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Crosby Clashing: Should I stay or should I go?

November 28, 2012, 10:06 AM ET [36 Comments]
John Toperzer
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Crosby Clash poll: Should I stay or should I go?










Read more about the possibility of Crosby's European Vacation here.


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For the rest of the current week, Crosby will train in Scottsdale, Arizona, with other locked-out NHL players, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.


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Baby Penguins goalie Jeff Zatkoff is tearing up the AHL in November, going 7-1 with a 0.99 GAA and .963 save percentage.

He’s playing over fellow netminder Brad Thiessen, making 13 starts to Thiessen’s five.

"We would like both guys to really play well," coach John Hynes said. "Any time you have a combination of two goaltenders who can really play, it's good, but any time you have one guy step to the forefront, particularly in that position, you always want that as a coach."


Speaking of coach Hynes, the Citizen Voice’s Jonathan Bombulie also dispels why Hynes probably didn’t put a bounty out on opposing player Steve Oleksy last week.


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“Actually, Doan was very close to becoming a Flyer,” CSN Philly reports.

Remember when the biggest question across the NHL was where Shane Doan would sign?

Apparently he nearly picked the Philadelphia Flyers over the Phoenix Coyotes, according to writer Sarah Baicker. She offers no real new insight but said Philly had two Doan sweaters in two different numbers prepared.


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David Johnson of www.hockeyanalysis.com identifies the best defensive center in the NHL in an article that can be found here.

1. Brandon Sutter
2. Samuel Pahlsson
3. Mikko Koivu
4. Frans Nielsen
5. Travis Zajac
6. Martin Hanzal
7. Mike Richards
8. Brooks Laich
9. Jordan Staal
10. Joe Pavelski

Mr. Johnson uses an involved system that takes into account different advanced metrics. One interesting differentiator he requires for the centers is that they play better, statistically speaking, than their linemates.

It’s encouraging Sutter was listed atop the players. Jordan Staal was one of the best all-around centers Pittsburgh has ever employed. If Sutter can excel in some aspect of the game, even if he doesn’t have the same skillset as Staal, then he can help the team.


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“Bylsma shakes some rust,” in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Penguins coach gives insight into how many days from CBA settlement to first regular-season game might take.

"The past told us that it might be maybe 11 days from the time a deal was done until the first game," Bylsma said. "In the past there were four days of getting people back to a city, then six days of practice. We've done [plans for] a seven-day camp, we've done a six-day camp, we've done a five-day camp. We did that a while ago. We've done one that comes back Friday through Friday, one that comes back Monday through Friday – different days depending on the ice [availability], the American Hockey League [schedule], lots of different things."

As has been repeated on numerous occasions, the 1994-95 campaign started on Jan. 20, 1995 for the Penguins with a 48 regular-season contest schedule.


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The Wilkes-Barre Baby Penguins have won three straight and 11 of 14. They beat the Albany Devils on Sunday in a 5-4 shootout victory. Click here for details from the Citizen’s Voice.


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Treasure Life!
JT
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