Tuesday links: Letestu's long road, Pittsburgh and the 2012 draft and Mario Lemieux is coming back (sort of)

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 9, 2011 10:32 AM EDT

Must read of the day: An interview with Mark Letestu on his unique road to the NHL. Interesting how much of a non-prospect he was, and how by Ray Shero personally reaching out to him early as the first NHL GM to contact him, that tipped the scales and ultimately led to Letestu deciding to sign with the Penguins. [Oilers Nation]

The Pensblog honors Max Talbot's top five NHL goals like only they can [tPb]

In news that makes draft dorks like me happy, it's looking increasingly like Pittsburgh will be the host of next summer's NHL Entry Draft [TSN]

A look at fast rising prospect Tom Kuhnhackl [Faceoff Factor]

Dustin Jeffrey is set to get back on the ice for the first time since knee surgery next week [PG]

Chris Pronger thinks he'll be ready for opening night, but the injury question lingers [Broad Street]

Down Goes Brown teaches us how buyouts really work [DGB]

The Chicago Blackhawks are an older, tougher and courtesy of adding Dan Carcillo- dumber team now [Sportsnet]

And finally, the video gamers have heard but it's worth mentioning- Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky and other hockey legends are going to appear in NHL12, the latest hockey offering next month. Gonna be great to be able to take The Big Guy out for more skates [Puck Daddy]

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Wow, that’s an excellent crop of articles! Thanks! And lol @ the Carcillo comment.

by Skyff on Aug 9, 2011 10:48 AM EDT reply actions

Great picks from tPB on those Max goals. I know #1 is the obvious pick, but #2 is probably my favorite. Much like the first goal, I remember exactly where I was when that happened. I was in my living room with about four or five friends watching the game. Two of them aren’t Pens fans so they started with the “your season’s over” crap. The arena was on fire. They all thought they’d see a Cup in Detroit. Nope. When Max scored I literally dropped my beer, jumped up and down like an idiot, had some choice words for my friends (including a lot of finger pointing about 1 mm from their faces). When Sykora sealed it I still had doubts that Pittsburgh could win it all, but for one night it was OK to believe it.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com, twitter and now on the official Pensburgh Facebook page

by FrankD on Aug 9, 2011 10:55 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, #2 was the best. Somehow, I think collectively we all just had the feeling that it “wasn’t over yet” even though Detroit had the lead…And then BOOM Talbot works his magic and somehow scores. Amazing.

Fleury was so good that game, keeping the Pens in it through all the over-times…Whitney was so good picking up Gonchar (injured’s) slack.

That’s the night I knew for sure this Penguin core would one-day win a Stanley Cup. The way they battled and ended up defeating a world-class opponent was spectacular.

Pensburgh

"You come at the King, you best not miss."

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 9, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

I’d like to third the love for Talbot’s game-tying goal vs. Detroit!

I don’t remember exactly, but weren’t the Pens down by two with just a few minutes left? Then if I remember right, Gonchar scored to bring the Pens within one, and then Talbot tied it. Because of that game, I pretty much never give up watching a game.

"90% of the game is physical. The other half is mental." - Yogi Berra

by cyroose on Aug 9, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll fourth the love. I found myself watching the clip and getting all nervous and excited, leaning forward in my chair — even though I know exactly how (wonderfully) it ended :) Obviously the ’09 run was the winner, but that 07-08 team — and that Game 5 — was something special.

I’m going to miss the Talbot from those goals.

Jagr? I don't even know 'er.

by PopRocks on Aug 9, 2011 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

That’s an awesome story about Letestu. Poor kid went through hell and high water. I think the NHL has some of the best sleeper atheltes and guys that were written off but then boom here they are playing and are some of the best players you would want on your team. Thomas and St. Louis to name a few.

Now I definitely have to buy NHL 12 when it comes out. Can you imagine creating a team with both Sid, Mario, Jagr, Malkin, and Gretzky? Salary Cap: Off.

"Hockey is the only tribe I belong to." -Jack Falla
Twitter Facebook Tumblr

by AlexStitch on Aug 9, 2011 11:05 AM EDT reply actions

Great to see that us getting the draft looks real

But if you all want a real good laugh, read some of the comments on the TSN article regsrding the ‘12 draft. Most of the people commenting must be wearing tinfoil hats lol. It’s a conspiracy, were a non-traditional market, were Bettman’s favorite team. Canadians still can get that we get marketed the most because of all the top talent that plays for us. It’s been 6 years and thay still don’t get it. lol.

by Bradley James McEachern on Aug 9, 2011 11:28 AM EDT reply actions

Love the piece on our midget. It’s like he;s our Wes Welker…

If Hell freezes over, I'll play hockey there too.

Twitter

by Alighieri on Aug 9, 2011 12:19 PM EDT reply actions

Great batch of articles. Thanks for posting the round-up. I really love the one on Letestu

by SuMac on Aug 9, 2011 12:27 PM EDT reply actions

So I was thinking

Instead of pairing Staal and Malkin, why not Letestu and Malkin, and continue to use Staal line to shut down the other teams top line.

Neal – Crosy – Kunitz
Sullivan – Letestu – Malkin
Kennedy – Staal – Cooke
Dupuis – Adams – Asham

Just a thought!

Thats what she said! - Michael Gary Scott

by C Shint on Aug 9, 2011 1:14 PM EDT reply actions

Letestu has played some good hockey, but I don’t want to bump Malkin to wing for just anyone. Swapping Staal & Letestu in your lineup improves the team, imo.

Jagr? I don't even know 'er.

by PopRocks on Aug 9, 2011 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Last season the possibility of Letestu moving to wing was brought up, until injuries decimated the team. Letestu and Bylsma seemed all for the move. How about Malkin at center with Letestu on wing and taking faceoffs? Call it Talbot 2.0 if you want.

by Skyff on Aug 9, 2011 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think so. Letestu isn’t really a top-six producer (yet, anyway). If we’re leaving Malkin at center and giving him a winger, surely TK has earned it over Letestu. Or Staal, but I don’t really like the idea of moving Staal back to wing. I get the faceoff worry, but I don’t think Letestu is really the solution to the second line.

Besides which, he did a pretty great job with the third line while he was there. The second line gains more than the third line loses when Letestu stays off the second line, imo.

Jagr? I don't even know 'er.

by PopRocks on Aug 9, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

It was just an idea, personally I’m in favor of utilizing the Staalkin combo, regardless of which one plays wing. But for the sake of the argument, the merits of Letestu on Malkin’s wing would be solid faceoffs (Staal would provide that as well), staying strong down the middle (Letestu at 3C really isn’t so shabby either, though) and keeping Staal and Kennedy together with their excellent chemistry.

by Skyff on Aug 9, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed. With Letestu, Malkin looked out of place on the wing; it was like Malkin wanted to compensate for his linemates but was suppressed on the wing. With a guy like Staal as your wing, Malkin will definitely look a lot more comfortable. The only question is, is he comfortable enough for the switch to be permanent?

Mario Lemieux is better than you.
Twitter

by AllieLXXXVII on Aug 9, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t know if Letestu can produce enough to justify staying up in that role for long, but it’s definitely something to consider.

Bylsma’s probably going to be very flexible, not a lot of the same lines from game to game..Some duos may remain (Kunitz/Crosby or Staal/Kennedy) but overall probably a lot of movement to see which players work well together.

Pensburgh

"You come at the King, you best not miss."

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 9, 2011 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it’s time to give Malkin some decent linemates with Staal and Sullivan or Staal and Kennedy. Have two solid scoring lines. There is no need to have Staal on the checking line full time. Pitts PK was the best in the league even with Staal out the first half of the season. Malkin needs another big body out there to take some pressure off himself!

by MrChadysPens on Aug 9, 2011 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

i disagree with that.

Malkin did just fine with the Petr Sykora’s and Ruslan Fedotenko’s of the world. He just needs to be put back at Center and unleash the beast.

You are making it sound like the checking (3rd) line doesn’t have any importance. Having Staal on the Cooke, Kennedy line gives us THREE strong lines to throw out there. That’s what made us different and better than other teams. Staal is an average 2nd line center but he is an Elite 3rd line center.

Take a look at the Pens lineups for the 3 cups. Here were the 3 centers.

Mario
Francis
Trottier

Sid
Malkin
Staal

It works!

by AronV on Aug 10, 2011 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions

kuhnhackl!

sidney crosby is better than me.

by katielynn906 on Aug 9, 2011 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

Can’t wait to see this kid in the pro’s.

by Skyff on Aug 9, 2011 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Me too. I’ve allowed myself to get really hyped up on him.

Mario Lemieux is better than you.
Twitter

by AllieLXXXVII on Aug 9, 2011 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

i dragged boyfriend to a windsor spitfires game so i could watch kunhackl play. =3 i have his spits shersey too.

i just think the kid’s too adorable.

sidney crosby is better than me.

by katielynn906 on Aug 10, 2011 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Great picks, Hooks :)

Jagr? I don't even know 'er.

by PopRocks on Aug 9, 2011 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

Let’s keep it moving August, we got September coming up the rear.

Is it October yet?

by Lindas1st on Aug 9, 2011 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

My entire life, before I was able to watch NHL hockey on a daily basis, summer couldn’t be long enough. Now I can’t wait for it to end. Strange world.

by Skyff on Aug 9, 2011 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I hear that, but in more ways than one. Summer has been the busiest time of the year for me for about three years straight, so hockey and the end of summer were kinda a nice all-in-one combo for year-end reprieve.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com, twitter and now on the official Pensburgh Facebook page

by FrankD on Aug 9, 2011 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions