Bleacher Report - Articles by Justin Lorenz

Off Season 2009: The Penguins Off Season Preveiw

Justin Lorenz — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:39:52 -0400

As the party just begins for the players and fans of Pittsburgh expect the men of management to be hard at work.

Despite a huge victory over the thought to be unstoppable Red Wings, the Penguins will look to fix the lines and plug the holes this off season. Expect for a tradition of wining hockey to comeback to the City of Champions.

This offseason will be a tricky one however. With the inner core of Malkin, Crosby, Staal and Fleury locked up for some time, they still need talented skill players to bring out their true potential.

The biggest problem like many teams is lack of cap room. There are big names on this years free agency like Marian Gaborik, Marian Hossa and Mats Sudin but bringing in players like this is a stretch if you have already committed $49 million to 14 players.

Its time for the Pens to cut some fat.

Petr Sykora is a hot button issue in Pittsburgh. The people of the Steel City love him for the work he put in developing Evgeni Malkin and his work in the regular season. However, it's time for the Pens to move on. He fell in importance to upper management and hardly produced at the end of the season. This is $2.5 million that can be put elsewhere. Sykora will likely sign for more in the KHL in Russia.

One more year for Bill Guerin is a possibility only if he takes a pay cut. The 38 year old played a major rule in bringing the cup to the Burgh but his $4.5 million sallary is too much and the league's policies with signing veterans like this isnt helping.

Miroslav Satan's career in Pittsburgh is also shaky, and if he leaves as well the Pens are in desperate need of a completely new right wing group.

The list of right wingers available this year is astounding. At the top of the list is; Marian Gaborik, Marian Hossa, and Martin Havlat. Any of these players would be a pure compliment, however unlikely due to high salary.

There have been rumors coming about with Alex Kovalev, but at 36 and $4.5 million I'd rather have Bill Guerin's chemistry.

The best choice from the top three is Garborik. The Pens were close to trade talk last year, and many thought Staal would be a Wild if he came. His scoring skill with Sid's play making would go well together.

Many think Hossa will come back to Pittsburgh. This is a possibility but unlikely to me. He is looking for a contender offering a long term contract. The Red Wings simply can't afford this. He will float around looking for a home but to me its not in Pittsburgh. He has showed his doubt in this team already and he was made to look like a fool.

The Pens are also looking for a blueliner to boost the team. In the free agent market there are a couple of fits. The top fit is Jay Bouwmeester. He is young at 25, he is mature past his age, and he can put the puck in the net. If signed his high pay would mean the end for Segei Gonchar. That's why a more simple choice is Francois Beauchemin from Anaheim.

Trade talk this off season isn't out of the question either. If its a trade it will make a splash. There is more going on then the management is letting on. One of the first moves the Pens made this off season was signing scoring defensmen Alex Goligoski.

This may foreshadow Gonchar's departure. That $5 million clear out would bring so much relief to our cap room, which is being spent on a easily hurt and aging blueliner.

So where would he go and what is GM Ray Shero looking for?

Shero has spent a lot of time with Atlanta and watching how their team works. The Pens need a winger and its a bit of a stretch but Ilya Kovalchuk may be a Penguin. The Thrashers need to clear out and rebuild and the Pens need a winger (Kovalchuk a left winger would replace Kunitz who's production slipped in the playoffs).

This trade isn't as crazy as it first sounds. The Thrashers could use a veteran Blueliner to add to a group of young players.

Watch for a splash this off season. The Pens are looking for a repeat and to start something special.

Guerin Traded to Pittsburgh Penguins

Justin Lorenz — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:12:23 -0500

Bill Guerin is leaving the Island.

It was announced Wednesday that the 37-year-old captain would head out for the Steel City. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a conditional low-round draft pick.

If the Penguins do not make the Playoffs, the Islanders will recieve a fifth-round draft pick, If the Pens get past the first round, they will send a third-round draft pick to New York.

The veteran right winger has 16 goals and 36 points this year in 61 games. He is in the final year of a $4.5-million contract.

The Penguins are making a huge Playoff push under interim coach Dan Bylsma. After making several trades and signings, Pittsburgh is 6-1-1 under him.

With the trade for Guerin and the Wednesday signing of Craig Adams, the team has acquired two solid wingers and is therefore in a questionable spot regarding the future of Miroslav Satan.

The Ryan Whitney Trade Had To Be Done

Justin Lorenz — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:42:36 -0500

In the midst of a disappointing season the Penguins needed a change of personnel.

On Thursday the Pens announced they traded defenseman Ryan Whitney for Ducks winger Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi.

Kunitz and Tangradi for Whitney is a good trade and the Pens made the right choice.

Pens had trouble losing many talents after the playoffs and the trades they made had them looking silly (after Hossa opted out for .45 million more in Detroit).

Many fans, however, are upset and think the Pens will pay and miss Whitney.

Unless you will miss watching Whitney and his poor decision making and lack of defensive capability, you're wrong.

Whitney is not a defensive player to model a team after, and was more effective on the power play then helping Fluery.

This was exhibited to such a high amount in the playoffs it was almost comical.

He struggled to protect the puck and the net. He was also often caught out of position. His ablility to quarterback the powerplays when Gonchar didn't have the puck is the only thing that Pittsburgh will remember him for.

With much talent in the AHL at Wilkes-Barre Scranton, Whitney will be easily replaced.

It's no secret how much the Pens organization loves the young defenders like Ben Lovejoy and Alex Goligoski.

Goligoski exhibited a great deal of offensive talent much like Whitney and will most likely replace him on the power play to keep Malkin off of the blue line and towards the net making plays.

Kunitz is much needed on this team. With all of the losses in physicality in the offseason, Kunitz is a sigh of relief.

His 140 hits will be nice to protect Sid. He is desribed as speedy and gritty.

Last season the Pens were a strong group of young talent. That grit left and now they are a pure speed offense that relies on the fast breaks.

Kunitz is that grit that is perfect in this organization. He will play wing for either Crosby or Malkin and will finish off his checks and finish on his shots.

However, the biggest part of this trade is Tangradi, not Kunitz.

Tangradi is a great looking prospect and depth is the biggest problem the Pens are having.

Tangradi has already 87 points in the minors and will play on the wings when he is called up.

This bit of depth is greatly needed, and the Pens can always use good wingers since Fedotenko and Satan were not up to par.

These two players add depth and are signed so this trade is a long-term advantage for the Pens.

The rebuilding has started and the Pens fans are hoping for a boost to the playoffs as they look to fill a few more positions.

Manny to LA, Bay to Boston, Pirates Get Four Minor Leaguers

Justin Lorenz — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:20:59 -0400

Before the month of July the Pirates were sitting on a high with the best outfield seen in Pittsburgh in years. All of the outfielders were All-Star capable.

With all of this talent being revealed, the Pirates had an offense that was finally working. What's the smartest thing to do? Trade 2/3 of the solution.

The move is official.

Red Sox get: Jason Bay .282 22 Home runs

Dodgers get: future Hall of Fame member Manny Ramirez .299 20 Home runs

Pirates get: four minor league players; Brandon Moss OF, Andy LaRoche 3B (Adam's brother), Craig Hansen RHP, and Bryan Morris RHP.

In the past week the Pirates have received five RHP, two OF, and a 3B all in the minor leagues for their best corner outfielders, their best AVG hitter, and their best reliever.

Only one player is currently Major League ready, fueling the questions as to who will fill these spots. The Pirates are already injury plagued so bench players are already being used. The Pirates simply do not have enough personal to continue the frequent trips to AAA that are needed; however, most of the players in AAA, including the newest trade players, are not major league ready.

For Boston, this trade maybe what the doctor ordered. Bay is younger and much less money to resign. His productivity is high and he can field much better then Manny. Bay will look strong in the Red Sox post season and a change of city and winning team may turn Bay into a power house in the AL.

The Dodgers were also looking for that post season push and they hope Manny's power is just the thing.

NHL:What's Next for the Pens?

Justin Lorenz — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:43:16 -0400

After an amazing post season run and a shaky off season, many Penguin fans are asking, "what's next?"

Last season's Stanley Cup loss disappointed many from the Steel City, but the loss was really a great win for the young, humbled Pens.

Hossa quickly left the city and all Penguins fans immediately thought they were doomed. Many questioned the trade—however, the Penguins had more centers then there were roster spots for.

Losing both Armstrong and Christensen cut some spots on the team and left a few AHL players some very important ice time. Ice time that was so key in the growth of the future Pens.

Malkin's signing was way more important than Hossa's would ever be. Putting a good contract on a player that saved the Pens' season when Crosby was hurt clearly was top priority over someone who was truly not the most talented player on the team.

When you play along side the amazing talent of a young Sidney Crosby, there is no doubt that you will produce goals—any one with a slap shot will qualify for the position.

Before long many Penguins left and Shero had to fill some spots.

The talent of Miroslav Satan and Fedotenko will be welcomed. I would rather have two talented players rather than one over-priced skater that can easily be double covered.

Fluery's signing could be one of the most important moves made this entire off season. Fluery is still young and will become stronger and more talented each year. Scary, huh? Fleury was the keystone to the playoff run the Pens had last year, and he looked incredible.

As for the other signings Cooke is cleary Ruutu plus an offensive threat—which changes a tough checking line into being a two-way group.

The whole team will be incredible.

Crosby, Malkin, and Staal gain a year of talent and should be close to unstoppable.

However, if there is one thing I am most excited about it is the young AHL players poking through to the NHL level. Goligoski and Kennedy both looked strong in the limited days they had with the Pens. Kennedy's footwork and speed were very impressive and should look great on the third line.

Pesonen will be fun to watch as his speed will light up the NHL.

Next year promises to be entertaining even without Hossa.The Pens lineup should go something like this:

First line: Miroslav Satan, Sidney Crosby, Pascal Dupuis

Second line: Jordan Staal, Evgeni Malkin, Petr Sykora (This line is the one I am most excited about. Staal and Malkin will be like adding TNT and a lit fuse.)

Third line: Ruslan Fedotenko, Maxime Talbot, Tyler Kennedy

Fourth line: Eric Godard, Janne Pesonen, Matt Cooke (If Pesonen adapts to the NHL properly look for the switch of him and Dupuis—a speedy skater could be just what Crosby needs)

Overall, the Pens should take the division and have a season quite close to last year. With the knowledge that the young Pens acquired this year, who knows how far it will take them—hopefully to Lord Stanley's house.

08-09 Stanley Cup: Rematch?

Justin Lorenz — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:07:02 -0400

There is no doubt that this year's Stanley Cup was a great show, but what about next year? Are the Wings and Pens about to dance again?

The off season, this year, has been a wild and bumpy road. Both Pens and Wings had an interesting one.

The Pens lost Hossa and the Wings picked him up. Not only did they pick up Hossa they picked him up for .45 million more then what the Pens offered. This has the Pens seeing red and might see the two teams battling for the Cup again.

The Pens have a completely new team this year. The signing of Satan and Fedotenko puts the Pens in a pretty good spot. This covers the loss of Malone and most of Hossa's points. Any player matched with Crosby or Malkin is going to turn up the points.

The addition of Cooke is a huge improvement over bruiser Ruutu, and Godard covers any fight that Laraque put in.

That leaves the Pens a few points lost over Hossa moving. However, Pens have a card up their sleeves. Last year the Penguins were plagued with inexperience. The captain was at 20 and the point leader at 21. This year the experience will kick in a bit. The players all know what to expect and how to handle a championship series.

The possible switch of putting Jordan Staal, who has been compared to Mark Messier in the early stages, on the line of Malkin who fetches 110+ points a season could kick the goals into hyper-drive.

(Staal is only 19)

Everyone knows how stacked the Red Wings offense is and Hossa being added among them will be incredible. Zetterberg's playoff performances amazed everyone, and he looks stronger then ever. Hossa also adds playoff talent. With Hossa and Datsyuk or even Filppula, the Red Wings could have the best offensive season they have ever seen.

The possibilities of a rematch are very strong and the road the cup looks like an amazing one. This season promises to be an exciting one.

The Diary of a Small Market Team: The True Underdog Story

Justin Lorenz — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:50:24 -0400

The old saying goes "money can't buy you happiness," if you are a Yankees or Red Sox fan this is the opposite for you.

I was born in the Steel City, Pittsburgh, where only two things are important... Steel and the Steelers. Being from this town we are used to watching the Steelers make the playoffs every year, if they don't that is both disgusting and disappointing.

We watch baseball, however, in ugly shades of grey. The Pirates have found a way to lose for the past 15 (going on 16) years.

When we come close to that .500 win percentage mark, last reached in 1992, we choke and ship out our crop of athletes. Pittsburgh has seen some of the best baseball players of the last several decades, (Barry Bonds, Jason Schmidt, Aramis Ramirez, Moises Alou and Brian Giles) but our low money supply can never afford to keep these players here.

This is true for many of the other struggling ball club of the MLB.

Places like New York, Boston, and Chicago are located in very dense cities where TV revenue for the club is booming. At the bottom of the list are unfortunate clubs that have to deal with what the have.

Baseball has gone from a game of great competition, to wondering who is going to win the World Series between the Red Sox or the Yankees. Places like Pittsburgh have no interest of watching their team lose on a constant basis.

Many people hate the idea of TV revenue sharing, myself included, but sometimes the game gets out of hand. The New York Yankees have a $180,239,296 advantage on the Florida Marlins ($159,109,346 for Pirates fans).

How is this fair?

I have seen packed crowds gather at Fenway and Yankee Stadium. I have also seen crowds of less than 10,000 at PNC Park (the Pirates have 1/4 the attendance of Yankee Stadium). This lack of enthusiasm has pushed the Pirate owners to buy ski resorts instead of ball players.

I am not pushing the idea of Revenue sharing on anyone but something needs to be done, such as a salary cap. This cap would bring a huge competitive boost to the game. A boost big enough to finally bring in a lot more fans. If every team is a contender then the games would be fun to watch. I have no interest in watching a small team get beat by 10 runs by the Yankees.

America's favorite pastime is suffering in the hands of the big market team's wallets.

I am more proud then ever this year because of teams like the Rays. I am a Red Sox fan (because the pirates weren't doing it for me) and I still find myself cheering for the Rays, the true underdog, to finally bring small market clubs back on the map.

Pittsburgh Penguins add Finnish Superstar Janne Pesonen

Justin Lorenz — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:42:31 -0400

Janne Pesonen looks forward to his new team. The NHL is a big step for any rookie. Look for Pesonen on the third line. If he progresses well enough the future is birght. When he adapts Sidney Crosby may have a new winger.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially announced today of the signing of Finnish All-Star Janne Pesonen. GM Ray Shero made the announcement:

“Pesonen is a quick, skilled player that has had much success in the Finnish Elite League. We look forward to watching him perform at his first NHL training camp.”

The Penguins are giving the Finnish prodigy a one-year, two-way contract that the Finland league demanded.

Janne Pesonen was last year's point leader for Oulu Kaprat. Pesonen had 78 points in 56 games, including 34 goals. He won four league championships, and was named playoff MVP in 2007.

Janne Pesonen wore number 20 in Finland, and is only 5-11 180 pounds. Pesonen is known for his great speed and shooting skills. In his career in Finland, Pesonen had 216 points in 285 games—94 of which were goals.

Pesonen was drafted in the ninth round in 2004 by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

Janne Pesonen has great speed, similar to Martin St. Louis.

Pittsburgh Penguins '08-09 Roster: Old Faces in New Places

Justin Lorenz — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:49:24 -0400

When July 1 came around, Penguins general manager Ray Shero had one thing in mind—he had to keep the core of the team together.

With a Stanley Cup loss, Shero wants nothing more than to go back next year and fly home with the Cup in his lap. However, the Penguins off-season was a bumpy road.

Before leaving Pittsburgh, Shero and the Pens offered all-star winger Marian Hossa a $7 million per year contract.

Apparently, "the Burgh" wasn't where Hossa wanted to be.

Hossa signed a one-year, $7.45 million contract, leaving the Pens for Stanley Cup winners Detroit.

Losing an All-Star is bad enough, but the downhill spiral continued. Wingers Ryan Malone, Georges LaRaque, Gary Roberts, and even Jarkko Ruutu left, leaving the Stanley Cup-contestant Pens a shell of what they once were, and crushing Shero's credit.

However, the Penguins will once more be atop the Atlantic Division next season. With all of the ex-Penguins leaving, Shero and Lemieux found themselves sitting upon a pile of money to put wherever they want.

With the core in mind, Shero put All-Star Russian center Evgeni Malkin under a contract very similar to that of whom many believe is the best player in the world, Sidney Crosby (worth $8.75 million a year).

Still thinking core, the Pens re-signed bruiser and bully Brooks Orpik, who had the most hits in the playoffs last year.

Finally, the Pens re-signed goalie and former first-overall pick Marc-Andre Fluery—who had a breakout season last year—to a seven-year contract.

With this core intact, the Penguins had to find players to patch the holes created by those who left.

The Pens quickly inked wingers Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko to one-year deals.

Any player in the league would look good beside Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin, but with his blisterning shot, Satan could have an amazing season, similar to what Petr Sykora had with Malkin last year.

Despite his lack of points last season—only 44, compared to the high 60s that he is used to—Satan could really turn it up this year.

Ruslan Fedotenko's muscles could add a strong punch to that line. Fedotenko has grits that were similar to Ruutu, but has a better shot.

Finally, the Pens added Matt Cooke and Eric Godard. Godard was Calgary's bruiser, and could add a hard hit to the checking line. Ex-Capital Cooke would fill the hole of Jordan Staal if the Pens decide to move him up to play along side Evgeni Malkin.

Staal is much like Mark Messier, and his play could set off a huge explosion of goals from Malkin and Sykora.

The Penguins aren't stopping there. GM Shero is closing a contract with Finland's top scorer, Janne Pesonen.

Last year with Karpat in Finland's SM-Liga, Pesonen had 78 points and 34 goals. He is known for his great skill and speed. His play will be welcomed in Pittsburgh.

The 2008-09 season is one to look forward to, and the Penguins season will be completely different, even if the results are the same.

The Penguins will be a different team than they were last year. The young players are starting to bloom into crafty, experienced players. The Penguins still have a bright future.