Hossa Update

Here is the text of an email I recieved today. Not sure how much of this information is true or not so take with a grain of salt:

"* Apparently Ritch Winter spent yesterday trying to find anybody in Pittsburgh market that would go with the statement that he made yesterday. My sources were told that early in the day Winter was trying to convince Dan Potash and KDKA to run with the story. They wouln't do it and Molinari wouldn't touch this story as he stays away from rumors. According to a source "The market has been set at about $7 million for his client, and he's ticked."
* Looks like we could have an A-Rod/Scott Boras situation on our hands. My sources continue to tell me that Hossa really likes the offer but Winter is in the background pressuring Hossa to enter the free agent market. I could care less what the PG reported today. There is a 7yr - 52 million offer on the table.
* As I wrote yesterday, sources indicate Ray Shero has had lengthy discussions with LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi and Florida Panthers GM Jacques Martins. There is a lot of speculation going around about the Penguins/Kings pulling off a blockbuster. All I'm going to say is the two sides are talking but thats as far as I'm going to go on that issue until I actually receive some legitimate info from sources close to the Penguins organization
* The Penguins are prepared to make a 5yr - 16 million offer to defenseman Brooks Orpik later this week.

Rob Rossi of the Tribune-Review has contacted me this morning and has told me directly that everything Ritch Winter is saying is a lie. According to Rossi, behind the scenes Winter is telling people he never spoke with Rossi. A lie according to Rossi. He's telling people he never spoke with Ray Shero about a contract. A lie according to Rossi. He's telling people no parameters have been discussed. A lie according to Rossi. Rossi has been in contact with Ritch Winter on numerous occasions and even said "this guy sent emails between he and I to very high-ranking officials."

Rumors and Speculation

It's that time of the year when the media has nothing to talk about except what they think is going to happen in the draft and upcoming free agent period. Much speculation has occurred in the past few days surrounding Penguins Ryan Malone, Marian Hossa and Evgeni Malkin.

Malone: Penguins try to trade negotiating rights to Columbus so the Blue Jackets can sign Ryan before he becomes a free agent on July 1st. Media is reporting that the Penguins offered Malone an embarrassing 3.0 million contract for an undisclosed number of years. Malone says he will not negotiate with Columbus, or any organization, until after the free agent period begins.

Too hard to tell what is really going on here. Ryan deserves his big payday after setting a career high for goals this past season as well as his outstanding performance in the post season. Would Shero offer him a paltry salary to get him at a home town discount? Possibly. My guess it that Ryan wants to see what he can get on the open market with hopes that he can negotiate a better deal with the Pens. Would he be willing to leave a Stanley Cup Finalist for a last place team. That remains to be seen...

Hossa: The Pens reported have offered a seven year $50 million contract to Hossa. Except Hossa's agent, Rich Winter, says those rumors are way off base and that both he and the Penguins have agreed not to talk about any contract offers to the media.

So what does this really confirm? That negotiations are taking place and the Pens have made a significant offer to Hossa. The cash is probably somewhere in the ballpark - just because that is what Hossa expects to make. And he will surely allow a smaller contract to play for a winner than a team like, say, the Thrashers.

Malkin: I've saved the juiciest for last. Bruce Garrioch of Sun Media is reporting that the Pens are in negotiations with the Kings to trade Malkin for their #2 pick in this weekends draft and Kings center Mike Cammalleri.

If Shero is as committed to signing Hossa as it appears, that definately leaves little cap room to sign Malkin to a long term deal. The Kings are in need of a star of their own and Malkin would surely fit that bill. Malkins performance in the Finals was below expectations. Quite possibly Shero wants to avoid this type of letdown in the future and is willing to part with one of the best players on the planet for a chance to keep Hossa and get yet another high draft pick as well as a proven young center. Not such a bad thought process...

In other news - the Penguins have filed for salary arbitration with Marc Andre Fluery. While this does not come as a major surprise it is a bit strange. Fleury was outstanding in the playoffs and will be a Penguin for many years to come. And this certainly does not mean that they will even go to arbitration as there is more than a month remaining before that will happen and a contract can be signed before such time to avoid the confrontation. But salary arbitration always brings out the worst in between a player and a team. Will this hurt Marc Andre's confidence? Quite possibly. I believe that Shero will sign him to a long term extension before the arbitration judge ever hears the arguments. This is all about posturing between both parties and allows plenty of time to get a deal done.

As this is my first post since the Finals ended I would like to extend my thanks to all of my loyal readers for continuing to visit. Please surf back throughout the summer to get all of the team news as well as my reaction. Don't forget to visit Home of the Penguins advertisers!!

Stanley Cup Finals

Stanley Cup Finals:

(2) Pittsburgh vs. (1) Detroit
Detroit wins series 4-2
1. 5/24/08 Pens 0, Red Wings 4 at Detroit
2. 5/26/08 Pens 0, Red Wings 3 at Detroit
3. 5/28/08 Pens 3, Red Wings 2 at Pittsburgh
4. 5/31/08 Pens 1, Red Wings 2 at Pittsburgh
5. 6/2/08 Pens 4, Red Wings 3 3OT at Detroit
6. 6/4/08 Pens 2, Red Wings 3 at Pittsburgh


Conference Finals

Semifinals

Quarterfinals

Thank you, Pittsburgh Penguins, for a fantastic season...

In a way I am relieved that it is over. The past 9 months have been tremendous for a hockey fan that has longed for the days of the early nineties to return but seem to have taken much to long to get here.

Well, those days have returned. The Pens were within 2 wins of skating with the Cup this season and I completely expect another deep playoff run next season in a few more following.

The heartbreak of losing in the Finals is still fresh in my mind but I am genuinely thankful for the many memories that this season has given me. Looking back at the beginning of the season I would have been ecstatic having the knowledge that my team would be competing for the Cup in June. But along with the achievements that Pens have accomplished comes hope. Hope that they will win the last game they play. Hope that I can see that victory parade marching down 5th Avenue downtown. Not this time though...


So now begins the free agent process. The Pens have many players to sign, if they can. Ray Shero has his work cut out for him in the next few weeks trying to stay under the cap and getting a couple of these guys signed for less than market value with the hopes that another Cup run is inevitable. Guys like Malone, Hossa, Gil, Ruutu, Orpik, Laraque are all set to accept any offer they wish. Young stars, Malkin, Fleury, Staal will be signing long term, big money extensions. Obviously, not all of these guys will be on the roster come training camp in September (only 3 more months!) so the team will have to make some tough choices. But that is part of the new reality of the NHL. With a salary cup in place, even the teams with the highest revenues must pick and choose who to sign and who is replaceable.


During the upcoming months I will keep up on all of the news for signings and draft and anything that happens with the new arena project. But for the next few weeks I am taking some time away from the Blog and concentrating efforts on other endeavors. So until then...

Game 5 roundup - Pens 4, Red Wings 3 triple OT

Recap - The Penguins managed to stay alive in their Stanley Cup Finals series by beating the Red Wings, 4-3, in a memorable triple overtime game last night at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Marian Hossa kicked off the scoring at 8:37 of the first with a power play goal. It was Hossa's 11 of the playoffs. Shortly thereafter Adam Hall was credited with his 3rd of the playoffs when Detroit's Nick Kronwell shot a clearing attempt into his own net. Thanks for that by then way...

The Red Wings turned up the heat and scored 3 unanswered goals to seemingly wrap up the series. However, on a gut feeling, Pens head coach Michel Therrien, inserted Max Talbot into the line-up for the final shift. With Fleury on the bench and an empty net left behind, the Pens managed to tie up the game with 34.5 seconds remaining in regulation when he jammed one past Detroit goalie Osgood.

That's when the fun started.

Marc Andre Fleury stood up tall in goal through the 2 overtime periods allowing Petr Sykora to snap a shot past Osgood at 9:57 of the 3rd overtime.

Analysis - Losing a game that goes as deep into OT as last nights often has a dramatic disheartening effect on the losing team. It can be pointed to as a series turning point in usual circumstances. Can Detroit overcome the devastating loss? Tomorrow night shall tell.

Fleury was fantastic. He stopped 55 of 58 shots as was named the #1 star of the game. His presence in goal was the major factor in keeping Pittsburgh in the game through several Detroit barrages of shots. This was, by far, the best performance of his career.

With long games come injuries. Ryan Malone was struck in the face by a Hal Gil slapshot. Good thing it hit him on his already broken nose. He returned shortly after with his nose stuffed full of cotton. Sergei Gonchar took a nast spill getting back on a backcheck and went shoulder and head first into the boards behind the goal. He left the game for nearly three periods but returned in the third overtime just in time to get the primary assist on Sykora's goal. His status remains unknown for game 6.

Interesting Facts - Last night's game was the 5th longest game in NHL Finals history.

Petr Sykora jokingly called his goal in the locker room between the second and third overtime periods. Will try and get that audio posted later.

Sykora is not new to scoring game winners in OT in the playoffs. He also scored one in the fifth overtime when he was a membeer of the Anaheim Ducks. His Ducks were playing the Dallas Stars in that playoff series. The Ducks were coached, at the time, by current Detroit head coach, Mike Babcock.

Next Up - Game 6 tomorrow night at the Igloo. 8pm on NBC, WXDX or listen here.