Stone looking to move on

Unsurprisingly, Ryan Stone isn't pleased with the Pens decision to relegate him (yet again) to the minor leagues. Any team will have a chance to claim him, but to be honest we can't see another team liking this unproven 23 year old any more than they like their own lower-line grinders currently on the roster.

Stone told the Wilkes-Barre media that he would like to move on, and there's nothing wrong with that. He feels like he's earned his chance to play at the NHL and if another team agrees, he'll be gone. These comments have made a little bit of waves on the internet, but we don't think Stone said anything egregious, Stone's not requesting a trade or airing any dirty laundry, he just understandably wants to play in the NHL and is disappointed the Pens don't want him there right now. If Stone makes it to WB/S, he says he'll be a good soldier and keep working on getting the team where it needs to be until his time may come.

As the article very astutely points out, Colby Armstrong was in the same situation getting sent down (and exposed to waivers) at the beginning of his 4th professional season and many thought his NHL chances were pretty much over forever.

By season's end that year (2005-06) Armstrong was playing on a line with Sidney Crosby.

Fortunes can indeed rise and fall very that quickly in professional hockey. Stone can look no further than a perfect example in Paul Bissonnette, who as we chronicled was very deep in management's doghouse last year and now this year is one of their darlings and a "strong candidate" to play for Pittsburgh at some point this season. A couple injuries and Stone--provided his attitude is up and his performance is there--could get a real shot in the show.

Until then, time to keep working.

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!

Hossa to test free agency

As we said, actions speak louder than words...

“I’d rather take less and play on a good team,” Hossa said. “Hopefully, I can return here and be part of this organization but, with the salary cap, I know
how hard it is. There’s lots of players to be signed, so we’ll see what’s going to happen.”

And now from the Trib:

Marian Hossa has declined an offer to sign a long-term deal with the Penguins and will test free agency.

General manager Ray Shero said today after the NHL Entry Draft at Scotiabank Place that Hossa, a star right wing acquired Feb. 26, will offers his services to other teams as an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Shero said he is "comfortable" with the offer presented to Hossa to remain in Pittsburgh, though Shero would not provide specifics of terms.

To be fair, we don't know the specifics of what Hossa was offered. Surely it was less than the $8.5 to $9 million dollars a year he will be offered on July 1.

One doors possibly closes and another one opens....There will be other targets out there for the Pens in free agency to look at. Hell we know a guy who's a fast skater and scored 30+ goals the past three seasons in Minnesota of all places that would look pretty good playing with Sidney Crosby.

On one hand it's disappointing to see Hossa reject the Pens offer. But on the other hand, it's not completely unexpected. Plus with a Crosby-esque deal for Evgeni Malkin about to be made, it was pretty much impossible for the Pens to keep all three of them plus the rest of their core (Marc-Andre Fleury, Ryan Whitney) and still round the team out with championship caliber players for too long.

Unexpected injury jilts series before it begins

Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen will likely miss the Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins because of a blood clot in his ankle.

Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren said Timonen was hit with a shot in Game 4 against Montreal.

Blood clots are not a fun thing, we don't have to be a doctor to tell you that. Someone we know recently got a random blog clot in her leg and it damn near immoblized an otherwise healthy person. So first of all, all the best to Kimmo Timonen, hopefully this hurdle can be managed and have no long-term negative effects on him.

But looking at this from a hockey perspective, as this hockey blog does, this is a terrible blow for Philadelphia. Timonen has been the Flyer #1 defenseman all year, drawing the matchup of the other team's top target (they planned on using him against Evgeni Malkin's line).

Timonen has no goals but 6 assists in 12 playoff games and was a +5 (against said top lines) and lead all Flyers in ice-time with 24:55 a game. He was a steadying influence on emerging youngster partner Braydon Coburn and Timonen did well neutralizing players like Alex Ovechkin (who had but1 goal and 0 assists in seven games at even-strength when Timonen was on the ice, which he often was).

Personnel wise, a huge loss; the Flyers are now going to have decisions on who they pair Coburn with and who now will try to stop the two headed monster of Dupuis/Crosby/Hossa and Malone/Malkin/Sykora. Guys like Jaroslav Modry and Randy Jones might be playing a little more out of their element. And a guy like Rory Fitzpatrick or youngster Ryan Parent may have to step into the lineup against the strong cycling lower lines, lead by Jordan Staal and Gary Roberts.

Injuries like this it seems can not be predicted or avoided. A simple blocking of a shot well over a week ago (one that didn't much phase him then) has taken out one of the most critical players in this series. As difficult as it is, we have empathy for Philadelphia; after all this could have been Sergei Gonchar or someone as crucial to the Pens as Timonen was for them.

In the end, hockey is hockey and all you can do is rally around the flag and go play. The kneejerk reaction from the fans is generally that the Flyers are finished and this series is over before it has begun. We couldn't disagree more. Hockey is the ultimate team sport and "will" often beats "skill" as the saying goes. If the Flyers come together and focus on playing even harder than they would have, and a guy like Jones or Parent or Modry steps up and gives a Grade A effort, this is only a speedbump in the road.

Likewise, not that we expect it, but if the Pens don't give their maximum effort and dog it, thinking that the Flyers have quit just because an important player of the opposition is out, well they won't win.