Blogs

Longtime PA announcer for Penguins home games John Barbero died Monday after a long and spirited battle with a brain tumor.

OK, so a lot of the dear readers need to calm down about the Penguins plan for an “Ice Crew” for the first season at Consol Energy Center. Actually, a better suggestion is for dear readers to actually read what the Penguins are planning; because judging from some comments on this site and others, not to mention a couple of dozen emails on the subject, I am convinced a minority of fans are taking a stance against something that will not exist.

Greetings on a dreary Friday, dear readers. Figured I’d file a quick update with so little actually going on regarding the Penguins and free agency. • GAGNE > PENS Actually, that should read Gagne > Pens’ cap space. Over the past few days, I have received several e-mails asking about the possibility of the Penguins [...]

Well, dear readers, as far as the Penguins are concerned the first-day frenzy has pretty much passed.

OK, dear readers, some thoughts on what has been a busy Hockey Day in Pittsburgh. First, though, the details of the deals:

— Want your thoughts (hockeyday@tribweb.com), but I love the signing of D Zbynek Michalek to a four-year deal worth $20 million, with a limited no-movement clause. I identified him in today’s print story—- http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_688427.html — and he is, essentially, a defensive-minded D man with big upside at 27, somebody that can block shots and who [...]

Some notes on D Sergei Gonchar’s deal with Ottawa Senators: — The Penguins never offered a three-year deal, and I’m told they didn’t offer a raise on his previous $5 million annual salary. — Team management awoke today expecting to lose Gonchar. Hopeful he’d return, but not at all optimistic. — No-trade clause wasn’t on [...]

Free-agent season has opened, so I wanted to pass along this quick update of who I’ve assessed are on the Penguins’ radar, based off numerous talks with folks around North America’s hockey community: (Penguins have about $11 million in free space, according to their projections.) — DEFENSMEN: Dan Hamhuis, Paul Martin, Kurtis Foster and Zbynek Michalek [...]

About half-an-hour left until noon. Some quick hits for the dear readers: — D Zbynek Michalek was still talking with the Coyotes as of 11 a.m. That negotiation seems destined to run until the wire. The Penguins are keeping an eye on that situation. — There are reports that Penguins will target D Paul Martin in the [...]

Well, dear readers, it begins. Actually, it began last weekend when the Penguins acquired the rights to D Dan Hamhis at the NHL Entry Draft. I can say that my fourth summer of offseason coverage has by far been the busiest, and that is saying something because the lead-up and follow through in 2008 literally damaged my right arm from the [...]