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Thursday, 07 July 2011 01:00

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

Penguins

-Evgeni Malkin (above) cares not for your Virginia Slims ladies.

-Today's "The-Civic-Arena-Situation-is-Still-a-Mess" story involves a lawsuit!

-Former Penguins forward Matthew Barnaby was ordered to preform 500 hours of community service and to continue anger management counseling in relation to charges of felony criminal mischief, criminal contempt, criminal trespass, harassment and aggravated harassment following a domestic disturbance in Getzville, N.Y. May 13

-Happy 37th birthday to former Penguins goaltender Patrick Lalime (right). A sixth-round pick in 1993, Lalime made his NHL debut in 1996-97. He would go 14-0-2 in his first 16 stars and establish a still-standing NHL record for longest unbeaten streak to start a career for a goaltender. Lalime would finish with a 21-12-2 record along with a 2.94 goals against average, .913 save percentage and three shutouts and was named to the NHL's all-rookie team. It would end up being his only season with the Penguins as he would hold out the 1997-98 season due to a contract squabble. At the 1998 trade deadline, his signing rights were dealt to the Mighty Ducks in exchange for Sean Pronger. Lalime spent last season with the Sabres.

Atlantic Division

-Former Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau shot down speculation he was in line to take over as the Devils' head coach.

-The Trenton Devils, the New Jersey Devils' ECHL affiliate, will suspend operations for the 2011-12 season.

-A couple of former Penguins now with the Rangers switched some jersey numbers. Ruslan Fedotenko is now No. 26. Erik Christensen (right) will sport No. 40. And Mike Rupp will be No. 71.

-Thinking Out Loud: Clearly, Rupp decision to leave Pittsburgh was rooted in that jerk Evgeni Malkin being selfish.

-Keeping with the Ex-Penguins changing jersey numbers theme, new Flyers forward Maxime Talbot will wear No. 27.

Northeast Division

-The Maple Leafs signed former Avalanche forward Philippe Dupuis to a one-year two-way contract. In 74 games last season, Dupuis scored 17 points (six goals, 11 assists).

-“There are a lot of goalies who have come in and had a brief, spectacular burst in the NHL that don't sustain it. Jim Carey is one. Steve Penney is one. What I said to James Reimer is ‘Google both of those guys and make sure you're not one of them.’ I think he's got the temperament to build on what he did. He's got the physical stamina and strength. I'm not worried about him.” - Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke comparing Toronto goaltender to former Capitals goaltender Jim Carey and former Canadiens goaltender Steve Penney.

-Burke also got around to accusing the Rangers and forward Brad Richards, the biggest name on the free agent market, of striking a deal which circumvents the salary cap.

-The Senators re-signed restricted free agent forward Erik Condra (right) to a two-year contract worth a total of $1.25 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $625,000. In 26 games last season, Condra scored 11 points (six goals, five assists).

-The Canadiens signed former Wheeling Nailers goaltender Peter Delmas to a three-year entry-level contract.

Southeast Division

-The Capitals signed restricted free agent forward Troy Brouwer to a two-year contract worth a total of $4.7 million. He will have a salary cap hit of $2.35 million. In 79 games with the Blackhawks last season, Brouwer scored 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists). His signing rights were acquired in a trade with the Blackhawks last month.

-EN Says: Brouwer is the exact type of player the Capitals need. He tough. He's aggressive. He has some size. And he has a Stanley Cup ring. Getting him for $2.35 million is fair.

-The Panthers re-signed restricted free agent forward Mike Santorelli (right) to a two-year contract. Financial terms were not revealed. In 82 games last season, Santorelli scored 41 points (20 goals, 21 assists).

-EN Says: Assuming the money is right (not a safe assumption with the Panthers), Santorelli has the potential to be an explosive playmaker on offense. He doesn't offer much on defense, but 20 goals is 20 goals.

-The Panthers hired former assistant coach Craig Ramsay again as assistant coach. Ramsay has been the head coach of the Sabres, Thrashers and Flyers.

-The Lightning signed former Canadiens forward Tom Pyatt to a one-year, two-way contract. In 61 games last season, Pyatt scored seven points (two goals, five assists).

Central Division

-The Blues signed former Capitals forward Jason Arnott and former Stars forward Jamie Langenbrunner (right) each to one-year contracts worth a total of $2.5 million. In 73 games last season, Arnott scored 31 points (17 goals, 14 assists). In 70 games last season, Langenbrunner scored 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists).

-EN Says: The Blues are a pretty young team with the likes of T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund and David Perron as the core of the franchise. Adding a few grizzled veterans with Stanley Cup rings and who have been captains with other teams will certainly benefit. And at one-year deals with low cap hits, these additions won't impact the team financially a great deal.

-The Blue Jackets signed former Islanders defenseman Radek Martinek to a a one-year contract worth a total of $2.2 million. In 64 games last season, Martinek scored 16 points (three goals, 13 assists).

-EN Says: Martinek offers a pretty well-rounded game and offers something in all areas. At 34, age is starting to wear on him as he tends to get injured.

Northwest Division

-The Wild re-signed restricted free agent forward Colton Gillies (right) to a two-year contract worth a total of $1.25 million. In seven games last season, he scored one assist.

Pacific Division

-The Ducks signed former Oilers forward Jean-Francois Jacques to a one-year two-way contract. In 51 games last season, Jacques scored six points (four goals, one assists).

-The Coyotes signed minor league defensemen Nathan Oystrick and Dean Arsene and forward Matt Watkins to one-year two-way contracts.

Norris Division

-Former Kings/Islanders Canucks forward Jeff Tambellini (right) has joined ZSC of the NLA in Switzerland.

-The South Korean city of Pyeongchang will host the 2018 Winter Olympics.

-Thinking Out Loud: With Pyeongchang 13 hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone in the United States, it's difficult to imagine the NHL getting much of a benefit by competing in the 2018 Games.

(Photos: Malkin-Rick Stewart/Getty Images; Lalime-Penguins Hockey Cards; Fedotenko and Gillies-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; Condra and Langenbrunner-Jim McIsaac/Getty Images; Santorelli and Tambellini-Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Comments (2)

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written by GenoSid, July 07, 2011 - 05:49 AM

I am as big a Penguin's fan as there is and I loved the Civic/Mellon Arena as much as anyone...but, I...have no nice words to say about these "historical preservationists."

As long as we have the Liberty Bell, the Statue of Liberty and a few building in DC...we'll be fine...we can manage without an old hockey rink in Pittsburgh.

Not every old building ever needs to be kept. Especially since these people don't actually seem to care about the arena in particular...they seem to just want to keep any old building they can.

PS- What DID ever happen to Jim Carey? The most I can piece together is that he was so rattled by Mario and Co. that he started a medical billing company...that story probably needs filled in a bit...

How do you go from Vezina to out of the league in 3 years?

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written by ncsurveygirl, July 08, 2011 - 07:25 PM

Why is Brian Burke such a bitter man? I think it will forever remain a mystery!

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