By Finesse
Today is Artistry's birthday. Arguably his biggest birthday yet. Without getting into details, it's pretty huge.
Since we started this site less than two years ago, Artistry has changed jobs twice, raised one child from baby to toddler, raised a second child from infant to full-fledged baby, moved his family back to Pittsburgh, bought his first home, suffered through negotiations with contractors and architects about renovating the new house, and rented a house while the house he owns is being renovated. All the while, he's maintained a not-so-secret love affair with GTOG, which peaked in August 2011 when Artistry called from the maternity ward just hours after the birth of his second child, Artistrette, to record a twenty minute raw emotion podcast about the finale of The Bachelorette.
That's not something an ordinary man would do, but Artistry is no ordinary man.
So please join me in wishing my friend Artistry a happy birthday by watching the below video of what is arguably his favorite Penguins game of all time. If he doesn't respond to your wishes with a thank you, don't take offense -- he's probably just on CapGeek looking about the Blackhawks salary cap issues.
Selasa, 08 Mei 2012
Senin, 07 Mei 2012
Claude Giroux delivers the Best Headshot in the World
By Finesse
If we had to choose between the Flyers losing or world peace, we'd actually have to spend some time thinking about it. That's how important world peace is to us.
In this spirit, we'd like to take this morning to weigh in on yet another flash point in the twice-daily string of headshot debates, which all follow the same predictable pattern: 1) headshot delivered; 2) immediate Twitter outrage; 3) sarcastic hashtags on Twitter about the TV announcers' reactions to the headshot; 4) watching the hit on Puck Daddy; 5) complaining about Shanahan's inconsistency; 6) next headshot delivered; 7) wash; 8) rinse; 9) repeat.
It's not that we don't care about headshots -- let's just ban them all already to save us the aggravation -- it's the comparative moralizing and faux outrage sparked by each hit that bores us. James Neal headshots a Flyer? Philly fans call for his head. Claude Giroux, The Best Player in the World, throws a tantrum on the ice, headshots Dainius Zubrus? He just grazed the head, right? Pens fans are as guilty of this as anyone, so here's the bottom line: with some minor exceptions, everyone is the same. Your best player will get hit in the head, and he will hit someone in the head. Your dirtiest player will do the same.
Instead of recognizing this, many fans feign "objectivity" when analyzing these hits to support what we want to be true, i.e., that our star player is not just more talented than your star player, but also plays the game in a more dignified manner. Or they get all Jay Bilas-y and overcompensate for their perceived biases by being overly harsh on the team that they are supposedly biased for.
Because we have no interest in that charade, and we recognize that all teams have employed, do employ, and will employ guys that deliver illegal checks, we usually sit on the sidelines and watch Against the Odds clips on YouTube (John Steigerwald apparently doesn't age) while others debate whether Raffi Torres deserved a 25-game suspension, how Matt Cooke should be put down, and whether Mario is a hypocrite or the world's worst hypocrite. Except for today.
Our analysis of the Giroux-Zubrus hit after the jump...
Last night in New Jersey (<-- rarely followed by anything good), Giroux hit Zubrus square in the head well after Zubrus had gotten rid of the puck. Thankfully, because we're rooting for New Jersey, Zubrus was uninjured. It wasn't the most vicious headshot we've ever seen, but it's among the most intentional.
You can't analyze the Giroux hit without the context of what was going on before it. For about 10 seconds leading up to the hit, Giroux was engaged in an embarrassing hissy fit directed at the officials (leadership, not whining, of course). He was gesticulating wildly and when he didn't get his way, he did what most babies do. He acted out. But instead of laying down on the ice, kicking his legs in the air and dirtying his diaper, he hit Zubrus in the head. Anyone who has ever played hockey can tell you -- hell, anyone who has ever been pissed off can tell you -- that Giroux's headshot was deliberate.
There is too much hockey left to play in this second round. The series is far from over. The Devils have outclassed the Flyers over the first 4 games of the series, but we know first-hand how dangerous Philly is. But we also know they're a little less dangerous if Giroux is out of the lineup, which is why WE ARE SO OUTRAGED BY THIS HIT GET THIS BUM OUT OF THE LEAGUE IF SHANAHAN DOESN'T WE WILL DO IT OURSELVES.
The verdict: a one-game Timeout for the big baby.
If we had to choose between the Flyers losing or world peace, we'd actually have to spend some time thinking about it. That's how important world peace is to us.
In this spirit, we'd like to take this morning to weigh in on yet another flash point in the twice-daily string of headshot debates, which all follow the same predictable pattern: 1) headshot delivered; 2) immediate Twitter outrage; 3) sarcastic hashtags on Twitter about the TV announcers' reactions to the headshot; 4) watching the hit on Puck Daddy; 5) complaining about Shanahan's inconsistency; 6) next headshot delivered; 7) wash; 8) rinse; 9) repeat.
It's not that we don't care about headshots -- let's just ban them all already to save us the aggravation -- it's the comparative moralizing and faux outrage sparked by each hit that bores us. James Neal headshots a Flyer? Philly fans call for his head. Claude Giroux, The Best Player in the World, throws a tantrum on the ice, headshots Dainius Zubrus? He just grazed the head, right? Pens fans are as guilty of this as anyone, so here's the bottom line: with some minor exceptions, everyone is the same. Your best player will get hit in the head, and he will hit someone in the head. Your dirtiest player will do the same.
Instead of recognizing this, many fans feign "objectivity" when analyzing these hits to support what we want to be true, i.e., that our star player is not just more talented than your star player, but also plays the game in a more dignified manner. Or they get all Jay Bilas-y and overcompensate for their perceived biases by being overly harsh on the team that they are supposedly biased for.
 |
| Duke sucks. |
Our analysis of the Giroux-Zubrus hit after the jump...
Last night in New Jersey (<-- rarely followed by anything good), Giroux hit Zubrus square in the head well after Zubrus had gotten rid of the puck. Thankfully, because we're rooting for New Jersey, Zubrus was uninjured. It wasn't the most vicious headshot we've ever seen, but it's among the most intentional.
You can't analyze the Giroux hit without the context of what was going on before it. For about 10 seconds leading up to the hit, Giroux was engaged in an embarrassing hissy fit directed at the officials (leadership, not whining, of course). He was gesticulating wildly and when he didn't get his way, he did what most babies do. He acted out. But instead of laying down on the ice, kicking his legs in the air and dirtying his diaper, he hit Zubrus in the head. Anyone who has ever played hockey can tell you -- hell, anyone who has ever been pissed off can tell you -- that Giroux's headshot was deliberate.
There is too much hockey left to play in this second round. The series is far from over. The Devils have outclassed the Flyers over the first 4 games of the series, but we know first-hand how dangerous Philly is. But we also know they're a little less dangerous if Giroux is out of the lineup, which is why WE ARE SO OUTRAGED BY THIS HIT GET THIS BUM OUT OF THE LEAGUE IF SHANAHAN DOESN'T WE WILL DO IT OURSELVES.
The verdict: a one-game Timeout for the big baby.
 |
| Go Devils. |
Minggu, 06 Mei 2012
Big Ben's Barracks: Roethlisberger attempts to lead Miami of Ohio graduates into battle
By Artistry
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took to the podium Sunday to address his fellow college graduates, as Miami of Ohio University administrators scrambled to tell him, in the most graceful way possible, that he had not been invited to speak.
"It is my honor today to lead this group of young men and women into the battle of life," Roethlisberger intoned after receiving his Bachelor of Science degree. "Inside each and every one of you, there is greatness. There is a Plax inside of you. There is a 'Tone inside of you. Somewhere inside of you, there is even a 'Tonio or a 'Twan. I can bring that greatness out of you, if you let me."
Mr. Roethlisberger then slowly scanned the crowd, pausing to make eye contact with scores of other graduates, and the Dean of Students then took the opportunity to pull him gently from the stage.
Roethlisberger, 30, has been taking classes the past several years since leaving Miami of Ohio, and by several, we mean 9. The quarterback will now prepare for his golf trip to Scotland, where he will use his mind to dominate some of the most difficult courses in the world.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took to the podium Sunday to address his fellow college graduates, as Miami of Ohio University administrators scrambled to tell him, in the most graceful way possible, that he had not been invited to speak.
"It is my honor today to lead this group of young men and women into the battle of life," Roethlisberger intoned after receiving his Bachelor of Science degree. "Inside each and every one of you, there is greatness. There is a Plax inside of you. There is a 'Tone inside of you. Somewhere inside of you, there is even a 'Tonio or a 'Twan. I can bring that greatness out of you, if you let me."
Mr. Roethlisberger then slowly scanned the crowd, pausing to make eye contact with scores of other graduates, and the Dean of Students then took the opportunity to pull him gently from the stage.
 |
| "You are not the valedictorian." |
 |
| So cerebral. |
Jumat, 04 Mei 2012
The Case Against Trading Sidney Crosby
By Finesse (follow me on Twitter)
Operating under the hits-generating premise that Mario Lemieux kidnapped Ray Shero and forced him to trade one of the Pens big-3 centers, Artistry made the case that the one who Shero should deal is Sidney Crosby. Despite the hedging and caveats throughout his post, the mere mention of trading a guy like Crosby was very emotional for Artistry, culminating in text messages such as, "Having hard time doing Sid post even though I know it's right, so depressing" and "Staying at the same hotel as Delmon Young this weekend. So sorry I missed him" and "EW divulges Bachelorette contestants, good luck to Emily on her journey."
But I have a different opinion on what Ray Shero should do if taken hostage by Mario and forced to trade one of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, or Jordan Staal.
He should say no.
As the saying I made up goes, "when the window is open you have to jump." The saddest part about the premature end to this Pens' season is that it was an unforgivable waste of a roster that, blessed with temporarily good health, could have won the Stanley Cup. The window was wide open and instead of jumping, the Pens started punching people and not killing penalties.
But if the window was open wide this season, guess when it's open even wider? Next year. All of the key pieces of the team are coming back except for Matt Niskanen (let's get him re-signed), Steve Sullivan (buh-bye) and Arron Asham (thanks for not much). Crosby should benefit from a normal summer of rest and training, Geno's knee is only going to get stronger, Jordan Staal is still growing, and the early exit gives Fleury a few extra months to talk to a sports psychologist. With upgrades to the defense (we'll get to that) and a non-meltdown by Fleury in the playoffs, the Pens team that scored 26 goals in 6 playoff games should be an even bigger threat to win the Cup next year.
And when an opportunity like that presents itself, you take it. Ray Shero doesn't need to go-all in in 2013. He needs to stay all-in.
Much more on the three centers and why we need to keep Sid, after the jump...
The main reason why Shero should stick with the Three Center Model is that it works. Here's what this model has produced over the last 5 seasons.
And the best thing about how the Pens' forwards are constructed is that Shero left plenty of room to construct a great defense. He just f'd up doing it. And now his challenge is to clean up the Martin & Michalek mistakes without uprooting the entire foundation of the franchise. Pull the plug on Qwikster without selling Netflix.
Glen Sather found a way to get Montreal to take Scott Gomez's contract. Martin & Michalek are not bad hockey players and although they are overpaid, they aren't so wildly overpaid that one of the fourteen teams that has over $20 million of cap space this offseason couldn't use one of these guys both on the ice and as a way to get to the cap floor. And maybe there will be an amnesty clause in the new CBA. The point is that it may be hard, and you may get minimal return, but it's doable. Once you have that space you bring up Despres, sign some guys from this list who will actually make your defense hard to play against in the playoffs (in other words, anyone on this list except Milan Jurcina), and hope Kris Letang remembers to fill his Benzodiazepine prescription.
But whether the Three Center Model works really doesn't matter. You don't trade Sid. And you don't let him go as a free agent.
The most obvious reason is that he's Sidney Crosby and he's really good. The guy came back from a 15-month absence and led the league in points-per-game. He had 8 points in 6 playoff games, numbers that look bad compared to Giroux's 14 points but that would be heroic if the Pens could actually participate in a low-scoring game.
Now, as Artistry pointed out, there is no question that his points came in a different fashion. Gone was the Sid who dug pucks out of the corner, did 4 loopty-loops with an exhausted defender on his hip, then flung a blind backhander under the crossbar. But along came the Sid who was more judicious in picking his spots, avoided high traffic areas at times, and still, sometimes effortlessly, found wide open teammates routinely.
If the argument is that the concussion has changed Sid's game from one built on bullish and dogged determination in the corners, the thigh power of a sprinter, and a wicked release at full speed into one built on finding open space, creating open space for his teammates, and launching an endless stream of backhanders at the goalie, the question becomes: so what? The effort and production are there; it doesn't matter where it comes from.
Sid is a player who has always known his limitations and worked within them while working to expand them. Remember when he had a weak shot? He fixed it. Remember when he was bad at faceoffs? He fixed it. If there is any player in the league with the talent and mind to adjust his game -- if it needs to be adjusted at all -- it's Sid. If he morphs into a Peter Forsberg-Henrik Sedin hybrid with a lower center of gravity, that's still the guy I want anchoring my top line.
Of course, there is an enormous "if" associated with keeping and re-signing Sid. What if he takes a bad hit again? We saw the effects of the collision with Malkin against Philly and it definitely was concerning. But it's far too early in his recovery process to make a decision as important as actually trading the guy based on not reacting as well as we would have liked to one collision. It should serve as a reminder that this is a slow recovery process that might be laden with setbacks, not as a reason to wave the white flag. There's no denying that Sid is "one hit away" from something very bad, and that the hit could be something rather innocent looking. But everyone is one-hit away.
So while there are "ifs" associated with keeping Crosby, there are also incalculable "ifs" associated with trading him. What if you traded him too soon and he plays at his all-world level for another 10 years? What if the guys you get in return don't pan out? What if you trade Crosby but Malkin leaves anyway? Or Staal leaves anyway? Or even worse, what if Malkin stays and then he gets hurt? Superstar insurance is a luxury that almost no other team has.
Like we all should, I root for the team over the player. But I root for the player when I think he gives the team the best chance of winning. As currently constituted, the Pens are built to compete for another decade, and that's largely because of Sid. Crosby would be so coveted on the market that there might be a move that the Pens could make to be even more competitive next year than they would be by keeping Sid. But will that move keep the Pens a contender in 3 years? 5 years? 10 years? As risky as it may be to rely on Sid to be the centerpiece in 5 or 10 years, the grass isn't always greener. And truthfully, no matter what you do, there's still one thing that could make it all for naught...
In August 1988, the Edmonton Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, $15 million, and some picks. The City of Edmonton wept. Peter Pocklington was burned in effigy. Two years later, the Oilers won the Stanley Cup.
But then Mark Messier demanded out, Jari Kurri went to play hockey in Italy and Grant Fuhr was suspended for doing copious amounts of "substances." The Oilers haven't been relevant since.
Ask an Edmonton fan whether they'd make that trade again.
Operating under the hits-generating premise that Mario Lemieux kidnapped Ray Shero and forced him to trade one of the Pens big-3 centers, Artistry made the case that the one who Shero should deal is Sidney Crosby. Despite the hedging and caveats throughout his post, the mere mention of trading a guy like Crosby was very emotional for Artistry, culminating in text messages such as, "Having hard time doing Sid post even though I know it's right, so depressing" and "Staying at the same hotel as Delmon Young this weekend. So sorry I missed him" and "EW divulges Bachelorette contestants, good luck to Emily on her journey."
But I have a different opinion on what Ray Shero should do if taken hostage by Mario and forced to trade one of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, or Jordan Staal.
He should say no.
As the saying I made up goes, "when the window is open you have to jump." The saddest part about the premature end to this Pens' season is that it was an unforgivable waste of a roster that, blessed with temporarily good health, could have won the Stanley Cup. The window was wide open and instead of jumping, the Pens started punching people and not killing penalties.
But if the window was open wide this season, guess when it's open even wider? Next year. All of the key pieces of the team are coming back except for Matt Niskanen (let's get him re-signed), Steve Sullivan (buh-bye) and Arron Asham (thanks for not much). Crosby should benefit from a normal summer of rest and training, Geno's knee is only going to get stronger, Jordan Staal is still growing, and the early exit gives Fleury a few extra months to talk to a sports psychologist. With upgrades to the defense (we'll get to that) and a non-meltdown by Fleury in the playoffs, the Pens team that scored 26 goals in 6 playoff games should be an even bigger threat to win the Cup next year.
And when an opportunity like that presents itself, you take it. Ray Shero doesn't need to go-all in in 2013. He needs to stay all-in.
Much more on the three centers and why we need to keep Sid, after the jump...
The main reason why Shero should stick with the Three Center Model is that it works. Here's what this model has produced over the last 5 seasons.
- 2008: 12-2 record in Eastern Conference playoffs, gave an admirable fight to a superior opponent in the Finals.
- 2009: Historically great series win over Washington, demolition of rest of Eastern Conference, well-deserved Stanley Cup.
- 2010: Cup hangover, ran into a hot goalie, still made it to Game 7 of the second round which isn't terrible.
- 2011: Bodies strewn about like Appomattox, doesn't count.
- 2012: Best regular season record of Crosby-era, led the league in goals per game, ran into a supremely motivated and uber-talented opponent, lost composure for two games, Sid not 100%, got no defense and less-than-no goal-tending, bounced by team that might win the Cup.
And the best thing about how the Pens' forwards are constructed is that Shero left plenty of room to construct a great defense. He just f'd up doing it. And now his challenge is to clean up the Martin & Michalek mistakes without uprooting the entire foundation of the franchise. Pull the plug on Qwikster without selling Netflix.
Glen Sather found a way to get Montreal to take Scott Gomez's contract. Martin & Michalek are not bad hockey players and although they are overpaid, they aren't so wildly overpaid that one of the fourteen teams that has over $20 million of cap space this offseason couldn't use one of these guys both on the ice and as a way to get to the cap floor. And maybe there will be an amnesty clause in the new CBA. The point is that it may be hard, and you may get minimal return, but it's doable. Once you have that space you bring up Despres, sign some guys from this list who will actually make your defense hard to play against in the playoffs (in other words, anyone on this list except Milan Jurcina), and hope Kris Letang remembers to fill his Benzodiazepine prescription.
But whether the Three Center Model works really doesn't matter. You don't trade Sid. And you don't let him go as a free agent.
The most obvious reason is that he's Sidney Crosby and he's really good. The guy came back from a 15-month absence and led the league in points-per-game. He had 8 points in 6 playoff games, numbers that look bad compared to Giroux's 14 points but that would be heroic if the Pens could actually participate in a low-scoring game.
 |
| "I'm sooo jeal of how easy it is for you guys to score right now." |
If the argument is that the concussion has changed Sid's game from one built on bullish and dogged determination in the corners, the thigh power of a sprinter, and a wicked release at full speed into one built on finding open space, creating open space for his teammates, and launching an endless stream of backhanders at the goalie, the question becomes: so what? The effort and production are there; it doesn't matter where it comes from.
Sid is a player who has always known his limitations and worked within them while working to expand them. Remember when he had a weak shot? He fixed it. Remember when he was bad at faceoffs? He fixed it. If there is any player in the league with the talent and mind to adjust his game -- if it needs to be adjusted at all -- it's Sid. If he morphs into a Peter Forsberg-Henrik Sedin hybrid with a lower center of gravity, that's still the guy I want anchoring my top line.
Of course, there is an enormous "if" associated with keeping and re-signing Sid. What if he takes a bad hit again? We saw the effects of the collision with Malkin against Philly and it definitely was concerning. But it's far too early in his recovery process to make a decision as important as actually trading the guy based on not reacting as well as we would have liked to one collision. It should serve as a reminder that this is a slow recovery process that might be laden with setbacks, not as a reason to wave the white flag. There's no denying that Sid is "one hit away" from something very bad, and that the hit could be something rather innocent looking. But everyone is one-hit away.
So while there are "ifs" associated with keeping Crosby, there are also incalculable "ifs" associated with trading him. What if you traded him too soon and he plays at his all-world level for another 10 years? What if the guys you get in return don't pan out? What if you trade Crosby but Malkin leaves anyway? Or Staal leaves anyway? Or even worse, what if Malkin stays and then he gets hurt? Superstar insurance is a luxury that almost no other team has.
Like we all should, I root for the team over the player. But I root for the player when I think he gives the team the best chance of winning. As currently constituted, the Pens are built to compete for another decade, and that's largely because of Sid. Crosby would be so coveted on the market that there might be a move that the Pens could make to be even more competitive next year than they would be by keeping Sid. But will that move keep the Pens a contender in 3 years? 5 years? 10 years? As risky as it may be to rely on Sid to be the centerpiece in 5 or 10 years, the grass isn't always greener. And truthfully, no matter what you do, there's still one thing that could make it all for naught...
***
In August 1988, the Edmonton Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, $15 million, and some picks. The City of Edmonton wept. Peter Pocklington was burned in effigy. Two years later, the Oilers won the Stanley Cup.
But then Mark Messier demanded out, Jari Kurri went to play hockey in Italy and Grant Fuhr was suspended for doing copious amounts of "substances." The Oilers haven't been relevant since.
Ask an Edmonton fan whether they'd make that trade again.
Rabu, 02 Mei 2012
The Case for Trading Sidney Crosby
By Artistry (follow me on Twitter)
[Click here for the case against trading Sidney Crosby]
The Penguins aren't trading Sidney Crosby. Let's get that out of the way up front. He's the face of the franchise and the league, the captain and savior of the team, the hero of a nation and an entire generation of Penguin fans, a Stanley Cup champion, and owner of the highest points-per-game scoring average in the NHL this season. Trade Sidney Crosby? That would take balls the size of Saskatchewan. And in a market with a home sellout streak of 250-some games, it would be very bad for business. People in Pittsburgh love Sidney Crosby. We love Sidney Crosby. He's part of the fabric of the city, and he elevates Pittsburgh to a higher place on the cultural relevance scale. Sidney Crosby's not going anywhere.
But is there a case to be made for doing what only a month ago was unthinkable? You bet there is. Imagine you're Ray Shero, and you're out for a morning jog. A limousine with tinted windows pulls up to the sidewalk. The back window recedes, smoothly, slowly, steadily. Like someone with 690 career goals has his finger on the button. And suddenly, there's 66, in all his splendor.
"Get in the car," he says.
You don't need to be told twice. And once inside, Mario and Ron Burkle explain to you that you have a new mandate: Blow up the Big Three center model before we get swallowed by big new Crosby and Staal contracts. Be bold. Even revolutionary. Leave business considerations out of it. Forget sentiment. No one is untouchable. NO ONE.
So, Ray. What do you do?
Making the case, plus some trade proposals after the jump...
If this is purely about the product you'll be putting on the ice for the next 5 years and nothing else, the answer is easier than you'd like it to be. You trade Sidney Crosby. Here's why.
1) He's the biggest risk
Down the stretch of the regular season, as Crosby started to get his timing back, we were treated to some breathtaking plays. The behind-the-back pass to Cooke against the Senators.
The game against the Devils when he abused Marek Zidlicky.
But where was the Sidney Crosby who rags the puck along the boards for shifts at a time? Where was the guy who is widely recognized as maybe the best grinder in the history of the sport? Where was this Sidney Crosby?
The truth is, he never really came back. The Crosby we saw this spring was much more of a perimeter player. When the puck hit his stick, it was typically whipped right off of it and onto the tape of a linemate. And if you didn't notice the one time every game that maybe some defenseman let up on Crosby when he could have really put a shoulder into him, well, you either weren't paying attention or you didn't want to see it.
There were still some flashes of the old tenacity around the net, like that first period goal in Game 1 against Philly. But where was Sid in Games 5 and 6? Where was his intensity? It was as if somehow he wasn't really present. No concussion symptoms, he said. But when the games got fiercer, when the hits got harder and more frequent, when his undeniable competitive spirit compelled him to seek out more contact, his body didn't respond well. And he wished out loud that he felt better.
Now, Sidney Crosby still managed 45 points in 28 games this season, and 8 points in 6 playoff games, so the guy is no slouch. But forget his name for a minute, and look at your options.
Player A
A 25-year-old, two-time Art Ross Trophy winner as league scoring champion, Calder Trophy winner for rookie of the year, and Conn Smythe Trophy for MVP of the 2009 playoffs, this Russian mega-talent is coming off a career season. Among the more versatile and unpredictable scoring threats in modern NHL history. Not afraid to seize the moment. At his best when he's the focal point of the offense and power play and, let's face it, when Player C is out of the lineup. Rangy and hard to contain at 6'3, 195 pounds. Frisky. Under contract for two more seasons at $8.7 million per year. Adored by his teammates and fans. No long-term injury concerns. Has adorable parents.
Player B
A 23-year-old horse who can play big minutes in any situation. At 6'4, 220 pounds, he is just starting to comprehend his own strength. Shrugs off defenders with ease. An imposing defensive presence since he broke into the league at 18, he is only now blossoming offensively, piling up 25 goals and 50 points in 62 regular season games this season. A consistent playoff warrior, he put the team on his back and scored 4 goals in two games when the Penguins faced elimination. His game is built on strength, not speed, so he should keep improving for the foreseeable future. A classic No. 2 center. Under contract for one more year at $4 million per year. Probably could be extended at roughly $6 million a year. Has brothers.
Player C
This 24-year-old was the consensus best player in the world until he was felled by a concussion in January 2011. Struggled on and off for some 14 months to get back into the lineup for an extended stretch. Experienced multiple setbacks. Called some bizarre press conference during which his doctors employed Christmas and Ferrari metaphors. Tom Brady got involved. Then there was something about his neck tissue. Came back to stay - we think - late in the regular season and was instantly the top assist man in the game. But he lost his favorite winger to Player A. Goal scoring fell off dramatically from his blistering pre-injury pace. No one could figure out how to squeeze him and Player A onto the same power play unit. Looked lost in the last two games of the season after a punishing collision with Player A. Game is built on explosiveness, which will decline with age. Under contract for 1 more year at $8.7 million. Will command basically whatever he wants as a free agent.
So, Ray, what do you do?
2) He'll net the biggest return
Just as the Penguins would be loathe to part with Crosby because of the boost he gives their image and their business, other teams would pay a premium to get him for those very reasons. Did we mention he's an icon in Canada? Scorer of the Golden Goal, anyone? The Toronto Maple Leafs would package the province of Nova Scotia in a trade for Sidney Crosby.
And there is still that secondary point about him being the most productive point scorer in the league. Of course there is risk, but what franchise desperate for a Stanley Cup wouldn't consider going all-in on an all-time great in the prime of his career? [This is how you'll sell this, Ray.] You don't want to settle for trading Jordan Staal for the 8th pick in the draft. Believe me. If a team thinks they can sign Sidney Crosby long term - and don't worry, we'll help you clear cap space - the offers will come rolling in. Ray Shero is looking for your best winger (not a Top 6 winger, your BEST winger), a top young roster player or prospect, a top 4 defenseman, and, oh yeah, another valuable roster player. We need to even out the salaries. Why, you ask? Because...
3) We're throwing in Paul Martin
Yes, you heard right. If you want Sidney Crosby, you're taking Martin's $5 million salary. We know that you know it's the only way to clear the $13 million we need to accommodate the players you're about to send us. You're welcome.
So let's let the bidding begin, shall we?
There's Lou Lamoriello on the line, offering negotiating rights with UFA Zach Parise, David Clarkson, Adam Henrique, and Adam Larsson (looking at around $12 million combined) for Crosby and Martin. Maybe Paul can find himself again back in his old stomping grounds. Oh, and they like Sid, too.
Oh, hello Colorado. You'd like to send us a package including Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Duchene, negotiating rights to David Jones, and Erik Johnson (now around $12 M combined) for Crosby and Martin?
Stephen Harper? THE Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, is that you? You're offering a 20 year lease on the Athabasca Oil Sands in Northern Alberta and 80% of the profits from the Keystone Pipeline for Crosby and Paul Martin?
Good evening, Edmonton. Jordan Eberle, Ales Hemsky, and the #1 overall pick, which we would then package for a top defenseman, for Sidney Crosby and Paul Martin? That is SO nice. We'd just like to leave enough cap space to sign Ryan Suter, too.
Toronto, you want to trade us your entire roster? That's not enough. Goodbye.
We're just spitballing here.
Conclusion
This will never happen. But that doesn't mean it's not the right thing to do.
[Click here for the case against trading Sidney Crosby]
The Penguins aren't trading Sidney Crosby. Let's get that out of the way up front. He's the face of the franchise and the league, the captain and savior of the team, the hero of a nation and an entire generation of Penguin fans, a Stanley Cup champion, and owner of the highest points-per-game scoring average in the NHL this season. Trade Sidney Crosby? That would take balls the size of Saskatchewan. And in a market with a home sellout streak of 250-some games, it would be very bad for business. People in Pittsburgh love Sidney Crosby. We love Sidney Crosby. He's part of the fabric of the city, and he elevates Pittsburgh to a higher place on the cultural relevance scale. Sidney Crosby's not going anywhere.
But is there a case to be made for doing what only a month ago was unthinkable? You bet there is. Imagine you're Ray Shero, and you're out for a morning jog. A limousine with tinted windows pulls up to the sidewalk. The back window recedes, smoothly, slowly, steadily. Like someone with 690 career goals has his finger on the button. And suddenly, there's 66, in all his splendor.
"Get in the car," he says.
You don't need to be told twice. And once inside, Mario and Ron Burkle explain to you that you have a new mandate: Blow up the Big Three center model before we get swallowed by big new Crosby and Staal contracts. Be bold. Even revolutionary. Leave business considerations out of it. Forget sentiment. No one is untouchable. NO ONE.
So, Ray. What do you do?
Making the case, plus some trade proposals after the jump...
If this is purely about the product you'll be putting on the ice for the next 5 years and nothing else, the answer is easier than you'd like it to be. You trade Sidney Crosby. Here's why.
1) He's the biggest risk
Down the stretch of the regular season, as Crosby started to get his timing back, we were treated to some breathtaking plays. The behind-the-back pass to Cooke against the Senators.
The game against the Devils when he abused Marek Zidlicky.
But where was the Sidney Crosby who rags the puck along the boards for shifts at a time? Where was the guy who is widely recognized as maybe the best grinder in the history of the sport? Where was this Sidney Crosby?
The truth is, he never really came back. The Crosby we saw this spring was much more of a perimeter player. When the puck hit his stick, it was typically whipped right off of it and onto the tape of a linemate. And if you didn't notice the one time every game that maybe some defenseman let up on Crosby when he could have really put a shoulder into him, well, you either weren't paying attention or you didn't want to see it.
There were still some flashes of the old tenacity around the net, like that first period goal in Game 1 against Philly. But where was Sid in Games 5 and 6? Where was his intensity? It was as if somehow he wasn't really present. No concussion symptoms, he said. But when the games got fiercer, when the hits got harder and more frequent, when his undeniable competitive spirit compelled him to seek out more contact, his body didn't respond well. And he wished out loud that he felt better.
Now, Sidney Crosby still managed 45 points in 28 games this season, and 8 points in 6 playoff games, so the guy is no slouch. But forget his name for a minute, and look at your options.
Player A
A 25-year-old, two-time Art Ross Trophy winner as league scoring champion, Calder Trophy winner for rookie of the year, and Conn Smythe Trophy for MVP of the 2009 playoffs, this Russian mega-talent is coming off a career season. Among the more versatile and unpredictable scoring threats in modern NHL history. Not afraid to seize the moment. At his best when he's the focal point of the offense and power play and, let's face it, when Player C is out of the lineup. Rangy and hard to contain at 6'3, 195 pounds. Frisky. Under contract for two more seasons at $8.7 million per year. Adored by his teammates and fans. No long-term injury concerns. Has adorable parents.
 |
| Mr. and Mrs. Player A |
A 23-year-old horse who can play big minutes in any situation. At 6'4, 220 pounds, he is just starting to comprehend his own strength. Shrugs off defenders with ease. An imposing defensive presence since he broke into the league at 18, he is only now blossoming offensively, piling up 25 goals and 50 points in 62 regular season games this season. A consistent playoff warrior, he put the team on his back and scored 4 goals in two games when the Penguins faced elimination. His game is built on strength, not speed, so he should keep improving for the foreseeable future. A classic No. 2 center. Under contract for one more year at $4 million per year. Probably could be extended at roughly $6 million a year. Has brothers.
 |
| So many bros. |
This 24-year-old was the consensus best player in the world until he was felled by a concussion in January 2011. Struggled on and off for some 14 months to get back into the lineup for an extended stretch. Experienced multiple setbacks. Called some bizarre press conference during which his doctors employed Christmas and Ferrari metaphors. Tom Brady got involved. Then there was something about his neck tissue. Came back to stay - we think - late in the regular season and was instantly the top assist man in the game. But he lost his favorite winger to Player A. Goal scoring fell off dramatically from his blistering pre-injury pace. No one could figure out how to squeeze him and Player A onto the same power play unit. Looked lost in the last two games of the season after a punishing collision with Player A. Game is built on explosiveness, which will decline with age. Under contract for 1 more year at $8.7 million. Will command basically whatever he wants as a free agent.
 |
| Just heard Player C is available |
2) He'll net the biggest return
Just as the Penguins would be loathe to part with Crosby because of the boost he gives their image and their business, other teams would pay a premium to get him for those very reasons. Did we mention he's an icon in Canada? Scorer of the Golden Goal, anyone? The Toronto Maple Leafs would package the province of Nova Scotia in a trade for Sidney Crosby.
.jpg) |
| The Golden Goal Tax |
3) We're throwing in Paul Martin
Yes, you heard right. If you want Sidney Crosby, you're taking Martin's $5 million salary. We know that you know it's the only way to clear the $13 million we need to accommodate the players you're about to send us. You're welcome.
 |
| Sometimes you can't have the beautiful woman without her venereal disease, too. |
There's Lou Lamoriello on the line, offering negotiating rights with UFA Zach Parise, David Clarkson, Adam Henrique, and Adam Larsson (looking at around $12 million combined) for Crosby and Martin. Maybe Paul can find himself again back in his old stomping grounds. Oh, and they like Sid, too.
Oh, hello Colorado. You'd like to send us a package including Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Duchene, negotiating rights to David Jones, and Erik Johnson (now around $12 M combined) for Crosby and Martin?
Stephen Harper? THE Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, is that you? You're offering a 20 year lease on the Athabasca Oil Sands in Northern Alberta and 80% of the profits from the Keystone Pipeline for Crosby and Paul Martin?
 |
| Amazing on the half-boards. |
Toronto, you want to trade us your entire roster? That's not enough. Goodbye.
We're just spitballing here.
Conclusion
This will never happen. But that doesn't mean it's not the right thing to do.
Minggu, 29 April 2012
Ben Roethlisberger on Altoona, his guys, and his ankle
By Finesse (follow me on Twitter)
While so-called media elites gathered in Washington, DC last night to roast the president, the real elites gathered at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona for the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Among the inductees were revered legends such as former St. Francis basketball star Don Appleman, former Maryland football player Todd Benson, former minor league baseball player Harold "Bucky" Bush, former Duquesne University and WNBA player Candace Futrell, former Villanova basketball player Allen Griffith and Tyrone Area High School's PIAA championship football team of 1999.
And when you have that many legends in one room to celebrate Altoona, you break out the big guns.
Yep. That's Hancock County, Ohio's own Big Ben Roethlisberger.
He was on hand to deliver the keynote address and Altoona Mirror reporter Buck Frank, who inexplicably wasn't invited to the White House Correspondent's Dinner, was there to cover it all. Below are some of the nuggets that Frank uncovered from General Ben. All of them are real. Except one.
- Regarding his first talk with Steelers first-round draft pick David DeCastro.
- Regarding the commitment to the offensive line.
While so-called media elites gathered in Washington, DC last night to roast the president, the real elites gathered at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona for the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Among the inductees were revered legends such as former St. Francis basketball star Don Appleman, former Maryland football player Todd Benson, former minor league baseball player Harold "Bucky" Bush, former Duquesne University and WNBA player Candace Futrell, former Villanova basketball player Allen Griffith and Tyrone Area High School's PIAA championship football team of 1999.
And when you have that many legends in one room to celebrate Altoona, you break out the big guns.
Yep. That's Hancock County, Ohio's own Big Ben Roethlisberger.
He was on hand to deliver the keynote address and Altoona Mirror reporter Buck Frank, who inexplicably wasn't invited to the White House Correspondent's Dinner, was there to cover it all. Below are some of the nuggets that Frank uncovered from General Ben. All of them are real. Except one.
- Regarding his first talk with Steelers first-round draft pick David DeCastro.
"He was saying, 'Did you get those flight plans? Did you get those flight plans?''' ... Roethlisberger said after a few seconds, DeCastro realized who he was talking to. "I can't wait once we get started to get on him about that,'' Roethlisberger joked.Much more after the jump....
- Regarding the commitment to the offensive line.
"I'm excited,'' Roethlisberger said before Saturday's event. "You know, at least on paper, it looks awesome. But, you never know until you take the field and the bullets start flying. I'm really excited. We got some good guys on offense and defense to help add to a team that was good already. "I had an idea [about the picks]. They kept me in the loop a little bit. When DeCastro was there, you got to take him. Some are saying he's one of the best guards in college since Alan Faneca. We hope he can live up to the hype.''- Regarding Rashard Mendenhall's uncertain return from ACL surgery.
"That's the big question, is how healthy Rashard's going to be,'' Roethlisberger said. "But Isaac Redman stepped up last year, and Baron Batch was injured last year but is a young guy we have high hopes for. And we got the new guy, and we have guys like Jonathan Dwyer. We'll see what happens, but I think we'll be good in that area.''- Regarding discussions with new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
"We'll be allowed to talk this week coming up, so I'm looking forward to it,'' Roethlisberger said. "I know it's going to be a lot different offense as far as the wording, the verbiage. It's a lot tougher. I don't want to say we're taking a step back, but we're starting over in learning the offense. You'll see differences in calling plays. But how much we'll run or pass, I don't know.''- Regarding his guys, the wording, and the verbiage.
"Like I said, the wording, the verbiage will be different. But what won't change is that when we're in the trenches taking enemy fire, I'll be the first one to stand up, take a bullet to my chest, writhe in pain on the ground, limp slowly toward the locker room, pause briefly, look at God and have a personal discussion with him, return after halftime with 11 inches of tape around both my ankles and wrists, grab my helmet, lead my men back onto the field, and call a play from the cheat sheet on my wrist that I'm still wearing after 8 years in the league albeit with different wording and verbiage."- Regarding losing some of his guys.
"That's the natural progression of our job,'' Roethlisberger said. "You're always losing guys. The locker room won't be the same. You can't replace guys like Aaron Smith, Hines and James Farrior, but it's time for other guys to step up, and my role will continue to grow.''- Regarding the ankle.
"The ankle is doing OK,'' he said. "It's going slower than I had hoped, but it's definitely healing. I feel like I'm getting into the prime of my career. I hope my play on the field shows that.''- Regarding what this is all about.
"I couldn't tell you how close I am [for passing records],'' Roethlisberger said. "To me, it's about Super Bowl rings, and I'm two behind him still. To me, it's more about team stuff.''
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| Has no idea how close he is to passing records and stuff. |
Jumat, 27 April 2012
After the Final Goal: Chris Harrison sits down with Pens GM Ray Shero
By Finesse (follow me on Twitter)
Penguins' GM Ray Shero has given a lot of interviews over the past few days, but other than a few nuggets, no one has cracked him. Enter Chris Harrison, host of ABC's The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, The Bachelor Pad, How I Met Your Bachelor, My Two Bachelors, Two Bachelors and a Pizza Place, and After The Final Rose. He tears down walls for a living, and he doesn't even need to ask questions.
Through back channels, GTOG has obtained an exclusive transcript of Harrison's recent sit-down with Ray Shero in which they recap the 2011-12 season and discuss the team's future. Chris finds out what Ray is really thinking.
Harrison: A lot happened this season, Ray.
Shero: That's right, Chris. A lot did happen this season. We started with a very odd press conference about Ferraris and revolving chairs and chiropractors. We let our walls down as an organization into Sid's recovery, but it just seemed to invite more questions than answers.
Much more with Chris and Ray after the jump...
Harrison: And Canadian people were pretty upset by that.
Shero: With all due respect to the Canadian media, Chris, they can collectively put their lips on my ass. They race to be the first ones to suggest that Sid's career is over and then criticize us for mishandling his recovery. Well if his career is over, then there is no recovery to be had, am I right?
Harrison: Mmmhmm.
Shero: ...
Harrison: ...
Shero: ...
Harrison: Before we get to more about Sid, let's talk about the first half of the season. There were a lot of games played during that half of the season.
Shero: There were a lot of games played. And other than the 8 games when Sid came back, we were really carried by Geno and his linemates. Our organization gets praised for having incredible depth, but the truth is that Geno's line was producing approximately 141% of our offense over the first 50 or so games of this season.
Harrison: Some said you were a one line team.
Shero: I was exaggerating before. There were some games when we were a one line team, but then there were others when that one line was so good that it obscured everything everybody else was doing. That line was able to do whatever it wanted, including taking unlimited offensive zone penalties.
Harrison: Dan Bylsma is ok with offensive zone penalties.
Shero: I don't know if he's ok with them, but he appears unable to do anything about them.
Harrison: Let's talk about Sid's return in March.
Shero: ...ok...what about it?
Harrison: Go ahead.
Shero: Since you're not asking any questions, I'll interview myself. Did we get full of ourselves when Sid came back in March? How could we not? We were on a ridiculous winning streak and we we're breathing down the Rangers' neck. Add to that the best player in the league? Of course we thought we were favorites. We have -- excuse me, had -- the best team.
Harrison: Then you went repelling with Ashley.
Shero: Say what?
Harrison: I said, then other teams started complaining about the Pens being gutless whiners.
Shero: Right. I can't say that didn't bother us, even though it's unwarranted. Look, we have the best players. We have a famous owner. We win tons of games. Basically we're the prettiest girl in the room. We're Courtney, but without retracting lips.
Harrison: But it made you question your reasons.
Shero: I don't know what you're saying. But yes, something about all that heat we were taking definitely affected us. Did you see Game 3?
Harrison: Game 3 was a tough game for you.
Shero: Game 3 was an embarrassment in every sense of the word. There was a time in the third period when I wanted to trade Crosby and Dan Bylsma for Bruce Boudreau and a pallet of K.C. Masterpiece. But cooler heads ultimately prevailed, thank God, or my job would be even harder this summer.
Harrison: And then you won Game 4 and 5. And then you lost Game 6.
Shero: Games 4 and 5 restored our honor, but we had dug ourselves way too deep of a hole.
Harrison: And there were certain guys who didn't pull their weight in Game 6.
Shero: I don't want to single anybody out.
Harrison: But there were.
Shero: I don't want to go there, Chris.
Harrison: ...
Shero: I'm not saying anything.
Harrison: ...
Shero: STOP
Harrison: This is hard for you.
Shero: FINE! IT WAS FLEURY! HE SUCKED! HE BLEW IT! I don't know what else I can say. I sat there in my news conference and I talked about the defense and the three-center model and Dan Bylsma, but the truth is that I could turn Tyler Kennedy into Steven Stamkos this summer and it won't matter if Fleury can't stop a 60 foot wrist shot from Erik Gustafsson. If he keeps this shit up, we're screwed. I mean, did you see Brad Theissen this year?
Harrison: That feeling -- that feeling of vulnerability -- that's a tough feeling to feel.
Shero: I thought we were on the verge of a dynasty after 2009. Our core of Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fleury, and Letang was unmatched. Those guys all had a Cup win under their belt, and they were all still babies, all in their early 20's. Can you imagine?
Harrison: I can. Now, if I may say so, there has to be some thought about whether it is necessary to break up this core group.
Shero: I attracted a lot of attention when I said at my press conference that we have to think about whether the 3-center model we have works. Obviously, it works. We have a Stanley Cup to back that up. The issue is whether something else would work better.
Harrison: It comes back to vulnerability and your walls. To trade one of these guys would be opening yourself up to heartbreak. That's not an easy thing to do.
Shero: Walls have nothing to do with this. Let's take these guys one at a time. If we were to move Jordan Staal, we could get a lot of pieces in return...
Harrison: I don't want to talk about details. I want to talk about the emotional impact of breaking up this core.
Shero: (tearing up) It's a hard thing to talk about. Crosby, Malkin, Staal, and Fleury -- that's the Pittsburgh Penguins. (sobbing)
Harrison: This isn't easy.
Shero: It's not easy. It's easy for fans and media to speculate about, but consider the position I'm in. I know that what we have works. Each of these guys is beloved. To move one of them would take a big set of brass balls.
Harrison: Mmhmm. Big brass balls. Especially with Sid.
Shero: I hear the fans whispering that maybe we should move Sid. We saw how taking a few big hits in the Flyers' series affected him. But I want you, and the people listening, to think this through. This is Sidney Crosby we're talking about. This is a guy who has done everything we've expected him to do, and more. He stepped into the shadow of Mario Lemieux, and stepped out of it carrying the Stanley Cup. Little yinzer babies all over town are named Sidney. Do you want him on the Maple Leafs? Do you want him in LA? Look, this is not Moneyball. Creative statistics, scoring metrics, and salary cap space can't bring us equal value for Sidney Crosby.
Harrison: You're really feeling right now.
Shero: I am feeling.
Harrison: But you saw how Sid wasn't the same after he got run over by Malkin...
Shero: I did see that.
Harrison: And...
Shero: And...I just don't know.
Penguins' GM Ray Shero has given a lot of interviews over the past few days, but other than a few nuggets, no one has cracked him. Enter Chris Harrison, host of ABC's The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, The Bachelor Pad, How I Met Your Bachelor, My Two Bachelors, Two Bachelors and a Pizza Place, and After The Final Rose. He tears down walls for a living, and he doesn't even need to ask questions.
.jpg) |
| No wall too up. No rose too final. |
Harrison: A lot happened this season, Ray.
Shero: That's right, Chris. A lot did happen this season. We started with a very odd press conference about Ferraris and revolving chairs and chiropractors. We let our walls down as an organization into Sid's recovery, but it just seemed to invite more questions than answers.
Much more with Chris and Ray after the jump...
Harrison: And Canadian people were pretty upset by that.
Shero: With all due respect to the Canadian media, Chris, they can collectively put their lips on my ass. They race to be the first ones to suggest that Sid's career is over and then criticize us for mishandling his recovery. Well if his career is over, then there is no recovery to be had, am I right?
Harrison: Mmmhmm.
Shero: ...
Harrison: ...
Shero: ...
Harrison: Before we get to more about Sid, let's talk about the first half of the season. There were a lot of games played during that half of the season.
Shero: There were a lot of games played. And other than the 8 games when Sid came back, we were really carried by Geno and his linemates. Our organization gets praised for having incredible depth, but the truth is that Geno's line was producing approximately 141% of our offense over the first 50 or so games of this season.
 |
| No journey too special. No heart too fragile. |
Shero: I was exaggerating before. There were some games when we were a one line team, but then there were others when that one line was so good that it obscured everything everybody else was doing. That line was able to do whatever it wanted, including taking unlimited offensive zone penalties.
Harrison: Dan Bylsma is ok with offensive zone penalties.
Shero: I don't know if he's ok with them, but he appears unable to do anything about them.
Harrison: Let's talk about Sid's return in March.
Shero: ...ok...what about it?
Harrison: Go ahead.
Shero: Since you're not asking any questions, I'll interview myself. Did we get full of ourselves when Sid came back in March? How could we not? We were on a ridiculous winning streak and we we're breathing down the Rangers' neck. Add to that the best player in the league? Of course we thought we were favorites. We have -- excuse me, had -- the best team.
Harrison: Then you went repelling with Ashley.
Shero: Say what?
Harrison: I said, then other teams started complaining about the Pens being gutless whiners.
Shero: Right. I can't say that didn't bother us, even though it's unwarranted. Look, we have the best players. We have a famous owner. We win tons of games. Basically we're the prettiest girl in the room. We're Courtney, but without retracting lips.
Harrison: But it made you question your reasons.
Shero: I don't know what you're saying. But yes, something about all that heat we were taking definitely affected us. Did you see Game 3?
Harrison: Game 3 was a tough game for you.
Shero: Game 3 was an embarrassment in every sense of the word. There was a time in the third period when I wanted to trade Crosby and Dan Bylsma for Bruce Boudreau and a pallet of K.C. Masterpiece. But cooler heads ultimately prevailed, thank God, or my job would be even harder this summer.
Harrison: And then you won Game 4 and 5. And then you lost Game 6.
 |
| No episode too huge. No decision too tough. |
Harrison: And there were certain guys who didn't pull their weight in Game 6.
Shero: I don't want to single anybody out.
Harrison: But there were.
Shero: I don't want to go there, Chris.
Harrison: ...
Shero: I'm not saying anything.
Harrison: ...
Shero: STOP
Harrison: This is hard for you.
Shero: FINE! IT WAS FLEURY! HE SUCKED! HE BLEW IT! I don't know what else I can say. I sat there in my news conference and I talked about the defense and the three-center model and Dan Bylsma, but the truth is that I could turn Tyler Kennedy into Steven Stamkos this summer and it won't matter if Fleury can't stop a 60 foot wrist shot from Erik Gustafsson. If he keeps this shit up, we're screwed. I mean, did you see Brad Theissen this year?
Harrison: That feeling -- that feeling of vulnerability -- that's a tough feeling to feel.
Shero: I thought we were on the verge of a dynasty after 2009. Our core of Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fleury, and Letang was unmatched. Those guys all had a Cup win under their belt, and they were all still babies, all in their early 20's. Can you imagine?
Harrison: I can. Now, if I may say so, there has to be some thought about whether it is necessary to break up this core group.
 |
| No reason too right. No emotion too raw. |
Harrison: It comes back to vulnerability and your walls. To trade one of these guys would be opening yourself up to heartbreak. That's not an easy thing to do.
Shero: Walls have nothing to do with this. Let's take these guys one at a time. If we were to move Jordan Staal, we could get a lot of pieces in return...
Harrison: I don't want to talk about details. I want to talk about the emotional impact of breaking up this core.
Shero: (tearing up) It's a hard thing to talk about. Crosby, Malkin, Staal, and Fleury -- that's the Pittsburgh Penguins. (sobbing)
Harrison: This isn't easy.
Shero: It's not easy. It's easy for fans and media to speculate about, but consider the position I'm in. I know that what we have works. Each of these guys is beloved. To move one of them would take a big set of brass balls.
Harrison: Mmhmm. Big brass balls. Especially with Sid.
 |
| No one-on-one date too crucial. No overnight card too creepy. |
Harrison: You're really feeling right now.
Shero: I am feeling.
Harrison: But you saw how Sid wasn't the same after he got run over by Malkin...
Shero: I did see that.
Harrison: And...
Shero: And...I just don't know.
 |
| No Blessing too big. No canceled cocktail party too shocking. |
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