Sydor for Boucher and the implications that follow...

Sooner or later you had to figure Darryl Sydor would be waived or traded. Sydor wants to play, and unfortunately for him with the emergence of young defensemen Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski over the past two seasons the reality was clear: Sydor just isn’t among the top 6 defensemen the Penguins have anymore. To his credit Sydor was the ultimate professional while going through this frustrating time. While others in his shoes coughMark Recchicough often loudly voiced displeasure and anger at having a diminished role; Sydor kept quiet and continued to be a positive example to the boys in the room. The leadership he brought off the ice, especially lately, was very commendable and he deserves much respect for that and we wish him well in Dallas.

On the other hand, we welcome Phillipe Boucher. This is an interesting acquisition; right handed defensemen are in short supply and Boucher did score 19 goals two season ago before battling all sorts of injuries. If nothing else, Boucher should provide a little more “oomph” on the power-play than say, Brooks Orpik, and hopefully steady what’s been, at times a shaky unit on the man advantage. If Boucher can remain healthy (and obviously that’s a big if) he could be a key player down the stretch.

Our forward thinking mind though can’t help but wonder what will happen when Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar return. Whitney is already practicing and should be back sometime in December—though it is too early to say if that will be in the earlier or later part of the month. Gonchar is still in a sling and no where close to coming back, but he should be around come March. It’s a great thing to have a surplus of defensemen at the NHL, especially given the injuries that can happen at any given moment. But having too many NHL caliber players could poison the drinking water—like it may have if Sydor wasn’t such a good sport—and that would be a terrible thing. Boucher, for instance, has said that he is playing for a contract next year and we can’t imagine him being happy or quiet if he’s the odd man out. A lot of the logjam has been created by Goligoski establishing himself as a full-time NHL defenseman right off the bat. If his play wasn’t at such a high level it would be easy to demote him to the minors for further work. But that probably isn’t an option at this point.

So which two of the eight defensemen (this includes Whitney) are the odd men out? Surely not a healthy Whitney or Orpik. Letang’s played well in an expanded role, and as mentioned, Goligoski has been awesome. The team has been very high on Gill (remember Therrien called him a top 4 guy a couple weeks ago) so seemingly he’s in too. This would leave one playing spot for three veteran defensemen: Boucher, Rob Scuderi and Mark Eaton. Eaton’s had a rough season so far and Scuderi, though a solid shot-blocker and reliable guy, is a 5/6 guy that could be replaceable.

If all are healthy, would another trade be coming? In that case it would seem that Eaton or Scuderi would be the most likely candidates.

Whitney-Orpik
Gill-Letang
Goligoski-Boucher

That’s probably how we would line them up, provided Boucher plays well. We realize the risks in looking even that far down the line, but what do you think? Sooner or later when reinforcements trickle back in the Penguins are going to have some decisions to make.

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It's setting in

Shockwaves of the deal will be felt for a long time, but we went back tonight, before calling it a night and found a picture that does speak 1000 words. Wanted to share it. In all the jubilation and, well, shock that Ray Shero had the fortitude to make such a ballsy deal, the focus was more on what the Penguins were getting and how it all may or may not fit into the big picture for next year's salary cap situation.

But the reality that the Penguins altered their lineup and chemistry so drastically is finally starting to sink in. It'll be interesting to see how the team gels and comes together in the last 18 games before the playoffs. Judging by tonight's 4-2 win over the Fishsticks (yes apparantely there was actual games today), round 1 was a success.

Still, it's going to be difficult to replace a guy who brings things like this to the table...

Farewell, Army

Best of luck to Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen. On a personal note, as this blog editor grew up, learned the internet and started following and tracking prospects Brooks Orpik's 2000 draft class was the first, but Army and EC were two guys we've followed for almost 7 and 6 years now respectively.

We were in attendence for Armstrong's first ever game with the Penguins. It was September of 2002, a preseason game in Washington DC. Armstrong scored 2 goals that night, it was wonderful. We won't stop following either player--or stop being fans, but it's going to be strange not having them in the organization.

In that strange way we'll all get the chance have some closure this Sunday when Atlanta comes to town...It sure will be surreal to see Colby and Crusher wearing Atlanta Thrasher jerseys. But it's the world we live in now.

Mark Recchi Waived

In a move that's had it's writing on the wall for a long time now, it appears Mark Recchi's stint as a Pittsburgh Penguin is over. And there will be no next time.

Kind of sad, as the Penguins put him on waivers today.

That link says that Recchi was a part of both Pittsburgh Stanley Cup teams, which is inaccurate. Rare that TSN is inaccurate, but they are here. Recchi was a member of the 1991 SC Champions, but he was traded to Philadelphia in a deadline deal in February of 1992; the deal in which the Penguins acquired Rick Tocchet, Kjell Samuelsson and Ken Wregget.

Recchi's due to make $1.75 million this year before becoming a free agent, and since the season is 31% over, a team that wished to pick him up would only be obligated for the about $1.20 million that remains.

If there are no takers, a precedent has been set by another Penguin who hit the wall and fell out of the NHL at about this time last season. That, of course, being John LeClair. The Pens waived him but found no takers. After talks with LeClair and his agents, the team ended up sending him to the minors. LeClair decided not to report and was given an unconditional release shortly there after. The Penguins did not have to pay him any longer, but the full value of his contract was considered "dead weight" and not dropped off the salary cap. Since the Penguins are not close to the cap ceiling and won't be again this season, having that kind of dead weight is not a big issue.

Unlike LeClair, Recchi may have a little something in the tank, and may be re-invigorated in a new setting. He played pretty well in Carolina's Stanley Cup run in 2006 so a change of scenery might give him a spark. After all, it wasn't as if Recchi wasn't GETTING scoring chance, just that he wasn't converting them. Plus he was giving the puck away too much.

If he found the right situation to play on a team as a 2nd/3rd line winger for 14-16 minutes a night total and get a little PP time and the occasional night off, I think Recchi would make a good option for a team that could benefit from a little added skill. Plus Recchi's a pretty good veteran leader and has handeled this whole situation with a lot of class and dignity.

Hopefully his run as a professional hockey player isn't over yet....But it does seem to be a chapter that's ended in Pittsburgh.

Darius going back to the motherland

Well it's official, the New York Rangers have "loaned" Darius Kasparaitis to the Russian Super League team St. Petersburg. Russia will pick up what's left of his $3 million paycheck this year, and Rangers will get an empty roster spot in the AHL to develop a player instead of shielding an NHL caliber player and contract.

At 35, this might be the last North America sees of DK in a hockey jersey, who played a crucial role for the Penguins from 1996 to 2002, truly my formative hockey years.

So remember the good times, the smiles, the long blond hair flowing in the breeze as he skated and all those hits. The Kasparaitis Krunchers; both big hits and the pickles! Remember rocking Eric Lindros's world and all those times opponents hated him, and Game 7's OT winner stunning Dominik Hasek.

Kasparaitis gave a lot of great memories and put smiles on a lot of faces. The Sweater Ted wishes him luck in whatever comes next.

Canucks Pick Penguins Pocket Again

Last year, after training camp broke, among the players the Penguins tried to sneak through waivers was goalie Dany Sabourin. Sabourin was an AHL all-star and arguably outperformed Marc-Andre Fleury and Jocelyn Thibault in 2006's training camp. But the powers that be wisely decided that Fleury needed to stay in the NHL, and Thibault was going to be his veteran backup, so there was no room at the inn for Sabourin. Vancouver scooped him up, and rumor has it he actually appeared in 9 games for the Canucks when Luongo must not have been in....You know the rest of the story: Sabs returned to the Pens as a free agent pickup and is Fleury's backup this season.


History has repeated itself this season with admitted Sweater Ted growing favorite, Mike Weaver. Weaver seemingly had a good camp in Pittsburgh, played within his limitations and offered a right handed shot for the blueline. Pittsburgh, however decided the devil you do know (Robert Scuderi and Alain Nasreddine) were better options to fill the 6th and 7th defensemen slot and tried to send Weaver down to the AHL.


...And who sweeps in but Vancouver...They probably know a little something about Weaver, since he's appeared in 92 NHL games for the Los Angeles Kings over the past two seasons. Like me, Vancouver obviously thinks Weaver could be a viable option as a bottom pair/depth NHL defensemen.


Time will tell if the cycle comes full circle and Weaver ends up back in Pittsburgh's organization this time next year.