Freedom (Candy) Isn't Free
by Hooks Orpik on Jul 2, 2010 6:08 PM EDT
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PrintHappy and safe 4th of July holiday weekend to you all. Luckily Ray Shero about spent all the Pens cap room early, so there's likely not going to be too much in the way of Penguin news, but if anything breaks league-wide, feel free to discuss it in the comment section of this post.
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Yes, thank you Shero for allowing us to enjoy our weekend!
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jul 2, 2010 1:57 PM EDT reply actions
MAN DOWN! MAN DOWN!
In this case, it’s ovie…if I was a medic, I would just shut off the radio and finish my drink. Good night sally!
by Wags24 on Jul 2, 2010 1:59 PM EDT reply actions
Mark Eaton goes to the NY Islanders
2 years $2.5 million per.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
Good luck to him…I’m sure he feels a little neglected by the Pens, but I’m sure he understands…this is a business after all. We get to play him 6 times a year…anyone excited?
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
Wow, that’s some pretty sweet cash!
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jul 2, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
The Islanders are one of the few teams who can afford to overpay the free agent signings. I think they need to spend about $10 mil just to hit the salary cap floor.
Yeah I believe that’s about right. So they still should be adding a couple more veterans in the coming days/weeks to get there.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
Eaton....
He was a good filler type of guy. Solid defensively, but never a game-changer…offensively or defensively (minus the playoff game against Philly, you know). He’s been easily replaced. Glad to see him get a good payday though.
by Wags24 on Jul 2, 2010 2:13 PM EDT reply actions
I’m really happy that Eaton got a decent contract from an okay team. I’m guessing he would’ve liked to have stayed, and that Shero would’ve liked to have to have kept him, but it just wasn’t going to be the right fit any longer (on either side). We’ll miss you, Eats! Please call in sick on October 15th, January 25th, December 29th, February 2nd & 11th, and April 8th. Except maybe show up on October 15th so that we can cheer for you that one last time.
Canada Rocks. Except for the Ottawa Senators.
So what does this mean for the Pens blue-line? We still need a winger, and I think now a 7th D, correct?
Technically the team has 11 forwards — if you count Godard but do not count anyone like Jeffrey, Tangradi or Johnson.
And they have 6 defensemen (counting Lovejoy) and 2 goalies.
Without Tangradi, there’s about $3 million in cap space, but they’ll need about a $1 mill buffer. So possibly a forward or a defenseman if there’s a cheap option.
Otherwise, if Despres has a good camp and is a better player than Lovejoy/Bortuzzo/Strait, we might see the 19 year old play a couple games in the NHL and then be assigned to the Q….Much like how Kris Letang was in the fall of 2006.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
any chance 2 players from WBS make the D Corps?
Lovejoy as 6 — and Strait or Bortuzzo as 7
seems foregone conclusion that Despres will go the Letang route noted above
Yeah, he’ll be in the mix, but I don’t think he’s as strong of a candidate as the prospects who have a better chance of having NHL careers.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
True, like you said if Strait can show he can handle a few games he could be a good choice even just for the first few games…Engelland may be more of an injury filler
by RollingRock33 on Jul 2, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Strait...
Strait is a bruising D-man. Needless to say, we have plenty of those. He is one of those guys you can let simmer down in WBS for a year or so. No need to rush him or Sneep since we just signed Michalek and Martin. They can be injury call ups. I believe anyway!
by Wags24 on Jul 2, 2010 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
If we can get rid of Godard, Engelland can be our goon. He’s quite a scrapper, and there is our 7th D man.
"Half the game is mental, the other half is being mental." - Jim McKenny
The Plan
Tangradi needs to be at WBS for another year, one of Johnson, Connor, or Letestu makes the roster (all are at $500K), Engelland really should be at WBS as the 8th Dman and a vet signed for the same $500K late (great if Boucher could unretire and come back for that). Leaves around $1.1M for a wing — Guerin, Nolan or Kariya if Shero can convince them to take the salary hit for a Cup run, or convince Svatos or Higgins to sign on at that price for 1 year and hit a bigger multi-year deal thereafter. Shero could dip into the reserve, or put Godard in WBS and call him up for Ranger and Flyer games and save on the $750K hit if he needs a bit more. Or the Pens could bring back Sykora or Satan (just kidding). In any case I have no doubt that at some point an experienced winger is added, and we’re going to be surprised with what he accomplished.
Just to clarify: do you mean Engelland should be at WBS, or in Pittsburgh?
Also, I think Godard would have to clear waivers, and I suspect there are one or two teams that would pick him up if the opportunity arose. When healthy, he’s a better player than he sometimes gets credit for. We don’t have a ton of need for him here, but I don’t see him going back and forth between Pittsburgh and WBS.
Canada Rocks. Except for the Ottawa Senators.
Godard...
No way Godard goes up and down. I agree with you. I didn’t think of that point but VERY good call. If he gets put on waivers, there’s a good chance someone will get him. Most likely, Philly, NYR or NJD. We get weaker without him. (strength wise)
by Wags24 on Jul 2, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Can you just imagine what the Pittsburgh fan base would do if the Flyers picked Godard up on waivers?!
Canada Rocks. Except for the Ottawa Senators.
Haha!
Can you imagine how bad the Flyers would beat up Sid and Geno if we didn’t have Godard for those games? You have to have some muscle to keep the other teams’ tough guys in check. Otherwise, they’ll just go out there to seek and destroy our best guys. You put some force out there, they’ll think twice about it…sometimes.
by Wags24 on Jul 2, 2010 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
The Devils already have a perfectly good enforcer in Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond. They have no need nor do they want Godard.
dunno which makes me feel worse. The fact that we might not make a full roster without jettisoning Godard or not having Godard when we’re up against those goons…
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
Tangradi..
Another way of looking at Tangradi not spending the entire year in WBS. We traded for him. There’s almost more of an investment into him than any other guy that has a shot down there. Connor, too small. He’s an emergency guy like Peterson was.
As for saying Tangradi “needs” to stay in WBS for another year? I don’t think anyone wearing a suit on gameday in the Burgh would agree.
Nobody is going to do that to Godard. How hard do you think he’s going to play for the team if they do that to him? Not very hard at all IMO.
Nolan – no thanks.
Honestly, tell me this…why would you invest money in someone like that as opposed to going with your teams future in giving Tangradi the shot? Or the likes of Letestu?
You bring some good points to the table, but I don’t think that has much weight to it.
by Wags24 on Jul 2, 2010 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I realize this is an all-american thread, but I need a little Canadian moment.
Basically, my brain has been having trouble adjusting to the whole Paul Martin acquisition because of this guy:
Paul Martin: Canada’s Prime Minister from December 2003 until February 2006.
He just doesn’t strike me as a particularly good hockey player!
Canada Rocks. Except for the Ottawa Senators.
Very funny!
No he loooks a little old, but Chris Chelios is catching up with him! LOL
we are all allowed!
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jul 2, 2010 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
LOL As a fellow Canadian, I had a brief thought of that Paul Martin, former PM after many years counting Canada’s money. So….maybe not a player, but possibly a GM
I’m very happy with the hockey player Martin’s signing and love the new Ricky and Mickey nickname.
I'm still not sold on those nicknames
But I have not come up with anything better….
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jul 2, 2010 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I just hope Paul never catches wind that folks here have taken to calling him Ricky. I wash my hands and feet of this whole affair.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jul 2, 2010 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Everybody Have A Happy 4th Holiday
And thank you, Mr Shero, for allowing me a fun and happy weekend and going back to a decent nights sleep………………
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
we just got Ryan Craig from Tampa… Not sure on the cap figures yet.
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
500,000 is being reported by the Penguins via Twitter. We should have some good competition fighting to land spots next year. Hopefully, this pushes everyone even a little more to play their best to make the team :) Though…I’m not too sure about Craig. It could be just a depth move. His numbers in the AHL are decent; not great, but decent.
Yeah the Penguins web site is saying it’s $500K, and they specify “at the NHL level.” So that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s on the team right now, especially since it’s a two-way deal. This also means he doesn’t have to clear waivers if he’s sent down, so he could be a nice reserve call-up in the event of those injuries that tend to sprout up throughout the season.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
And by “on the team right now” I mean on the Penguins’ roster.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
Kind of a weird move
I wasn’t expecting this….
Does this mean the end of the cheap winger possibility?
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
that’s kinda what i was worried about. Everywhere I look, it all shows Craig as a center. Maybe he’s gonna play wing?
Maybe he frees up some pieces for trades…
I have absolutely no idea…
But “He’s Ray Shero. He gets s*** done”
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
I don’t think Craig is a realistic option in the NHL. It might just have been for organizational depth.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
possibility. But I personally can’t pick out Ryan Craig in a line-up. So nuts to what I know about this trade.
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
since it’s a two-way deal. This also means he doesn’t have to clear waivers if he’s sent down
Let me preface this by saying I am far from a CBA expert. Does a two-way deal always mean a guy doesn’t have to clear waivers? I thought I read somewhere that the two-way deal does mean you don’t pay him NHL money when he’s in the minors, but whether or not he has to clear waivers is based on his age or time in the league or something like that. Sorry if I am way off base on this one.
The Pens will be back.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Jul 3, 2010 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions
You are correct. A two-way contract means he has two salary levels: one for the NHL and one for the AHL. So last year when Satan was sent down, for instance, the Pens kept paying him his NHL salary. But a guy like Letestu made one salary at the NHL level, and a different salary at the AHL level.
The need to clear waivers is completely separate from this and has to do with the number of games played in the NHL as well as the age of the player. So GoGo didn’t have to clear waivers during the 08/09 season when Gonch came back — which is good (in my opinion, anyway!), because he would definitely have been picked up by some other team. But if they had sent him down this year, he would have been placed on waivers, and likely lost to another team.
If anyone is particularly interested in the waiver details, you can find them ’round about page 66 of the CBA, available here.
Canada Rocks. Except for the Ottawa Senators.
I’m sensing a trade on the horizon; perhaps not soon, but I think that is how we get another winger to supplement and support people coming up from WBS. It’ll be an interesting next few weeks.
mmmm……same thing on Rossi’s twitter….not that this always means much from Rossi, but
Rossi_on_Pens Pens GM says he’ll take wknd to assess trade possiblities. seeking vet with character, not a “high priced guy.”
James Neal for Goligoski?
I guess we can hope
by stoopidtom on Jul 2, 2010 9:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
From Dreger
Would Kovalchuk consider the Islanders? Why not? Rumblings the Isles may make a mega millions, mega year pitch. They need the contract.
Charles Wang needs more star power to get his Arena project pushed forward…
Hmm….would much rather have him in the West (for obvious reasons). If he does sign with the Isles or the Devils, that would officially make us the best division in hockey. Heard that he was looking for 10 years/$10 million from the Kings, which they are obviously not comfortable with. I think it’s an absolute joke that he wants that much. You wanna talk about overpriced…
If this thing from the Isles turns out to not be true, I say he’s going to the KHL, where they pay joke players ridiculous amounts of money.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
Dreger...again
One source suggests the Isles offer to be $10 mil x 10 yrs. Yikes!
If that’s true, I bet he takes it….What an awful deal, in the long run, for the Isles though. What an ego this guy has.
Asshole.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
the LA papers are reporting...
he wants that same type of contract
$10M/year for 10-12 years
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-elliott-nhl-20100702,0,7549140.column
Absolutely ridiculous. Any NHL team that pays him a dime more than Sid/Geno/OV is kidding themselves.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
I think any team that pays him anywhere near Si/Geno/Ovi is off their rocker.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
at least the 3 have some sort of track record… Kovy’s going KHL for sure… I highly doubt anyone’s that weird to pay him that much
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
Kovy doesn't have a track record?
He’s been essentially the most consistent goal scorer in the NHL since he came into the league. 6 consecutive 40+ goal seasons and he brings explosive offense that very few other players can bring.
The Isles and Kings would pay him that much and if I’m in their shoes, especially NYI, I would too.
There are two theories on hitting a knuckleball - unfortunately, neither of them work.
of team success… Sid & GEno’s won a cup, Ovie the HArt and also a lot of regular season success.
From what I heard, the Isles need to spend to even hit the cap floor. It’s a good deal for them but Kovy’s not gonna get them into a top playoff seed, let alone a cup, unless the Isles do a lot more…
I'm 21 now... I still feel 20 and I still feel way too old.
Just so I never have to answer this again. I'm from Singapore so whenever you see me online, I'm either sleep deprived or just waking up.
Any team that would pay him that much really has shit-for-brains.
Geez!!!!!!!!!!
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jul 3, 2010 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions
We also have to remember
Vinny is making $10 million a season until 2016. So yes, teams like the Isles etc are going to be willing to do that. After all, the Isles do have close to $30 million in cap space right now and there’s literally nobody else on the market right now who could make an impact for them.
Defense is set, goalies are embarrassingly set and they really need another franchise player to go along with Jesus Tavares. It’s the kind of splash they need to make in order to stay in New York.
There are two theories on hitting a knuckleball - unfortunately, neither of them work.
Vinny is making $10 million a season until 2016.
Which is why the Bolts currently have a new GM and teams, like the New York Isles for instance, may be the Kansas City Isles if they don’t stop making such stupid decisions.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
Crazy. Even if the Isles do it, they won’t have long before their young players demand and deserve raises. Imagine trying to get rid of his salary then. Unless, of course, they play to build around him in the future. Despite his goal-scoring prowess, I think he has shown that building around him doesn’t make a winning team.
by SuMac on Jul 3, 2010 6:27 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Unless, of course, they play to build around him in the future.
Why would you build around 27 year old Kovy when you have 19 year old Tavares?
With the young guys, the Isles have, this could come back to bite them in the ass very quickly.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
Souray on waivers
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=326373
I know we already talked about this a bit, but hey, if he’s on waivers, and is cheap enough, why not for a backup?
"Half the game is mental, the other half is being mental." - Jim McKenny
I think it’d be worth a shot, for a very nice player, but he’d have to take a discount.
I don’t see it happening, really.
I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993
Souray
I saw this last night, too.
Probably no chance but worth the risk.
One Who Lives And Breathes All Things Penguins
by PensFanInDenver on Jul 3, 2010 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Especially if people are still worried about losing Gonchar’s PP abilities. Sheldon has a wicked shot, and that’s about it. Still could be quite the 7th and possible mentor to Letang for our PPQB, and GoGo, if he’s still around.
"Half the game is mental, the other half is being mental." - Jim McKenny
from the Pens site…The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed left wing Brett Sterling to a one-year contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero. The deal is for the 2010-11 season and is a two-way contract that will pay Sterling $500,000 at the NHL level.
Another two-way minor league signing. While there still could be a trade on the horizon, it also appears more and more like Shero is making sure that WBS is covered in addition to the Pens when some of the players make the more permanent move to the NHL
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