From the "probably not a coincidence department", Sidney Crosby will get the Stanley Cup for the day on 8/7 which happens to be Sid's 22nd birthday. [From the Rink]
Speaking of the Stanley Cup, it was the centerpiece of a game of flip-cup when Brooks Orpik had it last weekend. [Hockey Hall of Fame]
The Pensblog found a great youtube some Detroit fans made pre-Game 7. To our knowledge they did not make a follow up. [tPB]
Foreshadowing? Pens prospect Alex Velischek bet a buddy $10 bucks on the Penguins two weeks before they drafted him because he liked Marc-Andre Fleury better than Chris Osgood. [Post-Gazette]
Another piece on the feisty Eric Tangradi...Shouldn't be many dull moments with this guy, that's for sure. [Tribune Review]
Great column on everyone's favorite grandpa, Eddie Johnston. [PG]
Staying on ex-Penguin news, Miroslav Satan's camp is in talks with re-joining the New York Islanders. Guess he does really want to stick around in the NHL. [Kuklas Korner]
To complete the hat-trick of ex-Pens, here's video of Hal Gill's first tour around the facilities with Montreal. Good luck up there, big guy. But wearing the number 75? [Kuklas Korner]
Penguin killers (noun): those frustrating players that put points on the board playing against Pittsburgh at a much higher rate compared to their output against teams not wearing black and vegas gold. [Faceoff Factor]
Boston pulls a switcheroo for their defense: Aaron Ward's out and Derek Morris is in. [TSN]
The Bruins see Aaron Ward as their #2 defenseman. The Bruins apparantely didn't see much of Ward's work with the Rangers this spring. [NESN]
From Canes Country: 83% of voters find re-acquiring Ward "a good deal". 83% of an online fanbase is a very ringing endorsement. [Canes Country]
Carolina also signed forward Tuomo Ruutu to a three year deal worth an average of $3.8 million a year. A lot of money for a guy who's career highs are 26 goals and 54 points or a worthy deal for a player that can bring a lot of other aspects to the ice? [TSN]
Why aren't restricted free agents getting offer sheets from other teams? Wysh offers the state of the economy and GMs not wanting to become targets or pariahs amongst their peer. Another good point: any big market that would throw $4-6 million at a guy like Phil Kessel don't have that kind of cap space. I think another factor could be that Dustin Penner and Tomas Vanek, the two most notable offer sheets in this CBA haven't exactly lived up to the expectations of their new contracts. [Puck Daddy]
A lot of fimiliar names on this list of players that'll likely have to retire since they haven't generated much interest for finding a team in2009-10. Is this the end of the line for mainstays like Jeremy Roenick, Chris Chelios and BrendenShanahan? [The Hockey News]
The Capitals raised $9,500+ for the fight against cancer with a mostly friendly game of hockey. Perhaps best of all? The Commonwealth of Virginia took home the victory over the Marylanders. Check out the recap and some pics here. [Peerless Prognosticator]
