Monday morning mini link roundup

by Hooks Orpik on Mar 23, 2009 10:33 AM EDT in News

Is this years' Penguin team better than last season's edition? Maybe, but the biggest factor not mentioned here was just how solid Marc-Andre Fleury was from March-June last year. [Tribune-Review]

I'm totally with the Pensblog on this one: bring back the diagonal "PITTSBURGH" jerseys last worn in the mid '90s. [TPB]

Some joker responds to questions from a Caps fan [A View from the Cheap Seats]

Is it going to be an all-PA first round matchup? [PG]

A look at how the Pens have done broken out by opponent [Faceoff Factor]

If you haven't seen this suit Eric Godard was wearing, do yourself a favor: drop everything and do it now [Empty Netters]

Don Koharski is skating off into the sunset, donut in hand [Toronto Sun]

A salary cap outlook for the Pittsburgh Penguins [Cycle like the Sedins]

The hate and love of Sidney Crosby [Puck Daddy]

Is Joe Sakic coming back this season to say goodbye for good? [Denver Post]

Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg will combine to make $4.6 million less than Crosby + Evgeni Malkin*...The Chief thinks Marian Hossa might be close to signing long-term in Detroit. [A2Y]

Another eyewitness account of Crosby v. Marc Savard [The Sidney Crosby Show]

Malkin's starting to chirp in English and starting to get noticed [TSN: Duthie]

The Wilkes-Barre Scranton Pens just completed a grueling stretch of 17 games in 31 days. [Penguins Insider]

*The Pens duo has 45 more points this year by the way....As we know, Datsyuk/Zetterberg are top flight players, just sayin'.

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Godard = snappy dresser

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by FrankD on Mar 23, 2009 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

expand the Red Wings comparison a bit: Crosby and Malkin? Or Datsyuk, Zetterberg and most of Marian Hossa’s contract?

I’d take that trio plus a couple of million bucks over just Crosby and Malkin, and could even convince myself that I was being objective in that decision.

Even 2 on 2, yeah, your pair has it over over the Wings duo on the offensive end, but when you consider defensive prowess, though this is entirely unmeasureable, I’d guess that a good portion of that difference might be made up in goals prevented…curious whether you guys would agree?

by ahtrap on Mar 23, 2009 1:49 PM EDT reply actions

Well, clearly Datsyuk and Zetterberg have the advantage in defensive play; they’re both perennial Selke candidates, and deservedly so. Malkin and Crosby are both very competent defensively, but not to that level.

Comparing Malkin/Crosby vs. Datsyuk/Zetterberg on some measure of overall skills is actually fairly dead-even. Scoring ability just pays much better than defensive skill, even if it’s debatable whether the latter is less valuable.

P is for Latrobe.

by holiday park on Mar 23, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I think the point that’s trying to be made at A2Y is that Crosby + Malkin’s cap hit is $17.4 million (starting next season), while Datsyuk + Zetterberg is “only” $12.8 million until 2013-14. So it makes it easier for the Red Wings to retain guys like Hossa and Franzen while Pittsburgh had to watch Hossa and Malone leave.

One thing they don’t mention over there though is Datsyuk turns 31 this year and Z turned 29, while Crosby and Malkin are turning 22 and 23, respectively. Pittsburgh pays more, but their two stars probably haven’t even peaked yet, as scary as it sounds.

Datsyuk and Zetterberg have a high plateau and should maintain it, but three, four years from now it’ll be Crosby/Malkin in their mid 20’s and those two creeping up into their mid 30’s. By then, in my opinion, #87 and #71 will be a clear bargain for Pittsburgh “only” having to pay them $4.6 million more.

by Hooks Orpik on Mar 23, 2009 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

very true on the age thing, and if SC/EV deliver a Cup at any point over the next 5 years, you gotta consider the salary they’re getting along the way as a bargain…

It’s not a black/white win a cup and it’s all good, versus go trophy-less and it wasn’t worth it situation….but if the Pens should fail to win a cup over the next few years, the money tied to just the two players will always be a starting point of discussion.

Stupid, really, but that’s how it always goes…

by ahtrap on Mar 23, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I was going to make the age point, but you beat me to it Hooks. It also needs to be said that the Zetterberg-Datsyuk contracts are a rarity. Crosby and Malkin could easily be a 20 million cap hit and still might be worth it. Something tells me the Pens are going to be A-OK with those two contracts.

by jamestobrien on Mar 24, 2009 3:10 AM EDT up reply actions