Tuesday was a huge day in the NHL. HUGE.
So big that I nearly made the font larger for this entire post.
It was a day in which we, as Pens fans, said goodbye to a few great men.
==========================================================
Adam Hall
Adam Hall's Penguin career was not long by any stretch.
He was injured for a good portion of the season.
He began the year wearing the number 18.
Then his injury came along.
He missed so much time, that by the time he got back,
another 18, Marian Hossa had been brought in.
Hall's number changed to 28.
His play changed too.
Adam Hall discovered who he was.
Hall was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the playoffs.
But when Gary Roberts went down with pneumonia,
it was Adam Hall's time to shine.
He entered the lineup in Game 3 against Ottawa,
and was an immediate presence on the penalty kill.
In Game 2 against the New York Rangers,
Hall was strong all game, one of the most noticeable 4th liners on the ice.
He sealed the deal that day with a long bomb into the empty net.
Hall continued his strong play in the next round, the Eastern Final with Philadelphia.
Adam had a few points. He killed penalties.
He did all the little things.
He helped to make the likes of Jordan Staal look very good.
Then came the Stanley Cup Finals.
With the Pens down 2-0 in the series, and the Wings staging a comeback in Game 3,
Adam Hall, in the opening moments of the third period, scored a clutch goal to win the game.
The image of Hall putting the puck behind Osgood is my favorite action shot of the year.
In Game 5, Hall was in good position as he took a Nik Kronwall shot off the foot,
and redirected it into the net. The Pens won by one goal in 3 OT.
1.8 million dollars over three years. Tampa Bay.
Thank you Adam Hall.
=========================================================
But Adam Hall was not the only warrior lost to the free agent battle today.
Ty Conklin
We knew this one was coming, but it still hurts.
Conkblock's performance in the Winter Classic, coupled with his winning streak
to save the Penguin season, will etch him in Penguins lore forever.
When Marc-Andre Fleury went down in mid-December with a high ankle sprain,
people in this city were feeling doomed, thinking that the season had been lost.
After all, there was no way Ty Conklin, a career underachiever, a backup, or Dany Sabourin, who had been a major question mark all season until that point, could carry the Pens for a few months while MAF licked his wounds.
But Ty Conklin did.
It started with a shootout win in Boston.
Erik Christensen and Kris Letang scored for the Pens, and Conkblock stopped both Bruins he faced, and then we all knew...
Ty Conklin had what it took.
His run took him through Florida, where the Pens never won in past years.
With Conks minding the cage, the Pens swept the Floridian swing.
His path went through Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo.
Conklin was absolutely masterful in another shootout win in the memorable game.
He stopped two Sabres, and watched with pride as Letang and Crosby won it for the Pens.
He won convincingly almost every night out, beating solid teams like the Rangers.
Making it look so easy.
Conklin's first loss came over half a month after he took over.
A shootout defeat to Atlanta at the hands of Mark Recchi.
Oh, the irony, I know.
He played none in the postseason, but he remained a team player to the end.
He'll be backing up Chris Osgood in Detroit next year.
750 thousand dollars.
That was all it took. The Pens could've had him.
Shit.
=======================================================
But the news was not all bad on this day!
On a more positive note,
the Pens have framework in place for a new contract for Evgeni Malkin.
Hate to say I told you so.
========================================================
The Pens signed Eric Godard. He comes at half the price of Georges Laraque.
We'll miss BGL, but Godard is much younger and cheaper.
And I didn't mention that the dude can throw down.
He played with Calgary last year.
A very solid enforcer.
He fights.
Pyramid.
Ends.
When Laraque is officially signed somewhere else, he'll get a farewell too. Don't worry BGL.
========================================================
Pascal Dupuis was locked up for 3 years. Good news.
Mark Eaton was signed for 2 years. Good news.
=========================================================
Now we turn our focus, to tomorrow. There are many names still out there, and a few of them are targeted by the Pens.
=========================================================
Marian Hossa is still available.
It might even lead you to believe that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh!
4 teams are thought to be frontrunners for him-
All of the other teams have or will have cap issues if they sign him.
The Pens won't.
We can still hope here. There is a chance.
TSN.
==========================================================
Brooks Orpik
He has shown over the past couple weeks that the candy... is not free after all.
But Brooks had offers on the table today from multiple teams.
The Kings, Thrashers, and the Rangers all put in offers.
With New York signing Redden and Roszival, scratch them off the list.
And does Orpik really want to play in non-hockey cities like Los Angeles and Atlanta?
No way.
LGP Thread.
========================================================
The Pens are interested in Jaromir Jagr.
If he comes cheap enough, or if the Pens fail in their quest for Marian Hossa,
the Pens will sign this man. Nothing sweeter than ending it where it started, with another Cup.
And I have a good feeling that he might even stop getting booed.
Sportsnet.
==========================================================
Markus Naslund is still in play for Pittsburgh as well.
He made no decisions on Tuesday.
The Pens are rumored to have made an offer to him.
He'd be a perfect fit with Sidney Crosby centering him.
Could the ghost of Stojanov be put to rest?
We'll see.
TIOPS.
===========================================================
Kristian Huselius would also figure to be in play.
He made no choices Tuesday.
If he comes cheap, the Pens are said to be interested in him as well.
TIOPS.
===========================================================
Tomorrow will be a revealing day for sure.
We will know tomorrow the fates of Marian Hossa, Brooks Orpik, and many more.
Just pray, just pray.
===========================================================
Stunningly, there are 29 other teams in the NHL, and some big things happened today.
TSN FREE AGENT TRACKER.
Some of the more notable moves of the day.
I won't include the salary or the years, just who signed where.
Don't be lazy. You can look for yourself there. I even gave you the link.
Take that to the bank.
Mike Green resigns with Capitals.
Salvador, Pandolfo and Clarkson resign with Devils. (All in a few minutes)
Brad Stuart resigns with Red Wings.
Corey Perry resigns with Ducks.
Radim Vrbata signs with Lightning.
Blake Wheeler signs with Bruins.
Andrew Brunette signs with Wild.
Darcy Tucker signs with Avalanche.
Niklas Hagman signs with Leafs.
Devils sign Brian Rolston
Brian Campbell signs with Blackhawks.
Mark Streit signs with Islanders.
Mike Ryder signs with Bruins.
Goalies were moving as well. Eight of them switched teams.
Here are the most notable.
Huet to Chicago.
Theodore replaces Huet in Washington.
Kolzig to Tampa. Do they really think he's the answer?
Alex Auld to Sens. Whatev.
Raycroft to Colorado. Ineresting competition up there?
Conks to Wings. You knew that.
CuJo to the Leafs. Sighs.
Lalime to Sabres. When will he quit?
======================================================
And the best news of the day, even greater than Malkin's contract.
................................
.................................
THE NEW YORK RANGERS HAVE 11 MILLION DOLLARS LOCKED UP IN MICHAEL ROSZIVAL AND WADE REDDEN!
I wonder how Glenn Sather, Rangers GM will like it in 3 years when Roszival is unable to skate without a cain, and when Wade Redden is a dried up, spit out piece of tobacco who is soft.
Oh, wait, both of those things already happened!
Two of the stupidest free agency moves I've seen. Ever.
And they took themselves out of the Orpik sweepstakes.
========================================================
LONGEST POST EVER
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Go Pens.
And I leave you now with this video of Eric Godard. Fighting.
The YouTube embedder messed up again.
Longest post.
Peace.
It was a day in which we, as Pens fans, said goodbye to a few great men.
==========================================================
Adam Hall
Adam Hall's Penguin career was not long by any stretch.
He was injured for a good portion of the season.
He began the year wearing the number 18.
Then his injury came along.
He missed so much time, that by the time he got back,
another 18, Marian Hossa had been brought in.
Hall's number changed to 28.
His play changed too.
Adam Hall discovered who he was.
Hall was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the playoffs.
But when Gary Roberts went down with pneumonia,
it was Adam Hall's time to shine.
He entered the lineup in Game 3 against Ottawa,
and was an immediate presence on the penalty kill.
In Game 2 against the New York Rangers,
Hall was strong all game, one of the most noticeable 4th liners on the ice.
He sealed the deal that day with a long bomb into the empty net.
Hall continued his strong play in the next round, the Eastern Final with Philadelphia.
Adam had a few points. He killed penalties.
He did all the little things.
He helped to make the likes of Jordan Staal look very good.
Then came the Stanley Cup Finals.
With the Pens down 2-0 in the series, and the Wings staging a comeback in Game 3,
Adam Hall, in the opening moments of the third period, scored a clutch goal to win the game.
The image of Hall putting the puck behind Osgood is my favorite action shot of the year.
In Game 5, Hall was in good position as he took a Nik Kronwall shot off the foot,
and redirected it into the net. The Pens won by one goal in 3 OT.
1.8 million dollars over three years. Tampa Bay.
Thank you Adam Hall.
=========================================================
But Adam Hall was not the only warrior lost to the free agent battle today.
Ty Conklin
We knew this one was coming, but it still hurts.
Conkblock's performance in the Winter Classic, coupled with his winning streak
to save the Penguin season, will etch him in Penguins lore forever.
When Marc-Andre Fleury went down in mid-December with a high ankle sprain,
people in this city were feeling doomed, thinking that the season had been lost.
After all, there was no way Ty Conklin, a career underachiever, a backup, or Dany Sabourin, who had been a major question mark all season until that point, could carry the Pens for a few months while MAF licked his wounds.
But Ty Conklin did.
It started with a shootout win in Boston.
Erik Christensen and Kris Letang scored for the Pens, and Conkblock stopped both Bruins he faced, and then we all knew...
Ty Conklin had what it took.
His run took him through Florida, where the Pens never won in past years.
With Conks minding the cage, the Pens swept the Floridian swing.
His path went through Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo.
Conklin was absolutely masterful in another shootout win in the memorable game.
He stopped two Sabres, and watched with pride as Letang and Crosby won it for the Pens.
He won convincingly almost every night out, beating solid teams like the Rangers.
Making it look so easy.
Conklin's first loss came over half a month after he took over.
A shootout defeat to Atlanta at the hands of Mark Recchi.
Oh, the irony, I know.
He played none in the postseason, but he remained a team player to the end.
He'll be backing up Chris Osgood in Detroit next year.
750 thousand dollars.
That was all it took. The Pens could've had him.
Shit.
=======================================================
But the news was not all bad on this day!
On a more positive note,
the Pens have framework in place for a new contract for Evgeni Malkin.
Hate to say I told you so.
========================================================
The Pens signed Eric Godard. He comes at half the price of Georges Laraque.
We'll miss BGL, but Godard is much younger and cheaper.
And I didn't mention that the dude can throw down.
He played with Calgary last year.
A very solid enforcer.
He fights.
Pyramid.
Ends.
When Laraque is officially signed somewhere else, he'll get a farewell too. Don't worry BGL.
========================================================
Pascal Dupuis was locked up for 3 years. Good news.
Mark Eaton was signed for 2 years. Good news.
=========================================================
Now we turn our focus, to tomorrow. There are many names still out there, and a few of them are targeted by the Pens.
=========================================================
Marian Hossa is still available.
No news is good news here. As long as Fiesta isn't jumping right on to some big contract,
we know that he is having second thoughts about taking money over a Cup shot.It might even lead you to believe that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh!
4 teams are thought to be frontrunners for him-
All of the other teams have or will have cap issues if they sign him.
The Pens won't.
We can still hope here. There is a chance.
TSN.
==========================================================
Brooks Orpik
He has shown over the past couple weeks that the candy... is not free after all.
But Brooks had offers on the table today from multiple teams.
The Kings, Thrashers, and the Rangers all put in offers.
With New York signing Redden and Roszival, scratch them off the list.
And does Orpik really want to play in non-hockey cities like Los Angeles and Atlanta?
No way.
LGP Thread.
========================================================
The Pens are interested in Jaromir Jagr.
If he comes cheap enough, or if the Pens fail in their quest for Marian Hossa,
the Pens will sign this man. Nothing sweeter than ending it where it started, with another Cup.
And I have a good feeling that he might even stop getting booed.
Sportsnet.
==========================================================
Markus Naslund is still in play for Pittsburgh as well.
He made no decisions on Tuesday.
The Pens are rumored to have made an offer to him.
He'd be a perfect fit with Sidney Crosby centering him.
Could the ghost of Stojanov be put to rest?
We'll see.
TIOPS.
===========================================================
Kristian Huselius would also figure to be in play.
He made no choices Tuesday.
If he comes cheap, the Pens are said to be interested in him as well.
TIOPS.
===========================================================
Tomorrow will be a revealing day for sure.
We will know tomorrow the fates of Marian Hossa, Brooks Orpik, and many more.
Just pray, just pray.
===========================================================
Stunningly, there are 29 other teams in the NHL, and some big things happened today.
TSN FREE AGENT TRACKER.
Some of the more notable moves of the day.
I won't include the salary or the years, just who signed where.
Don't be lazy. You can look for yourself there. I even gave you the link.
Take that to the bank.
Mike Green resigns with Capitals.
Salvador, Pandolfo and Clarkson resign with Devils. (All in a few minutes)
Brad Stuart resigns with Red Wings.
Corey Perry resigns with Ducks.
Radim Vrbata signs with Lightning.
Blake Wheeler signs with Bruins.
Andrew Brunette signs with Wild.
Darcy Tucker signs with Avalanche.
Niklas Hagman signs with Leafs.
Devils sign Brian Rolston
Brian Campbell signs with Blackhawks.
Mark Streit signs with Islanders.
Mike Ryder signs with Bruins.
Goalies were moving as well. Eight of them switched teams.
Here are the most notable.
Huet to Chicago.
Theodore replaces Huet in Washington.
Kolzig to Tampa. Do they really think he's the answer?
Alex Auld to Sens. Whatev.
Raycroft to Colorado. Ineresting competition up there?
Conks to Wings. You knew that.
CuJo to the Leafs. Sighs.
Lalime to Sabres. When will he quit?
======================================================
And the best news of the day, even greater than Malkin's contract.
................................
.................................
THE NEW YORK RANGERS HAVE 11 MILLION DOLLARS LOCKED UP IN MICHAEL ROSZIVAL AND WADE REDDEN!
I wonder how Glenn Sather, Rangers GM will like it in 3 years when Roszival is unable to skate without a cain, and when Wade Redden is a dried up, spit out piece of tobacco who is soft.
Oh, wait, both of those things already happened!
Two of the stupidest free agency moves I've seen. Ever.
And they took themselves out of the Orpik sweepstakes.
========================================================
LONGEST POST EVER
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Go Pens.
And I leave you now with this video of Eric Godard. Fighting.
The YouTube embedder messed up again.
Longest post.
Peace.
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