Penguin Transactions

[Lyn]

The Pens have not really won anything since Scottie Bowman was the coach.

[X-Terminator]

Originally Posted by 83-Steelers-43

While I agree that it's frustrating, my only explanation is that Shero is waiting until next season to sign one or two big name FA's. At the same time we will have Malkin on this roster who I feel will make an immediate impact. If you look at the FA pool, there isn't much there. As I stated in a previous post, I think Shero is putting together role players (Ruutu and Eaton) while waiting until next year to sign the big names. If you happen to look at who's becoming FA's after next season you will see that the players to choose from are very good.

Personally, I'm willing to wait another season while this team makes the changes necessary in order to make this a cup contending team for years to come. It's not as if we are dealing with the Pirates. Changes are being made from the top on down and this teams future is very, very bright.

Well, that may be true, but it isn't any less frustrating seeing the Pens do nothing while other teams add good players. However, you are right about next year's crop of FAs being much more attractive, in addition to being younger. Shero basically is trying to build a young but very talented team similar to Nashville and Ottawa and not overload the team with too many high-priced, older veterans. Everyone wants to see the Pens win right away after 4 straight losing seasons and (2 with the worst overall record) and that's the source of the fans' frustrations, but I guess we're all going to have to realize that Rome was not built in a day, and we're going to have to trust Shero to make the right moves to make the team a perennial contender.

[83-Steelers-43]

Originally Posted by Lyn

The Pens have not really won anything since Scottie Bowman was the coach.

If "anything" means Stanley Cup victories, you are correct. But since Bowman has been gone, we have made the playoffs on eight different occasions (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001) and we have had three divisional championships (1994, 1996 and 1998).

I think that it would be more accurate to state that we "have not really won anything" the last four years compared to stating we "have not won anything since Scotty Bowman". It's not as if we are going on our fifteenth losing season and have been the laughing stock of the NHL the last fifteen years. The team won two Stanley Cups in 91 and 92 and were competative through much of the 90's and leading up to 2001. Over the last four years they have stunk and now we are seeing changes being made.

[83-Steelers-43]

Originally Posted by X-Terminator

Well, that may be true, but it isn't any less frustrating seeing the Pens do nothing while other teams add good players. However, you are right about next year's crop of FAs being much more attractive, in addition to being younger. Shero basically is trying to build a young but very talented team similar to Nashville and Ottawa and not overload the team with too many high-priced, older veterans. Everyone wants to see the Pens win right away after 4 straight losing seasons and (2 with the worst overall record) and that's the source of the fans' frustrations, but I guess we're all going to have to realize that Rome was not built in a day, and we're going to have to trust Shero to make the right moves to make the team a perennial contender.

No doubt. We would all love to see the Penguins turn it around this upcoming season, make the playoffs and win the cup. I think you will see them play better hockey compared to the last four years but at the same time I do not want to see them go out and sign a player just for the sake of signing him. They made that mistake this past season by signing players such as Palffy, Thibault and even Gonchar. I strongly feel Shero has a plan and I would rather him stick to his plan rather than sign a few big names simply because a few fans are bored with our offseason decisions or lack there of.

Unfortunately the most we will see is Recchi back in a Penguin uniform. I'm not exactly jumping for joy if that situation pans out. We may grab Perrault and there is a slight possibility of a trade involving Ryan Malone. All three situations are pure speculation on my part but if we see any type of player transactions, it would be those. Just my opinion.

[cbalke]

i hear what you guys are saying, and (if it ends up working out) i'm willing to wait a season to get the building blocks in place. i am totally psyched about malkin coming over as well...that kid and sid together are going to be magical. however, i really fail to see how all the changes he's making(in the long run they'll pay off, i'm sure) are going to make the current roster's 3rd and 4th line look anymore better than a decent high school squad. seriously, watching last year's "depth" was frickin painful. they just don't have the talent to be on the ice with an nhl team with who they've got past the first two lines right now. you know what i mean?

[83-Steelers-43]

That's where I see a few cheap FA's taking place (Recchi or Perrault).

[83-Steelers-43]

Also try to keep in mind that it's July.

The Penguins first game is October 5th.

I think people are way too anxious for something to happen. There is plenty of time before the Penguins play a meaningful game to round out the roster. Free agents such as LeClair weren't signed until August and I'm sure the Pens signed several others in August as well. I think Shero signed Ruutu and Eaton early because he felt they were the best for what role they need to fill. But there is plenty of time to negotiate with trades.

Shero said he is being patient in terms of roster changes. "It could be a trade; it could be a free agent," he said, adding that he is shying away from players who want much more than a one-year deal. "Next year at this time, the projection is that there could be a deeper pool of good, young forwards, so I'm not that interested in longer-term deals now," he said.

The Pens don't have $45M to spend, even if they wanted to. And they don't want to. It increases the price of the team for potential buyers, making a sale harder and ultimately probably making it less likely that the team will stay in Pittsburgh.

Then you figure that this team is populated almost exclusively by young prospect-type players and there is a brand new GM who is not familiar with these guys. Shero wants to figure out exactly what he has to work with this season. He wants to try players in positions and roles. He wants to see who can cut it and who can't. He needs to know what he needs to add before he begins adding it.

Finally, I'll go ahead and argue that the team will be much more competitive than they were last season. The last third of the season, the team was competitive. They bought into Therrien's system, Crosby came into his own, as did Armstrong, Fleury started to play better, etc. You figure that Eaton and Welch will add two top-6 defensive presences (and I mean defensive, not offensive defensemen) to the blueline. Gonchar should play much better this season than last and Whitney and Orpik will have another years experience (Whitney quietly had one heck of a rookie season last year). Ruutu goes a long way towards building a solid 3rd line for the Pens. If Malkin can be as good as advertised, he will probably add another 70-100 points to the offense and instantly make a credible second scoring line (which will also draw defensive pressure away from Crosby and the first line, allowing them to be even better). Plus, the PP featuring Crosby, Malkin, Gonchar, Whitney and someone else (maybe Leclair parked in front of the net) will be extremely deadly. Malkin, Armstrong or Ruutu, Eaton, and Welch could be a pretty nice PK unit too. I also think we'll finally start to see some consistancy from Fleury, especially if the defense can gel a little more and pick up their game. I'm not saying they're a playoff team, but I think they could push for a .500 record, even with the team they have now (and I'm not convinced that they're done adding yet).

Basically, what I'm saying is: "Relax".

[cbalke]

"relax, don't do it, when you wanna go to it." - great song! :)

good points all in all. it's just too bad we're not able to really see anything that shows real promise, you know? we're basically the Cubs fans of the NHL anymore and while i'll live and die a Cubs fan, it pisses me off to have TWO teams that are crap. lol...least i got my STEELERS!!!

HERE WE GO, STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!!

[83-Steelers-43]

Originally Posted by cbalke

"relax, don't do it, when you wanna go to it." - great song! :)

good points all in all. it's just too bad we're not able to really see anything that shows real promise, you know? we're basically the Cubs fans of the NHL anymore and while i'll live and die a Cubs fan, it pisses me off to have TWO teams that are crap. lol...least i got my STEELERS!!!

HERE WE GO, STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!!

That shows real promise? What do you consider Crosby, Malkin, Welch, Armstrong, Whitney, Orpik, Staal and Fleury? Keep in mind that none of the players mentioned above are over the age of 25. They have "promise". More than any other young squad in the NHL in my opinion.

Personally, I don't see the similarities between the Cubs of MLB and the Penguins of the NHL. Once again, from 91 up until 2001 this was a competative hockey team. It's not as if we haven't won a championship since 1908 or 1979 (Pirates). As "X" stated, Rome wasn't built over night. Between the coaching changes, a new GM (and management staff all together) and the fact that we have a young core of players, I don't expect this team to come out next season and win a Stanley Cup. It's very unrealistic. Even if we go out and sign Anson Carter or Sykora.

Then you have the rosters. I'm trying to avoid a baseball conversation here but since it was brought up.....the Cubs have players such as Derek Bell, Ramirez, Pierre, Walker, Maddux, Zambrano etc. (by the way, I would fire Dusty Baker if I were the owner).

For the most part, veteran players playing on a team who in my opinion is underachieving and have been underachieving for a while now. Please understand, no offense intended. That's completely different compared to a team who recently revamped it's coaching and management staff and most importanty, who are stocked with young players that need time to grow and gel together. Sorry, I just don't see the similarity between the Cubs and Penguins and while we are it, the Penguins and Pirates.

Apples and oranges.

[X-Terminator]

On the arena front, the state and local governments have gotten pledges from 2 of the other casino bidders to help fund a new building. This could help convince the potential buyers who are reluctant to keep the team here to strongly consider doing so. Of course, Mario could just make things easy and sell to one of the two groups who have made the commitment already, preferably Murstein/Cuban/Marino.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06195/705791-61.stm

Funds committed for new arena in move to help keep Penguins here
City, county announce deal with casino bidders, state
Friday, July 14, 2006

By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



City and county officials yesterday announced they have firmed up financing for a new arena, a move they said should help keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh.

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said officials yesterday obtained written pledges from two bidders for a casino license to help fund the arena construction. Officials said they also have gotten a state commitment to advance funding for site preparation.

The latest developments, Mr. Onorato said at a news conference yesterday, put the region in position to keep the Penguins, regardless of who ends up buying the team, which could be sold within days.

"We believe we can be as competitive as any city in the United States when it comes to a new building," he said.

He made the statements after two of the bidders for the Pittsburgh casino -- Forest City Enterprises and PITG Gaming LLC -- committed in writing to providing $7.5 million a year for 30 years toward the arena construction, contingent on winning the license.

Representatives for both groups signed confirmation letters from the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority outlining the basic terms. The commitment of the $7.5 million is part of Gov. Ed Rendell's alternative plan for building an arena if the third slots bidder, Isle of Capri Casinos Inc., doesn't get the casino license.

Isle of Capri, in partnership with the Penguins, has pledged $290 million toward a new home for the team as part of its formal bid. The Penguins are required to stay in town if Isle of Capri wins the license.

In the past, Forest City, which wants to build a casino at Station Square, had said it liked Plan B, but would not commit to a dollar amount, and first wanted to see a pledge by the Penguins to stay in Pittsburgh.

That changed yesterday.

"We want to secure the Penguins' future in Pittsburgh and we believe that now, assuming the Pittsburgh Penguins ownership group is willing to stay in the city, they have every opportunity to do that," said Abe Naparstek, Forest City development director.

Forest City decided to commit to a specific dollar amount, he said, because "the public officials -- the mayor, the county executive and the governor -- felt it was important to have all the pieces in place for an arena funding plan."

Also committing in writing was Detroit businessman Don Barden, president of PITG Gaming, who previously had pledged verbally to supply the $7.5 million requested by Mr. Rendell. Mr. Barden, who is proposing a casino on the North Shore, also has said he committed in writing to the state Gaming Control Board, which will award the casino license.

The pledges would be the cornerstone to Mr. Rendell's so-called $315 million Plan B to build an arena. The plan also includes $7 million from a slots backed development fund, and $4.1 million a year in team contributions. The Penguins also would have to commit $8.5 million upfront.

The Isle of Capri plan would not require any contribution from the team, and Penguins President Ken Sawyer yesterday once again urged local leaders to get behind it, saying it was "by far the best one for the city and the region."

Also yesterday, Mr. Onorato and Mayor Bob O'Connor released a letter from Mr. Rendell committing $26.5 million in state funds toward arena site acquisition and preparation. The money should be available by September and would be paid back once slots revenues begin rolling in.

The SEA already has started negotiations with 10 property owners in Uptown to secure land for the building and hopes to get deals by the end of the summer. The city and county would like to start construction in 2007. SEA Executive Director Mary Conturo said the $290 million price tag for the building appeared to be realistic.

Mr. Sawyer described the site assembly as "tremendous news," saying it fulfills a pledge the SEA made last year.

Mr. Onorato said the bidder and state pledges remove a lot of the question marks surrounding Plan B, putting the city and county in position to keep the team. He said he updated National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman on the developments yesterday afternoon.

"I informed the commissioner that the mayor and I and the SEA are prepared to get this done and that if he had any doubt that there was any commitment from the local elected officials, he can wipe those doubts away right now. This is the real deal," he said.

He quoted Mr. Bettman as saying his preference is to keep the team in Pittsburgh.

Mr. Onorato said the city and county pushed to get the commitments in anticipation of a possible sale of the Penguins. Four to five groups are bidding for the team.

While two have pledged to keep the team in Pittsburgh, the future is not as certain with the others.

However, Mr. Onorato believes Plan B gives the city and county the ability to compete with other cities trying to woo the team. With gambling money being used to build the arena, the city and county have the flexibility to offer the Penguins virtually all building revenues.

"We believe we can be as competitive through the lease term and the arrangement we create for the Penguins," he said.