the hockey thread

[ManNamedTruth]

Pens lookin good as of late.

[red]

Pens lookin good as of late.

I love how only 3 points separates 5th and 11th place in the East.

[ManNamedTruth]

Uncertainety of the Penguins staying in Pittsburgh continues.  :-/Heres some headlines:

Lemieux will hold on to Penguins for now
December 18, 2006
PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - Mario Lemieux is rolling the dice on the future of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Spurned by the withdrawal of prospective buyer Jim Balsillie on Friday, Lemieux said on Monday that he will not entertain any ownership offers until he learns whether the City of Pittsburgh will be granted a gaming license in order to open a casino.

On Wednesday, the state Legislature is expected to award a gaming license to one of three groups.

The Penguins have an agreement with one of the bidders, Isle of Capri, which would use profits from a casino to help pay for a new arena to replace Mellon Arena, the oldest current building in the NHL.

Lemieux, whose Lemieux Group Limited serves as the club's current owner, said the club was stunning by Balsillie pulling out of the deal just days before the announcement on the gaming license.

"We were shocked and offended that Mr. Balsillie would back out of such an important deal at the last minute - and less than a week before a decision on the funding of a new arena that will have far-reaching implications on our franchise, our city and our region," Lemieux said in a statement Monday. "As a result, we intend to retain Mr. Balsillie's deposit because we believe him to be in breach of our agreement. We can say unequivocally that the deal with Mr. Balsillie is dead."

Lemieux said there is no Plan B in place until Wednesday's decision, even though published reports have had as many as three new prospective buyers coming forward over the weekend.

"Will we continue our efforts to sell the team?" Lemieux said in the statement. "What I can tell you is that we are solely focused on the Isle of Capri's bid, which would ensure the Penguins' future in Pittsburgh for the long term. If the Isle is not successful on Wednesday, we will have to consider all of our options."

Basillie, the chairman of Research in Motion, the Canadian-based company behind the popular Blackberry products and services, did not comment on the club's threat not to return the deposit.

The 45-year-old Balsillie signed a purchase agreement to buy the team on October 5. The proposed deal came three months after Sam Fingold, who runs a commercial real estate firm in Hartford, signed a letter of intent to buy the Penguins for $175 million.

Although his company is based in Hartford, which lost its NHL franchise when the Whalers moved to Carolina and became the Hurricanes in 1997, Fingold insisted he had no plans to relocate the Penguins.

But in the end, Lemieux decided to sell the team to Balsillie. In addition to his success in the business world, Balsillie is an amateur hockey player and a noted philanthropist. Time Magazine named him one of the most influential people in the world in 2005.

Balsillie joined Research in Motion in 1992 and is responsible for driving business development, marketing sales and finance for the leading manufacturer of wireless solutions for the mobile communications market.

STATEMENT FROM KEN SAWYER, CEO OF THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

12/20/2006

We congratulate Don Barden and PITG Gaming on their successful bid. Obviously, we are very disappointed that the Isle of Capri was not awarded the slots license. We want to thank them for their effort over the past year, including an unprecedented offer to fully fund construction of a new arena had they received the license. We also want to thank the dozens of local leaders and thousands of fans and concerned citizens who voiced their support for what they believed was the best plan for our region. Had Isle of Capri been selected, it would have ensured the long-term future of the Penguins in Pittsburgh and would have delivered a $1 billion development opportunity to the Lower Hill and Uptown. At this point, our franchise enters a period of uncertainty, with our lease at Mellon Arena set to expire this summer. We will re-evaluate all of our options before deciding on a course of action and making further comment

Penguins brass to discuss slots casino rejection
December 20, 2006

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Penguins ownership planned to discuss the state's rejection Wednesday of a slot-machine casino application by Isle of Capri Casinos, which had promised to build a $290-million arena if it got a license.

The Penguins ownership group, headed by Hall of Fame player Mario Lemieux, did not immediately comment on the decision by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to reject the slots license.

After the decision was announced, the Penguins practiced at Mellon Arena, the 45-year-old building the team says must be replaced for it to remain viable in Pittsburgh.

The board voted unanimously to award the city's only slot-machine license to Detroit-based casino developer Don H. Barden's PITG Gaming. Barden's group proposes building a casino and entertainment development on the city's North Shore, near Heinz Field and PNC Park.

Barden had promised to contribute some money for a new arena over 30 years under a plan proposed by city and county officials that would include public funds. But that plan also calls for the Penguins to help pay for the facility.

"I am committed to what we said we were going to do," Barden said Wednesday. "We're going to fund $7.5 million a year for 30 years towards financing a new

[CTdeadhead]

Not a hocky fan, just curious how are the Whalers doing?  

[EC]

i went to the hockey game at the air canada centre last night with my family.  i like watching rock concerts at the air canada centre way more than hockey games.  toronto got creamed by florida.  apparently their goalie was our goalie last year, so this was a big deal.

[Jaimoe]

Not a hocky fan, just curious how are the Whalers doing?  

They won the Cup last year.

The Pens situation is going to get really ugly. I can't see them staying in Pittsburgh.

[CTdeadhead]

Not a hocky fan, just curious how are the Whalers doing?  

They won the Cup last year.

I thought so, this photo was taken last yr so I knew there had to be a reason:

[Jaimoe]

I figured you knew the Hurricanes won the Cup last year, but they'll always be Hartford to old-school hockey fans.

[CTdeadhead]

I figured you knew the Hurricanes won the Cup last year, but they'll always be Hartford to old-school hockey fans.

Actually mine was a feeble attempt at sarcasm, I won't try that again. I did know that the Whalers didn't exist, but didn't know that they won it as the hurricanes.

[red]

Not a hocky fan, just curious how are the Whalers doing?  

They won the Cup last year.

The Pens situation is going to get really ugly. I can't see them staying in Pittsburgh.

I cross my fingers every day for a NHL team to return to the 'Peg.

[ManNamedTruth]

Penguins are kickin some ass and doin whatever it takes to win. They will go deep in the playoffs if they continue like this.

[joey_rogo]

Yeah the penguins do look good. I love watching them play, put on a good exciting show. I cant say the same for my rangers.....they will probably miss the playoffs.  :(


....And did anyone see that Buffalo/Sens brawl last night!?!? :o Ray Emery fought 2 people, and he had a smile on his face the whole time.

[Jaimoe]

Yeah the penguins do look good. I love watching them play, put on a good exciting show. I cant say the same for my rangers.....they will probably miss the playoffs.  :(


....And did anyone see that Buffalo/Sens brawl last night!?!? :o Ray Emery fought 2 people, and he had a smile on his face the whole time.

Too bad about Shanahan. When he went down, so did the Rangers playoff chances.

Emery fighting is even more significant because it's the first time a goalie has ever challenged and fought an enforcer. The Ottawa players should be ashamed of themselves for not protecting their #1 GOALIE!!

The Pens have to add a couple of nasty players to their mix if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs. Staal is THE MAN!

[.Walt]

when it comes to the NHL, i have two teams. one being the wild (cause i'm from the state of hockey) and two the maple leafs. i like the leafs, because when the north stars moved, i didn't move with them. i went with the leafs and have been a fan ever since.

[Jaimoe]

when it comes to the NHL, i have two teams. one being the wild (cause i'm from the state of hockey) and two the maple leafs. i like the leafs, because when the north stars moved, i didn't move with them. i went with the leafs and have been a fan ever since.

Interesting. I'm a decent Leaf fan, but I grew up loving the Bruins mostly because I'm family friends with their former famous coach and Canadian icon. But I don't cheer for the Bruins anymore. I don't have a connection with that team. Marc Savard is one dirty little bastard, but he's really talented.

The Wild are a good, if not boring team. Gaborik is talented but gets hurt every other week. Bouchard is a great young talent (even though he looks 40) and Burns is a real promising young defenseman. I like Saku's younger brother too. Rolston has been the glue this year.

[.Walt]

the one of games best fighter Derek Boogaard 6'7 250

[Jaimoe]

I like both those boys. That's MacGrattan he's scrapping with.

[Jaimoe]

Word from today's Toronto Star is that the Pens are going after the toughest guy in the NHL, Phoenix's Georges Laraque. The guy can play a regular shift and will be just what Cindy Crosby needs.

[ManNamedTruth]

Word from today's Toronto Star is that the Pens are going after the toughest guy in the NHL, Phoenix's Georges Laraque. The guy can play a regular shift and will be just what Cindy Crosby needs.

I wonder what they'd trade away to get him....?

[Jaimoe]

Word from today's Toronto Star is that the Pens are going after the toughest guy in the NHL, Phoenix's Georges Laraque. The guy can play a regular shift and will be just what Cindy Crosby needs.

I wonder what they'd trade away to get him....?

It would have to be a some picks or a servicable defenseman. Laraque is fueding with Gretzky and the Coyotes management over ice time (or lack there of). I think Phoenix is going to blow up their team in the next few days.