is it time to be more cautious with the future of the franchise? An overly aggressive approach may prove to be costly in the long run. The long term decision on the health of Sidney Crosby should be at the forefront of this discussion. The lessons we have learned from seeing the effects of a concussion on Mark Savard may lead the Penguins to be ever more cautious with the decision of how and when to bring Crosby back into the lineup. If they decide to shut his season down the Penguins will be less likely to sell the farm for a championship run this season. However, if Crosby is destined to return at 100% this season, some serious changes at forward could be completed by the end of the month. The focus will then shift to filling holes in the offense left by the Evgeni Malkin knee injury. With the playoff picture slowly beginning to paint itself we are now left with some clues as to who could be potential suitors. Some of the clear-cut sellers so far are Toronto, Ottawa, New Jersey, New York Islanders, Edmonton, Florida,and Columbus. Buffalo and defending champions Chicago are on the seller bubble. Toronto is currently dangling many players in the market but in house dictator Brian Burke is probably asking for too much in return for any of them. New Jersey is looking to unload Jason Arnott but it is unlikely they would support an intra-division title run. The Islanders may be division rivals but they have worked with the Penguins on many occasions before on deadline deals (i.e. Bill Guerin). The name P. A. Parenteau continues to show itself in Penguins rumor mills replacing Matt Moulson's name who recently signed a 3 year extension with the Isles. Ottawa could prove to be an all-out seller this season. The frustration of another underachieving season could lead to big names in new places. This list of names includes Spezza, Fisher (oh great, another cheesy celebrity husband in town), Phillips, Alfredsson , and even a familiar face in Alex Kovalev. Maybe it's time to dust off that old Penguins Kovi the cosmonaut jersey, the Penguins have been mentioned as the only possible suitor for him if the Sens do let him go. He could come as cheaply as a 3rd round pick and fit soundly into the Penguins newly-found salary cap space. Among the remaining sellers, the Penguins have been connected with players such as Tim Connolly, Stephen Weiss, Tomas Kopecky, and even local boy R. J. Umberger, any of which would add some scoring touch to a team that has had to focus on a defense first mentality as of late. More names will show themselves in the coming weeks, it will just be a matter of the level of a player Ray Shero will be in the next 3 weeks up to the trade deadline.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Pens Panic Mode?
With the injuries mounting for the Penguins is it time for an overhaul, or 
is it time to be more cautious with the future of the franchise? An overly aggressive approach may prove to be costly in the long run. The long term decision on the health of Sidney Crosby should be at the forefront of this discussion. The lessons we have learned from seeing the effects of a concussion on Mark Savard may lead the Penguins to be ever more cautious with the decision of how and when to bring Crosby back into the lineup. If they decide to shut his season down the Penguins will be less likely to sell the farm for a championship run this season. However, if Crosby is destined to return at 100% this season, some serious changes at forward could be completed by the end of the month. The focus will then shift to filling holes in the offense left by the Evgeni Malkin knee injury. With the playoff picture slowly beginning to paint itself we are now left with some clues as to who could be potential suitors. Some of the clear-cut sellers so far are Toronto, Ottawa, New Jersey, New York Islanders, Edmonton, Florida,and Columbus. Buffalo and defending champions Chicago are on the seller bubble. Toronto is currently dangling many players in the market but in house dictator Brian Burke is probably asking for too much in return for any of them. New Jersey is looking to unload Jason Arnott but it is unlikely they would support an intra-division title run. The Islanders may be division rivals but they have worked with the Penguins on many occasions before on deadline deals (i.e. Bill Guerin). The name P. A. Parenteau continues to show itself in Penguins rumor mills replacing Matt Moulson's name who recently signed a 3 year extension with the Isles. Ottawa could prove to be an all-out seller this season. The frustration of another underachieving season could lead to big names in new places. This list of names includes Spezza, Fisher (oh great, another cheesy celebrity husband in town), Phillips, Alfredsson , and even a familiar face in Alex Kovalev. Maybe it's time to dust off that old Penguins Kovi the cosmonaut jersey, the Penguins have been mentioned as the only possible suitor for him if the Sens do let him go. He could come as cheaply as a 3rd round pick and fit soundly into the Penguins newly-found salary cap space. Among the remaining sellers, the Penguins have been connected with players such as Tim Connolly, Stephen Weiss, Tomas Kopecky, and even local boy R. J. Umberger, any of which would add some scoring touch to a team that has had to focus on a defense first mentality as of late. More names will show themselves in the coming weeks, it will just be a matter of the level of a player Ray Shero will be in the next 3 weeks up to the trade deadline.
is it time to be more cautious with the future of the franchise? An overly aggressive approach may prove to be costly in the long run. The long term decision on the health of Sidney Crosby should be at the forefront of this discussion. The lessons we have learned from seeing the effects of a concussion on Mark Savard may lead the Penguins to be ever more cautious with the decision of how and when to bring Crosby back into the lineup. If they decide to shut his season down the Penguins will be less likely to sell the farm for a championship run this season. However, if Crosby is destined to return at 100% this season, some serious changes at forward could be completed by the end of the month. The focus will then shift to filling holes in the offense left by the Evgeni Malkin knee injury. With the playoff picture slowly beginning to paint itself we are now left with some clues as to who could be potential suitors. Some of the clear-cut sellers so far are Toronto, Ottawa, New Jersey, New York Islanders, Edmonton, Florida,and Columbus. Buffalo and defending champions Chicago are on the seller bubble. Toronto is currently dangling many players in the market but in house dictator Brian Burke is probably asking for too much in return for any of them. New Jersey is looking to unload Jason Arnott but it is unlikely they would support an intra-division title run. The Islanders may be division rivals but they have worked with the Penguins on many occasions before on deadline deals (i.e. Bill Guerin). The name P. A. Parenteau continues to show itself in Penguins rumor mills replacing Matt Moulson's name who recently signed a 3 year extension with the Isles. Ottawa could prove to be an all-out seller this season. The frustration of another underachieving season could lead to big names in new places. This list of names includes Spezza, Fisher (oh great, another cheesy celebrity husband in town), Phillips, Alfredsson , and even a familiar face in Alex Kovalev. Maybe it's time to dust off that old Penguins Kovi the cosmonaut jersey, the Penguins have been mentioned as the only possible suitor for him if the Sens do let him go. He could come as cheaply as a 3rd round pick and fit soundly into the Penguins newly-found salary cap space. Among the remaining sellers, the Penguins have been connected with players such as Tim Connolly, Stephen Weiss, Tomas Kopecky, and even local boy R. J. Umberger, any of which would add some scoring touch to a team that has had to focus on a defense first mentality as of late. More names will show themselves in the coming weeks, it will just be a matter of the level of a player Ray Shero will be in the next 3 weeks up to the trade deadline.
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