Brooks Orpik Has A Heart.

Today was, all in all, a good day for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. As a whole, the first two days of free agency have been solid. Yes, we've lost a few role players, but they can and will be replaced. Dupuis, Eaton, and Godard are all solid role players. Evgeni Malkin will be here for six more years- Yes, the Pens did sign the best player of the day. And keeping Brooks Orpik was essential, a physical presence, a veteran of the Penguin franchise, and a locker room leader in the future. Bank on it, Free Candy will be wearing a well deserved "A" on his jersey. Marian Hossa is a phenomenal player, but he cost too much anyways, and without him, the Pens will sign, or already have signed (who knows?), two or three B+ players, instead of one A player.

Under most circumstances, I would not be so angered at Marian Hossa for leaving the Penguins. But circumstances can be tricky, as I'm sure you know. Here is what makes us all think of Marian "Blowssa" Hossa as a dirty, backstabbing, European.

a- Marian told us specifically only a few weeks ago that he'd be fine taking less to stay here
b- Marian went to another team that offered him even less money than the Pens
c- Marian went to a team that just crushed our dreams earlier this summer
d- Marian took verbal shots at us, saying that the Wings were a better team
e- With Hossa on the Pens, they'd have been the Cup favorite too
f- He lied to us

But as I have said before, for every negative, there is a positve.
For every backstabbing, greedy, dirty, lying European douchebag, there is a hard, loyal worker.
For every Marian Hossa, there is a Brooks Orpik.
For every Marian Hossa, there is Free Candy.

Free Candy could've left. The Sharks, Thrashers, and Kings, were all offering him very lucrative deals believed to be in the 4.5 million dollar range. Hell, Orpik could've gotten 5 million dollars had he been bargaining hard. Hell, Ron Hainsey (whoever that is) got 4.5 million or some absurd dollar figure like that. It seemed a forgone conclusion that it would take 4.5 mil, or
Free Candy would've been out the door.

But Brooksie knew that the Pens could not afford to overpay him so badly like these other teams.
Brooksie showed some love for the little guy having a bad day.

Brooks Orpik breathed life into a fanbase in need of air.

And now the Pens have one of the best defensive groups in hockey.

Gonchar, Orpik, Whitney, Letang, Gill, Eaton, Scuderi, Sydor.

ALL OF THEM ARE SOUND DEFENSIVELY.
3 OF THEM CAN CONTRIBUTE OFFENSIVELY.

Sydor will be dumped most likely, and Letang and Gill will likely rotate through the lineup.
There is also a chance the Pens could role seven defenseman.

It's a very good problem to have.

Not to mention they two best players in the world on the same team for the next 5 years.

Or that they have one of the best young goaltenders in hockey.

Or that they are still one of the youngest teams in the NHL as a whole.

Or even that they have playoff experience coming out their ears.

Or that they are going to have 2-3 more top six wingers signed by the end of this week.


Enough said.

P.S. Hossa is more replaceable than Brooks Orpik.

Bye Hossa. Rot in Hell.

We want team players, not backstabbing dicks.

Peace.