Pittsburgh Penguins release official statement on Sidney Crosby's concussion progress

Head over to Bleacher Report for my take on the official statement on Sidney Crosby's concussion progress. If you still check this blog, stay tuned. Starting in September, we will ramp it back up again for my mildly popular brand of Penguins analysis. Try to contain yourselves...

Sticking with the Program

Today's sports fan is afforded a mind-boggling array of information and tools to get news, stats, and deliver their opinion (like this blog!). With broadband internet and specialized channels, like NHL Network, hockey die-hards can devote more attention to the game we love. Its great most of the time, but this instant access also brings expectations of rapid gratification. Fans always want the player, coach, or prospect that may push them to the next level (whether it be just being respectable to competing/winning a tittle annually). Right now, the Pens are in the latter category. We feel (rightfully so) that we should win it all or be in the mix annually. Every year, free agency comes along and all have our eyes on the player(s) that will push us over into another level.

Just like about 99% of Pens fans, I would consider losing out on Jagr the way we did to be upsetting, disguising, etc. If you were to go back to last evening and lets hypothetically say you met some time traveling person (?) that said to you "I went a day into the future and Jagr fucked the Pens and signed with PHILLY! Knowing this information, would you still want him on the Pens team this season?" My response, without hesitation, is yes. Although he is slowing down, Jagr is still a first-ballot hall-of-fame legend. Yes, he is a petulant mercenary prick. Yes, he would be a pain in the ass. But the facts are (1) its all about winning, and (2) do you really think a cup-champion locker room is going to be intimated by a fading legend? I say no. But this talk is all mental masturbation anyhow. Hes gone, along with any hope of repairing his hockey legacy in Pittsburgh. I know I'll still tell tales of Jagr's sub-human feats to newer generations of Pens fans (the torn groin epic Game 6 vs NJ, the game I saw him score a natural hat trick in the first 8 minutes of the game) along with the other side (which we got a good slice of today). He's not "dead to me"...he's just a bad human being that is an excellent hockey player.

So what is the expectation now that we lost out on Jagr? That Ray Shero goes out and makes some type of big splash and gets a big name in free agency. Similar to how the jolted lover goes and gets laid to "rebound". But what I am learning is that this is not the Penguins style...from ownership down to the players. There is no panic, there is no compromising the plan. Now, I realize this sounds hokey..."the plan". All teams have a plan, right? Yes. However, actually carrying on and seeing that plan through is harder said than done. Stop and think for a bit. Think about the franchises that are a success every single year (save for a bad season or two here and there). The Steelers, The Red Wings, The Packers (off the top of my head). These teams generally operate their entire organization, top to bottom, in a way that simply breeds success. They carry on the plan. Its why the Steelers always seem to pull star LB's out of nowhere, its why the Wings find project players and develop them into the Henrik Zetterberg's of the NHL. They are smart enough to know who the cornerstones are and realize those players make those around them better. How many average defenseman has Lidstrom helped mold into good ones?

This is what the Penguins seem to be after. So we lost out on Jagr? What does the organization do? Goes out and signs Steve Sullivan to a fair deal. The Pens didn't go up against the cap overpaying for potentially good players that would probably underachieve. They went out and got a player that fits our system. Is he an injury risk? Big time. Can he still score goals? We'll see...I think he has a better chance to do that with Sid or Geno than David Legwand, don't you? They went out and got a winner in every sense of the word. You have to be a winner to be 5'9 and be a good NHL player. You have to be a winner to overcome major back issues and win the Masterson Trophy for perseverance and commitment to the sport. Winners WIN CUPS. Sullivan doesn't have his yet. Don't you think he'd skate through a brick wall to get it this spring, if his body allows it? In short, we got a Penguin. A guy that fits.

Also, Shero left the Pens with wiggle room to bring someone on board during the season or at the trade deadline should we have a rash of injuries, or the worst case scenario, Sid is not okay. Its inevitable that some team that needed its instant gratification for its fans and its owners will not do well. This team will then look to shed that error to a contender....enter Ray Shero.

I'm proud the Pens are following the plan. If you aren't...perhaps consider when Eddie O. was basically letting the team play shinny and Craig Patrick was doing nothing about it. That organization would have offered some of those ridiculous contracts you saw today. Stick. With. The. Plan.

2 Penguins Draft Recap Pieces over at BleacherReport.com

Again, as we kill time until we have some games...head over to BleacherReport.com for a piece I did on 1st round pick Joe Morrow and a brief recap of all 5 draft picks. Man, I can't wait for the season to start again. Literally chomping at the bit.

NHL Draft: 7 picks the Pens Would Love to Have in the 1st Round

Head over to bleacher report to see the piece on 7 picks the Penguins would love to nab in the 1st round. Can't wait to have games start again...I miss breaking it down.

Free Agency: 12 Guys the Pens Should Target

I did an article over at bleacherreport.com about the Penguins potential shopping list. Hope this tides you over until some real Penguins news hits.

Sid, Jordo, Talbo, and Paul Martin at The Cannes Film Festival

I'm not one for blogging about players, personal lives but I find this too cool, odd, and fascinating so I wanted to put a link to The Steel City Sports Fan's pictures of this. Sid, Jordan Staal, Maxime Talbot, and Paul Martin were guests of billionaire co-owner Ron Burkle. The pictures are them hob-nobbing on some yacht. Enjoy!

Player Recaps: Guys That Played In 61-82 Games (Including Fleury, Letang,

As promised, I now complete the recap of each player that got in to 61-82 games for the Penguins this year. These are the guys that avoided injury and had the weight of the team on their shoulders time and time again. Again, I'm not doing anything incredibly in depth. If you want to see their detailed stats and things of that nature just go to the Penguins website or something. My template will cover the basics: games played, the highs, the lows, additional comments, and the future. All photos are courtesy of Yahoo! Sports or Getty Images.

Name: Brooks Orpik
Position: D
Games Played: 63

The Highs: Blocked 94 shots and registered 194 hits. A great skating defenseman and knows his role, playing it perfectly both at even strength and on the penalty kill.

The Lows: Had his hand broken while blocking a shot against the Sharks 2/23/2011

Additional Comments: I may be in the minority in this opinion, but I believe that Brooksie is the Captain of this team. No disrespect to Sid intended, but because of Sid's image and endorsements he can't say certain things in the media. Orpik has never shied away from saying those things.

The Future: Orpik will be handing out "free candy" for the next 3 seasons. That should make teammates sleep well at night.

Name: Deryk Engelland
Position: D
Games Played: 63

The Highs: Literally fought his way on to the team, and with his stable defense earned a 3 year contract extension. Had some highlight reel knock-outs of opposing players in his fights.

The Lows: Did not see much time after the arrival of Matt Niskanen.

Additional Comments: Has become regarded as one of the new heavyweights of the NHL when it comes to fighting.

The Future: Should stick around with the team because of his defensive-mindedness. The team's depth at the lower levels is more of the puck moving defenseman types.

Name: Mark Letestu
Position: C
Games Played: 64

The Highs: Letestu had a great training camp and earned his way on to the team. Excelled at 3rd and 4th line duties, and also turned up on the score sheet most during those times.

The Lows: Did not have a strong showing late in the season with the skilled players left in the lineup, especially when serviing as the "#1" center. As he moved up the depth chart, he became the embodiment of "the Peter principle".

Additional Comments: Expect a bounce back type performance from him when he is back down to the 3rd and 4th lines.

The Future: Letestu has 2 more years on the extension he signed. I believe that he will be a solid contributor to the team in a proper role.

Name: Marc-Andre Fleury
Position: G
Games Played: 65

The Highs: Despite slow start, managed 36 wins. When he is "on", he is aggressive, plays angles well, and uses his poke check as an extra defender. Has a personality that allows for a bad game to be laughed off, which is crucial for a goalie.

The Lows: Fleury was awful to start the season, and for a time was benched in favor of Brent Johnson. Had a .900 save percentage in the playoffs. Being beaten for a second year in a row by a lesser goalie is a strong concern. When he is "off", he is down on the ice way too much. Is terrible at side to side puck recognition when the play originates behind the net.

Additional Comments: Is one of the most polarizing athletes in Pittsburgh. Perhaps only Ben Roethlisberger draws more scrutinity on his every play. It was suggested that management told him in no uncertain terms thathe must play better in the next season (this past one). He had a great bounce-back in the regular season, but at times in the playoffs just did not rise to the level of a dominant goaltender.

The Future: His contract has 4 more years at a $5m cap hit. Even if the team wanted to deal him, it would not be easy to find a partner with the league wide trend moving towards cheaper goalies. In all of my hockey experience, I've never witnessed a franchise goalie blossom from start to finish, so I will say that with the proper level of consistency, Fleury is still a valuable piece of this team and its plans for the future.

Name: Chris Kunitz
Position: LW
Games Played: 66

The Highs: Netted 23 goals.

The Lows: Had a difficult stretch run and playoffs.

Additional Comments: I spent most of this season thinking he was gonig to be UFA, when he actually has 1 more year left on his deal. Kunitz played well most of the time without a contract on the line. Hopefully he will do so next season with a potential big deal on the line.

The Future: Kunitz is a $3.75m cap hit in his final season. He plays well with Sidney Crosby. I'm not sure the Penguins are going to break the bank to sign Kunnie no matter he does next season. They will have a price in mind, as will he, and if they sides can't meet somewhere in between then they part company.

Name: Matt Cooke
Position: LW
Games Played: 67

The Highs: His value as a penalty killer was never more obvious than during his suspension at the end of the season.

The Lows: Multiple suspensions and the reputation as being the "dirtiest player in hockey".

Additional Comments: Sources indicate that Cooke sought "help" for some issues he was dealing with and that there may have been a situation with his family during the season.

The Future: Ray Shero seems committed to giving Cooke another chance here. If Cooke can remove the stupidness from his game, he is a valuable asset. If not, he is a liability of the worst kind.



Name: Zbynek Michalek
Position: D
Games Played: 73

The Highs:

The Lows:

Additional Comments:

The Future:



Name: Paul Martin
Position: D
Games Played: 77

The Highs:

The Lows:

Additional Comments:

The Future:



Name: Tyler Kennedy
Position: LW
Games Played: 80

The Highs:

The Lows:

Additional Comments:

The Future:



Name: Craig Adams
Position: RW
Games Played: 80

The Highs:

The Lows:

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The Future:



Name: Pascal Dupuis
Position: LW
Games Played: 81

The Highs:

The Lows:

Additional Comments:

The Future:



Name: Mike Rupp
Position: C
Games Played: 81

The Highs:

The Lows:

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The Future:



Name: Kris Letang
Position: D
Games Played: 82

The Highs:

The Lows:

Additional Comments:

The Future:



Name: Max Talbot
Position: C
Games Played: 82

The Highs:

The Lows:

Additional Comments:

The Future: