Scouting the New Pens and Some Thoughts
Well, the deadline has come and gone and the Penguins have probably set themselves up to finish last overall again! The trades that were made yesterday were underwhelming at best. Things did sort of shake out as I speculated here over the last week. Several players were acquired to step in to try and fill the scoring void in Wilkes Barre-Scranton. Namely, Kris Kolanos and Petr Taticek.
Kolanos was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes 19th overall in the 2000 entry draft. He is 6'3", 206 pounds. He has great hands and big time scoring potential. He does need to work on his defensive game and has some concussion problems. He hasn't really been given a good chance since his rookie season in '01-'02 when he posted 11g 11a in 57 games.
Taticek was drafted 9th overall in the 2002 entry draft. He is 6'3", 195 pounds. This young man has very strong playmaking ability and is strong in all three zones of the ice. He is developing into an above average offensive center. He does need to add some bulk to his frame to compete on a regular basis in the NHL. He could be the gem of this trade deadline if he continues to develop.
The team also acquired two bodies for the NHL roster: Andy Hilbert and Niklas Nordgren. They aren't the type of names that were being thrown around prior to deadline day, but they do bring some intriguing potential to the table.
Hilbert was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 2nd round, 37th overall of the 2000 entry draft. He is 5'11", 194 pounds. He is a gritty player feels comfortable on the wing or the center position. He has also had some experience on the point during the power play. He may need to bulk up a bit, but the new NHL may serve him well. Should be able to post solid numbers if given a chance too.
Nordgren is playing his first season in the NHL, he was drafted in the 8th round, 195th overall in the 1997 entry draft. He has good speed and skill. He was having trouble cracking Carolina's roster this season, but was putting up solid numbers in the Swedish Elite league prior to this season. He will probably log some top 6 forward ice time on a Pittsburgh team that going to be looking for scoring, maybe even with Sidney Crosby.
The team also was able to acquire two additional draft picks for the 2007 entry draft, one that is thought to have a deep draft class.
The Mark Recchi trade definitely looks like one that will allow him to become a free agent next season and to possibly return to the Penguins. Carolina will most likely pass on picking up the $2,228,000 million team option and Recchi will probably command more in the open market than his player option will pay him. I strongly suspect that there could have been a gentleman's agreement made saying just that between Jim Rutheford, Craig Patrick and the Wreck'in Ball. The Hurricanes had to give up some pieces, but nothing that seemed to be a big part of their future. They essentially got Mark Recchi for a second round pick, and if he is just a rental and they win the cup, it will have been well worth it. Every one is happy, Recci gets another cup, the 'Canes win a cup, the Pens get a 2nd rounder, 2 younger assets and maybe even their old player back in the end.
Pittsburgh Deputy City Controller Tony Pokora has urged the PA Gaming Board to award the Stand Alone Slots license to a group that is promising funds to build a new arena. He stated that arena activities provide $3.5 million in amusement and parking tax to the city. Not to mention the money brought in on patrons eating and drinking in city restaurants and bars. He claims that he isn't offering support to one plan over another, but in reading between the lines you discover that only one group is pledging to build an arena, the Pittsburgh Penguins/Isle of Capri. Every little bit of local political pressure helps!
The Penguins have again made it known that they will begin to entertain offers by potential host cities this summer. They are not going to stand by and wait, only to find out that they are not getting the Gaming License. They want to have the ball rolling if it turns out that they have to move. Team President Ken Sawyer told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette yesterday in regard to entertaining offers this summer: "We'll see where we are at that point. I think it's fair to say that I owe it to our investors to protect their investment and to consider all options."
General Manager Craig Patrick has said that the team intends to go with a bare bones roster the rest of the way. Meaning they are going forward with 12 forwards, 6 defensemen and 2 goalies. They are planning on putting Marc Andre Fleury and Ryan Whitney on the Wilkes Barre-Scranton clear day roster, making them eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs. It isn't known if any other players currently in Pittsburgh will be added to the roster. Potential candidates could be: Colby Armstrong, Tomas Surovy, Michel Ouellet and Konstantin Koltsov. All of these players would have to clear waivers and the Penguins have stated that they do not want to lose any of them that way. The only other option would be sending them on conditioning assignments for the length of the playoffs. It would be nice to see some of these young Penguins taste some success.
Kolanos was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes 19th overall in the 2000 entry draft. He is 6'3", 206 pounds. He has great hands and big time scoring potential. He does need to work on his defensive game and has some concussion problems. He hasn't really been given a good chance since his rookie season in '01-'02 when he posted 11g 11a in 57 games.
Taticek was drafted 9th overall in the 2002 entry draft. He is 6'3", 195 pounds. This young man has very strong playmaking ability and is strong in all three zones of the ice. He is developing into an above average offensive center. He does need to add some bulk to his frame to compete on a regular basis in the NHL. He could be the gem of this trade deadline if he continues to develop.
The team also acquired two bodies for the NHL roster: Andy Hilbert and Niklas Nordgren. They aren't the type of names that were being thrown around prior to deadline day, but they do bring some intriguing potential to the table.
Hilbert was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 2nd round, 37th overall of the 2000 entry draft. He is 5'11", 194 pounds. He is a gritty player feels comfortable on the wing or the center position. He has also had some experience on the point during the power play. He may need to bulk up a bit, but the new NHL may serve him well. Should be able to post solid numbers if given a chance too.
Nordgren is playing his first season in the NHL, he was drafted in the 8th round, 195th overall in the 1997 entry draft. He has good speed and skill. He was having trouble cracking Carolina's roster this season, but was putting up solid numbers in the Swedish Elite league prior to this season. He will probably log some top 6 forward ice time on a Pittsburgh team that going to be looking for scoring, maybe even with Sidney Crosby.
The team also was able to acquire two additional draft picks for the 2007 entry draft, one that is thought to have a deep draft class.
The Mark Recchi trade definitely looks like one that will allow him to become a free agent next season and to possibly return to the Penguins. Carolina will most likely pass on picking up the $2,228,000 million team option and Recchi will probably command more in the open market than his player option will pay him. I strongly suspect that there could have been a gentleman's agreement made saying just that between Jim Rutheford, Craig Patrick and the Wreck'in Ball. The Hurricanes had to give up some pieces, but nothing that seemed to be a big part of their future. They essentially got Mark Recchi for a second round pick, and if he is just a rental and they win the cup, it will have been well worth it. Every one is happy, Recci gets another cup, the 'Canes win a cup, the Pens get a 2nd rounder, 2 younger assets and maybe even their old player back in the end.
Pittsburgh Deputy City Controller Tony Pokora has urged the PA Gaming Board to award the Stand Alone Slots license to a group that is promising funds to build a new arena. He stated that arena activities provide $3.5 million in amusement and parking tax to the city. Not to mention the money brought in on patrons eating and drinking in city restaurants and bars. He claims that he isn't offering support to one plan over another, but in reading between the lines you discover that only one group is pledging to build an arena, the Pittsburgh Penguins/Isle of Capri. Every little bit of local political pressure helps!
The Penguins have again made it known that they will begin to entertain offers by potential host cities this summer. They are not going to stand by and wait, only to find out that they are not getting the Gaming License. They want to have the ball rolling if it turns out that they have to move. Team President Ken Sawyer told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette yesterday in regard to entertaining offers this summer: "We'll see where we are at that point. I think it's fair to say that I owe it to our investors to protect their investment and to consider all options."
General Manager Craig Patrick has said that the team intends to go with a bare bones roster the rest of the way. Meaning they are going forward with 12 forwards, 6 defensemen and 2 goalies. They are planning on putting Marc Andre Fleury and Ryan Whitney on the Wilkes Barre-Scranton clear day roster, making them eligible for the Calder Cup Playoffs. It isn't known if any other players currently in Pittsburgh will be added to the roster. Potential candidates could be: Colby Armstrong, Tomas Surovy, Michel Ouellet and Konstantin Koltsov. All of these players would have to clear waivers and the Penguins have stated that they do not want to lose any of them that way. The only other option would be sending them on conditioning assignments for the length of the playoffs. It would be nice to see some of these young Penguins taste some success.
posted by Bmetzer66 at 2:32 PM
2 Comments:
So the new CBA did not close the "conditioning assignment" loophole that gave us (by us, I mean WBS) Tom Kostopolous for the run two years ago, I take it. I wonder how many times CP will use that cop-out to send down as many as he can. Thoughts?
I am not certain if the loophole has been closed or not. Jonathan Bombulie speculated about this posibility as well. I think that if it is a possibility, Patrick will exploit it, along with a lot of other teams. From what I understand the team will do nothing to risk losing any pieces of the future...they do seem to want the Calder this year though. Marc Andre will be there as well as Whitney....beyond that we will see. I think a lot of these young guys deserve a chance at success though....they will be there if it is feasible!
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