Are the Penguins Misusing Morrow?

By Nick Vucic; Thursday April 4, 2013

In case you haven’t noticed, Penguins GM Ray Shero has had a busy few days, picking up Jarome Iginla, Douglas Murray, Jussi Jokinen, and Brendan Morrow. In addition to all of the new additions, the Penguins have had to also deal with unforeseen circumstances, such as the injuries to Paul Martin and Sidney Crosby. Many are already criticizing Morrow’s time in Pittsburgh without a point, but its possible Morrow may not be solely to blame for his performance…

Kris Letang to SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL

By Nick Vucic; Thursday January 3, 2013

On Twitter tonight, via Renaud Lavoie from RDS:

@RenLavoieRDS, Kris Letang is on his way to Russia. He’ll play in the KHL until the lockout is through. #Pens #NHL

In Defense of Paul Martin

By Nick Vucic; Thursday January 3, 2013

Paul Martin was heralded as a major free agent signing in 2010 around the NHL and throughout the media and fan base after the Penguins exited early from the playoffs and lost veteran offensive defenseman Sergei Gonchar to the Ottawa Senators in free agency. Unfortunately, Paul Martin spent most of last season receiving criticism from both the media and the fans as an “overpriced underachiever.”

5 More Ways the NHL can get fans back after the lockout

By Nick Vucic; Tuesday December 25, 2012

In 2005, when the NHL finally returned, fans had many new incentives to return to watch the game that missed a season. Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, and a revitalized on-ice product all helped grow hockey fandom to new levels. If the NHL is set to return this season or next season, it will be desperately lacking in shiny new toys to help bring back scorned fans, as well as draw in new fans.

Thursday Afternoon GM: Searching for a Plan B.

By Nick Vucic; Wednesday July 4, 2012

Zach Parise and Ryan Suter signed with the Minnesota Wild, Matt Carle signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Shane Doan is probably staying in Phoenix, and Ray Whitney and Jaromir Jagr took the money and are off to Big D. Penguin’s General Manager Ray Shero has his work cut out for him this offseason after another disappointing early playoff exit against the cross state rival Flyers. The number one goal for Shero this offseason is to find an able-bodied winger to play alongside Sidney Crosby for the foreseeable future, but who fits that bill and are there any worthwhile players available this year?

Do the Pens need a “True” Top-Six Winger?

By Nick Vucic; Saturday February 25, 2012

With the trade deadline upon us, most armchair GM’s and rumor sites have linked the Pens with acquiring a top-six winger to play alongside either Sidney Crosby or Jordan Staal, on the “second” line.

Biggest Surprises and Disappointments

By Nick Vucic; Tuesday December 20, 2011

From concussions to suspensions, this has already been one of the more interesting seasons for the Pittsburgh Penguins and their fans. Although the injuries to Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal, Zybnek Michalek, Kris Letang, and many others has meant that the Penguins once again resemble the hard-working 2010-2011 squad, there has still been a number of pleasant surprises this season, and of course disappointments.

2011-2012 NHL Predictions

By Nick Vucic; Wednesday October 5, 2011

Some people love to make predictions and I am definitely one of those people. Last year, I predicted that the San Jose Sharks would meet the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup Finals, with the Capitals emerging victorious. Somehow I was wrong. Weird, huh? So here’s what I’m thinking happens in the 2011-2012 NHL Season.

Opening Night Lineup Taking Shape

By Nick Vucic; Tuesday October 4, 2011

With only 2 days to go till the puck drop on opening night in Vancouver, the Penguins are starting to solidify their starting lineup to go against the defending Western Conference Champions. A lineup that will definitely not include superstar center Sidney Crosby.

In Defense of Matt Niskanen

By Nick Vucic; Friday September 30, 2011

Acquired prior to the NHL Trade Deadline last season, alongside winger James Neal, for Alex Goligoski, young defenseman Matt Niskanen has had a rather intriguing career in his few years in the NHL. Since his arrival in Pittsburgh at the end of last year, Niskanen has been the focus of Penguins fans and media criticism. In looking at his pedigree, his career so far, and other factors, this writer believes it is far too early to write off Niskanen’s potential.

Penguins make 3rd Round of Roster Cuts

By Nick Vucic; Wednesday September 28, 2011

To Wilkes-Barre Scranton: – Ryan Craig, Nick Johnson, Colin McDonald, Eric Tangradi, Scott Munroe, Brad Thiessen

Defenseman Scott Harrington was returned to his junior team, the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Pre-Season Game 2 Impressions

By Nick Vucic; Thursday September 22, 2011

Once again, I could not have been much more thrilled to be watching some Penguins hockey. A little bit of an interesting day with the first round of cuts being made:

Pre-Season Game 1 Impressions

By Nick Vucic; Wednesday September 21, 2011

Penguins won 3-2 over the Red Wings
Penguins goals by Chris Kunitz, Evgeni Malkin, and Matt Niskanen
Red Wings goals by Kronwall and Hudler

Penguins sign Richard Park to one-year deal.

By Nick Vucic; Thursday September 8, 2011

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed 35 year-old Richard Park to a two-way one-year contract worth $500,000 at the NHL Level.

8 Storylines for the 2011-2012 Season

By Nick Vucic; Friday September 2, 2011

Entering the last week of a summer that has felt like the Penguins haven’t played a game in ages, this off-season, although minor in major moves for the summer, has left me wondering what the future holds for our Pittsburgh Penguins.

Where are they now? Former Penguins in Europe and Russia

By Nick Vucic; Saturday August 13, 2011

Here is a list of players who have at one time been part of the Pittsburgh Penguins organizations in some way or another. I doubt that this list is 100% complete or updated, as some of the information is a little sparse involving some teams, so feel free to comment and let me know if I missed anyone and I’ll definitely update.

Did the Penguins actually improve this offseason?

By Nick Vucic; Friday July 29, 2011

Every offseason, fans, team management, and the media ask the same question of their favorite team; did their team improve their chances at lifting Lord Stanley’s Cup in June of the next season? In hindsight, the Penguins had an extremely bright outlook at the beginning of last season with GM Shero quickly seeking to fix the largest weakness made apparent in the 2010 playoffs, the defense, with the signings of free agents Zybnek Michalek and Paul Martin. If in the pre-season last year, somebody had told me that the Penguins would have acquired James Neal, Matt Niskanen, and Alexei Kovalev for Alex Goligoski and a 7th round pick, I would have probably asked when the parade would be held. The point is that the Penguins were a contender at the beginning of last season and I believe that GM Shero has made minor moves to make sure this team is competitive come late-May.

Behind Enemy Lines #1

By Nick Vucic; Wednesday July 20, 2011

Well, it’s beginning to look a lot like hockey season…as long as you stay indoors, blast your ac to around 50 degrees, and ignore the fact that baseball is being played. This week, across the hockey-sphere, most NHL teams kicked off their prospect development camp and re-ignited the frenzy of emotions that come with the beginning of each hockey season. Unlike past seasons, I was not able to attend the Penguins development camp this year, but not because I had a scheduling conflict, but because recently I moved to the Washington, DC-Metro Area, home of the Washington Capitals.

The Ballad of the Recchin’ Ball:

By Nick Vucic; Thursday June 16, 2011

“I’ve broken 19 bones, 23 scars on my face, broken these pinkies at least 4 times each, ran into a goalie for this one, I’ve broken my nose more times than I can ever remember, I cracked my cheekbone, I don’t know where that one’s from, I can’t remember, I got a skate that sliced right by my jugular. People always ask me when I’m going to retire, I’ll tell you when I’ll retire…the day they pry the stick from my dead hands.”