Why you'll watch - March
Here's an in depth look at the Penguins' March schedule:
March 1 - At Stars: Because you're still mad about that Sergei Zubov for Kevin Hatcher deal.
[View:http://youtube.com/watch?v=GmsEBfdLfnk]
March 3 - at Lightning: Because Ryan Malone might beat up Matt Cooke again.
[View:http://youtube.com/watch?v=9hvTCiveCkI]
March 5 - At Panthers: Because FSN Pittsburgh will tease you relentlessly with those shots of the surf and sand while it's 46 degrees and cloudy in Bethel Park.
March 8 - at Capitals: Because it will have been 364 days since Nicklas Backstrom last "scored" for the Penguins.
[View:http://youtube.com/watch?v=8T9NZn1lskE]
March 10 - Panthers: Because Sidney Crosby might do this again:
[View:http://youtube.com/watch?v=yHpzz5tx8bY]
March 12 - at Blue Jackets: Because Rick Nash is the only real reason to pay any attention to the Blue Jackets.
[View:http://youtube.com/watch?v=kBQArUjP89w]
March 14 - Senators: Because it's going to be weird seeing Jarkko Ruutu getting under a Penguin's skin.
(Photo: Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press)
March 15 - Bruins: Because Hal Gill is a Dropkick Murphys fan.
[View:http://youtube.com/watch?v=oqpAdQy1DaY]
March 17 - Thrashers: Because Erik Christensen is soooo smooth.
[View:http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZwNFKSjyAWA]
March 20 - Kings: Because Kings forward John Zeiler is from Pittsburgh.
[View:http://youtube.com/watch?v=QzcJUpqwPSY&feature=related]
March 22 - Flyers: Because Martin Biron is still looking for this puck.
[View:http://youtube.com/watch?v=AkuEAqZoK7c&feature=related]
March 25 - Flames: Because Jarome Iginla is still one of the sport's best players and his full name is Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla.
(Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
March 28 - Rangers: Because new Rangers defenseman Wade Redden made Ryan Whitney look tough that one time.
[View:http://youtube.com/watch?v=HNVlC5rV-vY]
Tomorrow: "Why you'll watch - April."
THE IVY LIKELY WON'T BE A FACTOR
The layout for the rink at the second Winter Classic was revealed.
(Photos: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
We suppose that's probably the best position they can stick a hockey rink in a baseball-only facility. And it's going to look a lot better with an actual rink surrounded by snow instead of some cheap ugly white plastic "boards" on grass. But we still think something like this could've been handled better if it were staged at a football stadium.
EMPTY NETTER ASSISTS
Penguins
-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton assistant coach Dan Bylsma is the favorite to succeed Todd Richards as the team's head coach.
Atlantic Division
-The Rangers re-signed forward Hugh Jessiman.
-Don't expect Brendan Shanahan to return to the Rangers.
Northeast Division
-The Sabres are considering bringing back defenseman Teppo Numminen. He missed most of last season due to a heart ailment.
-Former Lightning forward Mathieu Darche signed with the Sabres.
Southeast Division
-The Hurricanes will retire the jersey of recently retired defenseman Glen Wesley.
-Really? Glen Wesley? He was a nice, solid consistent player for about 20 years in the NHL, but he never even appeared in one All-Star game with the Whalers/Hurricanes. (He did play in the 1989 game while with the Bruins). Seeing someone like Wesley get his number retired makes us glad the Penguins haven't bestowed that honor onto anyone other than Michel Briere or Mario Lemieux. If the Penguins had the Hurricanes' standards, Shawn McEachern's No. 15 would be immortalized forever.
-The Lightning hired another one of the new owners' buddies to be the general manager of their AHL affiliate.
-On an unrelated note, Len Barrie and Oren Koules are two of the coolest owners ever and they're just plain awesome. Really awesome. And if they want a copy of our resume, they can e-mail us.
-Japer's Rink (cough, cough) "borrowed" our idea of pointing out reasons to watch each and every Penguins game and is coming up with reasons to watch each and every Capitals game.
-In all seriousness, we're cool with Japer's Rink. It's one of the best hockey blogs out there regardless of team affiliation.
Central Division
-The Blackhawks re-signed goaltender Corey Crawford.
-Former Thrashers coach Curt Fraser was hired as the coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Red Wings' AHL affiliate.
Northwest Division
-The Canucks are raising ticket prices. We suppose they have to find a way to pay Mats Sundin that $10 million a season they offered him.
Pacific Division
-The Coyotes re-signed former Penguins prospect Daniel Carcillo.
-Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer was "un" fined by the NHL for missing training camp.