Sit-down chat with Pens

By Joe Starkey, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Sunday, May 16, 2010

I am Penguins general manager Ray Shero. I am Penguins coach Dan Bylsma.

Call me Ray Bylsma.

I just completed exit interviews. Thought you might like to know how I opened the conversation with select players ...

PITTSBURGH - MAY 12: Bill Guerin(notes) #13 of the Pittsburgh Penguins battles with PK Subban(notes) #76 of the Montreal Canadiens as Jaroslav Halak(notes) #41 of the Montreal Canadiens keeps an eye on the play as does Evgeni Malkin(notes) #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Mellon Arena on May 12, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Canadiens defeated the Penguins 5-2 to win the series 4-3 and advance to the Conference Finals. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)


• Matt Cooke: "I meant to offer you a three-year deal about four months ago, Matt, but somebody cracked me in the skull with a blind-side hit, and I forgot. Now look: You'll be asking for Steve Ott money (Ott recently signed with Dallas for $11.8 million over four years), and you might get it, too. Just not here. My bad."

• Alexei Ponikarovsky: "Well, Alex, at least we found out why they call you 'Poni Express.' You mail it in all the time. Thanks for nothing."

• Sidney Crosby: "I meant to find you a winger, Sid, but somebody cracked me in the skull with a blind-side hit, and I forgot. Seriously, you deserve a summer's rest. Can't wait to see what you add to your game next year. Our responsibility is to get you a goal scorer."

• Jordan Staal: "Gary Roberts? A wimp compared to you. Now let's talk about the art of manning the front of the net on the power play. That'll increase your ice time and point total."

• Marc-Andre Fleury: "Flower, we appreciate your ability to bounce back from bad games, we just hope there's less need for it as we move along. Find some consistency. Return ready for your best season."

• Brooks Orpik: "You'll get an 'A' for good reason, Brooksie. Keep bringing it."

• Tyler Kennedy: "Have you ever been to Wheeling, W. Va., Tyler? No? Well, you'll be spending some quality time there -- with the Nailers of the East Coast League -- if you don't redeem your sorry playoff act (no points, minus-6 rating). Wake up."

• Alex Goligoski: "It wasn't a good sign when fans started calling you 'Goal-against-ski,' Alex. We need the confident, skilled player we saw early, not the natural disaster we sometimes saw late. We believe in your talent. We believe you can run a power play."

• Craig Adams: "Just keep doing what you're doing, Craig (and if you could score a regular-season goal, well, that'd be special)."

• Sergei Gonchar: "Sarge? You awake? (I forcibly shake him). Look, you were an incredible player and leader over the years, which made it so odd to see you play Game 7 as if you had one skate out the door. The way you quarterback a power play, we'd love to keep you. But I'm guessing someone else is ready to make an offer you can't refuse."

• Bill Guerin: "Your veteran presence has been invaluable. We might still find room if you'll play for less than $1 million."

• Jordan Leopold: "Jordan, we hardly knew ye."

• Max Talbot: "No superstar treatment this summer, my friend. Love how you elevate your game in the playoffs. Need to see more the six months before that."

• Kris Letang: "At one point this season, your shot was so inaccurate they started calling you 'miss' Letang, but that changed in the playoffs. You could become an all-star, Kris. You need to cut down on the spectacular mistakes and be confident in your abilities. If Sarge leaves, you da man. Or at least one of them."

• Chris Kunitz: "Love your commitment. Love your courage. Love the way you bury defensemen. But if you're going to earn that $3.725 million, you need to bury more pucks."

• Evgeni Malkin: "Here's a plane ticket to Halifax, Geno. Go visit Sid for a week and watch how he hones his game this summer. He keeps adding new dimensions. So must you. Want to be the best player in the world. And if you find a winger or two in your travels, by all means, bring him back."

• Ruslan Fedotenko: "We thought about having you arrested for stealing $1.8 million, Feds, but you did help us win a Cup, so let's just leave it at this: In the words of the late, great Myron Cope: 'Bye now.' "