We will be hosting a chat for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Bruins and Blackhawks.
The game and the chat are scheduled to start at approximately 8 p.m. Click here to join the fun or use the chat box down below:
(Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)
-Is the Penguins' payroll top heavy?
-According to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun, Ray Shero is expected to meet with Kent Hughes, the agent for Kris Letang, today in Boston.
-Today would've been the 73rd birthday of former Penguins forward Keith McCreary (right). Acquired from the Canadiens in the 1967 expansion draft, McCreary spent fives seasons with the Penguins. During the teams inaugural season of 1967-68, McCreary appeared in 70 games and scored 26 points. In 1968-69, McCreary once again played in 70 games and led the team with 25 goals while scoring a career-high 48 points. The 1969-70 season saw McCreary play in 60 games while scoring 26 points. During that spring's postseason, he appeared in 10 games and recorded four points. The following season in 1970-71, McCreary once again led the team with 21 goals while scoring 33 points in 59 games. McCreary was limited to 33 games and eight points in 1971-72. He appeared in one postseason game that spring and failed to record a point. In the 1972 offseason, he was claimed by the Atlanta Flames in the expansion draft. In 292 games with the Penguins, McCreary, one of two players to wear No. 21 for the franchise - Michel Briere was the other - scored 141 points, 58th-most in franchise history. In 11 postseason games, he had four assists. He died, Dec. 8, 2003, at the age of 63.
Playoff Stuff-Blackhawks forward and former Penguin Marian Hossa (right) is expected to return to the lineup for Game 4 after missing Game 3 due to an "upper-body" injury.
-“I think it’s amazing; you know [Zdeno Chara is] such a big guy, but he’s so mobile for his size. You look at a lot of bigger guys around the league, they might not be able to move quite as well, but Zee doesn’t get beat wide, and it’s not just because of his size but because of his speed too.” - Bruins defenseman Torey Krug on captain Zdeno Chara.
-“Yeah, I’ve got a nice scratch on my forehead right there, a little claw mark. Like a kitty cat. But that stuff happens in scrums.” - Bruins forward Brad Marchand on a fight he had with Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw in the third period of Game 3.
-"I mean, it hurt a little bit. It was sore. But your adrenaline's going pretty good at that point. You're stuck on the ice with a couple of the best players in the world. You really don't have much time to think about anything else but trying to help out and kill a penalty." - Bruins forward Gregory Campbell on suffering a broken leg while blocking a shot from Evgeni Malkin in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final.
-“It was pretty bad. When you try to shoot, try to swing your blade on the ice, it feels like it's sandpaper. It's really rough. When you try to pass, the puck bounces. That's why you have to keep the game simple, like I said. If there's a play to be made, you have to make sure it's an easy one. If not, you rather choose to go over the wall and out.” - Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg on the ice conditions at TD Garden for Game 3.
-WDIV, the NBC affiliate in Detroit, will air a fireworks celebration in Detroit instead of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
-Two goals by Tomas Tatar gave the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Red Wings' AHL affiliate, a series-clinching 5-2 win against the Syracuse Crunch, the Lightning's AHL affiliate in Game 6 of the Calder Cup Final. Grand Rapids won the series, 4-2.
-The Red Wings signed defenseman Pavel Datsyuk (right) to a three-year contract extension worth a total of $22.5 million. Entering the final year of a contract with a salary cap hit of $21.5 million, Datsyuk's new deal will have a cap hit of $7.5 million. In 47 games last season, Datsyuk, 34, had 49 points (15 goals, 34 assists).
-EN Says: Datsyuk is one of the best players in the game. Additionally, he's on ove the best defensive forwards in the game. He can play against any top-tier forward in the NHL and shut them down. This is a more than fair price for that type of player even if he's in his mid-30s.
-The Predators re-signed forward Kevin Henderson to a two-year, two-way contract.
-Nashville is looking for a new backup goaltender.
Northwest Division-"If we do pick first, we're leaning more toward one of those three forwards." - Avalanche vice president Joe Sakic about the first overall pick in the draft. Defenseman Seth Jones is expected to be the best player available in the draft.
-EN Says: Something tells Sakic is allowing this information to go public for the sake of potentially trading the pick. If a team feels it can make a good deal for the top pick in order to draft Jones, Sakic just gave them some incentive to sweeten any offers.
-It looks like a shoulder injury will prevent the Wild from using a compliance buyout on forward Dany Heatley (right).
-After acquring him from the Panthers in exchange for a fourth-round pick in this year's draft, the Flames signed forward Corban Knight to a two-year entry-level contract.
-The Kings signed restricted free agent defenseman Slava Voynov to a six-year contract extension worth a total of $25 million. Coming off an entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $816,666 at the NHL level, Voynov's new deal will have a cap hit of $4,166,667. In 48 games last season, Voynov, 23, scored 25 points (six goals, 19 assists).
-EN Says: Voynov broke out in a big way during the postseason by scoring six goals in 18 games. For a player who is still no where his ceiling, this is a bargain. Voynov is a legit top four defenseman who provide so much for the Kings.
-The Sharks signed forward Logan Couture (right) to a five-year contract extension worth a total of $30 million. Entering the final year of a contract with a salary cap hit of $2.875 million, Couture's new deal will have a cap hit of $6 million. In 48 games last season, Couture, 24, had 37 points (21 goals, 16 assists).
-EN Says: Couture is one of the best all-around forwards under the age of 25 in the NHL. He's a player who produces offense, can play reliable defense in his own zone and more often than not, scores goals when they really matter. He's a player the Sharks will be built around for several years. This is a fair contract.
-The Ducks have signed former Avalanche defenseman Kyle Cumiskey. Terms have not been reported.
-Former Maple Leafs/Thrashers/Jets forward Tim Stapleton, Lightning/Blue Jackets forward Alexander Svitov, Stars/Avalanche forward Tomas Vincour and former Penguins/Capitals/Bruins forward Chris Bourque have joined Ak Bars Kazan of Russia's KHL.
(Photos: McCreary-Penguins Hockey Cards; Hossa-Perry Nelson/Getty Images; Datsyuk-Gregory Shamus/Getty Images; Heatley-Claus Andersen/Getty Images; Couture-Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Unlike most teams, the Penguins have the luxury of having two former Hart Trophy winners on their roster in the form of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
But just like every other team, the Penguins have to stay under the NHL's salary cap which is expected to drop to $64.3 million for next season.
The Penguins will enter the 2013-14 campaign with each player accounting for $8.7 million against the salary cap. At a combined 17.4 million, no two teammates currently signed to any NHL roster heading into next season will have higher combined salary cap hit.
Does that leave the Penguins enough salary cap space to address the rest of the roster with unrestricted free agents such as Pascal Dupuis or Matt Cooke? Or what about the long-term future of defenseman Kris Letang who can become a unrestricted free agent in the 2014 offseason?
Based on contracts currently signed heading into the 2013-14 season, the Penguins will have the highest percentage of permitted salary cap space tied into two players.
| Team | Players, position |
Individual Salary Cap Hit |
Combined Salary Cap Hit |
Percent of potential payroll (*-$64.3 million) |
| Penguins | Sidney Crosby, C Evgeni Malkin, C |
$8.7 million $8.7 million |
$17.4 million | 27.0 % |
| Ducks | Corey Perry, RW Ryan Getzlaf, C |
$8.625 million $8.25 million |
$16.875 million | 26.2 % |
| Capitals | Alex Ovechkin, LW Nicklas Backstrom, C |
$9.538,462 $6.7 million |
$16,238,462 | 25.2 % |
| Hurricanes | Eric Staal, C Alexander Semin, RW |
$8.25 million $7 million |
$15.25 million | 23.7 % |
| Lightning | Vincent Lecavalier, C Steven Stamkos, C |
$7,727,273 $7.5 million |
$15,227,273 | 23.6 % |
| Wild | Zach Parise, LW Ryan Suter, D |
$7,538,462 $7,538,462 |
$15,076,924 | 23.4 % |
| Predators | Shea Weber, D Pekka Rinne, G |
$7.857,143 $7.0 million |
$14,857,143 | 23.1 % |
| Rangers | Rick Nash, LW Henrik Lundqvist, G |
$7.8 million $6.875 million |
$14.675 million | 22.8 % |
| Sharks | Joe Thornton, C Patrick Marleau, LW |
$7 million $6.9 million |
$13.9 million | 21.6 % |
| Kings | Drew Doughty, D Anze Kopitar, C |
$7 million $6.8 million |
$13.8 million | 21.4 % |
| Senators | Jason Spezza, C Erik Karlsson, D |
$7 million $6.5 million |
$13.5 million | 20.9 % |
| Sabres | Thomas Vanek, LW Ryan Miller, G |
$7,142,857 $6.25 million |
$13,392,857 | 20.8 % |
| Blue Jackets | Marian Gaborik, RW James Wisniewski, D |
$7.5 million $5.5 million |
$13.0 million | 20.2 % |
| Bruins | Zdeno Chara, D Milan Lucic, LW |
$6.916,667 $6 million |
$12,916,667 | 20.0 % |
| Red Wings | Pavel Datsyuk, C Henrik Zetterberg, LW |
$6.7 million $6,083,333 |
$12,783,333 | 19.8 % |
| Blackhawks | Patrick Kane, RW Jonathan Toews, C |
$6.3 million $6.3 million |
$12.6 million | 19.5 % |
| Fyers | Daniel Briere, RW Kimo Timonen, D |
$6.5 million $6 million |
$12.5 million | 19.4 % |
| Devils | Ilya Kovalchuk, LW Travis Zajac, C |
$6,666,667 $5.75 million |
$12,416,667 | 19.3 % |
| Canadiens | Carey Price, G Andrei Markov, D |
$6.5 million $5.75 million |
$12.25 million | 19.0 % |
| Canucks | Daniel Sedin, RW Henrik Sedin, C |
$6.1 million $6.1 million |
$12.2 million | 18.9 % |
| Maple Leafs | Dion Phaneuf, D Mikhail Grabovski, C |
$6.5 million $5.5 million |
$12.0 million | 18.6 % |
| Oilers | Jordan Eberle, RW Taylor Hall, LW |
$6 million $6 million |
$12.0 million | 18.6 % |
| Flames | Mike Cammalleri, C Miikka Kiprusoff, G |
$6.0 million $5,833,333 |
$11,833,333 | 18.4 % |
| Panthers | Brian Campbell, D Tomas Fleischmann, LW |
$7,142,875 $4.5 million |
$11,642,875 | 18.1 % |
| Avalanche | Paul Stastny, C Ryan O’Reilly, C |
$6.6 million $5 million |
$11.6 million | 18.0 % |
| Blues | Jay Bouwmeester, D David Backes, |
$6.68 million $4.5 million |
$11.18 million | 17.38 % |
| Stars | Kari Lehtonen, G Jamie Benn, C |
$5.9 million $5.25 million |
$11.15 million | 17.34 % |
| Jets | Tobias Enstrom, D Evander Kane, LW |
$5.75 million $5.25 million |
$11 million | 17.1 % |
| Coyotes | Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D Shane Doan, RW |
$5.5 million $5.3 million |
$10.8 million | 16.8 % |
| Islanders | John Tavares, C Lubomir Visnovsky, D |
$5.5 million $4.75 million |
$10.25 million | 15.9 % |
Note:
*-The salary cap has been estimated to drop to $64.3 million for next season but that total has not been finalized by the NHL.
-All salary figures are from CapGeek.com.
-Malkin's salary cap hit will jump to $9.5 million after the 2013-14 season with his new contract. With Crosby, their combined salary cap hit will climb to $18.2 million.
(Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
-How can the Penguins sign Kris Letang (above) to a contract extension?
-Former Penguins forward Rico Fata and ex-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defenseman Jason DeSantis have joined HIFK of Finland's SM-liiga.
-Happy 61st birthday to former Penguins goaltender Denis Herron. A third-round pick in the 1972 draft, Herron spent parts of 10 seasons with the Penguins over three different stints. His rookie season of 1972-73 saw him appear in 18 games and put up a 6-7-2 record with two shutouts and a 3.41 goals against average. The 1973-74 campaign was decidedly less successful as he compiled a meager 1-3-0 record and a 4.15 goals against average in only five games. After three games, a 1-1-0 record and 6.11 goals against average in 1973-75, Herron was traded to the Kansas City Scouts along with Jean-Guy Lagace in exchange for Michel Plasse. Following two seasons in Kansas City, Herron returned to Pittsburgh as a free agent in the 1976 offseason. The 
1976-77 season saw him go 15-11-5 with a 2.94 goals against average, one shutout and lead the Penguins to a playoff berth. During that spring's postseason, Herron (right) had a 1-2 record with a 3.67 goals against average. In 1977-78, he has had a losing record of 20-25-15 with a 3.57 goals against average and made 1,920 saves, a mark which remains a franchise record. He rebounded in 1978-79 by going 22-19-12 with a 3.37 record and once again led the team to the playoffs where he went 2-5 with a 3.42 goals against average. In the 1979 offseason, he was traded the Canadiens along with a draft pick for Pat Hughes and Rob Holland. After spending three seasons in Montreal and earning a Stanley Cup ring, the Vezina and Jennings Trophies, Herron once again returned to the Penguins in the 1982 offseason when the Canadiens traded him back to Pittsburgh for a draft pick. In 1982-83, Herron saw action in 31 games, went 5-18-5 with a 5.31 goals against average with one shutout. During 1983-84, Herron appeared in 38 games, had an 8-24-2 record with a 4.08 goals against average and one shutout. His final full NHl season was 1984-85. He played in 42 games, went 10-22-3 with a 4.65 goals against average and one shutout. He was limited to three games in 1985-86 and went 0-3-0 with a 4.67 goals against average. Herron was released in the 1986 offseason. Considered one of the more underrated players in franchise history, Herron appeared in 290 regular games with the Penguins, third-most in franchise history among goaltenders, and compiled a record of 88-133-44 with a 3.88 goals against average and six shutouts. In 10 postseason games, he was 3-7 with a 3.49 goals against average.
-Happy 47th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Doug Bodger (right). Along with Roger Belanger and some other guy, Bodger was one of three first-round picks for the Penguins in the 1984 draft. Bodger would spend parts of five seasons with the franchise. His rookie season in 1984-85 saw Bodger appear in 65 games and record 31 points. In 1985-86, Bodger played in 79 games and increased his points to 37. Bodger's progression continued in the 1986-87 campaign as he saw action in 76 games and led all Penguins defensemen with 49 points. He recorded a career high in goals (14) while scoring 45 points and playing in 69 games in 1987-88. He also scored 13 power-play goals, a mark which remains a franchise record for defensemen. After scoring five points in 10 games in 1988-89, Bodger was dealt to the Sabres along with Darrin Shannon in exchange for Tom Barrasso and a draft pick. In 299 games with the Penguins, Bodger recorded 167 points, 50th-most in franchise history and eighth-most among defensemen.
-Tuukka Rask made 28 saves for the Bruins in a 2-0 shutout of the Blackhawks in Game 3. Boston has a 2-1 series lead.
-Defensive Play of the Night: Check out this strip by Boston's Daniel Paille against Chicago's Dave Bolland which led to the eventual game-winning goal:
-Pass of the Night: Check out this dish on a five-on-three power play by Bruins forward and former Penguins captain Jaromir Jagr to set up Patrice Bergeron for a goal:
-Boston's Brad Marchand and Chicago's Andrew Shaw had issues:
-Jagr decided to make this face:
-Kicking times for Bergeron:
-Bright times for Rask:
-There was a yard sale in front of Rask:
-Bruins center Patrice Bergeron went 24 for 28 in faceoffs during Game 3.
-After going 0-for-5 in Game 3, the Blackhawks' power play has been blanked in its past 20 chances.
-With former Penguins forward Marian Hossa dealing with an "upper-body" injury, the Blackhawks inserted forward Ben Smith into the lineup.
-Blackhawks forward Viktor Stalberg replaced forward Brandon Bollig in the lineup.
-During a pay-per-view event Sunday, WWE Superstar C.M. Punk, a native of Chicago, wore Blackhawks-themed attire.
-Hockey Night in Canada's pregame montage:
-According to TSN, the Flyers have agreeded to a four-year contract with unrestricted free agent defenseman Mark Streit worth a total of $21 million. Coming off a contract with a salary cap hit of $4.1 million, Streit's new deal with have a salary cap hit of $5.2 million. Streit, 35, appeared in 48 games with the Islanders last season and scored 27 points (six goals, 21 assists).
-EN Says: What a gross overpayment. Streit is a fine player who is durable as well as a consistent point producer but giving out a long deal like this at $5.2 million per season is overboard, especially considering the Flyers still have to find a way to get under the salary cap for next season.
There are ramifications a deal like this and the one the Stars gave defenseman Sergei Gonchar ($5 million per season) last week have around the rest of the league as well. If an above average defenseman like Streit (right) is worth $5.2 million, what does an all-star like Kris Letang command when he's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason? How are small market teams expected to compete, even with a reduced salary cap, with a salary like this?
The Flyers have every right to build their team as they see fit provided its within the rules but that doesn't mean a decision like this isn't reckless to the rest of the league.
-The Predators signed defenseman Joe Piskula to a one-year contract to a one-year two-way contract.
-The Wild signed restricted free agent defenseman Marco Scandella to a two-year contract worth a total of $2.05 million. Coming off an entry-level contract with a salary cap hit of $$845,833 at the NHL level, Scandella's new contract will have a cap hit of $1.025 million. Scandella, 23, appeared in six NHL games last season and scored one goal.
-EN Says: For a No. 5 of 6 defenseman who is fluent in the system of head coach Mike Yeo, this is a fair contract.
Pacific Division-According to CSN Bay Area, the Sharks have agreed to a contract extension with forward Logan Couture. Terms of the deal have not been reporter. Couture will be entering the final year of a contract with a salary cap hit of $2.875 million in 2013-14. In 48 games last season, Couture, 24, scored 37 points (21 goals, 16 assists).
-"As a player, this is a place that is certainly a desirable location. It’s got everything you need, for myself and more importantly for my family. The team’s good. I’m comfortable here. It’ll take me a little more time to gain perspective and just relax right now.” - Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi (right) on his future as a pending unrestricted free agent.
-The Stars re-signed goaltender Cristopher Nilstorp to a one-year two-way contract.
(Photo: Letang-Justin K. Aller/Getty Images; Herron and Bodger-Penguins Hockey Cards; Blackhawks/Bruins-Bruce Bennett/Getty Images, Harry How/Getty Images and Jim Rogash/Getty Images; Streit-Al Bello/Getty Images; Scuderi-Harry How/Getty Images)
We will be hosting a chat for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Bruins and Blackhawks.
The game and the chat are scheduled to start at approximately 8 p.m. Click here to join the fun or use the chat box down below:
(Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)