Crashing the Net - Ruslan Fedotenko/Chernobyl edition
by FrankD
on Sep 27, 2008 3:44 PM EDT
in Crashing the Net
We'll get to Ruslan Fedotenko in a bit. Let's start with the roster cuts.
The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports the Pittsburgh Penguins cut two players from the preseason roster; defenseman Danny Richmond and forward Connor James (sorry SteelCityKid). Still alive from the prospect pool: Janne Pesonen, Bill Thomas, Paul Bissonnette (featured in the Post-Gaz) and Alex Goligoski. Out of the four I'm still sticking by my word and saying it's safe to say Goligoski is a lock.
Ever wonder what sports the boys played before they landed in Pitt? It's not exactly a foreign concept. Athletes have been known to take up another sport in the offseason in hopes of staying in shape during downtime. Bo Jackson and Deon Sanders played baseball and football professionally (something we'll never see again), while other guys pursued it all the way to the draft. Chris Drury of the New York Rangers was known for his baseball skills while playing in Connecticut. I'm sure JDMaker knows, but former Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine was actually drafted by the LA Kings in the sixth round of the 1984 draft above some guys name Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille. But can you actually imagine Sid as a catcher?
"I played catcher growing up. That would be my best chance to make it [in another sport]. I used to like catcher. It's a lot more action. You're calling pitches, and there's a little more thinking involved. It was cool. You had to study the other team a little bit, so it was a bit like preparing in hockey."
The Trib-Review feels Therrien is starting to lighten up a bit, and I guess that's a good thing. All of the drama last year surrounding [alleged] talks of Brooks Orpik, Gary Roberts and Daryl Sydor wanting trades following the Mark Recchi situation may have in fact been true. But Orpik signed an off-season extension, Sydor is still here (for now) and Gary Roberts is skating on a wheelchair in Tampa. In other words, if Orpik didn't respect the guy and appreciate what he brings to the team, then he wouldn't have signed on again.
Therrien has apparently eased up just a bit on the tough love, either because he sensed that he needed to or because in the second half of last season and in the playoffs, there just wasn't that much to complain about.
In the Post-Gazette's coverage of last night's 5-4 win over the Leafs, readers and fans get a chance to see a different side of Ruslan Fedotenko. It almost reads like the inside cover of a biography.
It was the spring of 1986, and he and his family were living in the suburbs of Kiev. They were pretty much oblivious to one of the most disastrous man-made catastrophes of the 20th century -- the nuclear accident at Chernobyl -- even though it was playing out less than 100 miles away.
Fedo jokes and kids about some potential side effects of living in that area. He's already admitted that he can't grow a playoff beard as a result of the Chernobyl Meltdown, but I think that's more based on playing for the Islanders last season. In fact, next to the Lightning's 22-game Cup win in 2004, Fedo has only made nine postseason appearances.
Something tells me we'll see this theory put to the test in April.
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Too bad James didn’t make it. He was a long shot, but to make it this far is good. (Out of all the WBS guys last year that had short stints, he made it the farthest). But I’m over it.
As for the story Sid playing catcher? Can you imaging Mad Max running up the middle in football. He is a bit undersized but that would be something to see. 6-7 Gill at QB. That was funny and so was Dupuis breaking his arm throwing a snowball. Alot more played baseball then golf which was suprising. I don’t like golf so that was good to read. I just can’t see Sydor staying much longer. Even with the two injuries he is still the seventh D-Man. (Assuming GoGo makes the team).
Starting Defense prediction: Orpik-Letang Eaton-Goligoski Scuderi-Gill
Wow I hope Gonch isn’t out for long. FrankD any new info on Gonchars injury? They don’t hav much offense now? Wow!!!
I like the Fedotanko signing more then Satan. He is gritty and hits. Satan is probally gonna be score with Sid, but if not he brings nothing else.
by steelcitykid on Sep 28, 2008 9:30 AM EDT 0 recs
They say Gonch has a dislocated shoulder. If you remember, Malkin had one in his rookie year as well, suffered from a preseason collision with former teammate John LeClair. He was back in the lineup within two months, but he is also much younger than Gonchar. I don’t know Gonch’s history with injuries, but I’d imagine a longer career of taking hits and getting battered along the boards might play a factor.
I really don’t understand what the deal is with Sydor. From all sides. When he plays, I think he plays well. And when he’s scratched, he complains. Chris Chelios knows his role in Detroit. The aged veteran who can help both on and off the ice. I wish Sydor would embrace his role rather than keep complaining. If it really is such a problem, then good luck getting the trade you want. But I really do like seeing the guy on the ice because I think he does a good job. So between the coaching staff and the locker room, I’m torn over the whole situation. But I’m pretty confident Goligoski will make the team. He’s given nothing but reasons to do so. The offense shouldn’t struggle much with Gonch out. He only had 13 goals last year, but it’s more his ability to get the puck to the net for the guys in front that made him key. So as long as Letang and GoGo can do that it shouldn’t be a huge loss. But getting him back before December would be a welcome sign.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
by FrankD on
Sep 28, 2008 12:18 PM EDT
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I agree that Sydor plays good when out there. But not good enough to crack our top six or top eight in my opinion. Orpik, Letang, Eaton are locks in my opinion. You just can’t bench Scuderi. Gill is a beast, though not very mobile, he is good. There were some rumors of trading Scuderi or Gill in the offseason, but I am happy they didn’t. Now Letang is the only offensive defensemen other then Goligoski.(unless Orpik or Eaton provide a little offense). But they are still defense first, which is good. So if you don’t play GoGo then who runs the point on defense? Sydor isn’t much of a threat on offense. So I think that Sydor will be the 7th man and won’t be happy about it which will lead to a wavier or a trade to a team that desperatly needs D help.(it would be cool to see Armstrong return.)Question still is what happens when Gonch and Whitney come back? Do you deal someone? Will Eaton stay healthy? Who knows?
by steelcitykid on Sep 28, 2008 6:57 PM EDT 0 recs
Gogo is more an offensive defenseman, which really leaves concern of his play outside of his presence on the PP> Of course guys like Oprik, Letang and Scuds are locks because they have decent contracts with the squad already. Eaton is a concern with regards to health, considering the work done on his knees over the years. But he was kept for a cheap price, and for what a healthy Eaton can potentially bring to the team it was worth every little penny.
When Gonch and Whit return, I think we’ll see someone like Eaton or Sydor go (my money is on Sydr at this point). Of course, this has only be a preseason test for Goligoski, and I guess we’ll see how he holds up in the regular season.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
by FrankD on
Sep 28, 2008 10:30 PM EDT
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