Bleacher Report - Articles by Jon Lambert

Pittsburgh Penguins: Bill Guerin Acquired

Jon Lambert — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:11:20 -0500

With word breaking in the last few minutes, Bill Guerin is the latest Penguin.

Pens GM Ray Shero added the 6-2, 220lb,older, rugged winger from the New York Islanders for a conditional draft pick.

Guerin, 38, brings 16 goals, 20 assists, and a -15 on the season to the Penguins. Guerin was serving as the Islanders Captain at the time of the trade.

Earlier in the day, Shero swapped minor league defensemen with St. Louis by sending Dany Richmond to the Blues and acquiring Andy Wozniewski.

Is this the move that is the culmination of the minor moves over the last few days for Pittsburgh?

Personally, I hope not.

Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis To Pittsburgh Penguins?

Jon Lambert — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:29:37 -0500

A rumor that I had originally written off isn't going away and seems to be gathering steam.

Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis is apparently the subject of talks between Penguins GM Ray Shero and his Tampa counterpart Brian Lawton.

With the instant cohesion of Jordan Staal and Chris Kunitz, who was brought in to play with Crosby, Shero is looking to add yet another winger to slot with Sidney.

There are many obstacles that have to be overcome before this rumor should gain any validity.

St. Louis has to waive his no-trade clause.
Pittsburgh needs to either send someone to Tampa or anywhere else (with a decent salary) to fit the remaining pro-rated salary of St. Louis.
Compensating Tampa Bay for the speedy winger.

While it seems these whispers will continue until 3 p.m. Wednesday I'll leave it up to you to decide to get your hopes up of Pittsburgh boosting their already recently discovered explosive offense.

Don't get me wrong, if this happens Pittsburgh will have to be considered a solid contender come playoff time. While they continue to shoot-up the standings after a prolonged slump, this addition would make the Pens a terrifying seven game matchup that can roll three lines capable of chipping in at least two goals a game.

I'm not one to get excited abput rumors and talk, but this has me pretty excited because the talk is reminiscent of the talk that preceded Hossa coming to the Burgh.

Only time will tell.

Jordan Staal-Chris Kunitz: Pass the Champagne!

Jon Lambert — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:26:31 -0500

A little more than 24 hour after Penguins GM Ray Shero officially sent Penguins fans whipping boy Ryan Whitney to Anaheim for Chris Kunitz and possible "next one" Eric Tangradi, there is a roar brewing through the Greater Pittsburgh Area.

Trade Jordan Staal! I hear the reasons...

"He's a valuable trade commodity!"

"His numbers aren't like Malkin and Crosby!"

...and I began doubting myself.

My first reaction was "Staal, really...he's so young, good defensively," but I couldn't stop I've listening to the trade happy mob mentality, then looking at Staal, thinking maybe...I don't know.

Now after watching the first 10 minutes elapse of the Penguins game in Chicago, Jordan reminded me of what my instincts should have been...YOU'RE ALL NUTS.

Because Sidney Crosby is out with the groin ache, the Penguins may have discovered a concoction, much like Champagne was discovered, by accident. I'm watching Staal center the line of newly acquired Chris Kunitz and always high energy Tyler Kennedy, I believe the Penguins may have answered two of their their own questions.

Who can we get to be Crosby's wing?

What to do with Staal with Crosby and Malkin centering the top two lines?

The answer is mind blowing, are you ready? Are you sure? There's no turning back!

Make Jordan Staal your second line center.

"WHAAAAAAT!" you say. Okay here we go...

Watching this instant chemistry between Staal, Kunitz, and Kennedy (Staal and Kunitz have both scored and and assisted on the others goal, while Kennedy has registered an assist in the first 10 minute), the answer became obvious.

We FINALLY have a second line. The first line? Well, remember how dominating that pesky combination of Malkin and Crosby is when used? Why not make it full time? You haven't seen a constant, "will they end up together...they're so good together!" since Friends went off air with Ross and Rachel ending up together.

Don't make us wait nine years Bylsma!

You have a natural feeder with good shooting skills in Crosby and a sniper with good passing skills in Malkin...and for kicks, let's throw a side of Sykora in to complete the meal. Remind anyone of Gretzky-Kurri, Hull-Oates, or Lemieux-anyone?

Then the next obvious question would be who to use on the powerplay if all are on your topline. Simple, add Staal or Kunitz to be full time net presences for your two best players.

That would leave a Pascal Dupuis, Matt Cooke, Max Talbot and Ruslan Fedotenko battle for a third line where all are more aptly suited than rotating into the top six positions.

Whoever isn't playing his A game gets demoted to lead the fourth line with Bill Thomas and Eric Godard, my guess would be Pascal Dupuis (personality aside, is bringing a big zero to the table). Keep in mind, the surprising Mike Zigomanis will be back in the fold next season as well.

That possibility would also leave me to finally say this...oh,my god I can't believe this is going to happen...it puts Satan where he belongs!

"SATAN, INTO THE PRESS BOX, I COMMAND THEEE!"

Into the press box until Shero either deals him before the trade deadline (please Toronto, let us have Antropov for him, we'll even give you any pick you want except a first rounder) on Tuesday or until his contract expires this summer.

I'm curious if that this is what Shero saw when he pulled the trigger or if this is just a wonderful by-product? Who cares.,,,,enjoy it like a sip of fine bubbley on New Years Eve.

Ray Shero Shoots and Scores!

Jon Lambert — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:23:14 -0500

With details coming in on the trade just announced, my first impression was...meh. After review and a little research, I am absolutely in love with this trade.

Here's why: Chris Kunitz (6'0", 195 pounds, 16 goals, 19 assists, and a +9) brings his physical feisty style to perhaps be that elusive winger for Crosby. He owns a scoring touch but hasn't had too many skilled centers to get him the puck.

Hey Chris, meet Sidney, the best passing center in the game. (Sorry, Joe Thornton, but if Sid had your linemates, Gretzky's records would be in jeopardy.) Maybe now we can see Pascal go to the third line where he belongs.

In the process we send Ryan Whitney to Anaheim to enjoy the sun, perhaps tan up that 6'4", 219 pound frame that he selfishly wouldn't throw around in Pittsburgh. Ater being exposed as a Sergei Gonchar piggybacker, I'm glad to see his $4 million a season come off the books.

But wait, there's more.......in comes Eric Tangradi. Who...? Oh you mean Eric, the 6'3", 207 pound 20-year-old center/winger that came along.

Did I mention that he's the No. 2 scorer in the OHL, trailing only hockey's wonderkid John Tavares by eight points? No? Oh, silly me.

But what about Whitney's point contribution? Letang and Goligoski have shown they can contribute; all that was needed was a thinning of the log jam at defense. By Ryan, thank you!

This clearly is a great move for the Pens. Being two points out of the final playoff spot, you have to wonder did it come to late? It also should not be the last move. They need an edgy, physical, nasty defenseman brought to that blueline to complement the D. Meanwhile, Gill, Eaton, and Satan must go.

This story is far from over...

Jaromir Jagr and Bigfoot Headed to Pittsburgh

Jon Lambert — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:07:28 -0500

Wow!

I've come to appreciate that there are two universes - the real one that for the most part has believable events occur.........200-pound chimp aside.

Then there are some doozies out there,

"Loch Ness monster attacks boat......"

"Batboy seen in New York..."

"I was impregnated by bigfoot while Elvis watched..."

"Baseball's reputation not tainted by steroids...."

Which leads me to the bleacher report, where you see some fantastic stories rooting in wishful thinking to just flat out dementia. I saw an article (who had "sources") that had the Rangers acquiring most of the young stars the NHL has to offer in return for their underachievers and overpaid.

Wow! Get that GM to the Pens now, no matter the cost.

I'd laugh, say, "stupid Ranger fans" and take pride in the fact that I'm a Pens fan. Until the articles recently started popping up were about my team. Not opinion articles (everyone's entitled to one, but be prepared for reaction to them ...)...no, no, no....articles that would have you believe the Le Magnifique is sitting next to the writer telling him this first hand.

One of my favorites....

"Jagr say's he'll come to Pittsburgh at the NHL minimum because he owes Mario..." That would be a fantastic ending for one of Pittsburgh's adopted sons who turned his back on the team. While the quote says Jaromir Jagr owes Mario Lemieux, he owes someone a little more.

Let's go back in history. Jagr, a bright star in the league wanting to play for Kladno in his home country before he retires, becomes engulfed in flames as news breaks of a severe gambling problem, a mounting debt, and the need of the big contract. His contract expires, the Rangers, nay, the entire league offers not a single thing?

Why, his numbers were decent, are they afraid of something?

In steps the Russian-owned and run KHL, whose ties to Russian tycoons and mobsters is the worst kept secret (ask Malkin and his Cloak & Dagger escape), and offers $7 million a year tax free!

What a signing for the league. He'll help sell tickets, bring a huge name to the league perhaps....all debts forgiven?

How do you propose Jagr gets out of this "contract" with the KHL to return? Does he take Malkins multi-national jaunt to reach the shores of the U.S. before being discovered, caught, and returned?

In short, Jagr's not coming. Neither is Sean Avery, Ilya Kovalchuk or Jay Bouwmeester.

I'll give you 400,000 reasons why. That's the room under the cap the Penguins have until the contracts of dead weight players like Hal Gill and Miroslav Satan expire, that's $5 million freed up for next season.

Which of those guys do you think will realistically sign for $5 million a season? If you answered Avery, you're correct. The thing is, Avery will never pull a Penguins Jersey over his head unless that's what he wears to bed.

He's a scumbag with limited talent. Remember the cliche "you hate him if he plays against you, love him if he plays with you"? Well, EVERBODY hates him, just ask his last teammates on the Dallas Stars.

Don't believe me?

How about the lack of people coming to his defense...including his mother!

No, Jordan Staal is not going anywhere, neither are Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Marc-Andre Fleury, slap your self in the face, he's staying.

Ryan Whitney, maybe, but for the right price. * (Has since been traded for Chris Kunitz and a highly touted prospect in Eric Tangradi)

As for Sean Avery, Jay Bouwmeester and Illya Kovalchuk, when they get to Pittsburgh......let me know so I can tell Bigfoot and Nessie that they have to clean out their lockers and head to Wilkes-Barre.

Penguins Defense Needs Some Nastiness!

Jon Lambert — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:28:59 -0500

Alright. I shared my thoughts on the Penguins need for a winger for Crosby by proposing Antropov—now it gets hard.

The Penguins defensive corps! Excuse me, my stomach just flipped.

Where else could you find a 6' 7" 240 lb. defenseman who doesn't use his size (Hey Hal, watch Chara play a game) and loves to give up the puck in his own end, another defenseman in Eaton who is allergic to contact and Ryan Whitney, who thinks being physical is giving guys face washes from behind in scrums? We've been spoiled by roughnecks such as Ulf and Kasparaitis who made up for their lack of offensive contributions by putting the well-being of their bodies and the rules at risk in the name of winning.

So they're not being physical, then their bringing offense to the table...uh...no! The three have COMBINED for five goals, 20 assists, 75 PIM's, and a lovely -11 rating. Let's see, without Gonchar in the lineup and asking Whitney to QB the power play, the power play (an NHL top 10 regular) plummeted to the bottom five of the league. Whitney got big money by piggybacking off a powerplay lead by Gonchar, and now has suggested he can't be the man, a good No. 2, but not the man. Yes, he missed time with foot surgery, but Gonchar hadn't played a game until five games ago and click...the powerplay is back while he personally picks up two goals and two assists.

Gill is a UFA at the end of the season, clearly not worth re-signing and Eaton is overpaid at $2 million per season through next season. I believe we're stuck with them unless Shero can earn his $$. Which brings me back to Whitney, I wonder what we can get for him. With the deadline approaching fast, I'm curious...Whitney at age 26, offensive skills and trade value could be an end to justify the means.

Think about it, Gonchar is locked up through next season (and should be deemed untouchable by the franchise), Letang and Goligoski showed they can contribute on offense and a young Alex Grant (6' 2", 185) is developing.We have getting points from the defense covered.

We have the defenseman who is blue collar that no one knows outside of your fanbase but always seems to be resigned in Rob Scuderi.

We need more nasty and intimidating defenseman (all due respect to Orpik, you hit but you don't toe the line). Youngsters Carl Sneep (6' 4", 210) and Brian Strait (6' 0", 200) probably won't be entering the Penguins system until the new Arena opens, should I dare suggest what the asking price for Mike Komisarek, Ryan Suter (24 years old) or Jack Johnson (22 years old) would be?

Would a team like the Kings (Johnson) or Predators (Suter) be willing to let go of the young, nasty defenseman for a defenseman only a few years older that is entering his prime to anchor their power-play. Either would come to the Penguins and save them $500,000 to $600,000 a year, depending on which one we could land.

Suter comes from nasty defenseman heritage, his father Gary spent many a year battering the leagues top players while contributing offensively.

Johnson, well...ask Sidney...why you say?

Good old Jack used to be the deterrent for people who chose to err on the side of messing with Crosby in Juniors. Crosby knows firsthand the nastiness that would come, as well as history and friendship. Oh yeah, and both play in the Western Conference where we'd only have to worry about Whitney's revenge twice a year.

Mike Komisarek on the other hand is more of a gamble. He plays in the East with the Canadiens, is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season (looking to increase on his $1.7 million salary) and is a year older than Whitney. On top of that, would either team be willing to deal to each other while fighting each other for one of the final play-off spots?

That aside, it's worth a look. What's wrong with asking about a 6' 5", 240 lb. defenseman who is not afraid to use that size.

No matter which one the Pens could acquire it would be a positive welcome, maybe to sweeten the pot throw in either Gill or Eaton...or both.

Is Nik Antropov "The Answer" for Penguins fans?

Jon Lambert — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:54:44 -0500

Who can the Penguins get to play on Crosbys' line?

It's becoming another staple in Pittsburgh sports questions: "Are the Pens ever going to get a winger to play with Crosby", that joins the ranks of "What's going on with the Steelers O-line?" and "is this the year the Pirates break .500?"

Sadly enough, that's the main discussion these days in Pittsburgh when Pirates spring training commences. I've been burned by that last one and frankly don't care anymore.

But I digress. Ray Shero has decisions to make. With the Pens' playoff chances on life support, the decision better come quickly.

Aside from the glorious three months that Hossa gave the Pens last spring, Ryan Malone's breakout (contract) year and Palffy's brief stint before retiring, the wingers that have been slotted next to Crosby have been less than...well they have flat out stunk.

Colby Armstrong gave us hope in Crosby's first year only to follow that up by proving he's a third-liner on a solid team. Then the revolving door began. Mark Recchi (some Pens fans loved this forgetting that it wasn't 1991 again.), John Leclair (with a lot of miles, whose Pens' highlight was dislocating Malkin's shoulder), Erik Christensen, Andy Hilbert, Pascal Dupuis, Nils Ekman, Michel Ouellet, and the list goes on.

The answer this year was thought to be Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko. Satan, who's lack of willingness to battle for the puck and showing up for every 10th game, has worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh and might go down as one of the worst free agent signings in Pittsburgh SPORTS history.

Fedotenko, in all fairness, had been coming on strong before breaking his hand on Crosby's BFF Colby Armstong's face in a one-punch fight.

The real answer may lie to the North in the 6'6", 230 pound winger/center Nik Antropov. With 20 goals and 24 assists on the season, Antropov would be third on the Pens scoring list (Malkin 27-60-87, Crosby 23-56-79) and fourth in goals behind Malkin, Crosby and the ageless Petr Sykora.

Yes, he has five goals and 11 pts more than Satan but this is where it gets interesting. Nik has done it with Toronto, who if the Pens hadn't laid down for three times this season would be last in their division. For the record, the Leafs' leading scorer is Jason Blake, the feisty Pens killer who has three more points than Antropov to this season.

It's likely he'll thrive without having to be a franchise player in a bloodthirsty Hockeytown.

To make the case even better is two golden nuggets. He has fallen out of favor with Leafs general manager Brian Burke and he loves to go to the front of the net.

Now I realize that if you're an avid Pens fan you would think that a player going to the front of the net is banned in the NHL, but this guy takes his huge frame and parks it in there.

Imagine the possibilities! The room created on the power play for Crosby to play the boards and for Malkin and Gonchar to shoot with this hulking screen for them who has a tenacity for rebounds. Crosby would be able to wheel'n'deal, while a big man takes defensemen to the net with him.

The only question remains is the asking price.

Ah, yes. If only this was soccer where we could get him on loan. The huge payout for Hossa may hinder Shero's chances and/or willingness to deal. I'd love to see Satan head to Toronto for Antropov. Heck I'll even give him a ride to the Airport, but this is going to take at least a draft pick (second-third range) and a prospect.

In my opinion, make the deal. Acquire the 29 year old Russian winger and start selling or resigning him (current salary 2,050,000) by pushing the chance to play with his fellow Russians (Malkin, Gonchar and Fedotenko) and Crosby for the next few years while he's still in his prime.

When that is complete, all we need is for the Pens to shoot the puck to take advantage of him.