi. Taking a deal worth $3.4 million a year for four years with the LA Kings. I've not always have been one of "the piece's" biggest fans, in years past he has been consistently inconsistent. This year however, he had a stellar season, and thru the playoffs was outstanding, even to the point he probably saved the Pens in game 6 thru his miraculous goalie like saves in front of Fluery and the net.
All that said, now the guy has the cup. Who is to say he'll have another great season that he had this year? Might as well go out and snag the cash while you can, you can't fault the guy for that. It's not like he didn't want to stay, he did, but in the age of the CBA, and the salary cap... the Pens just couldn't give him the money other teams could.
To that I wish him all the luck out there on the left coast.
Hal Gill was another one to part ways with the Pens. No more references to the USS Hal Gill, now he's off in Montreal with the Habs, his deal for 2 years... can't remember the $ amount on it.
I liked Gill, and he played his roll well, but was slow and sluggish at times. In this new and improved NHL, the forwards are fast, and you need the d men that can keep up as well. Sure you have Letang, but in an effort to make further cap space letting Gill go was as well understandable. We'll miss you Hal... every last inch of you.
All this saying goodbye hasn't been all for not. The Penguins get to keep Fedetenko! Resigned just today for one year with no financial terms released as of yet. Very good move. I get the impression Ruslan is one of those walk quietly and carry a big stick kinda guys, and it's rumored after that horrible Game 5 loss in the finals he gave a very uplifting speech to his teammates in the locker room. I for one am glad he's staying.
Still no word yet if Petr Sykora will be staying, the Pens have (I think) something like a little over $2 million in cap space left. Ray Shero on Sykora: "We will pick up talks next week".
That's all for now, be back Mondayish (if not sooner) to go over the new acquisitions and any trades! Have a happy/safe July 4th, and I want to add... a happy birthday to my husband, Robin on the 5th! :)
Sleeping with Stanley
If this isn't proof that all hockey players live, eat, breathe to get to the Stanley Cup and win it.... Question is, Sidney Crosby has won the Stanley Cup, what could he possibly be dreaming about while having it in bed with him? LOL!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
A funny little story
As I've mentioned a few times of late, I've had problems with my internet connection. Well I got it fixed Monday and I was a happy camper. But in the process of fixing my DSL, the technician unwittingly disabled my caller ID.
You guessed it, another call to AT&T, and yet another service call. That was today.
The fella that showed up for this was a bit younger than the one who worked on my DSL, heck he was wearing a Tool shirt, so that outta say something about him. Polite and nice enough, with a quick look in my basement, he knew the problem.
He needed to come up to my computer room, and replace a wall jack that would allow for a plug for my phone line, and another for the DSL. That's fine. He follows me upstairs, and as soon as he steps into my computer room, he stops dead in his tracks, and says,"uhhh.. wow."
I turned and asked him, "Is something wrong?"
His reply, "Uhm, you're a Penguins fan?"
And if you have seen the pictures I've posted here on the blog before, you would know if you walk in this room it's damn obvious I'm a Pens fan.
I smile, and said, "Yes, can't you tell?"
Poor guy, just shook his head and told me he was from Michigan originally, and was a Red Wings fan. I literally laughed out loud, and said to him... "It must be really painful to be in this room then, huh?"
I'm not sure whether he was just trying to keep his professional demeanor or what, but he just shook his head and muttered, "Yeah, something like that".
After that he got to work and did his best to ignore the various Penguins items that stand out here in this room, not to mention the other less obvious ones.
Call me a sadist if you want, but I got a small bit of satisfaction in his obvious discomfort, lol. In the end despite his team of choice the guy was really nice, and hey... he got my caller ID working again!
Tomorrow, I'll go over the latest Penguins related trades since the start of free agency!
You guessed it, another call to AT&T, and yet another service call. That was today.
The fella that showed up for this was a bit younger than the one who worked on my DSL, heck he was wearing a Tool shirt, so that outta say something about him. Polite and nice enough, with a quick look in my basement, he knew the problem.
He needed to come up to my computer room, and replace a wall jack that would allow for a plug for my phone line, and another for the DSL. That's fine. He follows me upstairs, and as soon as he steps into my computer room, he stops dead in his tracks, and says,"uhhh.. wow."
I turned and asked him, "Is something wrong?"
His reply, "Uhm, you're a Penguins fan?"
And if you have seen the pictures I've posted here on the blog before, you would know if you walk in this room it's damn obvious I'm a Pens fan.
I smile, and said, "Yes, can't you tell?"
Poor guy, just shook his head and told me he was from Michigan originally, and was a Red Wings fan. I literally laughed out loud, and said to him... "It must be really painful to be in this room then, huh?"
I'm not sure whether he was just trying to keep his professional demeanor or what, but he just shook his head and muttered, "Yeah, something like that".
After that he got to work and did his best to ignore the various Penguins items that stand out here in this room, not to mention the other less obvious ones.
Call me a sadist if you want, but I got a small bit of satisfaction in his obvious discomfort, lol. In the end despite his team of choice the guy was really nice, and hey... he got my caller ID working again!
Tomorrow, I'll go over the latest Penguins related trades since the start of free agency!
PENS ALERT: Pens sign winger Mike Rupp. RUPP: 6-5, 235lbs had 3G 6A 9PTS in 72 games with Devils in 08-09. *Pens Stanley Cup DVD on sale TUE.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Welcome backs, and sad goodbyes
With free agency looming and less than 24 hours away, already Ray Shero has been at work taking care of some of the Penguins.
Craig Adams was invited back. I didn't really know much about him when the original deal was made with the Blackhawks to acquire him, and at first he didn't show much, but down thru the playoff's he had a few plays that were invaluable to the Penguins. A solid fourth line player, Adams two-year deal is worth $550,000 per year. And according to what I've read, he took a pay cut to stay with in Pittsburgh.
Another clutch player since his acquisition at the trade deadline in March, and also taking a pay cut in order to stay with the Pens is Bill Guerin. After making $4.5 million last season, Guerin made a deal worth $2 million for one year.
Both moves were solid negotiating by Shero, and shows that these guys aren't always in it for the money, and are committed to this team. Thumbs up to that.
One Penguin to fall by the wayside is Mike Zigomanis. In the era of the salary cap, and the Pens already having a number of quality third and fourth line players, Ziomanis is an item they just cannot keep or afford. He'll be in the free agent market tomorrow. My condolences to Seth over at EmpterNetters.
So far the Penguins have committed $51,218,300 to 17 players for the coming season. The NHL salary cap will be $56.8. And within that remaining dollar amount the management needs to decide if the can afford to keep Rob Scuderi. Most likely if they are able to make a deal with him, they won't be able to keep Hal Gill. And what of Ruslan Fedotenko?
It was already rumored days after winning the Cup that they would most likely not be keeping Petr Sykora. But who knows, free agency day is always so much fun to see the comings and goings, unless it's one of your fav players.
But, unlike the trade deadline, there will not be a huge amount happen tomorrow, but it will start and will happen thru the summer.
So puck heads.. all for now, more signing news as it happens... or at least shortly there after :P
Craig Adams was invited back. I didn't really know much about him when the original deal was made with the Blackhawks to acquire him, and at first he didn't show much, but down thru the playoff's he had a few plays that were invaluable to the Penguins. A solid fourth line player, Adams two-year deal is worth $550,000 per year. And according to what I've read, he took a pay cut to stay with in Pittsburgh.
Another clutch player since his acquisition at the trade deadline in March, and also taking a pay cut in order to stay with the Pens is Bill Guerin. After making $4.5 million last season, Guerin made a deal worth $2 million for one year.
Both moves were solid negotiating by Shero, and shows that these guys aren't always in it for the money, and are committed to this team. Thumbs up to that.
One Penguin to fall by the wayside is Mike Zigomanis. In the era of the salary cap, and the Pens already having a number of quality third and fourth line players, Ziomanis is an item they just cannot keep or afford. He'll be in the free agent market tomorrow. My condolences to Seth over at EmpterNetters.
So far the Penguins have committed $51,218,300 to 17 players for the coming season. The NHL salary cap will be $56.8. And within that remaining dollar amount the management needs to decide if the can afford to keep Rob Scuderi. Most likely if they are able to make a deal with him, they won't be able to keep Hal Gill. And what of Ruslan Fedotenko?
It was already rumored days after winning the Cup that they would most likely not be keeping Petr Sykora. But who knows, free agency day is always so much fun to see the comings and goings, unless it's one of your fav players.
But, unlike the trade deadline, there will not be a huge amount happen tomorrow, but it will start and will happen thru the summer.
So puck heads.. all for now, more signing news as it happens... or at least shortly there after :P
I'm back, baby.. I'm back!
Not one to let myself be kept down for too awful long, my insufferable DSL connection had kept me down and out for ... well gosh, I can't even begin to think how long. Finally hitting rock bottom, at a whopping 32kbps, I'd had it and turned my fury on AT&T, I was going to miss blogging about the draft, and I was a woman on a mission.
Alas, running now at a proper speed, I can now resume my blogging duties. Such as they are ;)
First off, must share two pictures from the upcoming issue of The Hockey News. I get the digital issue of it along with my paid subscription to the actual hard copy. I am so jacked up to get this issue, and after you see the cover you'll see why!
Great isn't it??? :) Here is another picture from inside...
I will just leave it at that and let you go buy your own copy to read the article lol.
Alas, running now at a proper speed, I can now resume my blogging duties. Such as they are ;)
First off, must share two pictures from the upcoming issue of The Hockey News. I get the digital issue of it along with my paid subscription to the actual hard copy. I am so jacked up to get this issue, and after you see the cover you'll see why!
Great isn't it??? :) Here is another picture from inside...
I will just leave it at that and let you go buy your own copy to read the article lol.
PENS ALERT: Pens sign Bill Guerin to 1-year contract. Guerin, 38, had 7 goals, 8 assists, 15 points in 24 playoff games in 2009. He's won 2 cups.
Monday, June 29, 2009
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