Monday links: Mark Eaton to return soon and trades a-brewin's around the league
by Hooks Orpik on Dec 28, 2009 12:43 PM EST
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PrintFirst off, thanks to oldtime for making this a fanshot yesterday; a great feature on Marc-Andre Fleury. [Tribune Review]
John Barbaro (the fimiliar voice of the Penguins who's on a leave) took in the game last night. Good to hear his spirits are still up. [Trib]
It has been quite the eventful decade for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Playing in Japan, Mario coming back, the Jagr trade, the years of sucking, the lockout, the lottery picks, playing in Sweden, the new building and the Stanley Cup. Whew. [Trib]
Mark Eaton could be back as soon as tomorrow night. [Post-Gazette]
Thoughts Pens fans shouldn't tease themselves with: Ilya Kovalchuk in the black-and-gold. [PG]
But the Thrashers may have to trade Kovalchuk ASAP if they can't re-sign him, as to not repeat their Marian Hossa trade. [The Hockey News]
No Steve McKenna, or Brian Holzinger on Seth's Top 10 Penguins of the decade. [Empty Netters]
A lot of talk heating up about trade possibility between the Washington Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets...Washington plays tonight and will scratch prospect d-man Karl Alzner for the first time. I'd be shocked if they traded him, but do expect the Caps to deal a defenseman (as they have 9 NHL ones) for a forward at some point soon. [Twitter]
Speaking of trades, Halak or Price seem to have the Montreal Canadiens crease too crowded. One of them might be on the move very soon. [The Hockey News]
The Year in Puck Daddy is up...Which makes me shudder at the thought of how long I spent reading their stuff this year. [Puck Daddy]
Miikka Kiprusoff gave up a pretty tough goal last night. [Puck Daddy]
A look at building a rink in your own backyard. [TSN]
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I love the team the way it is now, but...
In a world with no cap, snagging Kovalchuk would be pretty cool. Even though he and Crosby haven’t always got along (although ,I’m sure that would be put aside fairly quickly), I think he would be good for Geno to have in the locker room (hate to say it, but it looks like Gonch might be leaving). He would look great on either Sid’s or Geno’s line. I love Noted, but can you imagine a Kovalchuk-Crosby-Geno line last night down 3-2? I bet you that takeaway Crosby had where he passed to Noted, and he shot justtt wide, would go in with Kovalchuk at least 7 time out of 10.
Who knows what we would have to give up to get him though.
871
I know ot’s unlikely and probably wouldn’t happen but having Kovalchuk would be awesome. He and Crosby on a line would be so scary. It’s kind of frustrating to watch Dupuis, Guerin, Kunitz, and Fedetenko not finish a lot of shots that Crosby sets them up with. And while I like Staal a lot, and having a 3rd line center who could be a 1st line center for many teams is an advantage, I don’t think trading away him, Dupuis, and a couple of picks would hurt all that much. And I would think that, that would be a trade the Thrashers would accept if they indeed do end up trying to trade Kovalchuk away.
I don’t know, I know it’s not likely but it’s something to think about I guess.
by packallday555 on Dec 28, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions
Kovalchuk would be an interesting one-and-done sort of trade but I can’t see it happening. Will the Pens really offer up another first rounder (at the least)? I mean, that sort of trade would call for probably a prospect or two, a first and/or second round pick and perhaps even someone currently on the roster. It took two players and a pick just to bring Hossa on board for one season. Kovi strikes me as someone who could fetch an even higher return.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
The only way it could happen is if they trade Staal for him. Even then if Kovalchuk is locked in on making $10-11 million, it’s a pure rental for Pittsburgh.
Staal, Dupuis a prospect and a 2010 first probably gets the deal done for Atlanta, but no way in hell Shero’s giving up his boy Staal for a rental…
…Even if a few months of Malkin/Kovalchuk would be absolutely awesome.
You come at the king, you best not miss.
There’s 193 total days in the “year”, I believe the trading deadline is with about 40-45 days in the “year” left. (It ends with the regular season, you’ll remember, which is why the Pens were able to call up Satan last season when the playoffs began)
So a deadline deal is about 1/7 of the player’s contract, give or take. So taking Kovalchuk would probably be about a $1.5 million cap hit (plus or minus a little) depending on when you get him, since his salary is $7.5mm this season.
The Pens are close to the cap, they’d probably have to move at least $4-5 million in total salary to take on a hit of someone as significant as Kovalchuk for the rest of the season.
You come at the king, you best not miss.
Just the fact that he wants the max salary is enough to say no to him…I mean come on the best players in world are getting paid less. Crosby and Malkin: 8.7 million and even the OV the diva is getting paid 9 million a year. There’s no way this guy thinks he’s better than and one of those three.
Yes, he’s extremely valuable to the Thrasher franchise but he’s only hurting them by taking 10 mil a year.
871
There’s no way this guy thinks he’s better than and one of those three.
None of those three were about to be unrestricted free agents though. Leverage is everything.
Kovalchuk is at the top of his game and is arguably more vital to Atlanta’s uncertain market (their ownership is up in the air, the arena isn’t full, the team hasn’t won a playoff game).
I’m not saying I’d be happy if I was a Thrashers fan and they sign him 10 years at $10.5 million, but it’s much better than the alternative of losing the face of the franchise….Plus that team hasn’t had a history of spending to the limit of the cap, so giving him $10 million instead ot $7, $8 or $9 really wouldn’t hinder them too too much.
You come at the king, you best not miss.
by Hooks Orpik on Dec 28, 2009 10:05 PM EST up reply actions
Oh and as for the Canadiens, I really think Halak has shown he’s the more impressive goalie as of late. I think he stopped something like 47 shots the other night against the Leafs. As far as goalie trade bait goes, I’d say he’s at the very top. Even over other rumored moves like Tomas Vokoun and Price. But does Montreal have to really drop for cap? If so they’d dish price in a heartbeat. Over the past season or two he’s really struck me as a guy who will just never pan out in Montreal. Sure, he can find his stride in another city, but the pressure of Montreal seems to really get to him.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
What do the Canadiens do for a backup if they trade an NHL goalie? It’s my understanding that they aren’t terribly deep at that position. Trade goalie for goalie? Doesn’t make much sense.
The train of thought would be to start the one they keep in 60+ games.
It hurts to not have it well defined as to who’s the #1 guy and who’s the backup, that can cause problems in the lockeroom and is always a source of controversy when one of the guys has a bad game.
But I’m with you: better to have two “1A” goalies than one 1A goalie and a minor league caliber backup.
You come at the king, you best not miss.
I don’t see why the Canadiens would want to move Halak. They’re not so close to the cap and dealing him won’t help in that regard at all since his contract is close to the league minimum.
He’s imo playing better than Price, so if anyone needs to be shopped it’s Price.
Anyway I don’t believe Montreal’s problems are in goal…
You have to see it for yourself...
Buzz on the Capitals Jackets trade turned out to be true… seems like a win-win situation at first glance, but it’s strange for me why the Caps dealt their captain away…
You have to see it for yourself...
I bet you Ovechkin becomes their captain. He may not be their leader in the locker room but he sure as hell is their leader on the ice.
871
leading
leadership is not defined by just your play on the ice, its defined in the locker room as well as outside of the rink.
" Lord Stanley, scratch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009
by oldtimehockey09 on Dec 28, 2009 7:57 PM EST up reply actions
I don’t think Sid was the locker room when he was named captain – Toews or even Brown probably weren’t either. Maybe Sid is more so of a locker room leader now, but I think being the heart and soul of a hockey team should at least give you a lot of consideration.
Was Sid voted by his team mates to be Captain? or did the Pens just give it to him? I remember him turning down the job before the end of the season because he didn’t want to mess up the chemistry of the team, but I can’t remember if the team voted him captain.
871
I agree with you. When Sid was named captain the team had guys like Mark Recchi, Sergei Gonchar and soon after Gary Roberts joined. I think over time it’s evolved into more of “his” team, but it surely wasn’t when he was first named.
Which I don’t think is a bad thing, just a natural. Young captains like Brown, Toews and yes, Mike Richards lead with their on ice play and eventually round into better lockeroom types as they gain experience.
You come at the king, you best not miss.
by Hooks Orpik on Dec 28, 2009 10:03 PM EST up reply actions
I agree but I think that’s also the example of a kid knowing his role. No grizzly veteran is going to take a pump-me-up speech seriously from a 19-year-old kid. You need to earn a few more accolades to get that sort of respect along with good old tenure in the league.
I will say though that I DO believe a guy can be a leader on the ice. Sid was that example and Ovechkin has that same sort of position in my mind.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Seems only right at this point. He is the future of the team and all.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
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