The Penguins, hockey and more, by Seth Rorabaugh.
Join to add your comments Guide to commenting
Playoff Stuff
Penguins
-"I know he's the type of guy who is going to be ready for Game 6." - Dan Bylsma on Marc-Andre Fleury.
-It's do or die for the Penguins.
-Marc-Andre Fleury stinks.
-The Penguins' fans are loyal.
-Is this Bill Guerin's last chance to win the Stanley Cup?
-Rob Scuderi continues to command a big workload.
-Former Penguins and Red Wings defenseman Larry Murphy has mixed emotions over this series.
-Can Evgeni Malkin win the Conn Smythe Trophy even if the Penguins lose?
-For some reason, someone saw a need to compare Mathieu Garon and Patrick Roy.
-The scene outside Gate 3 for Game 4:
Red Wings
-Marian Hossa used to play for the Penguins.
-Ty Conklin used to play for the Penguins.
-The Red Wings are a different team with Pavel Datsyuk in the lineup.
-James Mirtle has a wonderful look at the Red Wings' ice time with Datsyuk in and out of the lineup.
-Detroit = depth.
-Detroit = discipline.
-The Red Wings aren't worrying about the Stanley Cup. Yet.
-Remember how teams were supposed to have momentum?
-During our live blog of Game 5, we mistakenly credited Nicklas Lidstrom with this marvelous play minus his stick. It was actually Brian Rafalski:
-The Penguins weren't the only ones getting away with cheap shots in Game 5. Check out this little bit of hatchet work by Detroit forward Kris Draper to the kisser of Jordan Staal:
Non-Playoff Stuff
Pacific Division
-Could the Coyotes' fate be impacted by the Seattle Pilots, the former Major League Baseball franchise which moved to Milwaukee and became the Brewers?
One thing for certain, the Wings will not be able to re-sign Hossa for next year. Unless he decides to play for a couple Mil/Yr, the Wings are already up against the Cap Limit next year and have several others key Free Agents to address, including: Samuelsson, Hudler & Conkln. If the Wings were able to trade say Rafalski, they may be able to sign Hossa for a one year deal, but who would want to pick up Rafalski for 6 Mil/yr through 2011/12. If the Wings win, Hossa will get his Cup victory and probably go play in Europe. Maybe that was his plan all along, since he turned down a guaranteed long term deal with the Pens and now will never be able to see that kind of deal (money & length) again. By the way, Lidstrom's contract is up after next year. Both him and Gonchar will become UFAs at the same time. Although, I can see the Pens attempting to sign Gonchar for a Zetterberg/ Franzen type deal (guaranteed money in the first few years, extended over an extended period of time, with little money during the final few years). Lidstrom is four or five years older than Gonchar and I don't see the Wings signing him long term. He'll probably retire after next year or sign one year deals until he does retire. Either way, Hossa may get the cup, but he will probably be heading to a new team next year.
The rumor mill says there's a 7 year deal in the works...and Hossa stays in Detroit. Chelios will be done, maybe Maltby an d Draper too. Conklin won't be re-signed(Wings have a couple of farm guys ready). Samuelson and maybe Hudler will also likely depart. With the emergance of Ericcson, a D man will also leave(or get traded).