Another One Bites the Dust

Looks like another member of the Cup winning team is looking for a new job. The hawks have walked away from Niemi. This means about the only players not traded or let go anymore are Kane Towes and Hossa, that meant anything to the run this year, I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that those three are next.

What's up with Free Agency?

I knew there would be a lull once all of the big stuff happened on July 1, but it seems like there should be something more here. It can't all be because of Kovalchuk, because we all know he will wind up playing in NJ, we just don't know what the contract will look like after arbitration, and to me it seems rather silly to hold off on the hope that he will suddenly decide he wants to play someplace else. Now that being said, he could do something crazy and take a one year deal from the St Louis Blues for all I know, but I seriously doubt it, he wants to win, and winning is something he feels he can do in NJ, I'm not jumping on the Kovalchuk = cup bandwagon just yet. It took Hossa a few tries before he actually won a cup, it took the Penguins a couple of tries to win the cup. He's never played very much in the playoffs having played his entire career in Atlanta before NJ. There is a learning curve here.
On another Free Agent note, I've heard a crazy rumor, probably started by Eklund to get something going: The rumor is Karyia and Selanne both headed to Pitt at a major discount to play with Crosby, I doubt this seriously, but it's still fun to think about as a Pens fan myself. That's all for today.

Last Games of the Season

Most of these don't mean very much, if at all for most of the teams, only those teams trying for the first overall draft pick, and for positions in the playoffs. The only one I will be watching tonight will be the Caps final game of the season. If the Caps go to OT, or win they are in, and more importantly have home ice advantage. If the Caps lose they have their division title ripped, and Carolina gets it. As a Pens fan I will also be watching the score for the Montreal Toronto game, here is hoping the Leafs do a better job of being the spoiler this time out.

Banning Fighting in Hockey

This is an issue that has been discussed alot lately in hockey circles due to the incident with Patrick Roy motioning his son to go after the other goalie in the QMJHL(Quebec Major Junior Hockey Leauge). The goalie gave in, yet Jonathan Roy kept pounding him while he was on the ice and not fighting back. Both Roy and Roys son got suspended for games. Fighting is fine in hockey, it has been apart of hockey, if not forever, at least for a very very long time, and to end it now because of one fight is just plain dumb. This also brings up the violence factor in the major leauges in hockey, my opinion: keep it, this isn't a sport for someone who won't stand up for themselves. The only way to get rid of violence in hockey is to start handing long suspensions out for any violence what soever. You can't stop it with a 5 minute major penalty.

Been a Long Time

Been awhile since I have posted anything, figured I would post my impressions of tonights Penguins game. It was very physical, as with most Penguins Flyers games are. Hossa had an ok game, not what he should be having, but that could be because he is still learning how to fit in with the Penguins system. Malkin and Malone both had increadable games tonight. It is definatly a nice change of pace from two years ago today when all the Penguins and their fans had to look forward to this time of year was a top draft pick. Two years later they are sitting atop the Atlantic division and the Eastern Confrence. By the way, 2006 No 2 over all draft pick was Jordan Staal. Amazing how far he has come over the past two seasons. Other Noteables from that draft: Chicago's Jonathan Towes, Washington: Nick Backstrom, Boston, Phil Kessel. All are playing in the NHL this season.

Penguins and Sabres in Ice Bowl?

I don't know if it is true or not, and it has already been written about as going to happen, just not announced, I will give my two cents on the idea. It would be nice to see a live NHL game outside like they used to be. The last game to be played outside was between older retired NHLers in Canada. That game sold out. Hopefully this game will sell out as well, and maybe we will see more of these in the near future.

Sports Stars and the Media

I have noticed an increasing trend towards the fact that no one in sports is allowed to say what they really think about someone or some issue. The game of sports media has become to pollitically correct now days to really bother even listening to a sports confrence anymore because you know that the guy is going to say nice things about someone whether he means it or not. Whatever happened to the good old days when you could actually say what you thought?