By David Strehle
NHL Hot Stove Managing Editor

The old saying “You can never go home again” may just apply to Philadelphia Flyers’ forwards Jaromir Jagr and Max Talbot as the team heads to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins tonight at CONSOL Energy Center.

Both Jagr and Talbot have experienced the biggest successes in their respective NHL careers in the ‘Burgh, each having been a part of a Stanley Cup championship Pens squad. The pair were key pieces in all three Penguins’ Cup victories over two different generations — – Jagr in both 1991 and 1992, and Talbot in 2009 — but both will likely feel the unbridled wrath of the Pittsburgh faithful, beginning when they come out to take part in the pre-game skate.

Al Bello / Getty Images

Jagr had actually been courted by GM Ray Shero and the Pens early in the summer, and a possible return to the scene of his greatest triumphs seemed all but a foregone conclusion for the future first ballot Hall-of-Famer, who had spent the past three seasons playing in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.

After both Jagr and Talbot signed with the Flyers as unrestricted free agents on July 1st, outraged Penguins’ fans voiced their obvious displeasure all across every social media platform available over what they felt were acts of traitors.

“When I was making the decision, I never thought that Pittsburgh fans would want me back,” Jagr said in a September conference call with the media. ”Every time I played there, they were booing me every time I touched the puck. I didn’t think it would be such a big deal that I didn’t sign with Pittsburgh.”

The connection to the Penguins is not nearly as fresh for Jagr as it is for Talbot, who played in Pittsburgh through last season. Jagr last played for the Pens more than a decade ago, with the 2000-01 campaign being his last with the organization. His status as the second best player ever to don the Black-and-Gold is still intact, as he is still the runner-up in every significant offensive category to the undisputed greatest Penguin of them all, Mario Lemieux.

As stated above in his own words, Jagr has heard the boos before, when he returned to the Civic / Mellon Arena as a member of the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers. He is expecting much of the same in his first visit to the CONSOL Energy Center, especially wearing the colors of one of Pittsburgh’s most hated rivals.

In fact, it’s likely going to sound a lot like when playing the Chexx dome hockey arcade game, when your opponent hits the ‘boo’ button. It’s pretty much the same noise as anytime a Canadiens’ player falls to the ice at Bell Centre, or each time a visiting captain touches the puck at MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Just imagine that sound magnified 18,600 times, each and every time Jagr or Talbot touch the puck. That’s probably a pretty fair assessment of how tonight will be in Pittsburgh.

Jagr has been an important cog in the Philadelphia offensive machine this season, anchoring the right side of a line with Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell. With 11 goals and 30 points in 31 games, the 39-year-old Jagr is still averaging nearly a point per game. He may have lost some of his explosiveness, but he is always a threat to score when on the ice.

At the tail end of Jagr’s September conference call, he tried to soften the blow for those hockey diehards who live on the western side of Pennsylvania.

”I had a chance to do what I thought was best for me. If I hurt anybody, I apologize, because I didn’t want to, but on the other side, I just don’t understand why people can be that mad about my decision.”

It’s a fairly safe assumption to say that Pens’ fans will attempt to make Jagr see their reasoning, and in an extremely vocal manner, tonight in Pittsburgh.

Even though he didn’t play nearly the all-encompassing role with the team as Jagr had during his time there, the very fact that Talbot inked a pact with the Penguins’ cross-state rivals still wreaked of treachery in Steel Town.

Photo credit: Paul Bereswill / Getty Images

The agitator had shifted momentum in meetings with Philadelphia in Pittsburgh’s favor through the years, none as evident as his fight with Dan Carcillo during Game 6 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. On the ensuing faceoff after Danny Briere scored to give the Orange-and-Black a commanding 3-0 lead and a Game 7 began to appear on the horizon, Talbot challenged Carcillo to a fight. “Mad Max” was beaten badly, but gave the half-delirious Philly fans the now infamous ”Shhhh” with index finger raised to his lips on the way to the penalty box. Ex-Flyer Ruslan Fedetenko scored just 14 seconds later, and the ice tilted in Pittsburgh’s favor the rest of the way en route to a 5-3, series clinching victory.

The Pens went on to win the Stanley Cup less than two months later.

That’s the type of player Talbot has been, one who will do anything to help his team win, and that endeared him all the more to Penguins’ fans.

Talbot has brought some of the grit and veteran presence that was lost in making the forwards corp a much younger group. He adds some of what had been missing since winger Ian Laperriere was lost with a skull fracture and severe concussion.

He has also thrown in some unexpected offense, having already surpassed his entire 2010-11 goal total – nine this year in 35 games, eight in 82 contests last year. On a club that came into the season with many question marks as to where the goals would come from after trading away Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, the importance of this kind of production cannot be stressed enough. 

Even though he had left, nothing could prepare supporters of the Pens for what Talbot said shortly after becoming a Flyer.

“It’s nice to be on the right side this time,” Talbot said via Flyers On The Fly on the club’s official site, regarding the ongoing bitter rivalry in the affectionately monikered ”Keystone Klash”. That’s right, apparently he now bleeds Orange-and-Black, also.

And don’t think for a second that the CONSOL Energy crowd will forget that, either.

Some have said the reason Pittsburgh is spelled with an “h” at the end is because it stands for ”home”. For Jagr and Talbot, two players who called Pittsburgh their home for so long, we shall see if that, indeed, holds true tonight.

If you have any comments or questions, you can email the author at dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com.  You can also follow him on Twitter – @David_Strehle

 

By David Strehle
NHL Hot Stove Creative Editor

The 2011 free agent season began at noon today, and as has been the case so often in the past, the Philadelphia Flyers were one of the teams to make some noise early on in the process.

AP Photo

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After NHL clubs made several minor signings, GM Paul Holmgren’s signing of 39-year-old winger Jaromir Jagr was announced through the Flyers’ official Twitter account.  The terms of Jagr’s deal were one-year, $3.3 million.

The native of Kladno of the Czech Republic has scored 646 goals and posted 1,599 points in 1,273 NHL games over 18 seasons.  

Jagr won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in his first two years in the league, and had his best offensive season with the Pens during the 1995-96 campaign, when he scored 62 goals and added 87 assists for 149 points.

He last played in the NHL for the New York Rangers during the 2007-08 season, and has been a member of Omsk Avangard of the KHL for the past three years.  He was the club’s leading scorer in two of those three seasons.

Jagr made his desire known that he wanted to return to the NHL and had talks with the Penguins and Detroit Red Wings.  But just prior to the opening of the free agency period at noon, Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero made the announcement that he was pulling his contract offer off the table.  Detroit soon followed suit in pulling their interest in the UFA.

After adding young forwards Jakub Voracek (21), Brayden Schenn (19), and Wayne Simmonds (22) last week via the Carter and Richards trades, Holmgren went the other direction with the signing of Jagr.  But at 39, Jagr still has an elite skill-set.

Head coach Peter Laviolette will have options with how to employ Jagr.  He could have the 6′ 2″, 240-pound winger slide into Ville Leino’s spot on the right side of the Scott Hartnell-Danny Briere line, or he could have him on the right wing on the James van Riemsdyk-Claude Giroux line.

He has superior balance, especially while controlling the puck and holding off a defender.  He is much like Leino in that sense, but a step above.  Leino priced himself out of Philly with a reported demand for a $4 million per year pact.

One thing is for sure, though.  You should definitely expect to see Jagr on the Flyers’ power play unit, which was woeful last season.  The one-time arch rival of the Flyers will likely help the man advantage become more productive.

Voracek Signed

Jim Rinaldi / Icon SMI

Voracek, who came over from the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Carter deal, agreed to a one-year, $2.25 million contract.  The 6′ 2″, 214-pound winger will likely play on the right side of whichever line on which Jagr does not end up.

Also a native of Kladno, Czech Republic, Voracek has scored 39 goals and posted 134 points in 241 NHL games, all in Columbus.  Last season, he scored 14 goals and racked up 46 points.

Defenseman Lilja Signed

As UFA defenseman Sean O’Donnell signed with the Chicago Blackhawks early-on in the afternoon, Holmgren opted for 35-year-old rear guard Andreas Lilja.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 6′ 3″, 230-pound defender brings size to the club, and will likely be either a sixth or seventh defenseman for the Flyers.

A native of Helsingborg, Sweden, Lilja played in 52 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season.  He scored one goal and posted seven points, while amassing a terrible -15 rating.

Lilja won the Stanley Cup while playing for the Detroit Red Wings.

If you have any comments or questions, you can email the author at dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com.  You can also follow him on Twitter – @David_Strehle

If you follow hockey at all, you are well aware of the circus known as “Jagr Watch” that has engulfed the league in its craziness. As you probably also know, the Penguins are one of the main teams in play to sign Jagr. As a matter of fact, they are considered by many to be the favorite. The Pens are his original team and he has spoken many times about how he would like to return to Pittsburgh and play for his idol Mario Lemieux. Well the deadline day for a decision has come and gone and many “reports” have surfaced saying he has or has not signed with a team. As of writing this there has been no decision made. We don’t even know if there will be a decision by tomorrow. Late this evening a Philadelphia Flyers beat writer posted a report regarding the situation. Though it seems like this report may have some credibility given the writer, for the sake of not spreading rumors I won’t post any details in this article. The article can be found on Twitter.

Now moving on to things we know for fact and that have been confirmed. Early in the week the Pens decided not to tender winger Tyler Kennedy which will make him an unrestricted free agent come noon Friday. However, Ray Shero has made it known that the Pens are still actively pursuing re-signing the young winger who posted career highs in both goals and points this season. As of this moment no deal between the Pens and Kennedy has been reached but reports say that talks between the two sides are positive and ongoing. They will try to reach and agreement before free agency opens.

While the Pens are working on locking down one free agent, this week they managed to lock down two for next season. On Tuesday, winger Pascal Dupuis signed a new deal that will keep him in Pittsburgh for the next two seasons. Dupuis will make $1.5 million the next two seasons, a modest raise from the $1.4 million he was making on his old contract. Following up Dupuis on Wednesday night was Arron Asham. Asham resigned with the Pens for the upcoming season by agreeing to a one year deal worth just over $600,000.

As for players who will test the free agent market come noon Friday and most likely moving on from Pittsburgh are wingers Max Talbot and Mike Rupp. Both Talbot and Rupp were fan favorites during their stay in Pittsburgh. Talbot specifically will forever be a Pittsburgh legend with his Game 7 performance against the Red Wings during the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals. Talbot’s two goals in that game helped propel the Pens to their first Stanley Cup since 1992. The Pens also have restricted free agents in Dustin Jeffery and Chris Conner that could be retained before or after noon Friday. It is expected that Jeffert at the least will be back next year seeing that he has proven he is NHL ready.

As free agency looms, the Penguins are left with decisions to make. How long do they wait on Jagr? Will Kennedy resign? Hopefully these questions will be answered before noon Friday rolls around, but if they are not I, as well as the rest of Pens nation, as full faith in General Manager Ray Shero to put the right pieces together to help the Pens return to the top of the NHL.

Robbie Naugle

NHLHS Pittsburgh Penguins Correspondent

Email: rjnaugle2@gmail.com

Twitter: @pensfan087

“Time heals all wounds.” –Ancient Proverb

In 1990, Jaromir Jagr played his first career NHL game as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 2008, Jagr played his last NHL game as a member of the New York Rangers in a 3-2 overtime loss in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals at the hands of those very same Pittsburgh Penguins. Now after three season away from the league, Jagr is looking to make one last return to the NHL and he is looking to do it with the club who drafted him 5th overall in the 1990 NHL Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Before we dive into the news a rumors that have been floating around the last few days, let’s take a look back at how we got to this point with Jagr and the Penguins.

With the fifth overall selection in the 1990 NHL draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted an eighteen year old baby-faced prospect from the Czech Republic. Everyone knew the potential that the young player had, but few imagined just how good he ever would be. Jagr aka “Double J” had an immediate impact when he stepped on the ice as an NHL rookie in 1990. He adapted his European style quickly to the North American game with the Pens.

Jagr would contribute greatly alongside stars like Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis, and Paul Coffey. He would help lead the Pens to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 1991 and would help them repeat against the Chicago Blackhawks the following year.

As the years wore on so did the wear and tear on Lemieux’s body. This gave Jagr the chance to become the face of the franchise in Mario’s absence and he did just that. During his time as a Penguin, Jagr would go on to win five Art Ross Trophies as the NHL’s leading points scorer and was awarded the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1999.

Unfortunately like so many other good things, they must all come to an end. Though the team was winning on the ice, the franchise was struggling off the ice. They filed for bankruptcy and had to be rescued by Mario who bought the team after he retired from the game. During this time Jagr became frustrated and you could sense his unhappiness with the team and the city. Not even a comeback by the team savior Mario Lemieux could save Jagr’s career in Pittsburgh. After being eliminated by the New Jersey Devils during the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals, Jagr was dealt by the Penguins to the Washington Capitals in exchange for prospects.

Jagr immediately became public enemy number one after the trade was was booed relentlessly anytime he returned to Pittsburgh.

And now after seven seasons away from the Penguins and three season away from the NHL itself, Jagr is looking to not only make a return to the league he loves so dearly but do it with the team that drafted him all those years ago.

During the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Jagr stated that he wished to return to the NHL and wanted to do it with the Penguins. He was adamant about returning to the Pens as a thank you to the organization and to Mario Lemieux for giving him a chance to prove that he belonged with the best. However, those hopes were shot down when Jagr agreed to a one year deal to remain in the KHL in Russia. Fast forward about 14 months and you land at the World Championships in the Czech Republic.

News breaks that Penguins’ general manager Ray Shero had been having discussions with Jagr about a possible return to the NHL. A few days later this all seemed like water under the bridge and it seemed like once again Jagr would not be returning to the NHL. That is, until a few days ago when news broke that the Pens and the Detroit Red Wings were both in the market for the thirty-nine year old winger.

That all leads us to where we sit today. Patiently waiting to find out if, and with who Jagr will play with in the NHL next season. Pittsburgh Tribune Review writer Rob Rossi got the party ball rolling when he tweeted on Monday that Jagr and his agent had reached out to the Penguins about a possible return to the NHL.

Ever since then it seems like every Pens fan has been on Jagr Watch. In fact, the popular blog The PensBlog started the #jagrwatch hash tag on twitter and everybody joined it. Rossi became the go to source on anything and everything Jagr related. Everyone was and edge waiting for the next update.

The next day, Jagr’s agent broke the news that there were three teams involved in the Jagr sweepstakes. The reported teams were the Penguins, Red Wings, and a mystery team that was not disclosed. It was also reported that the KHL was still in the mix and Jagr possibly had a $4.5 million contract on the table for him to play in the KHL.

ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun had a short interview with Jagr which he reported that Double J had a lot of good things to say about Pittsburgh and Detroit. The anticipation lasted long into the night. When we were awoken to the news on Wednesday morning that today would be the day that Mario Lemieux himself was going to personally reach out to Jagr and talk about him returning to the Penguins this coming season.

Every Pens fan saw this is a sign of him leaning towards Pittsburgh. Unfortunately we will never know what Mario and Jagr talked about, we can only hope that Jagr holds to his word from the Olympics last year when he said he wanted to pay back the organization that gave him a shot to prove himself.

The only problem with this is Jagr’s price tag. How much will he cost for a one year contract which he is reportedly seeking? He said he would play for the Penguins at the league minimum. I think we all know well enough that he won’t play for that much. Guesses have ranged from less than a million, all the way up to three million dollars. One thing for sure, no matter which team Jagr signs with he will have to take a pay cut from what he is making in the KHL.

Neither Detroit or Pittsburgh will pay above 3 million for a 39 year old winger who hasn’t played in the NHL in three years. In fact, neither team may even be willing to pay him 2 million dollars for a single season. With the salary cap rising as high as $64 million this will give the Pens a little more wiggle room to sign Jagr, sign the right guys to fill out a roster, and still fit under the cap for next season.

So hear we are now. Still waiting and still hoping. Hoping for Jagr to return home. Return to where he belongs. When he left there was a bitter taste in our mouths. We  booed and mocked him. But those days are past. It has been nine years since he left us in the dust. In that time we have been at the lowest of lows, faced the threat of re-location, built a new arena, drafted four players that have become the core of our franchise, gone through a lockout that left us without hockey, we have been to the Finals twice and won a Cup.

The wounds he opened have healed. We have been to the top, and once you reach the top you want to get back so badly. Jagr will help us do that. As he has proven in the past a motivated Jagr is a very scary Jagr. Gone are Lemieux, Francis, and Barasso. Here now are Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Marc-Andre Fleury. He has the chance to play with the greatest player in the game today. It’s time to let him prove his doubters wrong.

If Jagr wants to be a Penguin and is willing to play for less than he may receive in other places, then I think this is a no brainier for the Pens in my eyes. He proved he can still play at the international level against the best players in the game. Now let him come home to where he belongs. He wants to be here. We want him here. It’s all about doing whatever it takes to win the Cup. He needs us and we need him. Once a Penguin, always a Penguins.

Jagr Watch will continue here until a decision is made. Stay tuned to NHLHS for updates on the Jagr sweepstakes. You can also follow me on Twitter for updates at @pensfan087. As new comes in I will be updating my Twitter to keep up to date. Also stayed tuned to the site for draft news which takes place this weekend. Lots happening in the NHL right now with the draft and free agency right around the corner. Hockey never sleeps.

UPDATE: As I was writing this article some news broke on Jagr Watch. It came over Twitter that Jagr has said he hopes that the Penguins come through on a deal to play with them. That sure adds some intrigue to the situation.

Robbie Naugle

NHLHS Pittsburgh Penguins Correspondent

Email: rjnaugle2@gmail.com

Twitter: @pensfan087

By David Strehle
NHL Hot Stove Philadelphia Flyers Correspondent

The Philadelphia Flyers (45-20-10, 100 points) are set to faceoff against their arch-nemesis, the Pittsburgh Penguins (45-23-8, 98 points), for the last time in the regular season tonight as they visit the unfriendly confines of the CONSOL Energy Center.

Philadelphia has struggled to score goals against playoff caliber-teams ever since the calendar changed to February.  In the 11 games that they have played against teams currently in playoff spots, the Flyers have managed to score just 21 regulation goals -and that’s with empty-net goals INCLUDED.

It’s no coincidence that the team has posted a 3-5-3 mark against upper echelon teams in that time frame.

When you play the big games, you need your best players to step up and be the difference-makers.  Looking at Philadelphia’s top five scorers and how they have performed in those 11 games against playoff teams since January ended, there are some very telling  numbers.

1. Claude Giroux leads all Flyers’ scorers this season with 70 points (24 goals, 46 assists) in 75 games (.93 points per game), with a +17 rating in the plus / minus department, and has recorded 146 shots on goal.  In the 11 games against teams currently in a postseason position in the standings since February 1st; Giroux has scored three goals and added six assists for nine points (.82 PPG), with an EVEN + / – rating, and has registered 26 shots on goal.
2. Philadelphia’s Jeff Carter leads the team in goals this season with 34, and has added 29 assists for 63 points in 73 games (.86 PPG), with a +27 rating, and 302 shots on goal.  Carter has played in 10 of the 11 games against teams currently in a postseason position in the standings since February 1st (he missed the March 6th game against the New York Rangers); Carter has scored two goals, added five assists for seven points (.70 PPG), with a +2 rating, and put 31 shots on opponent’s goaltenders.
3. Captain Mike Richards is third in team scoring, with 21 goals, 41 assists for 62 points in 74 games (.84 PPG), with a +16 rating, and 169 shots on goal.  In the 11 games against teams currently in a postseason position in the standings since February 1st; Richards has scored one goal and added four assists for five points (.45 PPG), with a -2 rating, and has registered 21 shots on goal.
4. Perhaps the most disturbing drop off in numbers comes from Danny Briere.  He’s fourth in Flyers’ scoring this season with 61 points (32 goals, 29 assists) in 72 games (.85 points per game), with a +16 rating in the plus / minus department, and has recorded 228 shots on goal.  In the 11 games against teams currently in a postseason position in the standings since February 1st; Briere has scored one goal and added one assist for just two points (.18 PPG), with a -6 rating, and has registered 36 shots on goal.
5. Ville Leino is the club’s fifth leading-scorer, with 17 goals and 32 assists for 49 points in 74 games (.66 PPG), with a +14 rating, and 110 shots on goal.  In the 11 games against teams currently in a postseason position in the standings since February 1st; Leino has scored three goals and added one assist for four points (.36 PPG), with a -7 rating, and has registered 17 shots on goal.

It should be expected that there would be a slightly decreased variation in offensive output against the better NHL teams.  It’s only natural, since most possess excellent team defense and goaltending.

But some of the above numbers should set off alarms.

Rarely throughout the course of the Flyers’ 43 year history has the effort of their players come into question.  Philly can be a tough town, and the organization has always assembled a band of rough and tumble players that give 100% – every night.  They may not be able to out-finesse you, but one theme has been a constant.  For many of those 43 years, the opposition has known that they will have to work hard to match the compete-level of the Orange-and-Black – or they will lose.

In recent games, even the players have questioned their own determination.

Richards was upset last Thursday after the team’s 2-1 home shootout loss to the Penguins.  “They worked hard and probably out hit us a little bit in our own building which is disappointing,” the captain said that night.  ”I’m not sure if it was just a letdown after having a good game (Tuesday against the Washington Capitals) or we didn’t have our legs but it was disappointing stuff.”

Kimmo Timonen echoed Richards’ sentiments that same night.  “They outworked us and won all the one-on-one battles,” the defenseman said.  ”If you don’t work, you’re in trouble,”

“We just need more energy, passion, and more battling out there,” defenseman Andrej Meszaros said after Sunday night’s 2-1 home loss to the Boston Bruins.

“We’re battling for the division with them (Pittsburgh), so it is a little perplexing and something we’re going to have to figure out,” said head coach Peter Laviolette when asked about the Flyers’ performance after the loss to Pittsburgh.

Yes, Philadelphia has some very fundamental issues that they need to figure out and correct.

And they need to do it soon, because with just seven games remaining in the regular season and the division and conference leads eroding away, time’s a-wasting.

On a Positive Note

Not all is gloom and doom in Philadelphia.  Even with the loss to Boston Sunday night, the Flyers are still 5-1-4 in their last 10.  The loss to the Bruins broke a streak of nine consecutive games that Philly had picked up at least one point.

And if they can pull out a win tonight in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia will have set a new franchise record for road wins in a season.  With a 24-9-4 mark in their first 37 contests away from home, the Flyers can break the club record that was set by the 2002-03 team – and tied on Saturday night with a 4-1 victory against the New York Islanders.

Dooby Dooby Doo

It’s hard to fathom how a Pittsburgh team that has been so ravaged by injuries is still in the position to contend for the top spot, but first place in the both the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference are on the line.

With both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin out for so long with serious injuries, not many gave the Penguins a chance to even make the playoffs, let alone challenge for division and conference titles.

But give head coach Dan Bylsma a lot of the credit.  He has played the hand he was dealt, and made the necessary alterations to his game plan in order for his team to succeed.

Bylsma’s first concern is that the team is winning, though it bears a striking resemblance to the boring Jacques Lemaire-type “trap” system that so many have complained about through the years.

Pittsburgh’s last three games are classic examples of that style of play.  Even though they have scored just two regulation goals over those three contests, the Penguins have come out smelling like roses with a perfect 3-0-0 record.  How is that possible, you ask?  It’s the NHL, and as long as you can have a game tied after regulation time expires, anything can happen.

A team can even come out with a “W” after not scoring a goal in 65 minutes of play, as Pittsburgh did when they entered a shootout against Lemaire’s New Jersey Devils after a scoreless regulation and overtime.  Both teams trapped one another, ad-nauseum, in a first period that saw just four shots on goal total (one for NJ, three for PIT).

Kovalev and Zherdev

The Penguins have played four straight games that have gone to a shootout and have won them all.  One key player in those shootouts has been Alexei Kovalev, who was re-acquired by Pittsburgh at the trade deadline.

Often described as an enigma that can be lazy and aloof throughout most of his 18-year career, the 38-year-old Russian winger remains one of the most talented players in the game.

Kovalev is now getting somewhere between 16 and 21 minutes of ice time, and went 2-4 in shootouts in the Pens’ last four contests.  With Pittsburgh’s top scorers out, Bylsma knew that he needed to add more creativity and scoring-potential to his lineup.

Though most scoffed when Ray Shero traded for him, Kovalev has helped to provide that missing ingredient.

The Flyers have a player who has had similar descriptions used when those in the hockey world are asked to give a portrayal.  Now in his sixth NHL season, Nikolay Zherdev is a regular healthy scratch in Philadelphia.

Zherdev has gotten into 51 games this year, scoring 15 goals and 19 points.  But he may have played his last wearing the Orange-and-Black, as he has sat out the last 10 straight.

With a team battling so hard to generate any kind of offense for long stretches, it seems a waste to have such a talented offensive player out of the lineup.

Even Laviolette complained about the lack of scoring chances after the Boston game on Sunday.  “Our opportunities I think have been low for a while now, probably a few games, except for the one (against Washington),” the coach said.

When the Flyers saw four consecutive games go to a shootout between March 17th and March 24th – of which Philadelphia won just one - Zherdev’s offensive skills could have come in handy.

If you look at the all-time NHL shootout percentages (minimum 10 attempts), Kovalev (19-46, 41.3%) comes in at the #47 spot.

Take a look just one spot down in the list, and Zherdev (14-34, 41.2%) is #48.

When Zherdev was in the Flyers’ lineup, the team didn’t have many games see a shootout ending.

Zherdev had just one attempt – back on November 27th against Johan Hedberg of New Jersey – and scored.

Just some food for thought.

_____________________________________________

If you have any comments or questions, you can email the author at dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com.  You can also follow him on Twitter -   @David_Strehle.

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A special thanks is given to www.nhlshootouts.com for the statistical information used in the shootout category.

The latest installment in a weekly series from NHL Hot Stove correspondent David Strehle that examines teams, players, and issues from around the Eastern Conference.  In this issue:  Recchi Leaves Mark on Chara – Pacioretty Incident; Bylsma for the Jack Adams Award; Power Failure in Montreal; Boudreau’s Tough Decision in Washington

By David Strehle
NHL Hot Stove Philadelphia Flyers Correspondent

Recchi Leaves Mark on Chara – Pacioretty Incident

Just when it seemed that the fallout from the Zdeno Chara-Max Pacioretty incident was finally calming down, the NHL’s version of Methuselah re-stirred the pot with some rather surprising comments.

Or did he?

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

This past Wednesday, Mark Recchi of the Boston Bruins made headlines around the hockey world regarding injuries resulting to Pacioretty after taking a thunderous hit from Chara into the stanchion where the glass begins at the player’s benches.  Recchi suggested that the extent of Pacioretty’s injuries, which included a broken vertabra and severe concussion, may have just been an exaggerated ruse by Les Habitants in an attempt to see the Bruins’ captain suspended by the league.

The 43-year-old Recchi supposedly based his observations on a March 14th post on Pacioretty’s Twitter feed regarding going to the movies.  Recchi’s feelings were that the severity of the injuries sustained by the Montreal Canadiens’ forward - which were being called “possibly career-threatening” – couldn’t possibly have been as dire as what had been represented, if he was able to go out to the movies just six days after the March 8th occurrence.

Always one of the classiest players in sports, Recchi’s comments appeared at first glance to be in very poor taste.  Even classless.

But Recchi came clean after the Habs-B’s rematch on Thursday night, explaining that his statements were to take the anticipated excruciating focus off of Chara leading up to the game.  By the way, the night ended up being no contest, ending in a 7-0 drubbing of Montreal by the hometown Bruins.

Say what you will about Recchi’s comments, but there is little that the wily veteran has not seen during his 21-plus seasons in the NHL.  He knows what works in helping out his team and teammates, and Thursday’s result is proof-positive.

Bylsma for the Jack Adams Award

In addition to bringing a Stanley Cup to Pittsburgh two years ago, there was another reason that Penguins’ GM Ray Shero inked head coach Dan Bylsma to a three-year contract extension earlier this month.

Not enough can be said about the job that Bylsma has done with his team through a tremendous amount of adversity this season.

Through play on Sunday, the Penguins had the sixth-highest man-games lost to injury in the league at 326.  That’s bad enough as it is, but the calibre of player that has been missing from the Pittsburgh lineup makes that an even more-telling statistic.

Superstar Sidney Crosby has missed the last 35 since suffering a concussion on New Years’ Day in a freak collision with the Capitals’ David Steckel.  He did manage to play in the next contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but took a heavy hit from defenseman Victor Hedman that aggravated the injury.

Also on the list of missing star players is Evgeni Malkin, who suffered a season-ending injury to his right knee on February 4th when six-foot-eight inch, 227 pound Buffalo Sabres’ defenseman Tyler Myers fell on his leg as they battled for the puck along the boards.

That’s not only two of the team’s top forwards, they are also two of the premiere players in the National Hockey League.

Bylsma has altered his club’s game in the interim, tightening up their defensive play and relying more on the play of the defensive unit and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

With Crosby skating again and reportedly feeling much better, it would be a tremendous infusion of scoring if they can add their captain back into the lineup in the postseason.

Through it all, the Penguins are still in the running for the Eastern Conference crown.  With a regulation victory tomorrow night over the Philadelphia Flyers, it would tie them for both the division and conference leads.

Amazing.

There is no doubt, Bylsma has got to be in the final three for this year’s coach of the year honors.

Power Failure in Montreal

After delivering an 8-1 beat down on the Minnesota Wild last Sunday, the Montreal Canadiens served up a disastrous hat trick by failing to score a single goal in their next three games.

Perhaps most troubling of the three was a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of the arch-rival Boston Bruins, which was sandwiched between a pair of 2-0 home losses – one to the Buffalo Sabres, and the other to the Washington Capitals.

Also interesting to note is the decreasing shot totals throughout the week.  After registering 32 in the Wild blowout, Montreal managed 31 against Buffalo on Tuesday, 24 against the Bruins on Thursday, and just 18 on Saturday against the Capitals.

The Canadien’s streak of goal-scoring futility currently stands at 186:05, and their 200 goals is the lowest total of any of the top eight teams in playoff spots in the East.  As a matter of fact, Montreal’s total is the lowest of any of the current 16 teams that are in qualifying slots for the postseason.

“Nobody’s really having much fun right now“, Canadiens’ netminder Carey Price told the Associated Press after the most recent shutout loss to Washington.

Montreal will attempt to right the ship when they faceoff Tuesday night against the Atlanta Thrashers at Bell Centre.  And they had better do something soon – the red-hot New York Rangers have tied them with 87 points for sixth place in the East.  Buffalo is just two points behind, but holds a game in hand on the Canadiens.

“Scoring goals comes as the result of doing a lot of little things right. It’s obvious that there are things that need fixing right now”, head coach Jacques Martin told NHL.com. 

Boudreau’s Tough Decision in Washington

Capitals’ head coach Bruce Boudreau may have a dilemma on his hands when it comes to determining his starting playoff goaltender.  Some coaches may have to decide between two backstops with which to hand the postseason reigns, but Boudreau may have a trio of youngsters from which to choose.

Michal Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov, both of whom will be 23 years old in the playoffs, have taken turns providing Boudreau with excellent netminding this season.  Neuvirth has started 41 games and posted a 24-11-4 record, with a 2.46 goals-against average, .915 save percentage, and four shutouts.  Varlamov has posted a 10-9-4 mark, with a 2.26 GAA and .923 save percentage, and two shutouts in 23 starts.

Varlamov has continued with a myriad of injury problems that have plagued him in the infancy of his career, and that has led to the emergence of a third youngster in the Caps’ crease.

21-year-old Braden Holtby has been recalled at different times during the season, and has the best numbers of the three.  He is 10-2-2, with a miniscule GAA of 1.79, an outstanding .934 save percentage, and two shutouts.  After shutting out Montreal Saturday night, Holtby was again sent back down to the AHL’s Hershey Bears.

Of the three, only Varlamov has any NHL postseason experience.  He is 10-9, winning one playoff series and on the losing end twice over the past two years.

Neuvirth has led the Bears to the Calder Trophy as AHL champions in each of the past two seasons, and Holtby served as his backup in last year’s run.

It will be interesting to see who gets the call, but one thing is certain – Washington stands a much better chance of attaining postseason success this year.  With a transformation to a defense-first style of play and a healthy infusion of gritty, character-type players, Boudreau’s club is built for the playoffs.

The bet here is he will go with Neuvirth.  But whichever of his young goaltenders gets the call, the team will be in good hands.

________________________________________

If you have any comments or questions, you can email the author at dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com.  You can also follow him on Twitter - @David_Strehle.

While we’re all chilly the GMs are gathered in Boca Raton, Florida discussing ways to improve the current concussion crisis in the NHL. Five hours was spent on Tuesday to come to a consensus about declining the number of head trauma victims within the NHL.

44% of concussions this season alone were caused by legal hits. Hockey is an inherently physical sport. Those who play the game are aware of the consequence of getting hit, amongst a slew of penalties which are majorly physical contact. Still, concussions are high.

The GMs agreed upon harsher punishment for boarding and charging in order to reduce the amount of legal-hit-concussions, or so to speak. Gary Bettman says this will take out those hits and “keep the fundamental physicality of the game and reduce injuries.”

The GMs brought up the discussion of longer suspensions for head shots. According to NHL.com Toronto Maple Leafs Brian Burke had this to say on the subject:  “I think we are targeting, through supplementary discipline, that if a guy does target the head and it’s not an otherwise legal check, now that guy is probably going to get bounced.”

Bettman has an unrealistic, good-hearted goal of completely eliminating concussions from the sport of hockey. Unless the NHL aims to end hitting completely, that goal cannot be successfully achieved. Those previously concussed, who happened to be hit in the head, are more likely to be re-concussed. Not to mention all the by-chance things that goes on in the games. The only literal way to not get concussed is not to play or to never get injured. “We want to eliminate concussions, but the view is if we can define a rule that makes sense and doesn’t cause other problems in the game, we’re going to try and do that.” Bettman explained. Sorry, Gary not going to happen.

“All hits, as we know, are not the same. All hits are different. But outside of a blanket policy, if we can protect a vulnerable player, if we can clean up some of these things like charging that we talked about, I think it’s a real step in the right direction. So I’m looking forward to (Wednesday) as well, and seeing where this will go to see what we can get in for next year to enforce these things more aggressively and make it a safer work environment.” Penguin’s GM Ray Shero discussed. The GMs brought up the idea of a blanket policy on hits. Specifically the ones that are head shots. As much as I agree with the idea I think blanketing it leaves too much gray area. However, Shero is right in that its a step in the right direction. Over time the gray area will have distinct black and white areas.

Before the GM Meetings come to a close in sunny Florida I hope that blanket statement can become more of a defined area. These meetings are a great step in the right direction. Head trauma is serious, it ruins careers and day-to-day life depending on the severity of the injury. This year, they have the right idea in protecting their players.

While all is good and well with the jumping off point there are other variables to make the GM’s ideas come to fruition. First the NHLPA needs to take control of the suspensions. The suspensions need to be consistent and every single time. The GMs may want to look into a Colin Campbell replacement.  Players need to be responsible, become more aware of hitting. Hockey 101 and responsible hitting needs to be reestablished. Players need to take control of their bodies and timing on players with the puck, and finish cleanly.

When the GMs return to their 30 respective teams they will have a tan, and a better perspective of the problems at hand.

Shannon Caulfield can be reached:

Twitter: @Shannybaby99

Email: Shannybaby99@Gmail.com

In a little under two weeks the Pittsburgh Penguins will report to training camp to being to prepare for their 2010-2011 season. When the team reports on September 18 they will be missing one key player. It was announced earlier this week that center Jordan Staal will miss the beginning of Penguins’ training camp after it was determined that he developed an infection in his foot. The infection affected a surgically repaired area of his foot that was operated on this past offseason.

Staal suffered his initial foot injury in Game 1 of the Penguins’ Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the Montreal Canadiens when Staal collided with Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban, lacerating a tendon in Staal’s foot. Staal underwent emergency surgery to repair the tendon and missed the next two games of the series. When he returned in Game 4 he wore a protective boot to shield the area.

During the offseason Staal underwent a second procedure on his foot. It was later discovered that an infection had developed in the area which will force him to miss the beginning of training camp. It is unclear if Staal will be able to participate in any preseason practice or games. Penguins’ General Manager Ray Shero released a statement that said Staal should be healthy enough for the October 7 season opener against Philadelphia.

Staal later said in an interview that he hopes to participate in training camp once his foot is healed and is aiming to be ready for the season opener.

Mike Comrie, most recently of the Edmonton Oilers, has signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Comrie’s claim to non-NHL fame is his marriage to pop star Hilary Duff which took place this summer.

the recent signing of tough guy Arron Asham cannot fill the hole left by fan favorite and veteran presence Bill Guerin. Comrie has a scoring touch, he’s a good skater, sees the ice well and is worth trying on Sidney Crosby’s wing. If he fails, he can be waived easily. The cap hit ($500K, 1 year) is so low, it’s a win-win for the Penguins. Again, GM Ray Shero has pulled a surprising, and SOLID, signing.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have had one of the more active and productive off-seasons of the Eastern Conference contenders. Still, with a few holes in the roster and two million dollars in cap space remaining, it’s hard to believe the Penguins are done. While many have suggested that the Penguins could round out their roster via trade, this is the latest from the free agency side of things :

- Defensemen Zbynek Michalek and Paul Martin were both added from the Phoenix Coyotes and New Jersey Devils, respectively, to add punch to the Pens blueline right away; blueliners Ben Lovejoy, Deryk Engelland and Andrew Hutchinson were all penned to two-way contract to add defensive depth throughout the organization as well. Still, if Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero believes none of the two-way contractual additions are ready for full time gigs with the big squad, yet another d-man could be added to the black and gold.

- The Pens lack of a winger to date seems to be a glaring omission in an otherwise cup-contending lineup, but the impact of such a line configuration is lessened with the movement of either center Jordan Staal or Evgeni Malkin to wing in 2010. Ray Shero recently alluded on Pittsburgh’s ESPN Radio affiliate that such a move is only a matter of when, not if. While adding a wing remains on the Penguins radar, moving Staal from the third line into the top six brings the discussion of who should center the third line as a result. Both Max Talbot and Mark Letestu saw time at this roster spot from time to time last season with positive results. Various Pittsburgh media have also reported the team is strongly considering rolling with speedy forward Tyler Kennedy as well. Nontheless, with Talbot’s injury history, Letestu’s lack of NHL experience, and Kennedy’s solid play at wing, The team bringing in a third center isn’t out of the question.

- After putting together mediocre play on the ice and being a polarizing figure in the Pens locker room last season, it’s hard to imagine Alexei Ponikarovsky returning to Pittsburgh once again. Still, the two teams have had contact with one another about a one year deal with the Penguins for a drastically reduced price. Likely due to his lack of production playing with Evgeni Malkin last season, Ponikarovsky hasn’t been contacted by any other teams outside of the Penguins for a substantial contract. It stands to reason that this could be a win-win for both parties. Ponikarovsky could return to Pittsburgh’s top six and cash in next year’s free agency market with a solid season, giving him increase financial potential. He’s also a perfect fit for Pittsburgh’s system – he’s a big body that can skate, can be effective in front of the crease, and has excellent finishing skills. The caveat to this, as Pens fans found out quickly last season, is that “Poni” rarely uses his full skill set to it’s full potential – He only scored twice in sixteen games with Pittsburgh last year. This hypothetical, “win-win” scenario is unlikely, due to Ponikarovsky’s unsatisfactory status from both parties currently, but the two sides have been in contact throughout the last week. The latest is that #23 is refusing to accept less than two million per year – a price that he will likely receive elsewhere in a stale winger open market.

- As it’s been discussed here before, Bill Guerin was a crucial part of the Penguins 2008-2009 cup run and was one of the better barters made at the 2009 NHL trade deadline. He provided a solid veteran leadership role both on and off the ice and quickly became very iconic amongst Penguins fans. In the ensuing season, however, Guerin showed his age in a more negative light. He showed an inability to play a full season in head coach Dan Bylsma’s uptempo system, and an unwillingness to crash the net on the powerplay. He was also very mediocre in his own zone, finishing with a minus-nine rating on an otherwise very potent offensive team. Ray Shero has stated he would like to bring Guerin back for one more season; at a reduced role and price. Guerin’s camp expressed an interest to have #13 play out one more season in the ‘burgh, but balked at Shero’s refusal to match his salary (approximately two million) from the 2009-10 season. Guerin has been contacted by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadians, and New York Rangers about his services for a one year deal. Unless he experiences a drastic change of heart in the coming days, it’s highly unlikely that Guerin will remain in Pittsburgh any longer.

- Before being dealt from Columbus to Buffalo at the trade deadline last season, winger Raffi Torres flew high on Pittsburgh radar throughout January and February. Blue Jackets’ GM Scott Howson set the price for Torres at a second round pick – a pick that Ray Shero used on defenseman Jordan Leopold (who recently signed with the Sabres, ironically enough); the rest is history. Despite Shero’s inability to land Torres then, he could very well land Torres now. Torres’s time in western New York was a dismal one (no goals and a minus-five rating), but many teams around the league, Pittsburgh included, feel that he could benefit from playing a crash-bang style in an uptempo system such as the one the Penguins play. Shero has recently contacted Torres’s agent, Steve Reich, about acquiring his client on the cheap. If he’s willing to take a drastic salary cut – he made nearly three million last season, then Torres could be a solid budget option for the Pens.

- It’s not often a player and his agent go drastically out of their way to contact a GM directly about wanting to be with a certain team, but that’s what the case is with former Los Angeles King Jeff Halpern. Halpern played on checking lines with both the Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning last season and has proven himself to suffice in said role – with expectations held in check. Halpern has played for four teams since the lockout, hasn’t stayed consistently healthy since the 2007 season, and hasn’t scored more than twenty goals since the year 2000. Still, he remains an above-average skater, a responsible player in the defensive zone, and one of the better face-off men in the league. If the Pens decide that they want to upgrade their face-off percentage (which was quietly the bane of Pittsburgh’s existence in the defensive zone last season at times) and add a solid forechecker to their bottom six at a budget price, Halpern could be just what the doctor ordered.

- Many have passed around the rumor that UFA and former Montreal center Dominic Moore could end up in black and gold this season. Moore, who is coming off of a fantastic postseason with the Habs, would be a solid fit in Pittsburgh’s bottom six due to his “take-no-prisoners” style of forechecking and superb penalty killing skills, but this, so far, is just that – a rumor – neither Moore’s agent, Larry Kelly, or Moore himself have had any contact with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization so far.

- The Pittsburgh Penguins lost their assistant coach, Mike Yeo, to the Houston Aeros of the AHL offseason. Yeo’s replacement will be a major priority for Shero in the coming weeks – Pittsburgh’s powerplay was a major albatross of the team last season (finishing the season with a 17.2% success rate – 19th in the league) at times, so expect a coach with a decorated history of special teams success to be a big factor in the hiring process.

- Ray Shero, whose contract expires after the ensuing season, is likely to be extended by team ownership soon. Expect Shero to be paid amongst the highest in the league – various Pittsburgh media have reported that he could receive well over two million per year.

- If the Penguins decide to stand pat with their current roster – young players such as Chris Connor, Eric Tangradi, and Dustin Jeffrey could be counted on to make the NHL squad in 2010. Connor is a fantastic skater with 30/30 potential who had a strong showing skating with Sidney Crosby last season; Tangradi is one of the finest power forward prospects in the NHL, and Jeffrey showed solid play in his brief stint in Pittsburgh last season. These are players with extreme upside but only Pittsburgh’s coaching staff in August and September will be able to decide if these players are truly NHL-ready or need more seasoning in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Baby Pens. If a lack of trades are made between now and the end of July, one can deduct that the former is more likely than the latter.

Joe Depto
NHLHS Pittsburgh Penguins Correspondent
jdepto@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @PensHotStove