Not that we would EVER talk back to Mr. Gary...

Maybe we have a note or two for our old friend (NHL.com article originally found by Seth at Empty Netters)

"People say, 'Oh, you're old, you can't play anymore,' but I truly believe it was kind of a fluke season," Roberts said. "Everybody has a year once and a while with injuries. I'm close to being 100 percent and really feel good coming in this year and having a good season."

Mr. Gary, ever since you turned 35 years old--you know, when most hockey players begin thinking about hanging 'em up, you've played in 69, 14, 72, 58, 69 and 38 games. That's a six year average of missing almost 30 games a season. At what point does it become a fluke.

Then again, we don't want to end up like this:



Or this:


So, you know....It's all a fluke!

Malone and Roberts are Lightning...And on front loaded contracts

Over the weekend the Penguins traded the negotiations rights for impending free agents Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts to the Tampa Bay Lightning. In return they were given a 4th round pick in 2009 that would become a 3rd rounder if Malone signed.


Well, according to TSN it's a 3rd rounder, as Tampa has signed Malone seven years, $31.5 million bones. That is silly money. Tampa is also said to be close to signing Mr. Roberts for about a one year $2 million deal.


Between Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis, phenom #1 pick Steve Stamkos, Malone, Roberts, coach Barry Melrose and a couple crazy new owners, Tampa is definitely a team to keep an eye on, if only because one can never quite be sure what wild and crazy stunt they might pull next.



An interesting aside...Malone's deal is front loaded, so he will reportedly be getting about $7 million a year in the first two years before the deal ratchets down to average out to the $4.5 million a season. Perhaps Tampa's willingness to do this for him was a reason why he signed before July 1, as he previously indicated he wouldn't do.


Other notable free agents to sign front loaded contracts include Daniel Briere, Scott Gomez and Ryan Smyth so this has been a fairly regular occurance in the new-CBA. Players obviously like doing this because who doesn't want a big payday as soon as possible. And if they weren't business majors, their agents probably teach them a little something about the time value of money.


For the teams there is also much value in front loading...The top unrestricted free agents tend to be older players and are usually given 5-7 year contracts. Sure their contributions for the first few years should be great, but as they age performance will obviously peak and decline during the life of the deal (particularly for power forwards like Smyth and Malone). By leaving little salary in the contract for the final few years, the players can be bought out fairly painlessly. See example 5 here for a great explanation.


Also the player could be attractive for a trade to a small market team that needs to meet the salary floor. For example, as he contract goes, a 37 year old Daniel Briere will "only" get paid $2 million for the 2014-15 season. But his cap hit is still going to be $6.5 million. By that point Briere probably won't be among the NHL's top point scorers, but for a small market team that needs to spend more money in salaries, his deal will still be $6.5 million against the cap, even though they have to pay him less than 1/3 of that for his play that year.


Front loading contracts isn't a loophole, per se, but clearly it's a crafty way for NHL general managers, players and agents to exploit the collective bargaining agreement for a little wiggle room to make it work best for them.

He'd probably kick an ass or two, that's what Gary Roberts would do

This picture was taken in 1984....It might be the last time Gary Roberts has ever smiled.

Ok, so we're still a little reeling from the fact the a 42 year old who would probably be a 3rd/4th liner has decided to leave the Pens. But it's just not anyone drafted in the same year as Patrick Roy and Mario Lemieux, it's Gary Roberts.

By the way, a sampling of the injuries Roberts has endured in his hockey career (see the link up top to read for yourself)....Broken thumb, whiplash, surgery to repair a severed blood vessel and save the quadriceps muscle, hematoma in left quadricep (severe charley horse), although Roberts broke the thumb in seven places, he missed only one game before playing in Calgary's March 26, 1994 , Missed Toronto's 2002 training camp and start of 2002-03 season while recovering from off-season shoulder surgeries to correct tendon impingement in both shoulders, severe nerve damage in his neck, the degeneration of discs in his neck and resulting bone spurs combined to limit space available to nerves in his spine, Doctors had said that a particularly hard hit could cause discs in Roberts' spinal cord to collapse, and that would leave him paralyzed, broken leg.

With all that said, we proudly present the following selections that come from the Facebook group "Gary Roberts facts". These are the top of the heap (some that we submitted!). If any accidental Chuck Norris facts slipped through, we apologize, but for the most part they're fresh. They're juvenile, silly and needless, but at a time like this they still bring a smile to our face....And hopefully yours...Apologies in advance if you are offended by profanity.


The fate of Harry Potter is the hands of Gary Roberts. Roberts hates books. Potter dies.

Gary Roberts counted to infinite-twice.

A single punch from Gary Roberts gave Bryan Murray that lisp.

Gary Roberts doesn't know what "scoring chances" are because the word chance indicates the possibility of failure. Gary Roberts finishes.

Directly translated from Latin the word "hospital" means a place for people who have pissed off Gary Roberts.

Gary Roberts once took Dorothy Mantooth out to a nice seafood dinner and NEVER CALLED HER BACK!

On February 27th, 2007 the refrigeration system in Mellon Arena broke down. Instead of repairing the aging venue, the Penguins traded for Gary Roberts. Ever since then, the ice has been too scared to melt.

Neil Armstrong didn't travel to the moon, Gary Roberts traveled to the moon.

Gary Roberts goes grocery shopping at Lowe's.

Gary Roberts assists on his own goals.

Chunky Soup will be making commercials with Gary Roberts and his mother. The flavor is based on Gary's diarrhea.

Wayne Gretzkys recorded of 2857 points is a historical inaccuracy, because the NHL stopped keeping track of Gary Roberts' points after he broke 5 billion.

During the '94-95 season, Gary Roberts underwent surgery to remove bone spurs and repair nerve damage in his neck. At his request, the surgery was done without anesthesia.

Jason Spezza came home to find Gary Roberts sleeping with his wife. He then hid in the closet so that Gary Roberts did not see him.

Gary Roberts was born in a log cabin in North York, Ontario that he built with his own hands weeks in advance.

Gary Roberts once convinced a woman to suck his dick, while SHE was driving.

Gary Roberts once drank 64 beers on a cross-country flight.

Gary Roberts won the Stanley Cup with Calgary in 1989. The NHL briefly considered renaming it to the 'Gary Roberts Cup' but reconsidered after realizing that future winners would be too scared to touch it.

Gary Roberts once arrested a police man for giving him strange, suspicious looks.

Gary Roberts hockey stick is made out of human cadavers.

Somebody once tried to make a Gary Roberts cover band, but it is impossible. Nobody can cover Gary Roberts.

Gary Roberts beat Jesus in a game of 3-bar. With one shot.

Gary Roberts freed the slaves.

They tried to make a Clue version of Gary Roberts...but it was always the same answer.Gary Roberts...behind the net...with a fist.

Wilt Chamberlain fucked 10,000 women, unfortunately Gary Roberts fucked Wilt's mom.

Gary Roberts can believe it's not butter.

Wayne Gretzky had it wrong: 100% of the shots Gary Roberts doesn't take DO go in.

Gary Roberts doesn't take face-offs, he takes heads off!

Scientists got it wrong. It's not acid rain, Gary Roberts is taking a leak.

The story of Santa is loosely based on the life story of Gary Roberts. The difference is while Santa delivers presents once a year, Gary Roberts delivers pain, nightly.

Only Gary Roberts would be listed day-to-day with a broken leg.

Since 2001, people have been wondering, "who is the face behind Master Chief's helmet?" You would think the obvious answer is Gary Roberts, but you are sadly mistaken. Gary Roberts doesn't need armor to "finish his fights.

Gary Roberts messes with Texas.

Gary Roberts is the reason that Brian Engblom's hair looks like a dead rodent.

The Alamo remembers Gary Roberts.

World War I started when Gary Roberts checked Archduke Franz Ferdinand from behind.

Heath Ledger died from shock after watching a Gary Roberts career highlights video.

The Scorpions hit song was originally titled "Rock you like Gary Roberts" but censorship permitted anyone being rocked that hard.

Ever wonder what those cables hanging straight down from the ceiling of the arena are? Gary Roberts climbs each one after every practice.

Gary Roberts' jersey number, 10, represents the number of women he has impregnated who were previously considered barren.

Harry Truman is often criticized for dropping the atomic bomb on Japan, when it is obvious he could have gotten the Japanese to surrender merely by sending them a picture of Gary Roberts holding a plane ticket reading "To Tokyo".

Gary Roberts does not ask you "Can You Hear Me Now?" He knows you can hear him.

Gary Roberts plays as the farmer, WITHOUT A WAGON, and ALWAYS makes it to Oregon before you!

“Jeremiah was a Bullfrog” was originally called “Gary Roberts was a Bullfrog” but they later changed the name because Gary Roberts is not friends with anyone.

When Daniel Alfredsson found out Gary Roberts would be sitting out Game 3, his "injury" miraculously "healed" and he was ready to play.

Rt. 28 was closed again today due to a rockslide...Gary Roberts was rock climbing again. (You'll probably only get that if you're fimiliar with Pittsburgh)

Fiji water consists of 100% pure tears of Ottawa Senators fans. That's why it's the only thing Gary Roberts drinks.

In any given arena, there are 542,709 things Gary Roberts can use to kill you. But he usually just uses his fists.

Most players say they started playing hockey for the love of the game. Young Gary Roberts just thought it was cool to have blades on his feet.

There are no such things as tornadoes, Gary Roberts just really hates mobile homes.

Gary Roberts official goal totals are deceptively low because they do not include pucks he has frightened into the net.

While on the Maple Leafs Shayne Corson was caught sleeping with Alexander Mogilny's wife. This upset Gary Roberts and he decided to beat up Shayne Corson. Only Gary Roberts fucks his teammates wives, Shayne crossed the fucking line.

Wonder why no one has seen Kris Beech lately? Gary Roberts ate him.

O.J. didn't do it, Gary Roberts did...and he got away with it

Gary Roberts put the p in pneumonia.

Gary Roberts has asthma because most oxygen molecules are afraid to enter his lungs.

Today in Dallas, a parade was held on behalf of the Stars season. They were the true winners of the series against the Red Wings... They do not have to play Gary Roberts.

Mr. Gary moving down that road

PG breaks news:

"He very much enjoyed his time there," Curran said. "But he understands that Ray [Shero, the Penguins' general manager] has a number of items on his agenda that would take priority."

Curran added that Roberts, 42, "most definitely" intends to continue his career and will decide where after reaching unrestricted free agency next Tuesday.

Seth at Empty Netters, as usual, knocked the ball out of the park with a lot of great youtube clips of some of Roberts most memorable moments.

Before Roberts and Georges Laraque the Penguins were a skilled team that got knocked around, and let themselves be abused. Shortly after the two arrived a new fire and attitude was instilled. You saw guys like Ryan Malone and Brooks Orpik more willing to drop the gloves to stand up for a teammate. We have it on good account that younger teammates got into the “Gary Roberts facts” and were almost as awed by Roberts presence as the fans were.

Roberts may have only laced ‘em up for 57 games with the Pens and was only with the organization for about 15 months, but it’d be hard to find a player with a bigger impact. Even last summer when hockey was over, younger guys (including Sidney Crosby) spent time with Roberts: training with him like the maniac he is, eating is horrifically healthy diet, and yes, we suppose drinking the Fiji water.

So in many ways Roberts announcing his separation from the team and fans that so embraced him is saddening. But Puck Daddy thinks this could be a good thing for the Pens:

But the shock isn't that Roberts is leaving. It's the shock that despite all the Evgeni Malkin free-agent discounts (is that Geno or Gino?), the Penguins team that played for the Cup is effectively dead.
Roberts is gone, Hossa will be gone, any number of other grunts will be gone. (And yet Therrien remains ...) What is lost on many of my Pittsburgh friends is that this is a good thing. Your team was a bridesmaid. Complacency leads to the 2007-08 Ottawa Senators; modification means that the Penguins, going forward, can build a team that will win a Cup rather than one that might. Keeping around a fourth-liner who is two years
younger than the head coach doesn't achieve that goal.

Wyshnyski makes a valid point, change is vital and necessary to get over the top. Roberts would have been, at most, a 3rd line winger, and given his injury history (he’s missed at least 10 games every season over the past six) and age (42), it’s unlikely the salary he’d want would make him a good signing from a pure business perspective.

The Penguins won’t be able to replace his intensity, but they will be able to use what they’ve learned, individually and collectively, going forward.

We've been watching a lot of the Discovery Channel series 'When We Left Earth' and can't help but think of the the metaphor that could be used between veterans like Roberts and the big Saturn V rockets that generated the force needed to go past the bounds of Earth's gravity. Both strong and do their jobs and even though it's jettisoned before the mission is completed, it's the reason you got there....In the future that's how we'll look back at the contributions of Gary Roberts.

If there’s one thing the editor here feels sad for, is not so much Roberts departing, but him doing so after coming so close and falling short of the Stanley Cup. But, sometimes in life that’s the way it goes. So long, Gary, and thanks for everything.

The Morning After

(picture, espn.com)

But the Penguins never would have gotten there had it not been for Max Talbot, a player quickly achieving folk-hero status in Penguins circles.

Ok, so with Talbot now solidly in the ranks of Gary Roberts, Jarkko Ruuuuuutu and the USS Hal Gill is it possible the Penguins could have more folk-heroes than, you know, actual heroes? That's the mark of a solid team that's playing a lot of hockey.

And If Adam Hall keeps popping in goals he just might be next..

It's now or never for Gary

Neil Armstrong didn't go to the moon, Gary Roberts went to the moon.

"Deep down, I know this is probably the last time for me."

We all probably knew it, but who wanted to say......Well, for Christ's sakes boys, let's make it worthwhile.

(link)

WWGRD: Get Pneumonia

Gary Roberts put the "p" in pneumonia

Well this kind of explains why Mr. Gary hasn't been making that big of an impact. And we thought it was lingering effects of his groin and/or high ankle sprain.

Gary Roberts is not expected to play tonight and may miss more than tonight's playoff game. Sources tell TSN that Roberts has been diagnosed with pneumonia in the last day or so and has likely been playing with the condition for about two weeks.

Source: TSN

It's a good thing Adam Hall has been playing so well, he can instantly slide back into the 4th line and the team won't lose much of anything.

We have no idea how long it's going to take Roberts' to beat pneumonia's ass, but hopefully the Master of Fiji Water won't be out for too long.


(Photo courtesy The Pensblog)

Ode to Depth

Lost in it all the Avery brouhaha was a Game 3 that stretched the Pens to the nearly insurmountable 3 games to 0 lead.

The biggest Penguin news is probably the perceived injury to Max Talbot; we’re not doctors but he’s not wearing a walking boot if it’s not broken from blocking a shot. Talbot, although a 4th line center, is a very important player for the Pens; he’s a valuable penalty-killer (the only forward on the team with more PK time is Jordan Staal) and Talbot plays the uptempo, high-energy hustling game that seems to pay off.

But the Pens have been pretty lucky since Sidney Crosby’s return from injury they’ve been pretty injury free. Gary Roberts groin was tweaked but he seemingly could have played last night but didn’t due to coaches decision. Inserting a battle tested warrior like Roberts into the lineup is certainly no drawback, it’s probably an advantage. Adam Hall, who filled in well for Roberts, can slide over to play center on that line with Georges Laraque.

The Pens PK should be OK too. Guys like Staal, Pascal Dupuis, Ryan Malone and Hall are the usual killers and players like Jarkko Ruutu, Marian Hossa and even Evgeni Malkin and Crosby could play well in that position too, if the Pens allow them the chance.

So the Pens forward depth can pickup the banner for Talbot. How long will he be hurt? Well usually with a break there’s swelling and if you can’t get a foot in a skate then it’s obviously impossible to play….But in a week or so, if it’s not a weight bearing bone, then perhaps Talbot could be back for next series….Assuming the seemingly inevitable of a quick Pens series win and a lengthy Philly/Montreal series plays out. But, of course, playoff assumptions are perhaps the worst kind so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Mr. Roberts, sir

This song deserves to be played right now.

Maybe we'll analyzed the pros and cons of the Pens next opponent (Rangers, Bruins, Capitals). But for now enjoy this classic. If you haven't somehow watched it yet, you owe it to yourself.

Scary Gary says what we all say..

WDGRT? (What does Gary Roberts think) about Sean Avery's hijinks?

"He's an idiot," Penguins forward Gary Roberts said.

What a human being.

Game 1: Penguins thump Ottawa

Martin Gerber = Stunned

In a perfect world a Penguins fan would draw up a game where not only the good guys resoundingly thump the opponents, but also out-shoot them (35 to 26), out-hit them (35 to 29) and have more take-aways (8 to 2). Ottawa won the face-off battle, but that's probably the only small victory they could find.

• If you ever wondered why this blog talks about Gary Roberts so much, now you know. Just a minute in, G-Rob knocked Ottawa defenseman Wade Redden down, went to the front of the net and was fed a puck from all people but Georges Laraque.....And if you know NHL playoff hockey, perhaps no player has personally tormented a team in recent history as much as Roberts has the Senators. A goal 68 seconds in the for the veteran leader set the tone for the game....And perhaps the series.
• The next score came almost 11 minutes later, but still was as big. Evgeni Malkin proved he has a lot more in the tank than he did at this time last year; chipping the puck by a defenseman and leading a 2 on 1 rush with Petr Sykora. Malkin was looking pass all the way but Martin Gerber had to respect the shot and got burned on the one-timer (see picture above).
• Gerber did settle down and stopped 15 shots in the 2nd period, including a couple of glorious chances by Marian Hossa and Sidney Crosby.
• The Penguins pressed on in the third, highlighted by a beauty of a goal that Malkin kicked from his skate to his stick before depositing behind a helpess Gerber. One more Mr. Gary goal later and that's it.
• Marc-Andre Fleury didn't have to be amazing but he was very solid in his positioning and rebound control. While the Sens didn't create any dynamite or sustained chances Fleury did have to make a few key stops and obviously he was up for the task every time. Quietly MAF has been probably the best goalie in the NHL since the beginning of March, and the Pens probably like that. Talk about the offense and guys like Crosby, Malkin and Hossa all you want; the defense and netminder are just plugging along, doing what they have to do.
• At the end of the game the Sens showed a little moxy, no doubt sending a message for games to come. They tried getting in Crosby's face and surpisingly Ryan Whitney of all people got in a fight and absolutely abused Redden. Ouch. If you said one Penguin would win a fight Ryan Whitney's name would have come up just before backup goalie Ty Conklin..But only by a little. When players like Whitney are showing passion and leaving a physical imprint not only do the observers know the team is focused and in the game but the opponents do as well.
• Roberts also had a little extra for Ottawa when a guy punched him in the head when G-Rob was tied up with another Sen. The message Ottawa was trying to send was backfired, these Pens aren't backing down (see Maxime Talbot taking down Martin Lapointe Fleury or Rob Scuderi getting scrappy). We'd imagine that even though they won't admit it right now, to a man the Senators know there's no chance of bullying this team down. They're not green and they're not in awe of the post-season. And the Sens know they are in BIG trouble.
• It's good to see Ottawa's best defenseman (and the NHL's best shot blocker) Anton Volchenkov will apparantely be ok after he dropped to the ice from getting hit with a Malkin slapper to the head. Volchenkov was cut but somehow didn't appear to have suffered major injury when he went down trying to block the shot. He was cut pretty good and did not return to the game. Early indication is that he will be available for Game 2. We're just happy that the guy is OK.

"Game 1 last year," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. "We're different, much more improved, and I think we proved that tonight."

Yes you did, Sid....Now go and avoid a letdown in Game 2.


1 down, 15 more to go.....

Playoff Lineup coming into focus

Here were the forward combinations from Friday's practice:

Talbot-Crosby-Hossa
Malone-Malkin-Sykora
Ruutu-Staal-Dupuis
Roberts-Hall-Laraque


Is Max Talbot skilled enough to convert on all the chances Crosby and Hossa will generate? Maybe, maybe not. But Talbot is a balls-to-the-wall, high energy player that will drive to the net and tends to make good things happen when he gets the puck on his stick.

The second line is perfect. Those three have a great chemistry, and one has to believe the opponents will be forced to match their best checking line and defensive unit against Crosby+Hossa; opening up all the more ice for Geno, Bugsy and Sykora to take advantage of....But if a team does try to pick their poison of shutting down this line, they're going to leave the league's reigning MVP with a 100 point scorer blasting up the ice together.

Jarkko Ruutu is playing some good hockey, Pascal Dupuis has been a dependable all-around forward and Jordan Staal still has his immense potential to live up to. Still, you have to think that once THE Gary Roberts gets in game shape he will be up on this line with Staal and either Ruutu or Dupuis (depending on who's making things happen).

The 4th line is what it's all about. Adam Hall will quietly be a very important player; winning the majority of his faceoffs, killing penalties and playing non-descript "nothing against" hockey. He can cycle, which is one thing Georges Laraque can do too. If the opening series is against a chippy team like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh will require the presence ultimate deterrent in BGL to keep the opposition honest.

Like we mentioned, Gary Roberts is here to wreak havoc and work himself back into game shape. It wouldn't shock us; if and when Roberts proves his is ankle good to go for him to be taking shifts with Crosby and Hossa and terrorizing the opposition. Future aside, this could very well be Gary Roberts' last hurrah....No one who's passionate enough about hockey to read this blog wouldn't believe that he's going to leave every ounce of effort, desire and tenacity in his soul to make the difference in a series.

So what does the practice mean for Tyler "Mr." Kennedy? Probably that he will be assigned to Wilkes-Barre for the AHL playoffs (where they are in desperate need of scoring forwards). Hopefully TK doesn't take this as a slight, but rather an opportunity to make a difference at a level where he'd be a first liner. Kennedy is still in Pittsburgh's long-term future, but with guys like Hall and Roberts returning from injury, his niche is better filled by more experienced players.

The Penguins also have Jeff "Laffy" Taffe and, ugh, Kris Beech as forward depth in case of injury of performance. Taffe has proven to be a legit NHL player, one that can be counted on to play any position in a lower level role. And Beech, well we think it's safe to say we all know what he brings to the table....Or doesn't.

Either way, the playoff lineup is starting to come into focus....We can see what opportunities are on the table (specifically for Talbot and Ruutu); soon we'll see if they make the most of it.

Report: Gary Roberts back on Sunday

In what we hope is not some kind of April Fools prank, various sources have said that Gary Roberts intends to play on Sunday, the final regular season game of the season. Yay!

Roberts' Rollercoaster Recovery persists

It seems like every time bad news is heard about Gary Roberts having a setback, the next day he's talking about how he's skating again. From the Trib:

"I had a little setback last week in New York, so I basically took a week off," Roberts said. He's hoping to return prior to the postseason. "It'll really depend on how I do in this next week," Roberts said. "I'd like to get a game in before the playoffs."

This is a big deal because most of the Penguins core players have exactly 5 games of NHL playoff experience. And while that is a taste of it, having such a veteran force and presence will go a long way on and off the ice for the still young team.

One thing is for sure, Pittsburgh's medical staff must be awesome at treating high ankle sprains.

Gary Roberts Update

Apologies for no game preview for the Rangers, busy new job here.

But we did want to drop in quickly for a Gary Roberts update, since his status is one of the most oft-asked email questions we get.

From the Penguins main site (and past PG and Trib articles):

Gary is skating in practice now, with a no-contact jersey. He's in very good spirits and, as you can imagine, can't wait to get back. He's said in the past he wants to play in about five regular season games to gear himself up for the playoffs. That puts the return date around March 27th.

Reports of Gary Roberts Demise Greatly Exaggerated?

A simple, almost throwaway line in the PG today, but then you read it and it floors you..

[Sidney]Crosby and left winger Gary Roberts (broken leg, high ankle sprain) skatedyesterday for about a half-hour with no apparent problem, team officials said

Uhhh, what was that again? Slightly different then the bombshell PG Columnist Ron Cook laid out in his column entitled: "Latest setback threatens Roberts' career"

Make no mistake here.

This really is crunch time for Roberts.

Like never before in his career.

Off topic a bit, but a personal beef.

What's the deal with almost every newspaper writer in America going overboard on these one sentence paragraphs?

It's like, come on let's develop these things a little more.

The PG's Shelly Anderson is the worst at this.

It's very annoying.

And doesn't seem like the mark of an effective or good writer.

But that's just one man's opinion.

Anyways, as you can see Cook basically spelled out that Roberts career is in jeopardy and after reading it, you thought he was Barbaro or something and the docs were about to put him down. Cook also wrote (emphasis added):

He said he won't try to skate for two more weeks. His new target date to play again is March 27, a home game against the New York Islanders. "At least that would give me five games before the playoffs."

So much for that big push for the team down the stretch.

In conclusion, the day this hit news-stands (yesterday) Gary Roberts skated for 30 minutes with Crosby. The legend continues to grow.

Sonofabitch

To make matters worse, the news comes from a reputable source...

Tonight on KDKA-TV [Pittsburgh's CBS affiliate], Bob Pompeani reported that Roberts season and possibly his career could be over.
Pompeani says that Ron Cook of the Post-Gazette reports in tomorrow’s editions thatRoberts, who was expected back soon, after a long recovery from a broken leg, has had a major setback. In fact, his career might be in jeopardy
Roberts told the p-g, that he tried to skate 2 weeks ago and crumbled to the ice in a heap……He was r-examined [sic] and it was revealed that he tore a ligament in his ankle….and now, he hopes to be back by march 27th….but that is a long shot at best!

But then again we are talking about a man who, over 10 years ago, endured two separate 8 hour neck surgeries just for the possibility to play again.


A man who prides himself on dogged determination, an unmatchable toughness and world-class conditioning. But at now almost 42 years old could this leg/ankle problem do the old bastard in?



Now we're going to post a picture to make ourselves feel a little better.

Injury Update

These have been compiled from all over the internet/TV about the Pens injured players and the strides they are individually making on the road to recovery. We don’t have the time or gumption to list all the sources, so either take our word for this, or start searching yourself. And to our extra deep readers, the type of injury and the date suffered are in parenthesis

Marc-Andre Fleury (sprained ankle, 12/6) – Has been practicing all week. Coach Therrien said “we’ll see where he is” after the weekend, seeming to indicate Fleury could be ready for action very soon….In the light of Ty Conklin’s performance, how the team decides to use Fleury upon return seems to be the bigger question right now.

Sweater Ted Early Outlook on a return to the lineup: less than a week

Gary Roberts (broke leg on 12/29) – Skated before practice today, but said his leg still was sore and that it’ll probably be 7-10 days before he rejoins practice.

Sweater Ted Early Outlook on a return to the lineup: 2-3 weeks

Tyler Kennedy (diagnosed with mono, 1/19) – Kennedy has been assigned to the AHL today, after practicing for a week with Pittsburgh. While not officially designated as a rehab assignment (perhaps because the Pens a few extra forwards), a few games in the A should get TK back into game shape where he should be quickly promoted back to Pittsburgh, hopefully banishing Kris Beech once and for all.

Sweater Ted Early Outlook on a return to the (NHL) lineup: less than a week

Sidney Crosby (sprained ankle, 1/18) – Participated in a full practice today, wearing a non-contact jersey, but the team still insists this is normal rehab and he’s on pace still for 6-8 weeks on the shelf.

Sweater Ted Early Outlook on a return to the lineup: 2-3 weeks (which is a little before their window, call us optimistic)

Adam Hall (groin, 1/19) – Came back to practice but wasn’t 100% and is back to “give it time mode” which is really the only thing you can do for this type of injury

Sweater Ted Early Outlook on a return to the lineup: Who knows, hard to diagnose groins. (Hopefully for the Pens penalty-kill sooner than later)

Orpik wants to stay....But why?

Gary Roberts, Georges Laraque, Mark Eaton, Jarrko Ruutu, Adam Hall, Ryan Malone and Brooks Orpik

What do those seven Penguins skaters have in common? As of July 1 they are free to find another place to play.

Ray Shero, smartly, has only signed veterans for a term of one or two years, preferring to spend the lion-share of the team’s cap room on the nucleus of the franchise’s core. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to identify the core: it’s Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, Staal and Whitney. And it shouldn’t be a surprise.

All of the impending unrestricted free agents are pretty good at what role they’re cast to. They’re veterans and most, as you’d expect, are predictably reliable. None, however, are cornerstones to the team and it’s not a stretch to imagine the majority of this list could be plying their craft somewhere else starting next fall.

There are two players of this bunch that intrigue us here at TST the most. They probably intrigue most Pens fans and observers because they have the complete package: size, skill, reasonable speed, physicality and most hauntingly “the potential of youth”. Ryan Malone and Brooks Orpik, though almost UFA ready still seem like they have the potential to have a bigger impact than they’ve since shown. Both lack consistency. Both have shown flashes of brilliance.

Thanks to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement Malone (28) and Orpik (27) are years younger than the tradition unrestricted free agent. Malone’s NHL career is just 266 games so far and Orpik has only 264, which is just over 3 seasons worth for both. It’s strange to think both are hitting the open market when it seems like they’re just getting started.

We bring this up over something Orpik said in today’s Post-Gazette.

Even though there have been times this season when Orpik has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff, he said he'd be "very receptive" to negotiating a deal to remain with the Penguins.
"I've loved all the time I've had here," he said. "I love the guys here, love the direction Ray [Shero, the general manager] has put the organization in. Everything here is done first-class, very professionally."
While there clearly would be a market for a defenseman with Orpik's willingness -- and ability -- to play the body, he expressed no great desire to test the open market.
"Some guys get really upset with where they're at," Orpik said. "They can't wait to get to July 1 to get out of a situation. ... I've talked with a lot of guys I've played with here who have gone other places, and they kind of wish they could come back."

While we don’t doubt Orpik must enjoy his teammates and the only organ-eye-zation he’s ever known, doesn’t he have an agent? One that could tell him that if a 32 year old Andy Sutton can fetch $9 million over three years then dangit Brooks, you can too.

Also a new opportunity might do Orpik well. As the article alludes to, he’s been benched, gone through a long streak of sitting in the press box (including once in his hometown of Bahhston) and even when he’s in the lineup he’s averaged 16:46.

Orpik’s done his part to make his minutes count, with a team high 129 hits. He is the only physical defenseman on the roster, given the next blueliner is Kris Letang (39 hits in 31 games) and, brace yourself, the Sarge (34 hits in 45 games).

But physical play doesn’t always translate into smart play or indicate the coaches are happy with your performance. Orpik is on the ice for penalty kills a mere :42 a game. He mans a point on the powerplay (if you can call it that) for an average of :50 a game.

So you’re a physical defenseman but the coaches don’t trust you on the PK. You’re getting less icetime than a 20 year old rookie. You have the chance for a big payday with a team that will fall for your big hits and “potential” for more consistency. But you want to stay?

We’ll see how this pans out, we’d love to see Orpik stay and love even more for his performance (and minutes) to pick up but we just can’t see it happening.

By the way, UFA predictions:

• Ruutu: Didn’t get a bigger role, 80% chance of leaving
• Laraque: Still is happy here, team still needs that presence, 75% staying
• Eaton: Great when not injured, problem is injured too much, 50% staying (we think the Pens might not want him for durability fear, not Eaton wanting to leave)
• Hall: Great roleplayer and PK’er but his type is a dime-a-dozen 40% of staying just since Shero knows him so well
• Roberts: whatever he wants to do, stay, go to a Canadian team, retire…As usual Gary’s calling the shots, 100% awesome
• Malone: Pittsburgh boy, hard to see him leaving when he’s so comfortable with team/city but it is UFA; 50% chance of staying
• Orpik: Saying all the right things but all signs are pointing to a departure, 25% chance of staying (due to above comments)
  
  

A win but a loss

This fuckin sucks....

All you need to know:

As [Buffalo forward Tim ]Connolly fell in the left circle in Buffalo's end, the 41-year-old [badass Gary] Roberts went down with him and struck his left leg hard on the ice, breaking his fibula.

A stretcher was brought out but Roberts did not use it.

Did you really expect him to?

Otherwise, a solid 2-0 win. Crosby with 2 assists, Colby and Geno tack on the goals and Ty freakin Conklin has, somehow, inspired conifidence with a shutout.

But at a moment like this, the upcoming weeks/months of not having a veteran warrior like Roberts in the lineup is going to be a challenge. Younger, physical players with experience like Ryan Malone, Colby Armstrong and even Brooks Orpik are going to have to step up and be physical....And in a big way.