Trade Deadline Today

Today is the NHL trade deadline and, traditionally, a very active day for player trades. Keep posted for my analysis of any trades made by the Pens.

Noon update: No blockbusters as of yet in the Atlantic but the Lightning sent Brad Richards - F and Johan Holmqvist - G to the Dallas Stars for Mike Smith - G, Jussi Jokinen - F and Jeff Halpern - F.

The Sabres were unable to come to terms with Brian Campbell - F so they sent him to San Jose for Steve Bernier - F and a first round pick.

2pm Update: The Capitals acquired Sergei Federov - F from the Columbus Blue Jackets for prospect Ted Ruth - D. Looks like the Caps are stocking up to win the South. Federov is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. TSN is also reporting that the Caps have acquired Cristobal Huet - G from Montreal for a second round pick in 2009.

3:00 Update: Looks like the Pens are jumping into the fray. They have traded a 2nd round and a 5th round pick to Toronto for veteran defenseman Hal Gill. Rumor has it there is also a trade happening with Atlanta for Marian Hossa which will send Armstrong, Christiansen and Esposito to Atlanta. Will update when this is confirmed.

Update - The Hossa trade has been confirmed by TSN. In addition to Hossa the Pens will get Pascal Dupuis - F.

Analysis - There is quite a bit of concern that dealing Armstrong will have a bad effect on the teams chemistry. Colby ,while being very close to Sid, has a tremendous fan following and the concern could be warrented. Christensen is a go-to guy on the shootout as well. Hossa could very well take his place though so any concern about that is moot. Hossa is an unrestricted free agent after the season so if the Pens are not able to re-sign him to a long term deal then all they will get out of this is a rental forward for the rest of this season and Dupuis and will have given up three quality, young forwards, one of which was a first rounder, and a first round draft pick. Not sure if I like this deal or not but let's see where the chips fall on this one. Shero could be a genius or the goat depending on how deep the Pens manage to go in the playoffs.

Game Preview: Carolina at Pittsburgh

The Hurricanes will visit the Igloo for a matchup with the Pens tonight at 7:30. This is the third time these two have met this season. The previous games were won by the home team each time. There is still some lingering animosity between these two teams since last year when Brooks Orpik took out Hurricane's winger, Erik Cole, with a tremendous hit. Cole subsequently missed several weeks of action recovering from the injury.

Look for an aggresive start form both teams, as each will be trying to exert their dominance early on. The game should be relatively low scoring, and there will be some big hits!

Injury Update: Marc Andre Fleury is close to returning to the ice after an 8 week recovery from a high ankle sprain. Fleury has been practicing with the team and should make his return in the next 3 or 4 games.

News of Note: Kris Beech finally got his papers in order and was able to cross the Canadian/US border to join his new teammates. Beech, in his second stint with the Penguins, has been waiting in Toronto for his work visa to be approved. He was a first round draft pick (7th overall)of the Washington Capitals in 2000 and has recently been bouncing around the NHL trying to find a place to call home. He has played in Nashville, Vancouver and Columbus along with Pittsburgh and Washington. In 193 career games in the NHL he has scored 25 goals and 42 assists. He may forever be best know for his role in the Pens sending Jaromir Jagr to the Capitals. Kris was the so-called centerpiece of the three players the Pens got in return. Beech was a highly touted prospect coming out of juniors that never lived up to his billing. Here's to Kris finding a home, and a scoring touch, in the 'Burgh! Best of luck!

Pens, Hurricanes Swap Forwards

The Pens and Hurricanes swapped forwards in a trade that was completed on Thursday. Pittsburgh sent Center Joe Jensen to Carolina for left wing David Gove. Gove was immediately addigned to WBS Penguins.

Jensen was the Pens eighth round pick in 2003 and has never appeared in an NHL game. The Minnestota native has registered two goals and two assists for the Baby Pens this season.

Gove, 29, a Massachusetts native, has been with Carolina since 2005 when he was signed as a free agent. He has appeared in two NHL games and has registered on assist.

Pens Recall Letang, Send Two to WBS

Yesterday the Penguins sent D Alain Nasreddine and C Tyler Kennedy to their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. Kris Letang was called up from the baby Pens to fill the open defensemen spot.

Easy call to make in my opinion. This will be Letang's first stint with the big team this season after a relatively short 7 games with the Pens at the beginning of last season. Time for him to step up and show that he is ready to be an NHL defensemen.

Sabourin to Start Against Carolina

Dany Sabourin will get the start tonight when the Pens face off against Carolina.

Pens at West Point This Week

The Penguins are at West Point this week taking part in team building exercises from US Army Drill Instructors. This is the second consecutive year that Shero and the coaching staff have sent the players to this program.

The exercises drew good comments from the players and team management last year at this time. Here's to hoping that this will bring the team closed and get some of that good chemistry flowing early.

In other news...Sidney Crosby left practice early on Monday, complaining of "soreness of the groin". He is not expected to miss any further skating time...

...Petr Sykora is recovering from a broken nose which required surgery on Friday. He's expected back to practice in the next day or so...

...The team trimmed it's roster down to 30 this past weekend sending Tyler Kennedy, Nathan Smith, Connor James, Chris Minard, Jeff Taffe, Tim Wallace, Alex Goligoski, Ryan Lannon, Ben Lovejoy, and Ty Conklin to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and returned Angelo Esposito and Dustin Jeffery to their junior teams. Best of luck to all getting back to the big team!