2010-2011 Pittsburgh Penguins

[Merman1983]

Volchenkov is now a Devil.  Damn.  Hamhuis to Cannucks.  Double damn.

http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/07/01/anton-volchenkov-will-sign-with-devils/

a six-year deal worth $25.5 million

That's less per year than i thought he'd get. i actually like Michalek better because hes not as one dimensional, but i would have probably taken volchenkov at that price

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=ap-canucks-hamhuis&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=rss-usa

Hamhuis reached a six-year, $27 million deal


It was rumored he wanted to go to vancouver all along. i find it hard to believe that the penguins didn't offer close to that.

[Merman1983]

Leopold signs a 3 year deal with the sabres. i really like leopold's game before the injury, but given the signings today there is just no place for him. he's not really a bottom pairing guy, and if they end up going with lovejoy as the 6th defenseman, i want a more defensively sound guy to pair with him.

[SCacalaki]

Great day for the Pens!

[Merman1983]

Here's some good quotes from the two new guys, from rossi's site. apparently rupp sold martin on playing for the pens:

MIchalek

"I had a chance to play for Wayne Gretzky as my coach and now Mario Lemieux is my owner. How many people really get to say that? It's a great thrill getting to play for Mario. It's just one more thing that makes Pittsburgh so appealing to me."

"I like the challenge of playing on the power play. It doesn't come as naturally to me as other parts of the game, but I feel like I've gotten better in that area and that I can help out of the team."

(He is in Czech Republic for the summer.) "I'm relaxing now. Probably I'll go to Pittsburgh in the middle of August, get a feel for the city and decide where to live. I'm so excited about playing in the new arena. I know it's a great hockey city. I can't wait."

Martin

"I've talked with Mike Rupp this summer. He really loves it in Pittsburgh. He told me about how happy he was there, what a great organization it is to play for. He had nothing but great things to say about it. That definitely helped."

 "I think that stuff about New Jersey not trying to score goals got a little overblown. I know this: If you want to win a championship, you have to have lots of good defense and play good team defense. I learned that in New Jersey. But still, playing with Crosby and Malkin, maybe that will help my numbers a little bit. I sure hope it does."

"I have a lot of respect for Gonchar. I'm not coming in there to replace him and the things he could do. I'm just trying to fit in and be a part of a good defense."

[Brinker]

From ESPN

With Martin and Michalek under contract, the Penguins have an average of $16.25 million committed to its top four defensemen -- including Brooks Orpik and Kris Letang -- over the next four seasons. Letang -- who signed a $14 million, four-year contract late last season -- or Alex Goligoski could move into Gonchar's role as the primary point man on the power play.


I love this.  Cannot remember the last time we had such a strong defense or as they say up north defence.

[Finnegans Wake]

I love this.  Cannot remember the last time we had such a strong defense or as they say up north defence.

Every time I hear someone say defence instead of defense, it just weirds me out.

[Merman1983]

I love this.  Cannot remember the last time we had such a strong defense or as they say up north defence.

Yeah i think the defense is top 5 in the nhl right now and the best in the atlantic division. We know the Penguins can make it to the playoffs as a 4 or 5 seed with last years swiss cheese back there, but now i really think they can throw 2 shutdown pairs out there which is going to be huge in the playoffs.

And there's technically still cap room to add a top six guy or some old bastard like demitra or guerin and another bottom pairing defensemen.

[Brinker]

Eaton gone.

[Merman1983]

Niedermayer signs 1 year deal for 1 million with Buffalo. espn said it was down to buffalo, edmonton, and pittsburgh and there were also post gazzette rumors that the penguins were interested. i'm kind of glad we didn't get him, he hasn't been very good the past couple years.

[Captain Chaos]

Niedermayer signs 1 year deal for 1 million with Buffalo. espn said it was down to buffalo, edmonton, and pittsburgh and there were also post gazzette rumors that the penguins were interested. i'm kind of glad we didn't get him, he hasn't been very good the past couple years.

Very surprised we didn't go after Niedermayer a bit more aggressively.  We have a history of picking up the wrong brother.  Pronger, Premeau, Hatcher, Miller, just off the top of my head.  Not to mention having the wrong Bourque, Chris and not his father Ray.

Seriously, of the 3rd line centers Shero is rumored to be interested in, Dominic Moore is the only one I like.  He's relatively young and looked very good in the playoffs.  Madden is at the end of his career and would have to take a heavy pay cut to sign with the Pens.  Thankfully, Niedermayer is out of the running now.