Archive for September 24th, 2009
Puck September: Pittsburgh Penguins
This past summer has been all about the money. There was the unrestricted free agent *frenzy.* That was around the same time the Phoenix Coyotes financial problems came into the spotlight, when BlackBerry billionaire Jim Balsillie threw his two cents into the fray and the league kept talking out of both sides of its mouth. You know, the place they seem reluctant to put their money in.
Screwed up contracts — both legitimate Chicago fuck-ups and the over-spending variety — became commonplace, and some players decided to gamble on the bigger payday in Russia. Terms like “escrow” and “cap numbers” came to be a part of the conversation, too. Then there was even more change — and even less sense — from Patrick Kane, who allegedly tag-teamed a Buffalo cab driver with his cousin over 20 cents.
It seems talk of climbing out of this recession has put money on the mind and our mind on the money, so in the spirit of cash, let’s take a look at all 21 teams 30 teams as training camps get set to fire up this month. Like most financial ventures, some teams will offer a greater return than others.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Atlantic Division
2008-09 record: 45-28-9, second in the division, fourth in the conference
Cap space: $1.812 million
Tip sheet:
Sidney Crosby will be insufferable now that he’s won a Stanley Cup…It will be interesting to see how the Penguins handle being ‘the team’ this season…Much like the Gretzky-Messier debate in the mid-’80s, there are large camps for both Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Call it sitting on the fence, but not much to choose between either player…When are the Pens getting a new building? Is it this year or next? I’d look it up but I’m getting sick of writing these. This is like writing about the weather every week…
Fun fact:
Mario Lemieux’s best move — and he’s had a few as a player and as a *hard-done-by* owner — was back in the day, when he got Dan Quinn to take all the heat for that incident in the Minneapolis hotel room. I think it was in the Twin Cities. Maybe there were been twins involved…
You should really invest in this club because…
The NHL marketing machine gives the hockey fan little choice. And Crosby’s wisps of masculinity. Look at those! Monsieur Crosby! I’m in love! He needs to sport that tiny junior high duster all year!!!
The bottom will fall out with…
Hate to say it, considering that he won Game 7 in Detroit and all that jazz, but Marc-Andre Fleury remains a pitfall. It’s like watching Chris Osgood play: Yeah, he’s got the resume now but every time a shot floats in there you’re not sure if the next face-off will be at one of the corner circles or the big one at centre.
Key acquisition:
Post season experience and a boatload of bandwagonners.
Bottom line:
Let the Pens be a lesson to all of you terrible teams: If you want to turn things around, put in a decade worth of losing, build up some high-draft talent, and go from there. The problem is getting through those 10 years….
Swim Out Past the Breakers: Week Three
The Houston Texans are a killing machine!
Another week, another casualty in the 2009 4th Star Suicide Pool. First the Texans took two readers out with a putrid effort against the New York Jets in Week One. This time around it was MasterClark, who by not relenting on his iron-fist rule of our longtime hockey keeper draft tempted the karma gods and saw his Tennessee pick succumb to the powers of Texas. What’s that? The Titans lost before we held our draft Sunday? Meh. Either way, he’s out and I’m stuck picking guys like Andrew Ladd and Chris Higgins as Tony Romo throws another ball up for grabs Sunday night.
As an aside, I’m all for tradition but when three guys keep winning the thing it’s time to make a change for the good of the game. Or maybe I’m just unhappy with my Martin Erat pick. But I digress. I’ll have more on my terrible draft team later. It’s football time. Here’s who still has a lust for life.
ruther
DKUN
Hot Live Stardom
wazoowazny
My pick: Let’s see where Cleveland is playing…oh, Baltimore. Perfect. I’ll take the Ravens. Those of you still left, give your picks in the comments. Good night and good luck.
Thursday Wrap Jam
Make no mistake, this is no mistake.
A bonus wrap jam for you folks interested in this little blog, as I count down the hours to the Hold Steady show at the West Ender tonight. Oh yeah, I’m excited. The above track will probably not see the sun on Ellice, which is too bad. If you’re one of the unfortunate ones who doesn’t have a ticket, or if you’re going to blow your entertainment dough checking out the Tampa Bay-Edmonton exhibition tilt at the Chipperdome, I thought it would be nice to show you — the time waster reader — a taste of what you’ll be missing. Hell, if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll even get a nice AC/DC encore, too.
I’m pumped. I know this kid is fired up, too.
Holly wore a string around her finger. She said it helps her to remember all the nights that we got over. Besides, it ties her outfit all together. Holly wore a string around her finger.
