Will Fedetenko Be Needed Again by the Penguins?

Ruslan Fedetenko, a career playoff overachiever, was benched after Game One.  It was the right move by Coach Bylsma.  He had a sub-par season, the biggest minus on the team, and did not play with the edge necessary to make him an effective player.  Rupp was in the wings and ready to take his spot in the lineup.  Rupp has done his job and for now will remain on the ice.  Even though Fedetenko was benched, there was always a good chance that he would still be needed.  That time may come in Game Five.  If Tyler Kennedy can’t go, Feds must be ready to play.  All indications are that he has practiced hard over the last week and will be prepared.  I believe that will be the case.  This will show the importance of having some experienced depth on the roster come playoff time.  ...

Gameday Poop: Game 4 – Penguins vs Senators – Out for Justice

Sunday’s Penguin game was one of the best all around games I have seen the Penguins play in a long time. Ottawa looked very tentative as if they thought the Pens were going to be “Out for Justice” and it really showed when Daniel Alfredsson looked like he wet his pants when Brooks Orpik skated up to him at center ice. I do not personally remember a hockey player ever being that scared before in my life. Alfredsson later in the game showed his manliness by kneeing Orpik while he was sprawled out on the ice.

Desire to Win, some teams have it.

The Penguins have already been through the whole cheap shot incident thing before. Last year in the playoffs Ovechkin took out Gonchar’s knee and the NHL didn’t suspend him. Ovechkin looked over his shoulder the entire next game. Sutton and the rest of the Senators were looking over their shoulders the entire game Sunday. They out hit the Penguins only because they were leaving the puck to avoid the hit. The Pens once again opted for winning the game instead of revenge.

It was announced this morning that Jordan Staal along with 2 others is a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy that is given to the NHL’s best defensive forward.

As far as I know, no one has figured out the meaning behind the timely “Out for Justice” slogan the Pens adopted for the playoffs before the first game. Billy Guerin came up with the slogan and wouldn’t admit that it was because the Stevan Seagal movie had a better ring to it than Van Damme’s “Sudden Death” but all the Penguins are being hush hush when asked about it. Guerin “I can’t really talk about it” – Crosby “You have to ask someone else” – Letang “I can’t tell you”

Mixed up Lines. I know everyone always hates it when coach Bylsma mixes the lines all up during the regular season. The away games during the playoffs is when that sort of thing is the most useful. The home coach gets the last call on which players he puts out, and since Bylsma has mixed the lines up all season, all of the Penguins players are used to each other. Basically Bylsma can throw anyone out there at any time and the whole matching players up is rendered ineffective for Ottawa. Pure genius.

There’s no award for least improved player. I know a bunch of people are wondering if Ruslan Fedotenko will see time in a Penguin uniform again. Feds is a unrestricted free agent next year, and even though he’s a fan favorite for taking less money to stay with the team, his disappointing play this season resembled the lesser amount of money. He played 15 more games this year and had 9 less points. His plus minus went from second best on the team at +18 last year to worst on the team this year -17, a 35 point swing.

Ron Cook of the Post-Gazette raised his douche bag status to an even higher level yesterday when on The Nightly Sports Call he said “I would vote for Ovechkin for MVP of the regular season…”  and he continued on “I think it’s going to be kind of a landslide for Ovechkin really“.  I had no idea it was Ron Cook, I thought it was just some fat bald guy until they mentioned his name.

The Penguins most likely will not be changing their lineup today because of that whole winning thing.   While at the same time the Senator’s are looking for change, look for the Senators to split up the Alfredsson , Spezza line.

How soon they forget. The Canadian fans in Ottawa are booing a guy that won the Gold Medal for their country less than 2 months ago. Maybe Crosby will get dual citizenship and take up residency in Sewickley Pennsylvania close to where he’s living now with Mario Lemieux and play for the USA team next time around. The USA doesn’t dump on their heroes.

The Penguins AHL team the WBS Penguins were swept out of the playoffs in 4 games by the Albany River Rats last night and Mark Letestu wasn’t very pleased with it “Losing in four, you’re dominated, in my opinion… First time for me. It’ll sit with me all summer, that’s for sure.” This is the first time since 2003 that they have been eliminated this early, this will actually give the Pittsburgh team a chance to call up ...

TOUGH DECISIONS – the STANLEY CUP Pittsburgh Penguin Offseason…

The Parade is over and the memories will linger on forever yet the team management gets no rest.
The Secondary Awards Banquet is tomorrow… the Entry Draft next week… and Free Agency about a week later so there is no time to rest for Ray Shero and his management team.
What should they do?  Let’s first lay a few assumptions out there… that the Salary Cap remains at $56.7 million and our current Salary Cap Hit is $46.835 million.

The Pens have (10) players… Satan, Sykora, Fedotenko, Guerin, Zigomanis, Adams, Gill, Boucher, Scuderi, and Garon as UFA’s that were on the final roster. Plus, a few other UFA’s – Pesonen, Taffe, and Minard who were at WB/S.  They also have (4) RFA’s – Goligoski, Lovejoy, Bissonnette, and Curry. That’s (14) players and contracts where decisions need to be made.
That’s why we are here – to help Shero make his decisions!  You do know that this is where he comes for advice, right.

Let’s start with who not to keep. In others words no contract offered.  I have selected (5) players:

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