Gonchar vote, LeBrun's NHL changes dissected, IIHF begins
Should the Penguins trade for Sergei Gonchar?
• Yes, the Pens need his power-play skill at the point. 25%
• No, Travis Moen's undressing of him in playoffs signaled the end. 36%
• Depends, acquisition cost very important. 38%
And the winner in a narrow vote is – it depends. Reminds me of the saying “So you’re saying there’s a chance.”
Pro-Gonchar boosters can point to the fact that 25 percent of respondents want Gonch back and another 38 percent want him back, contingent on the cost. In other words, 63 percent of voters could see the veteran defender back in the black & gold, blue & white.
On the other hand, 36 percent want nothing to do with Gonchar.
Personally, I feel like the Pens need an NHL-ready offensive defenseman and Gonchar fits that bill for one year. When Matt Niskanen is your second best offensive blueliner you can use the help, if only for 2012-13.
**
If hockey announcer/analyst EJ Hradek did a voice-over for Jerry Seinfeld would anyone notice a difference?
**
Watching the USA-Russia match Friday, it’s just a little ironic that the best player on the ice for Team USA is named Alex Galchenyuk.
**
Penguins Radio 24/7 man, Steve Mears, is covering the IIHF World Junior Championships for the NHL Network (USA). It’s nice to hear a familiar voice alongside Hradek.
**
Wonder what Mike Lange’s been doing the last five-plus months? Putting the ritz on, I suppose.
**
Hradek served as the Beckett Hockey Monthly magazine editor in 1989 and the early 1990s. Now you have someone to blame for the decline in hockey card prices other than me! Not too many folks clamoring for Pierre Turgeon rookies right about now…
**
I know Team USA goalie John Gibson lives in the same township as my sister, but seeing that Kitchener New York Ranger goalie mask on his noggin grates on me.
**
Penguins’ Orpik: Bringing back fans is league’s job.
“Obviously you think about that kind of stuff,” said Orpik, who is going through his second lockout. “But the league, that‘s their side of things. They‘re the ones who need to worry about marketing. Our job is to play our best. We are the product. There is no league without us.”
I suppose Mr. Orpik was simply answering a questioned posed to him, but if the players “are the product” then they need to take responsibility for what has become an insane lockout. I’m not sure I’ve heard too many players admit that the lockout is anyone other than Gary Bettman and the league’s fault.
**
10 Ways for the NHL to recover from lockout, by ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun.
1. Give away Center Ice for whatever season is actually played.
Not a bad idea, I might have to purchase a couple shares of Directv (DTV).
2. Ensure realignment happens in 2013-14.
I don’t have a problem with the current alignment.
3. Add a play-in round for the bottom teams to get in final 16.
I like the scramble for the bottom spots the way things currently are. There are typically only four or five teams out of the running. Remember how the bottom feeders were afraid to trade guys at the deadline because they thought they were still in the running. Perhaps moving back the trade deadline by a week would help the trade deadline, with teams more accepting of the fact they’re not making the postseason.
4. Bring back the World Cup of hockey.
I’d be fine without any All-Star Games, World Cups, etc.
5. Three-on-three overtime.
Definite yes. That would be “good food” as Stanley P. Kachowski might say (outdated Pittsburgh radio reference). LeBrun says there are too many shootouts determining games and he’s right – even though that’s Marc-Andre Fleury’s strong point. I’d go one step further and quit giving team’s a point for losing after regulation.
6. Shorten the preseason and start the season in the third week of September.
Yes, more of this.
7. Change start of free agency from July 1 to the day after draft weekend ends.
Sounds interesting but the wait is currently only a week the way things are set up.
8. Gather all 30 front offices in the same arena on trade deadline day.
If that boosts communication between organizations then ok, but this sounds like a little bit too much contrived hype for my taste.
What I’d like to see is a high stakes fantasy hockey league like the NFBC for baseball. I might have to work on that.
9. Put NHL teams in Europe.
No, but I’d like to see the NHL champ play the KHL champ somewhere down the line.
10. Install a 20-year CBA with four option years.
Nah, the option years are the same as pre-determined work stoppages. A seven-year deal is probably all fans can hope for. These lockouts are just way too much fun.
**
Playoff 24/7 could help NHL bounce back.
Is nothing sacred? I don’t want to know why Pascal Dupuis puts on his left sock before his right one, I just want to see him play hockey. The 24/7 series was great but at this point I just want the puck to drop. Hockey fans just want to see the game before they get sucked back in and glorify skaters that can skate and shoot hockey pucks better than the rest of us.
**
Late edit: Hearing Gloria Gaynor's "
I will survive" in the Ufa, Russia rink is just wrong.
Treasure Life!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»