Battle Of Pennsylvania
So living in Ottawa I'm in the middle of the Stanley Cup craziness (Well gloom right now with the Sens down 3-1). It's quite interesting to see the path the Sens have taken. It's been a fairly easy road for them. I think their toughest opponent outside of Anaheim has been the Penguins.
I think that the Pens playing Ottawa was probably the best thing for them, it gave them a taste of what Playoff hockey was really about, playing against a great offensive team showed the Pens the determination it takes to play on that big of a stage. Yeah it would have been nice to see them win a bit more against Ottawa or even take the series but getting beaten like that will only strengthen the team for next year.
If Pittsburgh can bring in a stay at home defenseman who has some playoff experience and can shutdown top lines then they have a great shot next year.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Captain Crosby
Well the time has finally come for Crosby to wear the C. I've talked with a lot of people and most seem to think he's to young. Myself, I say he is perfect. Age is only a number like Crosby said. Crosby is one of the most mature 19 year olds I have ever seen. He has all the talent and makings of a great player and Captain.
He has had some great influences as well. Recchi, Roberts, and the biggest of all Mario. All classy guys who give their 110% to their team. I see crosby leading like Yzerman. Very classy, step it up and sacrifice everything.
Crosby has the best mix of talent I have ever seen combined with a level head. He will go down as one of the greatest players and leaders of all-time when his career is over.
He has had some great influences as well. Recchi, Roberts, and the biggest of all Mario. All classy guys who give their 110% to their team. I see crosby leading like Yzerman. Very classy, step it up and sacrifice everything.
Crosby has the best mix of talent I have ever seen combined with a level head. He will go down as one of the greatest players and leaders of all-time when his career is over.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Well....
The season is over. We had a massive improvement in ppints over last year.
Staal came through better than anyone had expected. He became the bestpenalty killer in the league. Tops in short-handed goals, tops in shooting percentage. He is my pick for Calder.
Malkin had a great season. Scored 85 points, could have had many more if not for a few blips during the year. Like Therrien told him though, you can't live in the shadows of Crosby, you have to be Evgeni Malkin and play like you can. Hopefully Malkin will learn from this year and keep improving.
Marc Andre-Fleury. Well he kept the team in there all season. He won a tonne of games for the team and had a retty good record. His skills have improved immensly he's not making nearly as many mistakes as we have seen in years past.
Ryan Whitney. This guy will be a #1 defenseman. I would say he can reach top 10 in the league. He is good defensively, well improved. Great offensive defenseman.
Sidney Crosby. What can you say that hasn't been said before. He won the Art Ross, probably the Hart but stiff competition there. He is the leader of this team, by his play on ice and in the media and locker room. He will wear the C next year. You can complain all you want about his talking to the ref 's but he is 19 and takes more crapthan any player in the league. He will settle down over time and become one of the greats.
Mark Recchi. The Recchi-ng Ball is amazing still. He has showed he can still play in the league. What he brought to this team is great. he picked up in the leader department where Mario left off.
But the MVP of the season for the Pittsburgh Penguins is none else than? (Can you guess?)
Mario Lemieux. This man is owed a debt of gratitude by all Penguins fans and hockey fans in General. Has there ever been such a Great Owner in the history of the NHL. I know i may be exagerating in that department but lets take a look at some of what he's done for the team financialwise. Full Career Timeline HERE
1984 - Mario Gets drafted, fan interest in Pittsburgh rebounds and the Team is saved financially by having him there. Wins Calder Cup.
In the 90's when the team was going through money issues again he defers his salary so that the team can pay the bills.
September of 99 Mario uses his deferred salary and other partners to buy the team from Bankruptcy, with well over $100 Million in principle debt.
Over the next few years Mario and Owners repay all the debt that was owed at the time of Purchase. In the early part of the 00's the Penguins actually turn a profit through some business moves and a poor product on ice.
2006/2007 Mario finally plays hardball with the Gov'ts and gets his arena that was promised to him when he bought the team. This process is more than any owner I think would have done to keep a team in one city. Most owners would have taken the KC deal and left on the first plane. But Mario and his Dedication to the City of Pittsburgh came through.
Well God Bless Mario. you are still my favorite of all time and may the Arena turn a good profit for you so that we can get a great team on the ice and keep the good young players we have now.
Staal came through better than anyone had expected. He became the bestpenalty killer in the league. Tops in short-handed goals, tops in shooting percentage. He is my pick for Calder.
Malkin had a great season. Scored 85 points, could have had many more if not for a few blips during the year. Like Therrien told him though, you can't live in the shadows of Crosby, you have to be Evgeni Malkin and play like you can. Hopefully Malkin will learn from this year and keep improving.
Marc Andre-Fleury. Well he kept the team in there all season. He won a tonne of games for the team and had a retty good record. His skills have improved immensly he's not making nearly as many mistakes as we have seen in years past.
Ryan Whitney. This guy will be a #1 defenseman. I would say he can reach top 10 in the league. He is good defensively, well improved. Great offensive defenseman.
Sidney Crosby. What can you say that hasn't been said before. He won the Art Ross, probably the Hart but stiff competition there. He is the leader of this team, by his play on ice and in the media and locker room. He will wear the C next year. You can complain all you want about his talking to the ref 's but he is 19 and takes more crapthan any player in the league. He will settle down over time and become one of the greats.
Mark Recchi. The Recchi-ng Ball is amazing still. He has showed he can still play in the league. What he brought to this team is great. he picked up in the leader department where Mario left off.
But the MVP of the season for the Pittsburgh Penguins is none else than? (Can you guess?)
Mario Lemieux. This man is owed a debt of gratitude by all Penguins fans and hockey fans in General. Has there ever been such a Great Owner in the history of the NHL. I know i may be exagerating in that department but lets take a look at some of what he's done for the team financialwise. Full Career Timeline HERE
1984 - Mario Gets drafted, fan interest in Pittsburgh rebounds and the Team is saved financially by having him there. Wins Calder Cup.
In the 90's when the team was going through money issues again he defers his salary so that the team can pay the bills.
September of 99 Mario uses his deferred salary and other partners to buy the team from Bankruptcy, with well over $100 Million in principle debt.
Over the next few years Mario and Owners repay all the debt that was owed at the time of Purchase. In the early part of the 00's the Penguins actually turn a profit through some business moves and a poor product on ice.
2006/2007 Mario finally plays hardball with the Gov'ts and gets his arena that was promised to him when he bought the team. This process is more than any owner I think would have done to keep a team in one city. Most owners would have taken the KC deal and left on the first plane. But Mario and his Dedication to the City of Pittsburgh came through.
Well God Bless Mario. you are still my favorite of all time and may the Arena turn a good profit for you so that we can get a great team on the ice and keep the good young players we have now.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Sens & Fans Cocky
Well Spezza the "wunderkid" who is a good passer but not much more, has set the tone for the Sens coming into this game thursday night.
"We've got to digest this one. But definitely going into the next game we want to bury them," Senators center Jason Spezza said.
Spezza who doesn't have a defensive bone in his body got the first goal last night in Circus fashion. I bet you the Ottawa fans will say he meant to do it but that was the bigggest BS goal of the year. Then he blows the play on the Penguins goal.
As for the series so far. Jordan Staal for me has stolen the show. We expect a lot from Crosby and he delivers so it is special but to see how Staal has played as an 18 year old is something else. The kid is in my mind the best penalty killer in this series, he's got great skills and sense on the Ice. Plus Don Cherry loves the kid so that says something. I vote for Staal to get rookie of the Year.
Malkin, where has he been so far. Geno, you need to play hockey, don't live in Crosby's shadows, you have great talent. Lets see it. I want to see a goal or 2 assists from you tomorrow night.
Penguins defense, WTF kind of zone clearing passes are those. This is the worst I've seen you all year, you look like little grandma's at times trying to clear the zone. Pick it up guys and lets take this series back.
I got a lunch at a fancy restaurant waiting on the outcome of the series!
"We've got to digest this one. But definitely going into the next game we want to bury them," Senators center Jason Spezza said.
Spezza who doesn't have a defensive bone in his body got the first goal last night in Circus fashion. I bet you the Ottawa fans will say he meant to do it but that was the bigggest BS goal of the year. Then he blows the play on the Penguins goal.
As for the series so far. Jordan Staal for me has stolen the show. We expect a lot from Crosby and he delivers so it is special but to see how Staal has played as an 18 year old is something else. The kid is in my mind the best penalty killer in this series, he's got great skills and sense on the Ice. Plus Don Cherry loves the kid so that says something. I vote for Staal to get rookie of the Year.
Malkin, where has he been so far. Geno, you need to play hockey, don't live in Crosby's shadows, you have great talent. Lets see it. I want to see a goal or 2 assists from you tomorrow night.
Penguins defense, WTF kind of zone clearing passes are those. This is the worst I've seen you all year, you look like little grandma's at times trying to clear the zone. Pick it up guys and lets take this series back.
I got a lunch at a fancy restaurant waiting on the outcome of the series!
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