John Toperzer: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kid Sidney Crosby expects to play Thursday for the first time since December

Welcome back.

The big question is, who is going to be worse, the O's or the Pirates?

I knew I should have kept up with that stat!! Thx John

The big question is, who is going to be worse, the O's or the Pirates?
- Gunner Staal

Combine them and contract one of them.

What's the deal with Mario Williams, Gunnar. Little quiet since mid evening yesterday.

Did you ask that Ovechkin fan if he had ever heard of Dave Semenko, Marty McSorely and Mark Messier they all protected Gretzky at some point in his career.

Combine them and contract one of them.

What's the deal with Mario Williams, Gunnar. Little quiet since mid evening yesterday.
- ryman1566

Tim Graham ‏ @ByTimGraham Close
For what it's worth, Mario Williams spotted leaving Buffalo Medical Group office this morning. That would seem to be a physical, folks.

Joe Buscaglia ‏ @JoeB_WGR Close
#Bills confirm that Mario Williams is in the building at One Bills Drive.

Joe Buscaglia ‏ @JoeB_WGR Close
Per @ChrisBrownBills, Mario Williams is meeting with GM Buddy Nix in his office.

The big question is, who is going to be worse, the O's or the Pirates?
- Gunner Staal

With the O's overhaul of their "pitching" staff maybe they'll surpass the Pirates.

With the O's overhaul of their "pitching" staff maybe they'll surpass the Pirates.
- Ausgood9414

I can't imagine trading Guthrie away would strengthen that.

Today's practice is optional, and 87 and 58 are on the ice for it

I can't imagine trading Guthrie away would strengthen that.
- Gunner Staal

It certainly doesn't but the management tried to sell this offseason has an attempt to improve pitching. Unfortunately that attempt failed as miserably as the Orioles over the past several years.

Did you ask that Ovechkin fan if he had ever heard of Dave Semenko, Marty McSorely and Mark Messier they all protected Gretzky at some point in his career.
- Ben37

Given his view of things, that fan probably doesn't watch much hockey outside of the Caps.

Perhaps this will be the year the Pirates end their 19-year losing streak. Hey, everybody’s in first place on Opening Day!

No offense, but you sound like a Maple Leafs fan.

Tim Graham ‏ @ByTimGraham Close
For what it's worth, Mario Williams spotted leaving Buffalo Medical Group office this morning. That would seem to be a physical, folks.

Joe Buscaglia ‏ @JoeB_WGR Close
#Bills confirm that Mario Williams is in the building at One Bills Drive.

Joe Buscaglia ‏ @JoeB_WGR Close
Per @ChrisBrownBills, Mario Williams is meeting with GM Buddy Nix in his office.
- Gunner Staal

WHo gives a poop about Mario Williams and the Bills
Sidney (frank)ing Crosby.
And the Pirates will be much better than the O's this year.
And welcome back John.

Do you believe that Kris Letang is more important to this Penguins’ team’s success than Sidney Crosby? The logic behind the thinking is that the Pens have shown they can win without Crosby this year but have no one to replace Letang on the blue line – there are even plenty of numbers to back it up. The Pens have yet to score a 5-on-4 power play since Letang got hurt Feb. 29.

I think the key part of your question is whether Crosby or Letang is more valuable to the Penguns' team's sucess.

Unlike 29 other teams in the NHL, the Penguins have the luxery of having the other best player in the world, Evgeni Malkin, on their roster. If Sid is out, then the Pens can just have Geno, their other Hart-Caliber forward, average 1.5pts/gm. But the Pens only have one Norris-caliber Dman on the roster in Letang; no other Dman on the roster can do what Letang can do.

Return of Sid is more exciting than a 10 year olds first boner
- keatondixon

That depends if you are a hockey fan or a pedophile

I think the key part of your question is whether Crosby or Letang is more valuable to the Penguns' team's sucess.

Unlike 29 other teams in the NHL, the Penguins have the luxery of having the other best player in the world, Evgeni Malkin, on their roster. If Sid is out, then the Pens can just have Geno, their other Hart-Caliber forward, average 1.5pts/gm. But the Pens only have one Norris-caliber Dman on the roster in Letang; no other Dman on the roster can do what Letang can do.
- s0rcerer1984

They both are unique for sure. I would not want to be Disco Dan for the next few games. You know he has to want to limit Sid to 14-16 minutes a game, but he wants to win too, and if Sid says he is feeling good, the little voice in his head is gonna say, 'Give him 19 or 20, ain't gonna hurt nothing' And they are divisional games against teams we are chasing, and teams just behind us. Pressure, for sure.

I would imagine Sid will sit one of the 2 weekend games, perhaps?

The Pens are 3-0-1 with Crosby and Letang in the lineup.




Only 4 games all season

I think the key part of your question is whether Crosby or Letang is more valuable to the Penguns' team's sucess.

Unlike 29 other teams in the NHL, the Penguins have the luxery of having the other best player in the world, Evgeni Malkin, on their roster. If Sid is out, then the Pens can just have Geno, their other Hart-Caliber forward, average 1.5pts/gm. But the Pens only have one Norris-caliber Dman on the roster in Letang; no other Dman on the roster can do what Letang can do.
- s0rcerer1984

Is Letang supposed to be back for the Rangers game ?

Is Letang supposed to be back for the Rangers game ?
- MadCap2008

It looks as though that has not been eliminated from possiblity:

Pens Inside Scoop ‏ @PensInsideScoop Close
#Pens Letang: Had a good skate. We'll see how I feel after tomorrow's morning skate if I play Thur -SK

That depends if you are a hockey fan or a pedophile
- Ausgood9414

Well his avatar is of Sid with a pacifier. Coincidence or hidden message?

good luck with mario gunner. in other nfl news, calvin johnson is now the richest wideout in the game

It looks as though that has not been eliminated from possiblity:

Pens Inside Scoop ‏ @PensInsideScoop Close
#Pens Letang: Had a good skate. We'll see how I feel after tomorrow's morning skate if I play Thur -SK
- Gunner Staal

In case anyone is interested (probably not, but I'd just be talking to myself on the Caps blog ):

Update, 11:50 a.m.: Backstrom reported feeling fine after the skate, according to a team spokesman.

Original post: Nicklas Backstrom, who has been sidelined since Jan. 7 with a concussion, skated at KCI this morning for about 20 minutes

good luck with mario gunner. in other nfl news, calvin johnson is now the richest wideout in the game
- stayinthefnnet

I think its the richest contract ever

In case anyone is interested (probably not, but I'd just be talking to myself on the Caps blog ):

Update, 11:50 a.m.: Backstrom reported feeling fine after the skate, according to a team spokesman.

Original post: Nicklas Backstrom, who has been sidelined since Jan. 7 with a concussion, skated at KCI this morning for about 20 minutes
- MadCap2008

great to hear that for you guys. great classy player. wish he wasnt a capital but hope he has a full recovery