Another big name signing for the Pens:
The Pittsburgh Penguins promised to return to the new-look NHL by adding big-name players, not shedding them to cut payroll. The first name on their list: Sergei Gonchar.
Gonchar, the NHL’s top goal-scoring defenseman over the last six seasons, agreed Wednesday to a $25 million, five-year contract — the Penguins’ first big-ticket signing in eight years.
With No. 1 draft pick Sidney Crosby on the way, an NHL salary cap in place and the twice-bankrupt franchise now on better financial footing, general manager Craig Patrick predicted 10 days ago the Penguins would be active in free agency.
Gonchar would seem to be a perfect fit for a team that plans to rebuild what once was the NHL’s highest-scoring offense now that the league plans to enforce obstruction rules and encourage offense.
Could be a big year.
J. Michael Neal
I loathe this collective bargaining agreement. Darren McCarty, part of the heart and soul of the Red Wings, is now a Calgary Flame because of the damned cap.
Vladi G
What are you whining about? You guys are gonna get my Ziggy!
Although there are rumors of a Simon Gagne to LA deal, so this may not turn out to be so bad.
(by the way, JMN, you know me as Shredder).
J. Michael Neal
Shredder!
What the hell are you doing callig yourself Vladi?
Besides, no offense, but I’d rather have McCarty. Nothing against Palffy, but, really, has he ever scored a goal as pretty as the one McCarty scored to put the Wings up 2-0 in Game 7 against the Flyers?
Vladi G
He’s scored a lot of very pretty goals. Seriously, he’s easily one of the top 10 skill players in the league.
This is the name I use on Political blogs. Don’t ask me why. I was looking for something, and it was the first thing that popped into my head. It was right after the Angels signed the future MVP.
J. Michael Neal
Well, Donnelly just snuffed out the Orioles in the eighth.
Vladi G
Yeah, right after I bet Matt Welch fifty bucks that the Angels would lose the division this season.
Another Jeff
Hey, how ’bout the Flyers getting Peter Forsberg back, albeit 13 years too late. (for anyone wondering what I mean about “13 years too late”, Foresberg was in the Flyers system, but was sent to Quebec in the Lindros trade).
J Michael, when was McCarty’s goal in Game 7 against the Flyers. The only time I remember the Wings and Flyers playing in the playoffs, Detroit swept them.
My favorite McCarty memory was the first Red Wings/Avalanche game after Claude Lemiux cheap-shotted Kris Draper and right off the face off, McCarty dropped the glove, pummelled Lemiux, and tried to drag him over to the boards to pound his face on it.
Joe T.
Is it me, or weren’t the Penguins to be one of the teams that were so financially unstable, they couldnt’ afford to dish out $25 million to a second-class defenseman?
Suddenly, they’re able to dish out all this money they never had before.
I think this CBA was a dupe job. Me smells a rat.
J. Michael Neal
J Michael, when was McCarty’s goal in Game 7 against the Flyers. The only time I remember the Wings and Flyers playing in the playoffs, Detroit swept them.
You are correct, sir. It was Game 4.
Another Jeff
Was that the goal that was shot from behind the net and bounced off Ron Hextall’s ass, into the goal? I forget if that was McCarty or Brendan Shanahan.
Stormy70
Dallas Stars fan here. They are going to win, that is all. They are the last best hope for Dallas-kind.
Vlad
Shredder?! Shouldn’t you be out making offerings to your Bobby Grich bobblehead, instead of stealing my handle on political boards?
les
Geeze, I hear the Penguins may move to KC, so I should hang around here and learn something. If we can get somebody to dig the hole for our new arena, anyway.
J. Michael Neal
I also wonder if Shredder has noticed that the son of his favorite player not only won an NCAA title ring this year, but also got drafted in the second round.
I’m sorry, there’s no way I can call him “Vladi G”. That just sounds like a lame Russian rap star.
les
Wasn’ Vladi G a string theorist, or somethin’?
J. Michael Neal
Wasn’ Vladi G a string theorist, or somethin’?
Shredder’s claiming that he took the handle from an applied wood materials professional.
Vladi G
I noticed. I also noticed that Peter the great is sitting in the Slovakian legislature now.
…who just picked up his 900th career RBI last night.
Vladi G
Sorry, Vlad. I’ll admit it’s weird when I read your posts on Primer nowadays.
MC
Just about the time the Pens start getting good, they should be in San Antonio, Sacramento, Portland, or Charlotte if Lemieux doesn’t get his slot machine license.
I sure hope there are no serious discussions to build them a new arena with public money. At least here when they built the RBC Center, Raleigh had the CIAA tourney and NC State Men’s BB moved out of Reynolds Coliseum or it would have sat vacant for a year with the ‘Canes on strike. (Well, not exactly vacant – I guess Disney on Ice came to town too)
Pittsburgh will have no such arrangement. Since Pitt built the Peterson Center, they’ll never play a game off campus, no matter how nice a new arena is.
Nothing like spending millions of dollars of taxpayer money for a building that sits vacant for almost 2/3 of the year…only thing better is the money spent on the 20-25 days that Heinz Field is actually used.
Vlad
I’ll admit it’s weird when I read your posts on Primer nowadays.”
When was it not?