Just when you thought the markets couldn't get any worse...

...It's Bettman! And the Islanders! The epitome of how to run a sports league and franchise!

Yeah, we're doomed aren't we.

(Hat-tip to the Puck Daddy)

Goalies think Marc-Andre Fleury is ridiculously good looking

It's a Zoolander reference, people....Anyways, it's a copycat world, so perhaps it should be no surprise that all three Boston goalies are wearing white leg pads....It's almost as if you play your last 33 games (20 in the playoffs) and put up a 24-8-1 record along with a 1.77 GAA, a .939 save percentage and 5 shutouts that your peers might take notice and try to copy your style in any way they can..

Thomas, following the trend started by Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury, has ditched his yellow pads and gone to white.

"Decided to give it a try," said Thomas.

Thomas, Manny Fernandez, and Tuukka Rask are now all wearing white pads.

So wait a minute, they think the picture at left is a little more modest and could blend in a little more to a white net (and back boards) than this?

If goalies start tripping into the rink every night, we'll declare this Fleury copying fad has gone too far.













Link to story credit to kuklaskorner


SEXY UPDATE:

Ok, it's not THAT sexy, but Detroit writer George Malik reported on kuklas that Vancouver's Roberto Luongo and Anaheim's JS Giguere where also sporting white pads at a recent goalie camp.

Anne Hathaway's ex-boyfriend took Pens owner for a ride

From the New York Post:

The handsome Italian's audacious scheme also allegedly involved hiring a nephew of the Vatican's ex-secretary of state and paying Catholic monsignors to dress in clerical garb of a higher rank to con people into believing he had the ear of top church leaders.

The federal criminal case against Follieri echoes claims made by his highest-profile alleged victim, billionaire California investor and Clinton buddy Ron Burkle.

Burkle filed a civil lawsuit against Follieri that was settled earlier this year.

Prosecutors suggested that the suave, sweet-talking Follieri may have stolen up to $6 million - mostly in funds Burkle had invested with him in a business venture to buy Catholic Church properties.

And we thought the worst thing that could happen to Burkle's money was if sweet-talking agents tried to take him on a ride!

Congrats Alex!!

Uhh, yeah, best player in the league this year....You da man?

John LeClair helping the Pens (for the 1st time)

Strange, but true.

The LeClair figurine was a gift from the son of West Point hockey coach

Bill Riley, who coached Malone when he played at Shattuck-St. Mary's, the famous Minnesota prep school. He's become a lucky charm.

"I think he actually looks like John LeClair. They both had that bowl (haircut)," said Malone. "If guys have gone a couple of games without a goal, they'll come over and give him a touch, whoever needs it."

"He loves the road," Malone added of this LeClair, which travels in an equipment bag.

Well that would be the first time LeClair's helped the Pens in recent memory...

Image o the day

Credit Greg at Deadspin.

Penguins Approaching Personal Milestones

As we mentioned a couple posts down; hockey is a team sport but several players are having career years already. More are seemingly on their way to set new personal highs in an NHL season. Here's a look at what some of these guys have accomplished and how close they are to setting these records.

*For obvious reasons, rookies weren't incldued.

Also, with eleven games left in the season, we'll occasionally update this list if/when players get to some of these achievements.




Evgeni Malkin
NEW single-season goal mark: 39 (previous high was 33 in 2006-07)
NEW single-season assists: 54 (52 in 06-07)
NEW single-season points: 93 (85 in 06-07)



Jordan Staal
NEW single season assists mark: 15 (previous high was 13 in 2006-07)



Sergei Gonchar
57 points this year; career high is 67 (set in 2002-03, 2006-07)
46 assists; career high is 54 (2006-07)



Ryan Whitney
12 goals this year; career high is 14 (set in 2006-07)



Ryan Malone
NEW single season goal mark: 24 (previous best was 22 in 2003-04, 2005-06)
19 assists this season; career high is 22 (2005-06)
43 points this season; career high is 44 (2005-06)



Maxime Talbot
10 goals this season; career high is 12 (set in 2006-07)
22 points this season; career high is 24 (2006-07)



...and just for fun


Brooks Orpik
1 goal this season; personal best is 2 (set in 2003-04)
8 points this season; personal best 10 (2003-04)

Brace Yourself

Obviously the standings shift and change with almost every day, but look who's playing who if they started today.

Indulge us, we're off our meds...

To dream the impossible dream...

So, instead of tinkering with the roster come trade deadline time next month, maybe looking to pick up some defensive help or scoring depth up front for the playoffs, the Rangers now must consider something more dramatic, possibly stunning, if they are going to get back in the Stanley Cup game.
And if general manager Glen Sather is considering such a move, that consideration begins and ends with Jagr.


Just sayin, this post is totally hypothetical, theoretical, anything else you want to call it.

There are plenty of reasons why it’ll never happen. Aside from the obvious Jagr history in Pittsburgh, it’s rare that division rivals would trade with each other, certainly when NYR still has hopes for the playoffs.

But, in the event they’re ready to part with Jags, consider:
``Mario Lemieux still loves JJ. He was a surprise guest to honor Jagr for a 600 goal ceremony last season in New York. And boy was he happily surprised to see Mario honoring him. Say what you want about the “dying alive” days or how it’ll never work out; if you’re good with Lemieux, you’re good with the Penguins.
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/columnists/20001130cook.asp
``Salary wise, it’s do-able. Jagr’s, as usual, is in a unique situation. His pre-trade to the Rangers stipulated the Capitals would pick up millions of his salary every year. The new CBA has since outlawed this, but this transaction can’t be reversed or tinkered with. So, as is, Jagr’s cap hit to a team is $4.94 million (with the Caps paying/absorbing the rest of the $8.3 million he gets paid). Since a little over the season is over, NYR has paid him roughly $2.6 million and JJ would be owed $2.3 million be a team for the rest of the season if they were to pick him up today.

Does Jagr have enough in the tank or has his statistical drop-off this season shown he’s about finished? Perhaps.

Would it be crazy to think about 68 flying down a wing with Crosby or Malkin? Probably.

Will this trade ever happen? Absolutely not.