Jaromir Jagr has signed … with the Flyers! WTF?

As if Pens fans didn’t have enough reasons to think Jagr was a total dick, some justified while others are made up, he goes and hands them a huge new one?

Well, there goes his chance at having his jersey hung in the rafters here in Hockeyburgh. I hope Brooks lines him up into the boards and gives him a couple good reminders during the course of the season as to why playing this sort of silly game that he has apparently been playing was a bad idea.

Jagr is officially dead to Pittsburgh. Fans were willing to give him a chance to make amends. We’ve heard rumors that he had grown up. Now we see is is as childish as ever.

The freaking Flyers? Are you shitting me?

Quickly approaching the halfway point of the 2009-10 NHL season and the main problem for the Pittsburgh Penguins remains. That problem is an anemic power play.

Ok, since Malkin moved to the left point a few games back there have been signs of a pulse for a unit ranked dead last in the NHL despite having more talent than most teams have on their entire roster. Last night against New Jersey however the Penguins power play was once again a liability going 0-5 and giving teams no reason to fear the unit and not take penalties.

Scoring on just one or two of those man advantages might have turned what ultimately was an embarrassing blowout into an actual contest. But no. Instead Penguins fans were once again left to watch Malkin, Crosby and Gonchar struggle for no apparent reason.

This is getting ridiculous and something serious needs to be done soon. Otherwise, mark my words, the Penguins will end up loosing a round in the play offs if their power play is not corrected.

I think moving Malkin to the point is a good change. But I still think a better change is getting Sid and Geno on separate units altogether. Because as bad as the first unit has been with them both on it, the second unit has been even worse and even less of a threat to opponents.

Something happened between July 1st and today to make Ruslan Fedotenko give up his demands for a multi-year deal and return to the Penguins on a one year contract. What exactly happened will only be a matter of conjecture but I have a feeling it has something to do with the inevitable salary cap pinch all teams are feeling for the coming year. This is made more likely by the stinging fact that while Ruslan made $2.25 million last season he will only make $1.8 million under the terms of the new contract.

A pay cut was certainly not warranted based on his production in 08-09 so the only reason is that the market has dried up fast as teams have inched closer and closer to the cap since free agency began. In 65 games Feds racked up 16 goals and 23 assists missing some time with a broken hand suffered during a fight. Fedotenko’s return will keep one of the most dangerous and feared lines in all of hockey together for one more season.

I am glad to have Feds back but I hope that he doesn’t feel as though he got screwed over by accepting less money and doesn’t play up to his potential.

The Penguins also signed Defenseman Nate Guenin, a Pittsburgh native, to a one year contract as well today. Guenin has been with the Flyers since 2006 but appeared in just 12 games.