Monthly Archives: July 2012

Around the NHL 7/27

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The off-season continues as yet another elite level player switches organizations.

 

  • Predators match offer sheet of 14 years, 100+ million that Shea Weber signed with the Philadelphia Flyers last week.

-NSH exercised their Right to First Refusal and matched the terms of the Offer Sheet within the 7 day time frame to lock the 26-year-old up.
-Had the Preds decided to let Weber sign with PHI, they would have received four 1st round draft picks as compensation.
-Weber now must play entire 2012-13 season with NSH before exploring possibilities of a trade.
-TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the Flyers offered Matt Read, Andrej Meszaros, a first rounder, two second rounders and a third round choice for Weber.
-Ilya Bryzgalov and Flyers fans are understandably disappointed.

 

 

  • Risk Nash traded from Columbus Blue Jackets to New York Rangers

-Brandon Dubinsky (C), Artem Anisimov (C), top prospect Tim Erixon (D) and a first-round pick in 2013 were included in package.
-The Rangers also received a conditional third-round pick and minor league D-man Steve Delisle in deal.
-Marian Gaborik, Brad Richards, and Nash will presumably be linemates next year for NYR.
-In conclusion, Scott Howson may be the worst GM in the league.
-The Atlantic Division is now considered the top division in hockey.

 

 

  • A rumor has been spreading that the Penguins were offering Paul Martin, Pascal Dupuis, one of their blue chip D prospects and a 1st to Minnesota for Dany Heatley

-FALSE. It has been confirmed that it is completely untrue as Pittsburgh hasn’t even had preliminary discussions with the Wild on that front.

 

  • Nail Yakupov (Edmonton), Ryan Murray (CBJ) and Alex Galchenyuk (Montreal) all signed their NHL entry level contracts

-All three highly touted prospects are expected to compete in September’s training camp for respective NHL spots. We expect Yakupov and Murray to be locks for their teams, but expect Galchenyuk to return to juniors for one more season.

 

  • Steve Staios retires, joins Maple Leafs staff

-A reliable NHL defenseman for years on end, expect Staios to bring in a positive attitude and dynamic to the locker room and organization. Only one year removed from his own playing career, you can place a good bet that he will be a “player’s coach”.

 

Written by BangBodies.com staff member, Richie Stark. You can follow him on Twitter @rcs5188.

 

Update: Shane Doan plans to visit Pittsburgh

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Shane Doan is “checking his options”.

NHL.com is reporting that Doan has visited the Philadelphia Flyers and now the New York Rangers facilities.

The soon-to-be 36-year old has spent his entire 16 year NHL career with the same Phoenix Coyotes organization. His agent states that he could return there for yet another season, but with only a few years left in his playing career and his bare ring finger, don’t be surprised if he signs a multi-year deal with a steady, contending Eastern Conference squad.

The Flyers and Rangers would absolutely be put into that category. So would Pittsburgh.

Doan is expected to visit the Penguins facilities and management this week, and could be as early as this Friday.

As we wrote only a few weeks ago, BangBodies.com feels that Doan would be a great fit on the team the way it currently sits. His mix of veteran presence, offensive polish, grit and experience would benefit greatly as a cog on Sidney Crosby’s line.

The Penguins have utilized 49 of their available 50 contracts. The Pens have a contract offer in for Doan, believed to be of a 2-year term worth $9 million.

If Doan or an Alex Semin type player isn’t brought in, you can expect the final contract to be given to a younger depth player bound for the AHL (i.e. Matt Rust, Jack Downing, Chace Polacek, Tyler McNeely) or even a top American League fighting forward (Pierre-Luc Létourneau-Leblond, Francis Lessard, Guillaume Desbiens, Zack Stortini).

 

Penguins Pre-Season to be Televised

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The Pittsburgh Penguins will have at least the majority of their pre-season exhibition games televised again this year.

Monday, Sept. 24 at Columbus 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 26 DETROIT 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 29 COLUMBUS 3 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 30 at Chicago 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 3 at Detroit 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 5 CHICAGO 7 p.m

The games in red will be shown on Root Sports Pittsburgh (HD).

The September 26th game against Detroit at home is believed to be televised by the NHL Network (HD), and there is no word on the September 24th game in Columbus.

 

Analyzing the Benn Ferriero signing

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Using their 49th (out of 50) contract, the Pittsburgh Penguins bolstered their minor league depth bringing in former San Jose Sharks forward Benn Ferriero (pronounced “FAIRY-OH”) on a 1 year, 2-way deal worth 700k.

The 25-year-old split time between Worcester’s 1st line in the AHL and San Jose’s bottom-6 mostly last season. Known as a versalite, hard working player with nautral great skating ability. He also plays with some grit and is very responsible defensively.

Our take:

This is a top notch depth signing. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach John Hynes was behind this pick-up. A lot of the young guys will be relied on heavily such as first-year pro’s Beau Bennett and Tom Kuhnhackl, and 2nd-year pro Paul Thompson on the wing. With limited professional experience, they will need as much help and support as they can get.

He will most likely be the first call up at forward and he doesn’t count against AHL veteran limit.

The former Boston College standout also has a knack for scoring big goals at clutch moments during games. In his first career NHL playoff game, Ferriero won the game in overtime against the Detroit Red Wings, with a wrister from the half wall:

 

Ferriero’s first NHL goal against Jonas Hiller of the Anaheim Ducks:

 

“History Makes A Name For Itself” – NHL Commercial:

 

Ferriero hit on Dan Hamhuis:

 

Fight vs. Ian Cole of St. Louis Blues:

Around the NHL 7/18

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Not only will we be covering the Pittsburgh Penguins organization extensively, but we have all the latest inside info from around the league as well. Here is our first ever edition of “Around the NHL”.

 

  • Detroit makes large pitch for Nash but CBJ are unwilling to deal with Red Wings

-Likely that Valtteri Filppula and or Johan Franzen would be included in trade.
-Detroit fans and management see the 28-year-old Filppula as a key component to their success moving forward.
-Filppula’s contract is set to expire at the end of next season, so he’d likely be a 1 year rental.
-Nash’s no-trade clause is setting him up to move to NYR, PHI, PIT, BOS, or SJS.

 

  • Dominik Hasek, 47, and Mike Modano, 42, both exploring possibility of NHL return

-Hasek is the only goalie in NHL history to win 2 Hart Trophies.
-Modano has legitimate claim as the greatest American born players of all time.
-Terrible, terrible idea for any GM to give either a call at this point in their lifetime.

 

  • PJ Axelsson, 37, is also looking to make his return

-10th all-time in GP for the Boston Bruins, B’s fans are hoping that the 3rd line grinder will rejoin the team after a few years in Sweden.

 

  • Scott Stevens hired as assistant coach of NJD

-Has been serving as a “behind the scenes” assistant in the locker room for the past year or so.
-Best news NJD has had all off-season.
-Look for him to teach 6’3″ 220lb Adam Larsson, 4th overall pick in the 2011 NHL draft, how to bang bodies.

 

  • Season ticket renewals and sales are at a all-time high for the Phoenix Coyotes

-Hope they can stay, Pens fans should remember this feeling all too well.

 

  • Jets looking to sign Evander Kane for 6 years.

-Somewhere in the range of 27-33 million, using Tavares and Kessel’s contracts as references.
-The 20 year old impending RFA had 30 goals and 27 assists last year.

 

  • Mike Green re-signs with Washington for 3 years, 18.25 mil.

-Capitals fans are excited to have him back, but some are calling him overpaid.
-Green gets a raise after 2 unhealthy years.
-Caps still have about 10 mil in cap space after this signing.

 

Written by BangBodies.com staff member, Richie Stark. You can follow him on Twitter @rcs5188.

 

Top Prospects Update

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The Pittsburgh Penguins top prospects section is now complete with the 12 newly drafted and/or acquired players from the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Marcantuoni
Matia Marcantuoni, considered the steal of the 2012 Draft, scored a promising goal in Saturday’s scrimmage game.

 

All ranked prospects have a link up to their own page, including a detailed scouting report, NHL comparison, future projection, and more.

The rankings have also been updated accordingly, in our opinion, by position.

Let us know your opinion and thoughts on Twitter, @EricP55.

 

Scouting Report: Teddy Blueger

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Name: Teddy Blueger           2012-13 Club: Minnesota State (NCAA) or Oshawa (OHL)
aka: Theodor Blueger

Height/Weight: 5’11, 180

DOB: 8/15/1994

National Team: Latvia 

 

Drafted: 2nd round (52nd overall), 2012 (Pittsburgh)

Out of: Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS)

Acquired: Draft

 

Player Type: Playmaker

Comparable: David Krejci

 

Assets: Vision, above average passing, work ethic, defensively responsible

Could improve: Size and strength, bring a consistently physical game

 

Projected: Blueger is another player that the Penguins had very ranked high on their draft board compared to others. He is currently deciding whether to take the OHL or NCAA route for next season. His upside is very high offensively, and projects as a top-6 NHL center. His highest attribute is by far his playmaking and passing ability, as he can distribute the puck to areas on the ice that seem almost impossible to do so.

 

Featured Video: (#21 in White)

Scouting Report: Sean Maguire

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Name: Sean Maguire                     2012-13 Club: Boston University (NCAA)

Height/Weight: 6’2, 201

DOB: 2/2/1994

National Team: Canada

@smag31

 

Drafted: 4th round (113th overall), 2012 (Pittsburgh)

Out of: Powell River Kings (BCHL)

Acquired: Draft

 

Goalie Type: Hybrid

Comparable: Cory Schneider

 

Assets: Athleticism, never quit attitude, hard worker, lateral movement

Could improve: Playing the puck, glove hand, poise

 

Projected: Maguire, the second goalie chosen by Pittsburgh in the 2012 draft, also has aspirations to play in the NHL one day. He stood tall in net for the World Junior-A Canada West team, and led them to a gold medal at the Tier 2 Championships. Maguire has NHL potential due to his natural size and athleticism, but he must start his development on the right path next season at Boston University.

 

Featured Video:

 

Scouting Report: Matt Murray

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Name: Matt Murray                        2012-13 Club: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

Height/Weight: 6’3, 159

DOB: 5/25/1994

National Team: Canada

@mattmurray_30

 

Drafted: 3rd round (83rd overall), 2012 (Pittsburgh)

Out of: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

Acquired: Draft

 

GoalieType: Butterfly

Comparable: Jonas Gustavsson

 

Assets: Tall, mental toughness, hockey sense, stays square with shooters

Could improve: Fill out his lanky frame, rebound control, skating quickness, lateral movement

 

Projected: Murray, rated in the top 5 available goalies out of the 2012 draft, maintains NHL potential as he currently stands. Whether that’s starting or a back-up role is what remains to be seen. His height, technical ability, and mental toughness is what could separate him from others in a good way. This season, he will be in his first ever starter’s role in the OHL with Sault Ste. Marie.

 

Featured Video:

Scouting Report: Jeff Zatkoff

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Name: Jeff Zatkoff                         2012-13 Club: Wilkes-Barre (AHL)

Height/Weight: 6’2, 192

DOB: 6/9/1987

National Team: USA

@jeffzatkoff

 

Drafted: 3rd round (74th overall), 2006 (Los Angeles)

Out of: Miami University (NCAA)

Acquired: Signed as a free agent on July 1, 2012

 

Goalie Type: Butterfly

Comparable: Brian Elliott

 

Assets: Composure, above average poise and presence, stays square with shooters

Could improve: Lateral quickness, stay positive mentally, puck handling

 

Projected: Zatkoff fell out of favor with the Los Angeles Kings organization after putting four pretty good pro seasons together, thanks to the emergence of NHL’ers Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier. Entering his final season of “prospect eligibility” at 25, Zatkoff is now looking to beat out Brad Thiessen for the number one goaltending spot in Wilkes-Barre. He maintains NHL back-up potential, and could very well be Pittsburgh’s #2 in two years after Tomas Vokoun’s departure.

 

Featured Video: