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Seth Rorabaugh of the P-G sports department blogs about the Penguins.

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Penguins sign Beech, Stone and Thomas

The Penguins re-signed forwards Kris Beech and Ryan Stone and signed former Coyotes forwad Bill Thomas.

EN Says: Stone is a guy the Penguins will probably seriously consider for time as the fourth-line center. He brings some toughness to the ice as he had nine fights between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season.

Beech is a depth signing at best.

Thomas is a native of Fox Chapel. He has been with the Coyotes organization since 2005 spending time mostly with Phoenix's AHL affiliate in San Antonio. He's a player who can get shots on net, but has been largely inconsistent in his career. In 75 games with San Antonio last season, he had 24 goals. He fullfills the Penguins' quota of one Western Pennsylvania player on the roster.

(Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Posted Jul 15 2008, 03:34 PM by Seth Rorabaugh
Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Chrisgunz wrote re: Penguins sign Beech, Stone and Thomas
on Tue, Jul 15 2008 4:40 PM

this is bigger than Malkin, Fleury and Orpik coming back IoI get the parade ready now.  Ok for real Stone intrigues me I like the fact he does fight could use another tough guy also.  Beech is depth your right on that and I have no clue about the other dude.  PS Is Staal definatley going to be a first line LW.  That would be great since he did display a goal scorers touch and with Sid he can get 45 goals and pobably 25 assist anyone agree?

Pittsburgh Slim Music, Videos, Fan Site » Blog Archive » Penguins sign Beech, Stone and Thomas wrote Pittsburgh Slim Music, Videos, Fan Site » Blog Archive » Penguins sign Beech, Stone and Thomas
on Tue, Jul 15 2008 5:52 PM

Pingback from  Pittsburgh Slim Music, Videos, Fan Site  » Blog Archive   » Penguins sign Beech, Stone and Thomas

Voodoo wrote re: Penguins sign Beech, Stone and Thomas
on Tue, Jul 15 2008 8:08 PM

I would like to see someone on his wing who might set up Crosby sometimes too.  But the Staal experiments have failed so far... except for the one entitled "Shut down defensive center".  I think he can score, but he's so good defensively.  I'm sure Staal would like to get more offensive opportunities, but can the pens afford to not have him in that defensive role?  He was a big part of their success this year.  Seems like a difficult balancing act, a young guy in a contract year that wants to generate points or the strategic value of keeping him at center.

sev7achilles wrote re: Penguins sign Beech, Stone and Thomas
on Tue, Jul 15 2008 10:05 PM

i'm sure T. will juggle combos early and often, but i'd like to see Staal on the 3rd line.  he wants to play center, and as noted, he excels defensively there.

i see him spending a lot of time w/ Cooke on his left (should be more offense than Ru) and Dupuis on his right (speed should create more opps for Staal) + he'll prob get more PP time this year.

Michel Dion wrote re: Penguins sign Beech, Stone and Thomas
on Wed, Jul 16 2008 1:07 AM

If nothing else Sonni Abatta has to be pleased.