The rings.

Badass.

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Leafsx2, Montreal, Kessel, and more.

Didn’t get to see the game against the Blue Jackets. 5-4 Pens. 
Oh well.

Then on Friday, The Pens played Toronto: 4-3 Loss
Last night: Montreal: 4-3 Loss


And then, The Leafs again.
Of course watching these games (for us) requires a feed. Great.
Thank You FSN.

And of course some of the games aren’t televised at all.
Oh the preseason and the joy it brings.

After the jump…a look at some of the preseason games so far, the Phil Kessel trade/signing, Penguins Cuts/Roster/Lines

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Sykora and other stuff.

We don’t break news, but good for Petr.

$1.6m for 1-year.

The Penguins had $1.8m in cap space. It just wasn’t in the cards.

Also…the Pens cut 10 players.

Forwards:
Aaron Boogaard
Nicholas Petersen
Casey Pierro-Zabotel
Kevin Veilleux

Defense:
Lane Caffaro
Alex Grant
Brian Strait

Goal:
Jordan Parise
No real surprises.

• Boogaard is a much smaller version of his brother,
  even at 6’3 220. He played in Wilkes-Barre last year.
  
• Who is Nicholas Petersen?
  
• Veilleux is still pretty raw. He’s big, plays all 3 forward positions, and he’s got a scoring touch…let him develop.
  
• CPZ is an over-age player who excelled in a weak league with good teammates(Evander Kane). He’s overrated, but he’ll crack the NHL someday.
  
• Despite hearing good things about Alex Grant…not this year.
  He apparently has an NHL-caliber shot, but not much else.
  
• Strait looks promising too. Someday.
  
• Who is Lane Caffaro?
  
• Did you know Jordan Parise has a brother? Even if he’s good, it’s too soon for more brother talk.

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Happy Birthday Jordan Staal

With all the excitement around National Day in Gibraltar, most people probably forgot that today Jordan Staal turns 21.

Today, we’re going to look at some of Jordan Staal’s accomplishments in the NHL.

Did you know we’re on Twitter? (Did you care?)
By the way, no jump today.
When you get to the end, you're there.

After Staal was drafted in 2006, he looked to be a long shot to make the team that year.

During the first few weeks of the season, there was much debate as to whether he would be spending the year in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton or in Pittsburgh.

He ended up playing 81 NHL games and finished with 29g-13a-42pts in his rookie season.

Youngest player to score 2 shorthanded goals in a game-10/21/06

Youngest player to score on a penalty shot-10/21/06

Youngest player to score a hat trick-2/10/07

Most shorthanded goals by a rookie-7

2007-2008

Despite a disappointing offensive output in his second season as a Penguin(12g-14a-28pts), Staal showed progress as he moved from Malkin’s left wing to the third-line/shut down center.

2008-2009
Last summer we heard mumblings of Staal migrating back to the wing; taking on a top 6 role. He ended up centering the third line again, seemingly finding his niche.
Staal finished his third season with 22g-27a-49pts and some bling…

What a guy.

Going into his 4th NHL season, Staal has already cemented his reputation as an accomplished 2-way center, and it’s not a reach to suggest he’s rapidly becoming a premier 2-way player.
What do we have to look forward to in seasons to come?
Everything.
Jordan Staal is only scratching the surface of his potential.

Happy Birthday Mr. Staal.

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End of Summer

Remember those commercials?
”The Cup changes everything”

Yeah. This was the best summer in the burgh since ‘92.
I don’t even remember 1992.

Quick thoughts on the Pens:

• Jay McKee
  


For Gill, that would defy physics. Scuds just wasn’t the type.
If McKee stays healthy, will the Penguins have 2 Orpiks?


• We’re going to miss Petr Sykora, but we’re not going to miss certain things about him. In his place will likely be Max Talbot, although not to start the season. The Pens are losing a scoring touch(until June) and a slow perimeter player. Whoever fills Sykora’s spot on Malkin’s right will bring more defensive reliability and undoubtedly a better work rate.
  
  
• Mike Rupp. Nice. According to HockeyFights, Rupp had 16 fights last season and a record of 9-5-2. Only 5 less fights than Godard who went 11-5-5. Win%: Rupp .563 Godard: .523
  
  
• Guerin’s coming back. I think I’ve said this before, but if not, here it is again: I didn’t like the signing at the deadline.
  
  This is why I will never be a GM.
  
  
• Wade Brookbank and Wyatt Smith. How much of either of these 2 will we see in Pittsburgh? Wyatt Smith might log some time on the 4th line but he’s not really capable of a top 9 role, but as pathetic as that sounds, he plays solid D for a forward. Brookbank fights and, as far as I know, that’s about it.
  
  
• The comparison has probably been made a thousand times but doesn't Tyler Kennedy look like a slightly bigger Brian Gionta?
  

Nothing to watch after 1:32 or so. Literally just nothing there. Plus the video’s old.

	Kennedy	Gionta
1st NHL Season	.35ppg 07-08	.33ppg 01-02
2nd NHL Season	.52ppg 08-09	.43ppg 02-03

Those aren’t adjusted.

• Aside from his sophomore slump, is it too early to figure Jordan Staal for 20+ goals per season? He turns 21 on Thursday (9/10) and he’s played in 294 NHL games.

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