The Pittsburgh Penguins made a few deals since Wednesday that will most likely be looked at as players to fill the void left by Marian Hossa.
Ruslan Fedotenko and Miroslav Satan were signed by GM Ray Shero Thursday, one day after completing a long-term deal with star goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury.
Janne Pesonen, the top player in Finland's biggest league is reportedly close to a deal with the Penguins.
I just want to get my two-sense in here.
If Shero thinks that these three can make up for some of the productivity that Hossa had, then that's good. But, in my opinion, we should have gone after a big name in free agency. I would have liked to have Jagr back, at least I have heard of him. Jagr is going to play for a Russian team. Straka would have been good to have as well, but he went over to play in a European league. Markus Naslund would have been the guy I would have gone after, but maybe Shero just thought it would be easier to fit a younger player into the team that he has assembled.
Whatever, but we did lose Gary Roberst to the Lightning in a trade, and he was a skilled veteran. Naslund's power and skill would have been greatly utilized, but hey, if he wants to sign with the Rangers, so be it. Just another player in the Atlantic that obviously doesn't mind losing. HAHA! Just kidding.
We have a gaping hole, and we still need something big to be done before the season. We can't go Hossa-lees and not have a back-up plan. There is too much competition in the Eastern Conference to let that happen.
Let me know what you guys think! Hope you had a great and safe 4th. Take care!
I think the Penguins are fine. Losing Hossa was not that bad. Instead of out "big 3" being Crosby, Malking, Hossa. It will be Crosby, Malkin, and Staal. Staal should be able to put up the same amount of points Hossa did last year which was 66. Staal will be moved to wing on one of the top two lines and should put up good points. Losing Maline was not big deal either because he has 1 good season and 51 points for over 5 million a year is not worth it. Satan should be able to make up the effort being on a Malkin or Crosby line. I see the team actually a little bit more deep this year then last year which should help. Gary Roberts, well do we need to replace him? Because I don't remember seeing him play. Ruslan Fedotenko will be an upgrade on him. Janne Pesonen will be a nice addition if he can put up some points. Do I think they can make up the point production the Hossa would have. Probably not just one of them, Hossa would probably give you 75-80 points playing with Crosby. But the goes we got should be able to total more then what he would of put up. I still would take the Pens over any team right now with their age and how long their core will be together. Plus this roster will probably change again before the playoffs anyway. But after this weeks moves, I would be excited. The pens did not over pay in this years bad free agency where most are over the hill players anyway.
Hossa made his choice and that's that. No use fretting over it. I think the signings are fine, both can help out next year. Maybe skating with Crosby can revive Satan's career. Fedotenko is a good third line grinder. That Finnish player could be interesting. From what I have seen of the guy, he looks really good, as he I guess he lead the Finnish league in goals and points last year. That would be a nice diamond in the rough find if it turn sout like that. But re-signing Orpik, and locking down Fleury and Malkin have been huge. The Pens will be fine next year, and will cotend for the Cup again.
Losing Hossa hurt for a about a day then I realized in the long run losing Hossa will enable the Pens to keep Staal at a long term contract (they should sign him b4 training camp this year or at the least at the start of the offseason next year)...Staal is a beast and once they move him up on Sids or Geno's line to play during this comin season-Staal should be happier because he'll be more involved and scoring more; not to mention we as fanz will get to enjoy the fantastic 4-some of sid-geno-staal-fleury for many years to come!!!!
Okay, you lost Hossa and Conklin to the Wings. Thats reality - not fantasy and you can dismiss it all you want. You are counting on a kid that is used to European rinks being a force? That should last right up until the first time Kronvall or Blake turns him into dasher paint on the boards with a check back into the Europe league. And the reason Sid the "the face of the NHL" Crosby did so well was because of some guy named Laraque. Who is there now? Orpik? What is the backup goalies name anyway? They are the second best team in PA now. As for being in the cup playoffs, you may be right. However, think of the few teams that don't make it (very few) are not in the playoffs. 18 of the 30 make it in, so that is a joke of a statement. You can finish 39 - 31 and only 8 games over .500 and still barely miss the playoffs like Buffalo. So go back to la-la land and think about Hossa not helping you or Conklin not carrying you when Fleury was hurt and the Flyers will abuse you. Crosby won't be within 20 points of Ovechkin but will however lead the league in dives and whines.......
Let me think about this for a billionth of a second, sign Hossa at 29 going on 30 for a long term deal worth millions or... sign 19 year old Stall who will put up better numbers in the long run and you don't risk losing him, a big strong kid with as much talent as Hossa does now with the potential to only be better..."NO BRAINER" BYE MARION, have fun with your one year better win the cup now contract. I'll take Stall anyday with a long term contract to play with the rest of the Kid's. How fun is this team going to be to watch for years to come!!!!! Go Pen's!!!!! When is the last time Hossa had 7 short handed goals in one year, and did he have 29 goals scored in his rookie season???
jamesh66, I think you mean Staal not Stall, but lets not be so picky until I cram stats down your pie hole.... I am not sure where you are getting your facts other then some #### house lawyer, but here is the link and the stats from NHL.com and you are looking like an #### for all those which want to check out the links.
Your speculation about Staal putting up better numbers in the long run is that speculation, so deal with reality. First, where do you get Staal getting 7 shorthanded goals in one year? AA Omaha or somewhere. According to the NHL stat page http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service= page&page
=PlayerDetail&playerId=8473533, here is his player rankings (for Season) as well as his totals; GOALS(12) tied for 203rd place; ASSISTS(16) tied for 276th place and case in point, he had zero (0) shorthanded goals in the Regular season or Playoffs!!! He had 6 GOALS and 1 ASSIST in the complete playoffs and his +/- for the SC Finals was a stellar -5
Lets talk Hossa and his stats now http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?page=Pla yerDetail&playerId=
8466148&service=page&tab=prft and here is what the NHL.com site says. GOALS(29) tied for 29th, ASSISTS(37) tied for 61st place, 2 SH goals and 4 GW goals. In the SC Finals, he was a +2.
So please, get your facts straight before you post something that has to have mustard added to get the foot in your mouth taste better. And just so you know, the last time Hossa had seven SH goals was the 2005 - 2006 with the Atlanta Thrashers.
As for his rookie season, I won't count the first year with Slovak he scored 42 goals or even the 98-99 season with Portland which he had 45 goals. That way you can leave with your tail between your legs and a little dignity!!!
Being the biggest female hockey fan in Atlanta and reading the posts i would have to say the are some ticked off pens fans that have issues. I looked at the stats and one foot note was that 4 of staals goals in the reglar season were empty netters. jamesh66 you might want to comment on beach volleyball or some sports you might be better suited for.
Greenspire
With the moves that they've made. Then it's becoming increasingly apparent they feel that they're going in the right direction. And offcourse the obvious aim is to hold aloft the Stanley Cup.
And though everything is primarily about the support given to 'Sid The Kid' , it's worth mentioning that he wouldn't have achieved much of his success without the aid of Malkin.
I've an old time post up that I for one think that you'll appreciate. It's titled Name The Fighter ? Let me know what you think as to the merits of the piece ? I'll look forward to reading your comments as and when you're ready.
deadgrunt!!! hes talking about his record holding 7 shorties from rookie season!!!!!so smoke some more crack...if you dont know about it, look it up alittle further before you post!!!!
Okay, so he got 7 shorthanded goals as a rookie. Hasn't done much since though What about all the other errors the guy wrote. Care to address that? Since you are being pimped by someone that can't defend himself. What is really funny is that any Penguin fan that talks smack and then when they are faced with the facts that show they don't know their facts, they disappear. Great, Staal got 7 SH goals as a rookie, my bad. I can admit an over sight, but not all the blatant sugar coated errors he made about him to validate and invalid point. Bottom line is, the Penguins lost and are dismantled as a result. As for doing crack, the last crack I had was when your mother was bent over in front of me!!!
dead your a m o r o n dude...staal is only 19 or 20..guess you didnt watch the playoffs.staal was one of the main reasons they went as far as they did!!!his defencive work far outways his lack of point totals..cant score on the third line and kill penalties,then expected him to put up lofty numbers...his rookie year he played on the left wing with malkin and killed penalties.as far as doing crack..your the king,i see you have alittle brown sugar on the sides of your mouth.mabe you out tell your dad to clean up alittle first!!!!!
Oddnutz..Considering you are a respected source on stupidity, you should recognize a ####. Thanks for the compliment. I did watch the playoffs and saw the pens get beat in 6 games. Hope you enjoyed the spotlight as you can watch the Wings and someone else in the finals next year. The Pens won't be there.
You guys were talking about his offensive prowess as 7 shorthanded goals as a rookie. Now you are talking about his defensive prowess? He was tied for worse on his team with a -4 +/- rating so that comment doesn't fly. If you think he does, then he is horrible on the penalty kill. He plays on the third line because he s-u-x and is a role player.
Did you mention Malkin? That guy disappeared faster the dry ice in the jungle. You are why they legalized abortions! I am the king of crack - your moms. As for me, parental jokes don't bother me. My mother died of leukemia in 1974 and father was killed in Vietnam, so I am long past that. However, as for the brown #### around my mouth, that is from your mama. And could you learn to spell? I hate trying to break the "code" on your Spanglish. It is didn't not didnt; defensive not defencive; can't not cant; I not i; maybe not mabe but good try. Do all your neighbors a favor please; clean up the dog #### in your yard, move the dogs to the back yard and put the house trailer up on blocks next winter..
did you watch the season at all. the pens were competing for the first seed before hossa even got there. shero tried to resign him but he left. i think that shero did a good job filling the holes. Maybe not as strong as the end of the year, but don't forget that they still have enough cap space to make trades.
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I am Mike Greenspire and I am a sports blogger for FOX Sports and I love the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, and NASCAR! I was born and raised in the city of Pittsburgh, PA, so naturally I am a die-hard fan of the Pens, Buccos, and Steelers. Since Pittsburgh basketball is long gone, my favorite team in the NBA is the Orlando Magic. Please leave a comment on my blog, I love feedback. My blog is fun, and I enjoy writing it, and I hope that you will enjoy reading it! Thanks!
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