Low-key Stanley Cup party Kessel’s way of saying thanks

JAMES MIRTLE

The Globe and Mail

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/

July 28, 2016

Phil Kessel (L) and Carl Hagelin at Penguins parade in Pittsburgh after winning the Stanley Cup (NHL.com)

It was a Stanley Cup party that had surprisingly little to do with hockey.

Held at the posh Forest Hill mansion of entrepreneur Michael Kimel, Phil Kessel’s night with Lord Stanley’s silverware last week was a well-organized to-do, with valet parking and a heavy security presence at the front door.

What the Pittsburgh Penguins star’s celebration didn’t have was many fellow players. No current members of the Toronto Maple Leafs were present, and former captain Dion Phaneuf – who flew in for the celebration from his off-season home in Prince Edward Island – was the only former teammate.

EARLIER: Crosby visits Tim Hortons in Cole Harbour with Stanley Cup in tow

A rowdy P.K. Subban, meanwhile, showed up hooting and hollering at around midnight, still wearing a cowboy hat from his introductory press conference in Nashville that afternoon.

But that was it, in terms of NHL star power.

According to those who attended, Kessel wanted his Stanley Cup party to be a thank you to the other friends he made in Toronto, many of them from the hospitality industry. He was a regular at some of the higher-end restaurants in the downtown, and it was there that he first met many close friends during his six years playing for the Leafs.

MIRTLE: What other teams can learn from the Penguins’ Cup win

“A lot of people were there really just to hang out with him and catch up, and have that excitement again,” said Steven Salm, president of Chase Hospitality Group, which hosted Kessel’s Stanley Cup lunch at The Chase restaurant on the afternoon of July 18 and then catered the party at Kimel’s home that night. “It was something that was so missed in Toronto. We always served as a great kind of creative outlet for him: A place to hang out and enjoy great atmosphere and good food. We got to know his dining habits and favourite likes and dislikes.”

Kessel, 28, had a difficult exit from Toronto in the summer of 2015. The team won only 11 of their final 51 games in his last season as a Leaf, and management made it clear they viewed him as part of the problem. A hastily arranged trade for picks and prospects sent him to Pittsburgh last July.

There, behind superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Kessel became less of a focal point but still a key contributor to the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup victory, scoring 22 points in 24 playoff games.

All along the way, Kessel kept his ties to Toronto. His girlfriend, Sandra, is a local, and friends such as Kimel and Salm were frequent guests in Pittsburgh for Penguins games.

So when it came time to decide where he would celebrate winning his first championship, Kessel’s top choice was always Toronto – especially after friends flooded his phone with text messages urging him to come.

It was a decision that drew headlines in the city for days, with some interpreting it as Kessel flaunting the Stanley Cup in front of win-starved Leafs fans. How many players, after all, bring the Cup back to where they used to play?

But friends argue that wasn’t the motivation.

“Phil’s not the type of person to bring the Cup to Toronto out of spite,” said Wojtek Wolski, a former NHLer who became close with Kessel during summer workouts in Toronto and who was at the Cup party. “He brought it because his friends live here. His family came to Toronto to celebrate. It made a lot of sense.”

“He did this for the people who were good to him while he was here,” said another friend, who asked not to be named. “He likes how regular Joes treated him around here. He’s a people guy.”

Salm has had the opportunity to cater to plenty of pro athletes in Toronto after starting his career with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment’s upscale E11even restaurant in 2010. He said Kessel stood out for being down to earth and willing to mingle with everyone, calling him “humble and kind.”

That was on display during Kessel’s day with the Cup at another location, too, as he spent some of the time at Sick Kids hospital taking pictures with the patients and the trophy.

“He cares so much about how other people feel,” Salm said. “It was really cool.”

Those who attended Kessel’s Cup party don’t expect it will be the last they see of him in Toronto. While he grew up in Wisconsin and typically summers in Florida, he has talked a lot about buying a home and settling in the city, when the time comes.

His tenure with the Leafs may have ended poorly, but Kessel’s connection with Toronto has not. And if the Penguins keep winning, last week may not be the last time he brings the Stanley Cup to town as a thank you to the people he met here.

Phil Kessel Brings the Stanley Cup to Toronto

BY MARCY DI MICHELE
July 18, 2016
http://thehockeywriters.com/


Phil Kessel brings the Stanley Cup to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto on Monday, July 18, 2016. (@sickkidsnews photo)

When I found out that Phil Kessel wasn’t going to have any sort of public Cup parade in Toronto, I laughed to myself. What a move by Kessel, to bring the Stanley Cup to the city that he was supposed to win it in, and not let the fans get a glimpse. For a moment, I thought it was the ultimate heel move, sticking it to the fanbase who helped drive him out-of-town. But then, some pictures surfaced, showing that Phil did share the Cup with the fans after all. Though not just any fans. He brought the trophy to the Sick Kids Hospital. My heart warmed seeing the smiles on the children’s faces. It was one of the most memorable Cup moments so far.

Was Phil Just Misunderstood?

We all know the narratives. Phil Kessel was out of shape, he quit on the team, he wasn’t a winner, he was bad in the room, he ate too many hot dogs. Are any of those things even true? Considering he came to the Pittsburgh Penguins, led them in playoff scoring, all the while with a hand injury, and helped them win the Stanley Cup, I’d venture to say it’s more than a little exaggerated. Both the Leafs and the Bruins traded him. In a league where goal scoring is at a premium, he wasn’t worth keeping around. But could it be, that in the right role, and the right environment, he can be a key piece on a Championship team?

This past season answered that question with a resounding “yes”. Kessel wants to win. You could see it during his bouts of frustration. To suggest that he doesn’t always try is an invalid statement. Does his goal scoring go cold at times? Definitely. But it ticked him off, and he reacted accordingly. Not everyone liked those reactions. Maybe his former teammates didn’t. Maybe he didn’t have the right leadership around him. In Toronto, he was expected to be the leader. But he never wanted to be one. What he did want was to win with the Leafs, and be a part of the solution. It didn’t work out that way.

The media, probably more so than the fans, were predictably hard on Phil. He cost the Leafs a lot in that trade, and he was expected to be their savior. No matter how many goals you score, wingers simply aren’t valued as highly as top centerman. The Leafs didn’t have anyone to play down the middle. To assume that a goal-scoring winger would change the course of your franchise was grounds for disappointment. Not even Alex Ovechkin, the best goal scorer in the league, has been able to lead his team to victory. Yet that was the mantle placed on Kessel.

He deserves credit for embracing Toronto. He loved the city and wanted to be there. He signed the extension because he wanted to be a part of the Leafs for the prime of his career. But the organization tried to fast-track a rebuild, and failed miserably. Did Kessel always help his cause? Well his exchanges with the media left much to be desired, and his implication in the infamous “salute gate” didn’t do much to appease the fans. But he was just as frustrated as everyone else was.

Phil Kessel isn’t a franchise player. He isn’t captain material. But he never claimed to. Those expectations were placed upon him. Save for maybe his last season as a Leaf, Kessel always came through in terms of offence. He scored a boatload of goals for the team, but it was never enough. That’s who Phil Kessel is. He’s a goal-scoring winger who doesn’t like to talk to the media and doesn’t want attention on himself. He was finally allowed to be himself in Pittsburgh, and the results speak for themselves.

Kessel Showed His True Colours

Phil is from Madison, Wisconsin. He took the Stanley Cup there to share with family and friends. But in addition to that, as promised, he took it to Toronto. Despite essentially being driven out-of-town, Kessel still considers the Ontario capital to be a second home. That fact alone should show what kind of guy he is. Rather than being bitter, or wishing to forget that part of his life, he looks at it as just part of the business. He still has a lot of friends in the city, and wanted a chance to share the trophy with them. But he didn’t stop there.

It seems as though every day we’re faced with another tragedy, another display of humanities evil side, another reminder of the hatred that permeates out world. The bad stuff gets all the attention, and all the press, and leaves us wondering if there is any hope. Stories about people doing nice things aren’t as interesting to the masses, and they tend to get pushed aside. Maybe it’s because small amount of good isn’t enough to counter all the bad. But when something good happens, I want to make sure everyone knows about it.

Sidney Crosby got some attention for bringing the Cup around Nova Scotia, in particular to the hockey school he runs. In fact, rather than take the Cup on his birthday as he did in 2009, he wanted his celebration to coincide with the school so that the kids could get a chance to see it. The goodwill of the Penguins didn’t end there though. Athletes often spend a lot of time in the community, especially cheering up sick children in hospitals. Sometimes they are contractually obligated. But other times, they do those things because they really want to.

I know a lot of the fans in Toronto loved Kessel and were sad to see him go. I believe that the talk of his “character issues” are out of line. He wasn’t able to save the Leafs. He didn’t do what they wanted him to, even though he was only being himself the whole time. Phil could have taken the Stanley Cup anywhere. He decided it was important to bring it to the Sick Kids Hospital. He doesn’t play for the Leafs anymore. He owes nothing to the city of Toronto. He may never have another day with the Cup. Even still, he chose to put all that aside, and brighten the day of kids who really needed it.

If you’ve ever wondered about what kind of guy Phil Kessel is, today you found out.

Sidney Crosby: 'Still a guy from Cole Harbour'

By Elizabeth Bloom / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/

July 17, 2016

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby hoists the Stanley Cup during a parade through his hometown of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, on Saturday. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)

COLE HARBOUR, Nova Scotia — When Nova Scotians talk about Sidney Crosby, the same phrases tend to come up.

Sid is modest, they say, down-to-earth and shy. He put Cole Harbour, the suburb of Halifax where he grew up, “on the map,” they boast. The Penguins captain is an idol for the young athletes in the area who have hopes, too, of scaling the heights of the hockey world.

“You hear that — everybody’s kid’s going to be a Sidney Crosby now,” said Greg Raymond, operations manager for the Halifax Forum, a multi-purpose facility where Mr. Crosby sometimes works out. “He’s everything a hockey player can be in Nova Scotia. When you talk professional hockey here, it’s Sid, Sid.”

Each summer, Mr. Crosby returns to Nova Scotia to train, spend time with friends and family, and, he said, “get away from things a bit,” to the extent that is possible for the most recognizable hockey player in the world.

“It just feels right,” Mr. Crosby said last week. “Regardless of how busy you are, when you’re here, I think for whatever reason, you just feel comfortable and you just feel relaxed. That’s why I come back every summer.”

Five weeks after leading the Penguins to their fourth Stanley Cup championship, Mr. Crosby showcased the Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player in the playoffs, in the Halifax area. On Friday and Saturday, the Cup made appearances at a Tim Hortons restaurant, two hospitals, his hockey camp and a parade in Cole Harbour that was attended by thousands.

Click on the link below to read the rest of the story:

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2016/07/17/Pittsburgh-Penguins-captain-Sidney-Crosby-celebrates-Stanley-Cup-win-in-hometown-Cole-Harbour-Nova-Scotia/stories/201607170155

Justin Schultz’s one-year deal means Pittsburgh will have to get creative with the cap

By: Jared Clinton on July 14, 2016

Filed under: NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins

http://www.thehockeynews.com/

Justin Schultz (Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Penguins made sure yet another piece of their Stanley Cup winning roster will be in tact for the 2016-17 title defense, signing Justin Schultz to a one-year, $1.4-million deal Wednesday.

Locking Schultz up to such a team-friendly deal is a great move for the Penguins, who bring back a once-highly touted rearguard who has seen his stock drop a bit. Schultz came into the league with great promise, but his deficiencies defensively couldn’t be overshadowed by his offensive skill. Still, he found a fit with the Penguins after being dealt by the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline, scoring one goal and eight points in 18 games with Pittsburgh before adding four helpers in 15 post-season games.

Schutlz’s signing was a tricky one for the Penguins, and it didn’t come without Schultz taking a significant haircut. He earned $3.9 million on a one-year deal in 2015-16, which was the second-straight season he earned $3.5 million-plus, but took the cut in pay to have the chance to play on a proven team and, hopefully, improve his stock before he hits the open market once again at the deal’s culmination.

However, with Schultz back, the once favorable spot the Penguins were in when it came to the salary cap has become a little less so. Getting Schultz under contract — and at such a cut-rate — is all well and good, but it may come at the expense of another roster player.

As of Wednesday, the Penguins are just a hair less than $2.76 million over the salary cap, according to CapFriendly, and it’s possible they’ll have literally zero wiggle room when the season open.

Pittsburgh currently has 14 forwards under contract, only one of whom, Scott Wilson, is able to be sent to the AHL without first clearing through waivers. Kevin Porter could also potentially be demoted, but losing his $575,000 cap hit would only make a marginal dent in the cap overage.

Bryan Rust, Tom Kuhnhackl and Conor Sheary all make in the $600-700,000 range, but each played a minor role in the Penguins’ Stanley Cup victory. There’s a strong likelihood any of the three would be quickly scooped up if they were dropped to the AHL, and risking losing one for the slight cap break wouldn’t make much sense.

On the blueline, there’s a similar issue. Kris Letang, Olli Maatta, Trevor Daley, Ian Cole and now Schultz all make $1.4 million-plus, and there are only two real options for AHL demotions among the defense: Derrick Pouliot and David Warsofsky. Pouliot, 22, was once considered a top prospect but has had an incredibly difficult time becoming an NHL regular. His waiver exemption makes him the most likely demotion, however. As for the 26-year-old Warsofsky, he, like Porter, could be lost for nothing if sent down. Like Porter, though, losing Warsofsky doesn’t do much cap-wise as he makes a scant $575,000.

Not even placing Pascal Dupuis on the LTIR can give the Penguins some much needed breathing room. As the Penguins are already in a cap overage, placing the all-but-retired Dupuis and his $3.75-million cap hit on the LTIR does nothing for Pittsburgh, according to CapFriendly. In essence, the Penguins would be able to spend to their current $75.76 million cap, but the excess money — the roughly $1 million more than the overage that Dupuis makes that would be on LTIR — wouldn’t give Pittsburgh a cap credit. Essentially, as of today, the Penguins would start the season with zero dollars in cap space.

There are creative ways to drum up more cap space by, say, sending the pair of Wilson and goaltender Matt Murray to the AHL ahead of opening day and bringing up two players with greater cap hits to the NHL. Even that doesn’t move the needle much for Pittsburgh, though. Sending down Warsofsky and Porter following the final day of training camp could also open up a little more than $1 million for the Penguins, but that’s not much room to add.

So unless there’s a move in the offing, the Penguins roster as currently assembled looks to be what the coach Mike Sullivan will have to work with all season long. It’s a strong roster — one that won a Stanley Cup — but if any holes open up during the season, Pittsburgh is going to have almost zero cap space to patch those up, at least not without saying goodbye to one of their Cup-winning players. It’s hard to even fathom what the course of action will be should a rash of minor ailments take a chunk out of the blueline or forward group.

Rutherford did well to avoid the roster blowup that’s generally been paired with a Stanley Cup victory, but keeping things in tact means the Penguins are in for a season-long dance around the salary cap, and there’s still a possibility that keeping this group together will come at the expense of a young, depth player.

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Crosby's Nova Scotia camp thrills kids from around the globe

BY KRISTEN LIPSCOMBE

http://triblive.com/sports/

July 13, 2016

The Penguins' Sidney Crosby answers questions at his hockey camp Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at Cole Harbour Place in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia.(AP)

COLE HARBOUR, Nova Scotia — When Sid was still a kid, stepping onto the ice over the summer months was just as much about making memories as it was about working on skills.

Now all grown up, the 28-year-old Penguins captain takes pride in helping create similar special moments for the youngsters geared up this week at the Sidney Crosby Hockey School, which started Monday and runs through Friday at his hometown arena.

“I have great memories of going to hockey camp,” Crosby said Wednesday afternoon at Cole Harbour Place, where the two-time Stanley Cup champion grew up learning and loving the game.

“Regardless of whether they go on to play in the NHL or even continue to play hockey next year, it's a great opportunity for kids to come out and meet other kids,” he said. “(The kids learn) a little bit about the game and all the things that are great about it.”

But believe it or not, camp Crosby isn't just about hockey.

“A big part of the camp is just being active. We play all kinds of sports,” Crosby said of his hockey school, which is in its second year and features on-ice development, dry-land training and guest presentations.

“The feel is just to be active and try to have a great week, have as much fun as we can,” he said.

The Sidney Crosby Hockey School experience seems to be living up to expectations for the Scarcella family of Ann Arbor, Mich.

“We love hockey in our family,” said mother Kristin Scarcella, sporting a well-worn Penguins hoodie while watching from the stands. “They're having so much fun.”

The Scarcella kids just started playing hockey two seasons ago. 12-year-old goalie Julia and 10-year-old forward Joey played while their dad and Kristin's fellow cheerleader, Sergio, looked on.

“It's been fun!” Joey said after getting off the ice, adding Crosby liked his signature yellow stick tape and showed him how to skate faster.

While Joey and his fellow young players are pumped to skate alongside the guy he called “the best player in the world,” Crosby in turn feeds off the energy of the kids he works with.

“You can feel it out there and see how excited the kids are,” Crosby said, adding it's cool to see children from across Canada, the United States and Europe come together in Cole Harbour. “Going to camps myself, I can remember having that experience (making friends from around the world).”

Kristin Scarcella agreed that learning life skills such as teamwork is the reason she and Sergio signed their children up for hockey.

“You don't go through life by yourself,” she said. “As excited as they are to be on the ice with all these really great teachers and with Sid, I think they're just as excited to be around all these kids that love hockey like they do.”

The Scarcellas and fellow Crosby campers get a special treat this year. The Stanley Cup returns to Cole Harbour this Saturday for community celebrations, including a parade through town and a question-and-answer session at the arena.

The hockey school benefits The Sidney Crosby Foundation “to improve the lives of disadvantaged children.” Information on the school is online at sidneycrosbyhockeyschool.com and on Twitter @87HockeySchool.

Kristen Lipscombe is a freelance writer.

MORE PENGUINS/NHL

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Wheeling Nailers name former Penguin as new head coach

Penguins' Kessel undergoes hand surgery, should be ready for training camp

Penguins sign former Panthers forward Wilson

Former Penguins strength coach Welday dies at 57

Sidney Crosby not planning on getting sleep while Cup is in town

Joe McDonaldESPN Staff Writerhttp://espn.go.com/nhl/July 13, 2016

DARTMOUTH, Nova Scotia -- Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby admitted he went to bed too early the last time he celebrated a Stanley Cup victory in his hometown of Cole Harbour in 2009.

He won't make the same mistake twice when he brings the Cup home again on July 15-16.

"I was pretty happy with what I did in those few days [in 2009], to be honest with you. I couldn't believe I squeezed that much in two days," Crosby said with a smile. "I didn't know there was enough time to get that much in. If anything, I went to bed pretty early the first night because I got the Cup early and had a really early morning, starting out the next day, and I told myself I'm not going to go to bed that early next time. I'm going to find a way to get through those two days with as little sleep as possible. I'm going to enjoy it.

"Going back to '09, we thought it was going to be an annual thing, so this time I appreciate it a little more and I'll make sure I spend every second I possibly can with it."

Bringing the Cup back here to celebrate with the community that helped mold him into a two-time Stanley Cup champion and Conn Smythe winner was a no-brainer.

"It just feels right," Crosby said.

He's spending the first part of his week running his second annual hockey camp. There are 160 kids from all around the world attending the camp, and Crosby's hands-on when it comes to all activities, both on and off the ice, Monday through Friday. It will conclude with a Stanley Cup parade.

"We've got a lot of things planned," Crosby said with a smile. "I don't know if I want to necessarily going into details, but we have a lot of things planned. The biggest thing is you want to enjoy it, it goes by quick. You try to get it to as many people as possible, let as many people enjoy it because, for me, that's one of the best parts just seeing the reaction on peoples' faces. A lot of times people who don't necessarily expect to see it and sometimes that's the best part of it. It'll be a busy schedule, but there's lots on it."

Crosby acknowledged the parade will be a bit shorter than it was in 2009, but other than that, he expects it to be similar.

"I'm hoping it's a great turnout," he said. "I know last time it was. I know people are excited from the people I've talked to, so it's pretty special to be bringing it all the way through here and down to the rink. It's really nice and I'm expecting it to be a lot of fun."

The parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m., but locals begin to camp out as early as 6 a.m. to get a glimpse of their hometown boy with the Stanley Cup.

The Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks in six games to hoist hockey's sacred chalice on June 12. It was the second title for Crosby and his third trip (2008) to the finals.

"You appreciate it more," Crosby said. "Having gone seasons where you fall up short, and there are high expectations, this year is kind of different season, the way it went -- a story of two teams, really. Having gone through those things in the past, I probably appreciate it more."

Along with running his hockey camp, preparing for a two-day celebration, Crosby also said he started working out again in preparation for the 2016-17 season this week.

"It's a pretty short summer, and that's the challenge for going deep into the playoffs," Crosby said. "You've got to find a way to manage the work and rest at the same time. With the World Cup being right around the corner, it'll be a busy summer, but I feel like a big part of why I come home is you get that feel of being relaxed even though you're training and you're around friends and family, you get away from things a little bit, and that's definitely important."

As far as a return trip to the Stanley Cup finals in 2017, Crosby hopes that's the case, but he also understands how difficult it is to reach that point of the season, let alone win back-to-back championships. In fact, the Detroit Red Wings were the last team to accomplish the feat in 1996-97 and 1997-98.

"Yeah, I'd love to be back," he said. "It's not too easy. You don't see too many teams do it. We were able to [return in back-to-back seasons] in '08-09 and it's really a tough road, especially when you're talking about World Cup right around the corner and a lot of hockey to be played. It's going to be a challenge, but you do understand it's tough to get there and it's something you try to take in as much as you can when you win it."

First Look: Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup DVD clips

By Josh Cooper

http://sports.yahoo.com/

July 7, 2016

Penguins Stanley Cup DVD cover provided by Cinedigm

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Stanley Cup champions film will go on sale July 26 to help fans re-live the moments from the team’s run to its fourth NHL title.

The NHL and Showtime showed hockey fans a behind-the-scenes look at the Penguins in the last two rounds of the playoffs. This DVD should provide a different and more Pittsburgh-centric view.

Said a release that provided details of the film:

The film will feature breathtaking highlights from both the regular season and postseason, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with coach Mike Sullivan, the 6th American-born head coach in NHL history to guide a team to a Stanley Cup Championship; captain and Conn Smythe winner Sidney Crosby, his second time leading the Penguins to glory; Rookie sensation Matt Murray who capped his rise to postseason prominence with 18 saves in the Stanley Cup Final clinching Game 6; and superstars Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Pascal Dupuis, who after playing in 817 career games, had his career cut short by a series of health issues.

Check out the opening of “Stanley Cup Champions 2016: Pittsburgh Penguins” with a voiceover from Pascal Dupuis, who became a team symbol during their run.

The film also goes into some memorable moments for fans – such as the team’s three straight delay of game penalties against the Washington Capitals in Game 6 of the second-round of the playoffs. Pittsburgh ended up eliminating the Caps in overtime of that game. 

Mike 'Doc' Emrick looks back at Penguins and ahead to Pirates

By Joe Sager

http://www.timesonline.com/sports/

July 7, 2016

In honor of his induction in the Hockey Hall of Fame, broadcaster Mike 'Doc' Emrick is greeted by the Pirate Parrot prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Houston Astros on June 3, 2008 at the PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Brucec Bennett/Getty Images)

This week, Mike “Doc” Emrick returns to Pittsburgh for the first time since the Stanley Cup final nearly a month ago.

Only this time, instead of providing hockey play by play for NBC, he’ll be part of MLB Network’s broadcast of Friday night’s Pirates-Cubs baseball game with Bob Costas.

“It’s exciting. It’s one of those things where you have to pinch yourself,” said Emrick, a lifelong Pirates fan. “You realize how serious it is when you’ll be sitting next to the voice of baseball in Bob Costas. You want to make sure you’re ready for this. I’ve been following the Cubs a little more than usual. It helps to have two very cordial managers to work with, too, since our preparation time with the players is limited.”

While Emrick is dabbling in Pirates baseball commentary, he’s been a stalwart hockey broadcaster for four decades. A former Geneva College professor, he got his first NHL exposure covering the Pittsburgh Penguins as an unpaid correspondent for the Beaver County Times in the early 1970s. He remains impressed with how the Penguins’ season played out this summer – with the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup.

“It was a marvel what happened. These things don’t happen much in the salary cap era. It was fascinating what happened from December on,” he said. “It is fun for us as broadcasters. It’s not often you see a team turn around that radically during the season. It becomes a fun story to follow. We don’t take sides in this, but we just like fun stories. The story just sung by the time it was all over.”

As NBC’s lead hockey broadcaster, Emrick had a good view of the Penguins’ metamorphosis from a team on the edge of the playoff picture in December to a squad that knocked off the Rangers, the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Capitals, Lightning in seven games and stifled the Sharks in six games to hoist the Cup.

“Some decisions were made by (Penguins GM) Jim Rutherford that were huge. You can look back perfectly in hindsight now and see the first and most important one was firing Mike Johnston and promoting Mike Sullivan to head coach,” he said. “(Sullivan) had a phenomenal run in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and he came in with such a positive attitude. He told the star players to just play.

“After that, they added speed to the team. (Carl) Hagelin was a marvel. Then you had the HBK line step up,” he continued. “Then you look at their ‘no-name’ defense. They just had the confidence to keep going. I would have never guessed in January that guys like (Brian) Dumoulin would be as huge as they were.”

Emrick believes the biggest impact came from Sidney Crosby. A two-time scoring champion, Crosby was tied for 79th in scoring with six goals and 13 assists in 28 games when Sullivan took over on Dec. 12. He tallied 30 goals and 36 assists in his next 82 games to finish third in the scoring race.

“As people watched him during the first two months, there were probably people wondering what the Penguins could get for him in a trade,” he said. “I think we were concerned about Sid’s health. When you see a guy struggle as badly as he did, you wonder if this was it for him. I am sure it crossed a few minds. Fortunately, it was not the end. Boy did he ever bull his way out of that slow start. He became a dominant player again. Instead of being another forward who went out for his 18 or 19 minutes of ice time, he became a dominating presence like he was when he came into the league 11 years ago. When you look at it as a league-wide game, it’s great to have the best star players performing the way the best star players can.”

Emrick noticed Crosby’s presence more so in the postseason as he claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.

“The Penguins were fast and teams couldn’t get out of their own end because Pittsburgh’s forecheck was so strong. The last two rounds, the Penguins dictated the play. He was a huge part in the Penguins just overwhelming teams,” he said. “He was a dominating force even in games he didn’t score. Sid was just unbelievable down the stretch. Then you add in Evgeni Malkin and the HBK line and they had such great depth. How do teams deal with all these threats?”

Emrick believes the Penguins have a good shot of defending their Stanley Cup championship next season.

“There’s no reason they can’t be good when you look at all the guys who are coming back,” he said.

Next hockey season can go to the back burner for now. Emrick is ready to call some baseball action.

“We do have a game to cover and we do have some things we’ll have ready to share,” Emrick said. “We will just have a good time. That’s our objective.”

Austin Lemieux trying to forge a path to NHL

By Brian Metzer

http://www.timesonline.com/sports/

July 3, 2016

Austin Lemieux at Penguins Development Camp (Kevin Lorenzi/The Times)

A name can be a heavy load to bear.

Living up to one can be even tougher, especially when it’s Lemieux, but that is what 20-year-old Austin Lemieux has been doing since he decided to slap on a pair of skates.

That burden comes from the fact that his father is a legend around these parts.

Not only does Mario Lemieux own the Penguins, but he’s their most storied icon after having led them to two Stanley Cups as a player and two more as an owner. He also ranks first in just about every statistical category on the franchise’s all-time list.

It's a heavy burden to carry that name while being on the ice, and that fact isn't lost on the son of "Le Magnifique."

Oh, and did we mention he’s considered to be one of the best players to ever play the game? That fact isn’t lost on his son.

"You have to be respectful when you have the Lemieux name and make sure you carry yourself well," Austin said earlier this week after completing his first day of on-ice activities during the Penguins prospect development camp. "Just approach every day like a new day."

The younger Lemieux, who stands 6-foot-3, 170 pounds, spent last season skating as a member of the Omaha Lancers in a United States Hockey League and is working towards earning a college scholarship. He hasn’t found one just yet, but that should come over the next year or so. That is typically how it works for skaters in the USHL, the top developmental league in the United States.

They hope to place kids in the NHL draft, but the USHL works just as hard to place their players in favorable positions to play in college. His coach at Omaha, Brian Kaufman, has seen a ton of development this season and feels like Lemieux is getting better each day.

“The way he thinks the game shows that Austin has a great mind that’s already at an elite level,” Kaufman said. “He puts himself in good spots both on offense and defense.

“He’s come a long way. His work level and commitment to getting better has been very good. Puts in extra time in the weight room, he’s eating right and his game has continued to get better all year long.”

In almost all of the conversations that Kaufman has had regarding Austin over the past days, weeks and months, he’s always quick to point out how much Lemieux has grown, matured and how hard he works on his game to get better.

“He’s a great kid,” Kaufman said. “Off the ice he’s a pleasure to be around, to work with, to coach. Austin is the type of kid you want on your team.”

That improvement earned him a trip to this camp, lest anyone thought he got here on the value of the name on the back of his jersey.

He picked up six goals and 14 points in 57 games with Omaha this season. It was a solid showing for a guy who was playing against tougher competition than he faced over his final two seasons with the Penguins Elite U-18 team.

"[Playing in Omaha] was a good learning experience," he said. "It's a process. It's a marathon, not a sprint. I'm just trying to get better every day."

He has work to do in terms of bulking up if he wants to thrive at the next level. Lemieux was one of the lightest skaters in camp; with only three players ranking behind him. He said he's tried to build muscle while trying not to sacrifice speed.

"The goal is just to get better," he said. "And see what I have to do to reach the NHL."

He wasn’t certain if his father was watching from somewhere in their namesake facility on Wednesday in Cranberry, but said he’s been very supportive of his career thus far. He doesn’t often get to Omaha for games, but watches them all online and provides feedback. Something he’s done snice Austin started playing, since he served as his coach earlier on in his development.

It won’t get any easier for Austin as he makes the move toward playing in college and possibly the NHL. His name will continue to keep a bigger magnifying glass on him than some of his peers, but he is comfortable with the situation and was just thrilled to get a chance to pull on the jersey that has been a part of his family since 1984.

“It’s an absolute honor. I didn’t think I would get here this year. I was hoping a little bit down the line maybe a few years of college if I had an opportunity, but it’s great for me to be here today.”

Having two No. 1 goalies could equal trouble for Penguins

By Mark Madden

http://www.timesonline.com/sports

June 28, 2016

Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray

The Penguins are hoarding goaltenders.

They have Marc-Andre Fleury, Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry under contract. Jarry was a second-round pick in 2013. On Saturday, the Penguins selected Filip Gustavsson in the second round of this year’s NHL draft. Many experts considered the Swede to be the top netminder available.

The Penguins appear to be covered between the pipes for years to come.

But let’s not look too far ahead.

Fleury didn’t get traded at the draft, as was hotly predicted. His primary pursuer, Calgary, swapped for St. Louis goalie Brian Elliott instead.

Penguins GM Jim Rutherford has said he’d like to keep both Fleury and Murray, although doing that past the 2017 NHL expansion draft seems highly unlikely. But, if this past season’s Stanley Cup triumph taught us anything, it’s that you need two goaltenders who are capable of starting (and winning).

Nonetheless, something has to give with the Penguins’ goaltending situation within the next 51 weeks.

Only one thing is certain: If Fleury and Murray are both with the Penguins for the start of training camp, every day after that will be consumed by a non-stop, full-blown goalie controversy that will burn brightly to the point of unavoidable distraction. The strife will not abate until either Fleury or Murray is no longer a Penguin.

Coach Mike Sullivan likes to characterize such rumpus as “noise.” Sullivan won’t be able to find earplugs big enough.

“This guy should play!” “The other guy should play!” “That was a bad goal!” “The other guy would have made that save!” It will be incessant, and without end or pause.

I like it, and will exacerbate it. I will throw gasoline on the fire. Apply egg beater to troubled waters. I do sports talk radio, and that’s what’s best for business.

The goaltending situation could go either way. That’s what’s most intriguing. If management was certain that Murray, at 22, could perform to a level approximating his playoff best over the long haul of 82 games, Fleury would be long gone.

But young goaltenders can be mercurial.

In 1971, Ken Dryden won the Stanley Cup and was playoff MVP at 23, then went on to a Hall of Fame career. But for every Dryden, there are a bunch of goalies like Jim Carey. Carey won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top netminder in 1996 at age 22, but was out of hockey by 1999.

Murray won the Stanley Cup at 22. But chronologically, he’s still very much in his developmental stage.

At 31, Fleury should be in his prime. Statistically, this past regular season was Fleury’s best.

Murray is younger and cheaper. But, with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins’ window to win more Stanley Cups is the next 3-4 years. It is hardly outrageous to believe Fleury will be the better goalie during that time.

It’s not even outrageous to believe Fleury is the better goalie right now.

Murray got the job done during the playoffs. But Murray got leaky in the postseason’s latter stages, and certain weaknesses (most notably his glove) were evident. The Penguins won’t often block 33 shots in a game during the regular season.

The notion that Fleury and Murray can co-exist is silly. If one gets the bigger workload, the other will be upset. If they split, both will be unhappy.

Fleury is a more proven commodity, but Murray just won a championship. Each would be justified in believing he should be the No. 1 goaltender.

Hockey doesn’t operate in a vacuum. Human beings have feelings. It’s not always “team first.”

It’s impossible to leave the hoi polloi and media out of this.

Fleury was a top scapegoat of the less knowledgeable even before Murray won 15 games this past spring. If Fleury is reinstated as the starter and the Penguins flounder, the “noise” will be more cacophonous than the din after Nick Bonino’s overtime goal that eliminated Washington. If Murray got traded, it would be louder still.

But Murray won’t be traded. That’s the one impossibility in this situation. Sullivan flat-out sees Murray as the better goalie. Dropping Fleury’s $5-million salary-cap hit would benefit the Penguins, too.

The hesitance to part with Fleury is because Murray comes with so many disclaimers, but dealing Fleury nonetheless seems inevitable.

Maybe Fleury fetches decent return when he does depart. From almost every angle, choosing Murray over Fleury makes perfect sense.

Only one problem: It might not work.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).