Pittsburgh Penguins / NHL category, Page 306
Penguins re-sign defenseman Juuso Riikola, keep blue line stocked
The Pittsburgh Penguins continued to shore up their depth on defense Thursday, re-signing restricted free agent Juuso Riikola to a one-year contract worth $850,000. Last year, the 25-year-old Riikola played on a two-way contract that paid him $925,000 when in the NHL and $70,000 when in the AHL. A training...
Minus Fleury factor, fewer fans watching Stanley Cup Final in Pittsburgh market
The Pittsburgh market remains interested in the Stanley Cup Final, though not at the level it was a year ago when Marc-Andre Fleury was involved. Pittsburgh was the fifth highest-rated market in the country for Game 2 between the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night, delivering a...
Plenty of opinions about where Penguins’ Phil Kessel could land in trade
The Phil Kessel trade watch is one of the biggest topics in hockey right now. And the opinions are flying. Dave Poulin said on TSN, “He’s an acquired taste that has run its course in Pittsburgh.” On the same panel, Craig Button made it sound like the team is scapegoating...
Jeremy Roenick: Penguins’ Phil Kessel will accept trade to only 1 team
Popular Pittsburgh Penguins winger Phil Kessel will accept a trade to one team and one team only, NBC Sports analyst Jeremy Roenick said in a radio interview on Wednesday. “I know where he wants to go and we’ll see if he gets that option,” Roenick told 550 AM in Buffalo....
If you were an NHL player, which team would you veto a trade to?
When NHL players with certain contractual rights hammer out the details of their no-trade clauses, they must only specify which teams they are willing or not willing to be dealt to. They don’t need to specify why. Safe to say, though, there are certain criteria that would weigh heavily on...
Trading players such as Penguins’ Phil Kessel rare, not unprecedented
From his personality on and off the ice to his set of strengths and weaknesses as a player, Phil Kessel is truly one of a kind in the NHL universe. But that doesn’t mean the Pittsburgh Penguins are in uncharted territory as they try to trade the popular two-time Stanley...
Ex-Penguins center Joe Vitale shares tale of superstitious Sidney Crosby
The lengths to which Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will go to satisfy his superstitions are well known. Former Penguins center Joe Vitale, on this week’s episode of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, told a tale of a Crosby superstition that tested his patience. Vitale was the team’s locker room DJ,...
Pittsburgh ranks as 3rd best city for hockey fans
Congrats, Pittsburgh: You are the third best city for hockey fans. That’s according to a new study by WalletHub. Although, with the Penguins having been swept in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs — can you remember back that far? — the accolade just kinda rings hollow, doesn’t...
Tom Brady lends voice to Zdeno Chara’s Bruins’ pump-up video
One of Boston’s favorite sons is offering his support for another team on a championship run. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, six-time Super Bowl champion, lent his voice to a clip posted to Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara’s Instagram account. The clip was posted before the start of Game...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden debate Kessel trade idea, Pirates, Porter ripping Roethlisberger
Mark Madden joins me for “Madden Madden” a day late after the Memorial Day holiday. We debate that failed trade of Phil Kessel to the Wild. Mark and I have differing views on that front. I’m not opposed to a deal involving Kessel. But I’m down on the structure of...
Tim Benz: Phil Kessel to Wild would’ve been wrong move for Penguins
If there was a trade in place between the Penguins and Wild involving Phil Kessel, it appears to be off now. And it appears it’s off because Kessel doesn’t want to go to Minnesota. The Wild aren’t on his eight-team approved list for trades. And, according to Sportsnet, Kessel doesn’t...
Mark Madden: Phil Kessel trade would help needed Penguins shakeup
Trade speculation regarding Phil Kessel once again runs rampant. Never mind that the Penguins have been willing to trade him for the best part of a couple years now. The latest talk has Kessel going to Minnesota along with defenseman Jack Johnson for forwards Jason Zucker and Victor Rask. Kessel...
New research shows Pittsburgh to be birthplace of pro hockey
A historical marker on Pittsburgh’s North Side denotes the spot of the first professional football game played, coming in 1892. If Perrysville native John Schalcosky has his way, a similar marker soon will be erected in Oakland, noting the city as the birthplace of professional hockey, as well. Schalcosky is...
2 former Penguins set for induction into IIHF Hall of Fame
Former Pittsburgh Penguins wingers Miroslav Satan and Ziggy Palffy will be among the players inducted into the IIHL Hall of Fame on Sunday in Slovakia. Mike Modano, Hayley Wickenheiser and Jorgen Jonsson will round out the class of players. Satan played for the Penguins in 2008-09, recording six points in...
Jacques Martin expected to stay with Penguins after bid for head-coaching gig fails
Having struck out in his bid to win the head coaching job in Ottawa and Buffalo, assistant coach Jacques Martin is expected to remain with the Pittsburgh Penguins next season. Martin, who has one year left on his contract, will return for his fifth straight season behind the Penguins bench,...
First Call: Possible Phil Kessel landing spot; Pirates scout outfielder; loving Le’Veon Bell
It’s a trade-heavy “First Call” for Friday. The Penguins may be engaged in a potential trade for Phil Kessel. Jets coach Adam Gase is denying ideas he wants to trade Le’Veon Bell. And the Pirates may be interested in acquiring a New York Yankee. Pharewell Phil? Tribune-Review Penguins writer Jonathan...
Penguins actively shopping popular winger Phil Kessel
After the Pittsburgh Penguins bowed out of the playoffs in a first-round sweep at the hands of the New York Islanders last month, it quickly became clear changes to the team’s roster were afoot. That wave of change appears likely to sweep up winger Phil Kessel. The Penguins actively are...
Penguins re-sign defenseman Chad Ruhwedel for 2 years
Which defensemen will fill the top six spots on the blue line next season remains an open question for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The picture at the bottom end of the depth chart, however, cleared up significantly on Thursday. Defenseman Chad Ruhwedel agreed to a new two-year deal with an average...
Canada scores buzzer-beating goal to advance to World Championship semifinals
Canada advanced to the semifinals of the IIHF World Championships on Thursday on a buzzer-beating goal by New Jersey Devils defenseman Damon Severson. Trailing 2-1 to Switzerland with Penguins goalie Matt Murray pulled, Severson scored on a deflected point shot that slid over the goal line with 0.4 seconds left...
Accelerated development from Teddy Blueger could be good news for Penguins
Before he made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins at the end of January, the story of Teddy Blueger’s career was slow and steady improvement. His two-way game was always a point of strength, but his offensive game took some time to come around. As a freshman at Minnesota-Mankato,...
Former NHL heavyweight John Scott holds no grudge against Phil Kessel
The only suspension of Phil Kessel’s 13-year NHL career came when he delivered a series of two-handed chops to former Buffalo Sabres heavyweight John Scott in a 2013 preseason game. In an appearance on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast this week, Scott said he has no hard feelings. Thinking one of...
Penguins’ Matt Murray saves his best for rivalry matchup with U.S. at World Championships
Matt Murray had his finest showing of the IIHF World Championships in a game against his home country’s biggest rival. Murray recorded a 28-save shutout to lead Canada to a 3-0 victory over the United States on Tuesday in Slovakia. Penguins forward Jared McCann scored a goal. That's a 28-save...
First Call: New pressure for Le’Veon Bell; Penguins scoring in bunches at Worlds
In “First Call” Tuesday, something to watch for Le’Veon Bell in New York. Penguins players keep pumping in goals at the World Championships. The Warriors make history. And the next opponent for the Pirates just can’t buy good luck. Something to watch Many people are wondering how Le’Veon Bell will...
At World Championships, Penguins’ Dominik Simon giving teasing glimpse of talent
The Pittsburgh Penguins should be pleased with what winger Dominik Simon is accomplishing this month at the World Championships in Slovakia. Simon has recorded three goals and five assists in his first six games with the Czech Republic, ranking on the fringes of the top 10 among the tournament’s leading...
Marcus Pettersson, Zach Aston-Reese among Penguins due pay raises
The Pittsburgh Penguins don’t have much work to do this summer when it comes to re-signing their own restricted free agents. When they do get around to the task, defenseman Marcus Pettersson and winger Zach Aston-Reese will be due the biggest raises, according to hockey-graphs.com’s annual free-agent contract projections. Among...
