Blogs

OPENING FACEOFF: The thing about those rings

Penguins broadcaster Phil Bourque showed me his championship rings from the 1991 and 1992 Penguins’ Stanley Cup teams. They are considerably smaller and more understated than the ones received Tuesday night by 52 members of the organization for the 2009 Stanley Cup victory. Not that the newest rings are gaudy – at least compared to rings won by recent Super Bowl champions New England (2004) and the Steelers (2008) – but it’s safe to say the size of modern championship rings probably won’t be approved by four out of five orthopedic hand specialists.

Anyway, we at Chipped Ice would love to know hear know what the fan base thinks of the new Cup rings, which you can get a better look at here: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_645675.html

As always, we can be reached at hockeyday@tribweb.com.

MOVES N’AT: More royalty to Penguins

The Penguins retained four of five players placed on waivers Tuesday, losing gritty LW Paul Bissonnette to the Coyotes. Team officials were not optimistic that Bissonnette would clear waivers, so his claim was not a surprise – though it is a mild disappointment as many within the organization believed he was on track toward becoming an enforcer at the NHL level.

Remaining in the organization and headed toward AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton are LW Ryan Bayda, RW Chris Conner and Ds Nate Guenin and Deryk Engelland.

The Penguins claimed from the Capitals LW Chris Bourque, son of legendary former Bruins and Avalanche D Ray Bourque.

SCOUTING REPORT: Chris Bourque

Age: 23

Height/Weight: 5-foot-8/178 pounds

Shoots: left

Draft position: 33^rd overall, 2004

Notables: Scored 83 goals and recorded 232 points in 282 AHL games. … Played in 12 NHL games, scoring one goal. … New England Prep School MVP in 2004. … Hockey East All-Rookie selection in 2005. … 23^rdson of Hall-of-Famer player to appear in an NHL game.

BEYOND PITTSBURGH: Pens on NHL Network

For Penguins fans outside the club’s local TV market, a list of games carried in the United States by NHL Network:

October: 2 vs. NYR; 7 vs. PHX; 10 at TOR; 14 at CAR

November: 12 vs. NJ

December: 10 at MTL

January: 7 vs. PHI; 9 at MTL; 21 vs. WSH

February: 10 vs. NYI

March: 18 at BOS; 24 at WSH

PUCK PUNDITS: NHL Predictions

— Sports Illustrated’s preview will hit stands this week. The venerable magazine calls for a final between Chicago and Boston, which will be a popular pick among national folks clamoring for an Original Six Showdown.

— ESPN.com experts are making their case here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/preview2009/news/story?id=4515849

Friends of Chipped Ice Pierre LeBrun, Scott “Ambassador to Pittsburgh via Shale’s Café” Burnside and EJ Hradek tab an Eastern champ that will please yinz.

— The kindly Craig Custance of The Sporting News calls for a Final three-peat:

http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/article/2009-09-29/out-old-new

• Sam Craig’s From The Point blog at The Hockey News’ site looks at the Hart Trophy Field: http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/28182-From-The-Point-Handicapping-the-Hart-Trophy-favorites.html
• Finally, check back Thursday for our conference forecasts. Plus, Friday’s print version of the Tribune-Review will include columnist Joe Starkey and yours truly predicting conference winners, Cup victory and individual awards.

— BY ROB ROSSI (9/30/09)

YINZ TELL US: Thoughts and questions are always welcome. Send emails to hockeyday@tribweb.com. Emails without writers’ full name and current hometown will not be read.