Pens Labyrinth | A Pittsburgh Penguins Blog

Atlantic Division Gets Tough…Literally

Bill Mayer — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:17:40 +0000

The Atlantic Division figures to be tough this upcoming season…in more ways than one. First, it boasts what should be considered three of the top four teams in the conference: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New Jersey. Second, it’s now home to some of the toughest SOBs in the league. Here’s what Atlantic Division teams will bring to the table in 2010-11 in terms of toughness:

Pittsburgh – Eric Godard and Mike Rupp
Philadelphia – Jody Shelley and Daniel Carcillo/Ian Laperriere
New Jersey – Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond and David Clarkson
N.Y. Rangers – Derek Boogaard and Brandon Prust
N.Y. Islanders – Trevor Gillies and Zenon Konopka

Wow – that gives all five division rivals a legitimate heavyweight and a tough-as-nails middleweight. Philly, as usual, should be a real pain-in-the-bleep to play against this year. They added Shelley and Matt Walker to a lineup that already included Laperriere and Carcillo, who combined for 42 fights last season. Overpriced free-agent pickup Boogaard is one of the most feared fighters in the league, and Prust threw down 25 times last season. PL3 proved himself to be a legit heavy (watch his all-time classic scrap with St. Louis’ Cam Janssen), and Clarkson is a skilled player who can hang with just about anyone. Gillies had 75 PMs in only 14 games last year, and Konopka led the league in fighting majors. Of course, Pens’ fans need not worry. Godard, despite missing most of last season due to injury, is still one of the best fighters in the game. And Rupp is more than willing, and able, to take on all-comers.

What’s it all mean? Inter-division matchups are going to be brutal this season. I’d expect a lot of well-played, close, physical hockey games. I’d also expect a lot of fisticuffs, which, for my money, isn’t a bad thing.

One more interesting transaction occurred late yesterday. Washington acquired noted goon D.J. King in a trade with St. Louis. Guess the Caps felt they needed to toughen up to hang with the big boys of the Atlantic Division. Winter Classic at Heinz Field: Crosby vs. Ovie and Godard vs. King.

I’ll leave you with this 2007 scrap between Godard, then with Calgary, and Boogaard. I’m sure we’ll see these two tangle again this season.

Talbot Uncensored

Bill Mayer — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:19:10 +0000

The season hasn’t even started, and Max Talbot is in the news. Good ole’ #25. Stanley Cup heroics and commercial appearances aside, he’s the kind of player Pittsburghers love – hard-nosed, hard-working and extremely fan-friendly. That’s why it came as no surprise – to me, at least – when I heard Talbot referred to Alex Ovechkin as “a real douche” in a radio interview. I’m sure Talbot meant what he said. Hell, just about every Pens’ fan agrees.

Talbot’s statement has predictably stirred up a ton of mind-numbing controversy. Here’s a pretty good recap.

What Talbot said was funny, but should he have said it? Does he have the right to name-call one of the game’s best players? Listen, it sure wasn’t the politically correct thing to do, and I’m sure Talbot regrets saying it – not because he didn’t mean it but because of the ensuing crap-storm. But you can’t fault the man for being honest and speaking his mind – it’s another reason fans have come to adore him. Plus, Talbot, while being a far inferior talent, does have something Ovie doesn’t, and no one can take that away from him.

One thing is for sure: because the blogosphere has latched on to this story and made a mountain out of a molehill, it will add even more venom to the already hyper-intense rivalry between the Caps and Pens.

Good Riddance, Ponikarovsky

Bill Mayer — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:06:30 +0000

What will hopefully go down as the worst trade in Ray Shero’s tenure as Pens’ GM is officially history. Alexei Ponikarovsky somehow got a one-year, $3 million deal from the LA Kings, who must be more desperate for offensive help than I had previously thought. Not to beat a dead horse, but Alex P. had 2 goals in 16 regular-season games for the Pens, then proceeded to do diddly-poo in the playoffs, netting 1 goal in 11 games.

The trade was worse than I had predicted at the time, and I didn’t like it when it happened. The Pens traded possibly their best offensive prospect, Luca Caputi, to Toronto for Ponikarovsky. In hindsight, the deal never should have been made. Ponikarovsky sucked, and it would sure be nice to have Caputi back for this season.