If you're gonna have a parade with Matt Cooke and the Stanley Cup present, it's probably a good idea to talk to Cooke about it so he can, you know, show up for it. [Empty Netters]
What would life be like if the Penguins didn't win the Sidney Crosby sweepstakes four years ago? Well, Matt Cooke probably wouldn't have a Stanley Cup, that's for sure. [The Confluence]
In case you needed another reminder of the target on Pittsburgh's back: over at Canes Country they have a fanshot wondering if their off-season changes have boosted them to beat the Penguins. Andrew Alberts, Tom Kostopolous and Aaron Ward are the difference between getting swept and winning a playoff series? I'll believe it when I see it.
*Note: if you're going over there and respond to some points please act on your manners in "their house". It's the least we can do to add valid points where they're needed, but no place to rub things in or act like an ass* [Canes Country]
Bobby Clarke takes some swipes: "We were allowed to spend the money, we always tried to win," Clarke said. "We didn’t do what Pittsburgh did; lose seven years in a row so they could get good. They did it twice, in fact. They went through six or seven different owners. We’ve had one owner."
Sorry that the Penguins weren't allowed to spend the money and had to trade away (or watch leave) the likes of Jaromir Jagr, Alexei Kovalev, Marty Straka and Robert Lang for pennies on the dollar. Also sorry you've lost two years in a row to Pittsburgh in the playoffs, tool.[The Hockey News]
Maybe Clarke should worry about his own house, because just when you think the Flyers couldn't add another dynamic of sloppy and players prone to penalties and making poor decisions, they're reportedly negotiating with forward Todd Bertuzzi. [Broad Street Hockey]
A defection of the biggest cigarette smoking current player as former Penguin Sergei Zubov is going to the KHL.[Defending Big D]
Custance says the Los Angeles Kings are the best bet for a non-playoff team to get back into the second season next year, thanks to their additions of Ryan Smyth and Rob Scuderi. [The Sporting News]
There's a lot of high profile free agents still on the market one month in...Now the obvious question: why? [From the Rink]
One of those free agents is Alex Tanguay, who is reportedly thinking of joining the KHL. And the team supposedly on his radar is Jaromir Jagr's Avangard Omsk. [Hockey Outsiders]
Marian Hossa is more trouble than he's worth, Chapter 682: The Blackhawks could face a $5 million fine and loss of draft pick if they talked to Hossa about him retiring before his 12 year contract is finished. Hossa is 30 years old, so everyone knows he'll be retired before it's finished but actually talking about it (if they did) could land them in hot water with the league. [London Free Press]
Leahy compiled the top 10 hockey player songs. #5 on his list was all I could think about. I can't even here Don McLean's 'American Pie' without singing the Lyrics of 'French Canadian Guy'. [Puck Daddy]
What a fall from grace: once a upon a time former Penguins prospect Angelo Esposito was once a front-runner to be a top -- if not THE top-- draft pick and now he's ranked #11 in the Thrashers system. Daulton Leveille (the guy Atlanta used the 1st round pick they got fro Pittsburgh) is ranked #13 in their organization, does that make the Marian Hossa trade seem better? [Bird Watchers Anonymous]
Finally this is a little old, but to my knowledge it's new to Pensburgh. Your friend and mine Frankie D was the stud of the week and just might be offering mustache rides...Or maybe not. Either way. [Wrap Around Curl]
