From the Point Too http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/point_too/ en bmetzer66@hotmail.com Copyright 2012 2012-07-02T06:17:41+00:00 Penguins Wrap Up - Free Agent Frenzy - Day One http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/penguins_wrap_up_-_free_agent_frenzy_-_day_one http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/penguins_wrap_up_-_free_agent_frenzy_-_day_one July 1st has come and gone and the Penguins, like the other chosen teams on Zach Parise’s short list, are waiting to find out if they have the bar that contains the Wonka Golden Ticket – who will land this year’s biggest fish? In following the hunt throughout the day the consensus is that the Penguins have a great shot at landing Parise. He received a very lucrative offer from the team that contained huge money and long term, he was courted by both Sidney Crosby and Paul Martin and there is a very positive feeling surrounding the entire situation. TSN’s Bob McKenzie has said that the decision will come in late morning or early afternoon, so at least the world will be able to escape the clutches of #PariseWatch before dinnertime on July 2nd. NHL, Pittsburgh-Penguins, July 1st has come and gone and the Penguins, like the other chosen teams on Zach Parise’s short list, are waiting to find out if they have the bar that contains the Wonka Golden Ticket – who will land this year’s biggest fish?

In following the hunt throughout the day the consensus is that the Penguins have a great shot at landing Parise. He received a very lucrative offer from the team that contained huge money and long term, he was courted by both Sidney Crosby and Paul Martin and there is a very positive feeling surrounding the entire situation. TSN’s Bob McKenzie has said that the decision will come in late morning or early afternoon, so at least the world will be able to escape the clutches of #PariseWatch before dinnertime on July 2nd.

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]]> 2012-07-02T06:17:41+00:00 brianmetzer Alex Semin to the Penguins? I’ll Take a Pass… http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/alex_semin_to_the_penguins_ill_take_a_pass http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/alex_semin_to_the_penguins_ill_take_a_pass Today started like many other days in the Metzer household. My alarm went off at 6:15am; I hit snooze seven or eight times before finally getting up and then dragged my wary bones to the shower. I tend to have 93.7 the Fan’s morning show blaring as I get ready and I don’t know why, since it usually leaves me barking at the radio and complaining about the fact that one of more of the hosts shouldn’t be talking hockey – one of them in particular, but that is a story for another day. Today’s soup du jour was soon to be former Capitals’ forward Alex Semin. NHL, Pittsburgh-Penguins, Washington-Capitals, Today started like many other days in the Metzer household. My alarm went off at 6:15am; I hit snooze seven or eight times before finally getting up and then dragged my wary bones to the shower.

I tend to have 93.7 the Fan’s morning show blaring as I get ready and I don’t know why, since it usually leaves me barking at the radio and complaining about the fact that one of more of the hosts shouldn’t be talking hockey – one of them in particular, but that is a story for another day.

Today’s soup du jour was soon to be former Capitals’ forward Alex Semin.

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]]> 2012-06-28T18:24:27+00:00 brianmetzer Looking at Some Moves that Could Happen on or Before the NHL Entry Draft http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/looking_at_some_moves_that_could_happen_on_or_before_the_nhl_entry_draft http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/looking_at_some_moves_that_could_happen_on_or_before_the_nhl_entry_draft With the Stanley Cup finally being awarded to the Los Angeles Kings and the NHL Awards and Draft lurking just around the corner, it is time that we ramp up coverage here at FTP. Though we have provided some quick hits since the season ended and one big one in the form of the Philippe Dube’ Reebok/CCM piece, we have largely been in hiding since the Penguins were eliminated back in April – if you want to call making several radio appearances on Penguins Live, TribLive Radio and NHL Home Ice per week being in hiding that is… NHL, Pittsburgh-Penguins, With the Stanley Cup finally being awarded to the Los Angeles Kings and the NHL Awards and Draft lurking just around the corner, it is time that we ramp up coverage here at FTP.

Though we have provided some quick hits since the season ended and one big one in the form of the Philippe Dube’ Reebok/CCM piece, we have largely been in hiding since the Penguins were eliminated back in April – if you want to call making several radio appearances on Penguins Live, TribLive Radio and NHL Home Ice per week being in hiding that is…

Continue reading "Looking at Some Moves that Could Happen on or Before the NHL Entry Draft"

]]> 2012-06-19T22:51:58+00:00 brianmetzer Some thoughts on the acquisition and signing of Tomas Vokoun http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/some_thoughts_on_the_acquisition_and_signing_of_tomas_vokoun http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/some_thoughts_on_the_acquisition_and_signing_of_tomas_vokoun One of the areas that many around the National Hockey League identified as a key need for the Pittsburgh Penguins as they headed into the trade deadline back in March was that of a back-up goaltender and they have finally answered those calls by acquiring the rights to Tomas Vokoun from the Washington Capitals for a seventh-round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. Pittsburgh-Penguins, Washington-Capitals, One of the areas that many around the National Hockey League identified as a key need for the Pittsburgh Penguins as they headed into the trade deadline back in March was that of a back-up goaltender and they have finally answered those calls by acquiring the rights to Tomas Vokoun from the Washington Capitals for a seventh-round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft.

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]]> 2012-06-04T18:06:38+00:00 brianmetzer Getting Real with CCM-Reebok General Manager Philippe Dube’ http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/getting_real_with_ccm-reebok_general_manager_philippe_dube http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/getting_real_with_ccm-reebok_general_manager_philippe_dube On March 22, 2012, a diverse group of journalists, bloggers, and radio personalities were handpicked by the Fan v Fan Network to participate in an exclusive conference call with CCM-Reebok general manager, Philippe Dube’. It was a unique opportunity to question one of the brightest minds in the hockey equipment industry on everything from player safety, upcoming product offerings, research and development and those who use the equipment, the players themselves. Hockey Equipment, NHL, On March 22, 2012, a diverse group of journalists, bloggers, and radio personalities were handpicked by the Fan v Fan Network to participate in an exclusive conference call with CCM-Reebok general manager, Philippe Dube’.

It was a unique opportunity to question one of the brightest minds in the hockey equipment industry on everything from player safety, upcoming product offerings, research and development and those who use the equipment, the players themselves.

Continue reading "Getting Real with CCM-Reebok General Manager Philippe Dube’"

]]> 2012-05-30T21:14:23+00:00 brianmetzer Sidney Crosby, Starring in “The Return: Part Deux” http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/sidney_crosby_starring_in_the_return_part_deux http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/sidney_crosby_starring_in_the_return_part_deux When Sidney Crosby made his FIRST long awaited return to the ice, no one really knew what to expect. Sure, we all figured that he would be Sidney Crosby, but very likely a scaled back version due to rust, after all he hadn’t played a game in upwards of ten months. He hit the ice at the CONSOL Energy Center and didn’t miss a beat scoring a highlight reel goal almost immediately and ripping off 12-points (2G-10A) in eight games before being knocked out of the line-up again by a David Krejci elbow. Pittsburgh-Penguins, When Sidney Crosby made his FIRST long awaited return to the ice, no one really knew what to expect. Sure, we all figured that he would be Sidney Crosby, but very likely a scaled back version due to rust, after all he hadn’t played a game in upwards of ten months. He hit the ice at the CONSOL Energy Center and didn’t miss a beat scoring a highlight reel goal almost immediately and ripping off 12-points (2G-10A) in eight games before being knocked out of the line-up again by a David Krejci elbow.

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]]> 2012-03-14T00:35:28+00:00 brianmetzer Did Sunday’s victory over the B’s give any clues to line combos moving forward? http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/did_sundays_victory_over_the_bs_give_any_clues_to_line_combos_moving_forwar http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/did_sundays_victory_over_the_bs_give_any_clues_to_line_combos_moving_forwar The Penguins and Bruins played a spirited game on Sunday afternoon on a national television stage, but the most interesting thing about it was the way that Penguins’ head coach Dan Bylsma entered the laboratory to experiment with a handful of different line combinations. Pittsburgh-Penguins, The Penguins and Bruins played a spirited game on Sunday afternoon on a national television stage, but the most interesting thing about it was the way that Penguins’ head coach Dan Bylsma entered the laboratory to experiment with a handful of different line combinations.

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]]> 2012-03-11T22:31:25+00:00 brianmetzer Penguins Close Gap with Rangers to 4-Points… http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/penguins_close_gap_with_rangers_to_4-points http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/penguins_close_gap_with_rangers_to_4-points Since the calendar flipped to 2012 it seemed improbable that the Pittsburgh Penguins would be able to catch the New York Rangers in the race for the Atlantic Division crown. It seemed even less probable when the Boston Bruins blew a lead against the Rangers last Sunday and allowed the boys from Broadway to pull ahead of the Birds by ten points. Pittsburgh-Penguins, Since the calendar flipped to 2012 it seemed improbable that the Pittsburgh Penguins would be able to catch the New York Rangers in the race for the Atlantic Division crown. It seemed even less probable when the Boston Bruins blew a lead against the Rangers last Sunday and allowed the boys from Broadway to pull ahead of the Birds by ten points.

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]]> 2012-03-10T22:59:37+00:00 brianmetzer Trade Deadline 2012: Diary of a Mad Metz http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/trade_deadline_2012_diary_of_a_mad_metz http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/trade_deadline_2012_diary_of_a_mad_metz Well, the day is off to a rousing start. I am up at at the crack of dawn, showered and ready for an exciting morning of trade deadline action! Well, the day is off to a rousing start. I am up at at the crack of dawn, showered and ready for an exciting morning of trade deadline action!

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]]> 2012-02-27T18:36:40+00:00 brianmetzer Penguins Ink James Neal to Six-Year Contract Extension http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/penguins_ink_james_neal_to_six-year_contract_extension http://kuklaskorner.com/point_too/comments/penguins_ink_james_neal_to_six-year_contract_extension One of the biggest headaches that loomed on the horizon for Penguins’ General Manager Ray Shero was getting James Neal extended before he hit estricted free agency. Some thought that it was going to be easier said than done, possibly even a tough negotiation. You could hear the telltale sound of a cash register’s “cha ching” with each and every one of the 30-goals that Neal has scored thus far on the season. Pittsburgh-Penguins, One of the biggest headaches that loomed on the horizon for Penguins’ General Manager Ray Shero was getting James Neal extended before he hit estricted free agency. Some thought that it was going to be easier said than done, possibly even a tough negotiation. You could hear the telltale sound of a cash register’s “cha ching” with each and every one of the 30-goals that Neal has scored thus far on the season.

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]]> 2012-02-19T17:22:09+00:00 brianmetzer