Fedotenko to play Left Wing on Crosby's line against Jokerit.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_590781.html?source=rss&feed=8

Ruslan Fedotenko may not start the season on the first unit with Sidney Crosby and Miroslav Satan, but it will be that way Thursday in Finland against Jokerit for a preseason game. Of course, nobody expects to see great chemistry on a new line but if things go well, who knows? Fedotenko says being on a line with Sidney Crosby, or any line for that matter, is not something you can go "home and study." It is a "play and see" arrangement. So, let's just wait and see for ourselves.

Sykora is still out with a sore throat and other flu-like symptoms and he also did not take part in the scavenger hunts that took place today. He is expected to be back to practice Wednesday though.

Scavenger Hunt in Sweden.

The Pens have had a rushed preseason schedule and that also means less time for team bonding. However, Pens management found a way of fitting it into their cramped schedule. What better way than team scavenger hunts in Sweden?
http://fans.nhl.com/groups/Bridgestone_NHL_Premiere_2008__Stockholm/blogs/21091
The link is a blog from an NHL.com writer about his adventure with "Team Volvo," which consisted of Hal Gill, Evgeni Malkin, Eric Godard, and John Curry. They finished well behind the other groups, it took them over 4 hours to complete the hunt! However, Gill made sure it was not boring. Cracking jokes and carrying around a viking horn made the journey that much more fun for this group! It was also great for sightseeing, as part of its purpose other then bonding, and they were all over taking a bus ride and a boat ride and of course walking.
Here are some links for photos from "Team Volvo's" journey and other teams as well from NHL.com and feel free to look through more on NHL.com.

http://fans.nhl.com/groups/Bridgestone_NHL_Premiere_2008__Stockholm/photos/89757
http://fans.nhl.com/groups/Bridgestone_NHL_Premiere_2008__Stockholm/photos/89758
http://fans.nhl.com/groups/Bridgestone_NHL_Premiere_2008__Stockholm/photos/89759
http://fans.nhl.com/groups/Bridgestone_NHL_Premiere_2008__Stockholm/photos/89760

Gonchar out 4-6 months?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3616704

According to a source of ESPN, Gonchar will need surgery on his shoulder and could be out 4-6 months. The team is expected to make an announcement on Tuesday.

To me, this is devastating news. Gonchar is one of the elite defensemen of the NHL and this length of time out could hurt the team. David Koci better get a beating from the Pens every time we verse him and the Lightning.

Former Pen Noah Welch will donate brain to concussion research.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=250661

That's right, you heard correctly. Former Penguins player, Noah Welch will donate his brain after his death to the new Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, a joint program between the Boston University School of Medicine and Sports Legacy Institute. The reason is for concussion studies. Noah Welch is not alone, there are 16 other athletes who will also take part. Welch, however is the only NHLer to take part. The studies are meant to inform people that concussions should not be handled lightly, possibly find ways of preventing concussions as well as discovering many other things in regards to side effects and so on.

Isn't that nice of your former Pens player to give his brain to research?

Penguins Reduce Roster

http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=383068

13 players have been sent to the Baby Pens leaving the Pens with a 29 man roster.
The 13 players include forwards Kris Beech, Ryan Stone, Adam Henrich, Aaron Boogaard, Tim Wallace, Jonathan Filewich, David Gove and Christopher Minard; defensemen Deryk Engelland, T.J. Kemp, Ben Lovejoy and Joey Mormina; and goaltender David Brown.

Malkin being considered to be Alternate Captain.

Malkin may say he is not ready to be an Alternate Captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins because his English is not up to par quite yet, but what better way is there to lead than to lead by example. Malkin did just that when Captain Sidney Crosby went down last season with a high ankle sprain. Malkin became the leader we all knew he was. Most of the team says that Malkin should be given an "A" this season and I agree. There are a number of worthy candidates and Malkin said there were "older" candidates that should be considered before him, but Malkin has the ability to be a Captain of a team. Just because he is a little harder to understand, Malkin with an "A" on his jersey and all of his talent left out on the ice every night is every bit capable of leading the Pens to a victory by example.

2nd pre-season game tonight against Tampa Bay. Malone in line-up.

It is well known that a handful of former Penguins now play for the Tampa Bay Lightning. One of the most popular being Ryan Malone. A player born and raised in Pittsburgh and who came to be a fan favorite. I knew Malone would be leaving once I heard that he was the last one in his stall with his uniform still on and crying after the loss in game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. He knew his time in Pittsburgh was over and therefore, so did I. Now, he says that he would have taken less money to stay here and that he was sure a deal could have been done a long time ago. Yes, Shero was holding out on a few players to see what would be best for the team and Malone may have been brushed to the side a little bit. However, I do not blame either side for the split. Malone apparently had offers he could have accepted, whatever the reason behind it, he did not. Shero was holding out hope for Marian Hossa to sign here and was wondering how much money it would take to do so. Then, the business side of hockey came in, a deal could not be reached between Malone and the Pens and Malone's rights were traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, along with Gary Robert's, another fan favorite. It would be easy to pin the blame on Shero or Malone for this matter, but there is no point in doing so. These things happen and I wish Malone the best of luck with his career and I will always be a fan of his. He had his best season last season on a line with Evgeni Malkin, and I am sure he is gracious for that opportunity and his time here in Pittsburgh.


However, I do hope that the Pens have an exciting pre-season game tonight and I hope the outcome goes in our favor. Tonight's game will not be filled with the Pens best players, that is to be expected in pre-season games though. This is a game where many players looking to make the final roster will have to give their best skill to make the decision hard. Whoever does not make the team, it is their own fault.

Gonchar injured in first pre-season game.

A couple seasons ago, hearing that Sergei Gonchar was injured would have made some fans happy. Now, word of Gonchar's shoulder injury suffered in Saturday's preseason game against Tamp Bay is bad news. I was never one of those people who booed Gonchar and I knew then that he would fill the role that he has since filled. Gonchar is one of the elite defensemen in the league and it is a mystery as to why he was not a candidate for the Norris Trophy last season. Now, I hope Gonchar makes the quickest recovery because he is an asset to this team. Our power play would suffer a great deal if he were out for an extended period of time, he is one of the best in the league at what he does. Now, down both Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar, this is a time for other defensemen to step up and fill the roles. Good thing we kept Darryl Sydor!

Crosby working to improve his shot.

Though a shorter off season and not much time to try new training methods, Sidney Crosby still managed to work on improving his shot over the summer. Crosby may even used a curved stick this season, something he admits he is not used to. However, Crosby was well aware how his average of goals per game has dropped every season and he wants to change that. Not only to bolster the number of goals he gets though. "I want to keep opposing teams on their toes a little bit more," Crosby said, "and be a bit more of a dangerous shooter."
Crosby who says that he thinks of passing first will have to look more at the net and for a shooting lane this time around if he wants to improve. He will have to get adjusted to these new actions but I am sure Crosby will excel at whatever he wants to achieve. I look forward to seeing some spectacular goals and also some of those old familiar passes that are simply amazing.

Is it time for Stone and Filewich to make the Big Club?

There aren't that many spots on the team and training camp will be a deciding factor for many players. Will it be the Baby Pens or the Pens? Ryan Stone and Jonathan Filewich are going to be monitored closely on how well they perform in camp. The team is interested to see how well they perform. A spot could be theirs to make or break. Other players the team will be looking at closely could be, Jeff Taffe, Kris Beech, Bill Thomas, Janne Pesonen, Dustin Jeffery, and Chris Minard. It will be interesting to see how well camp goes for this group of players and who will make the Pens starting roster!

Chemistry will come in time.

Some fans say that we may have trouble finding chemistry with our new team. Well, yes, that's true, but every NHL team has to get used to some new faces at the beginning of a season. However, the Pens have always been praised by local media for their chemistry, but we still have the young core of our team intact and chemistry will come no matter who joins. So, yes, it may take a little while for some new lines to gel, some new players to fit in and find their role, but it will happen. New players on a team mean new oppurtunities. I, for one, am anxiuos to see what the new additions will do. It seems most new players that come to the Pens excel on a team that is captained by Sidney Crosby and has a slew of other players teams would kill to have! So to all those wary fans out there, be patient, the chemistry will come in time!

One Game at a Time.

Many have pegged the Penguins one of the top teams in the East for this upcoming season and with that many wonder: Will the Pens make it back to the Finals? Can they defy the odds? Since 1996 only one team that lost in the Cup Final the previous season won a playoff series the next season.
Well, for me, I say just to take it one game at a time. Like I said in an earlier post, no one can predict what will happen this season to any team. The Pens need to focus on having a good season and not look to the Final just now. Focusing on the season and taking it game by game will give the Penguins the success they need. No doubt that everyone wants to make it to the Finals and there is nothing wrong with wanting it, but don't let it become the focus. It takes work and commitment throughout the season to get there and that requires dedication and focus. Long road trips, divisional games, a busy schedule, these are things that the Pens will need to focus on to achieve their goal. So, looking at every game as a chance and step to their goal, who knows what the Pens will achieve. My guess is success. Now, let's just see how far they can go with their success this season! I look forward to finding out!

Wilkes Barre Scranton 10th Season Team.

http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=381431

The Wilkes Barre Scranton Baby Pens have announced their 10th season team that was voted by fans of the team!
The three forwards include Colby Armstrong, Dennis Bonvie, and Tom Kostopoulos.
Two Defensemen include Alain Nasreddine, and John Slaney.
The goalie is Marc Andre Fleury.
And the coach is Michel Therrien.
The top vote getters will be honored with a bobblehead night!
I have to say that I sure do miss Colby! Now, I was excited that we got Hossa, but I am never a fan of who we give up to receive players! I get attached to each member of the team and Colby was one of my favorites! I am hoping and praying to one day see Colby pull on a Pens jersey again. Let's face it, he just looks wrong in a Thrashers jersey!
Congratulations to all the players!

Crosby gets Order of Novia Scotia.

People should never be surprised to hear that Sidney Crosby has received another honor or award. It comes with the territory of being the best player in the NHL and also a person with great character. Crosby has always said he is proud of where he comes from and will never forget where he came from. Therefore, he was bestowed the honor of receiving the Order of Novia Scotia. I congratulate Sidney for this honor!



Of course, there are people who hate Crosby who say that he does not deserve this award and there are many more worthy people who should have received it. However, most of these people who say this are not from Novia Scotia. I am sure that by questioning the judgement on who should receive the award these haters are questioning very capable people. They have many reasons as to why they picked Crosby, he does a lot for communities like donating hockey equipment and so on. Novia Scotia is proud of Sidney Crosby and they feel he is a great recipient, as do I. So, all of those who say he does not deserve the award, Crosby does not pick the awards he receives, he is picked by responsible people. Therefore, when you state that Crosby does not deserve an award you are also putting down the people who chose him for that honor. Just let it go and get used to hearing more awards going to Sidney Crosby!

The possibilities of a new hockey season.

It's September and that means it is time for Training camps to get underway shortly! Nothing is more exciting to me than the thought of a new NHL season beginning. Who knows what to expect? What team or player is going to be a surprise, what team or player is going to be a disappointment? Who will score the awe-inspiring goal this season and which goalie will let the worst goal happen? What kind of fights will we see this year and who will go down with injuries? There are so many questions and so many possibilities, it is just impossible not to get excited thinking about a new season. Many are predicting that the Red Wings will repeat as Stanley Cup champs. Can they do it? I, of course, do not give predictions, but it is impossible to know what is going to happen. Any sudden problem could lead to a downfall of a team that was expected to win it all. That is what makes sports, and most importantly, hockey so exciting! A new beginning of a hockey season can be just as exciting as the end (if your team makes it to the playoffs). Though, few things come close to the excitement of being in the Stanley Cup final. So, with all the possibilities up in the air right now, the feeling of excitement is pretty high. I can not wait for the start of a fresh hockey season and to see what it brings!