#1-- Johan Hedberg: a.k.a. Moose...one of the luckiest finds for the Pens in recent years (and one of the most promising goalies in the league), Hedberg manages to save the impossible. He’s proven that he can hang with the big dogs, and he’s only getting hotter. At 6'0", 185, Hedberg is actually one of the smaller goalies in the league, but he has a huge fan base. With every elaborate save, fans yell "MOOOOOOOOOOOSE!", which he originally thought was "booing"--but we could never do that to Hedberg.
Plus: an acrobat on skates, Hedberg seems to have a sixth sense of where the puck is going to come from. He’s only 29 years old, and if the Pens organization maintains their sanity, they’ll maintain Moose as well. (Besides, he has an awesome helmet and an even better nickname.)
Minus: although he saves the impossible, the cheap shots manage to trickle in-- but it's usually due to a nuclear shut-down on the part of the defense. Injury right now is fractured collarbone; out indefinitely.
Overall: keep him healthy and don’t let him get mowed over with interference, and Moose will protect our net to the best of his ability. He had one of the winningest percentages last season, and his first whole rookie year was amazing. This season should be even better, with the offensive returns of Lemieux and Straka-- he won't be struggling every game. (And make sure Mike Lange stops announcing “Let’s go hunt moose on a Harley”...it might make Hedberg nervous.)
(injured)
#2-- Josef Melichar:...another Czech guy, though this one amazes us night after night with his hard-hitting checks, speed, and uncanny sense of ESP with Rozsival.
Plus: a defenseman with a lot of talent and promise. Relatively low salary, too.(Not to mention he's gorgeous.) He’s 23 years old, and already playing on the ice with one of the greatest legends of all time.
Minus: pretty much out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
Overall: make sure he’s paired with Rozsival next season and you’ll have a hard-hitting, hard-working defensive line-- something the Pens really need to catch up on.
#3-- Jamie Pushor:...his last name implies just what he is to the Pens. He’s a “Push(e)r”. He’s the Pens’ brutish defenseman, leading the team in hits (even though they're not tallied anymore).
Plus: assumed the position of Kaspar quickly and quietly. Wants less money than Kaspar, as well. Doesn't take "stupid" penalties.
Minus: needs to get in more on the offensive plays-- sometimes will go for the hit rather than the puck. (Just like Kaspar.)
Overall: as long as he steps up in the offensive zone as well, could become the best Pens' defenseman...maybe in the ranks with Coffey and Ulf?
(injured) *TRADED 10 FEB 03*
#5-- Janne Laukkenan:...an offensive defenseman, he has come through at crucial times to knock in points.
Plus: scores as a d-man.
Minus: has been a healthy scratch this season more than on the ice. Also the highest paid defenseman for the Pens. Injured hip right now; should be back soon.
Overall: needs to prove to the organization exactly why he earns the most money.
*TRADED 10 Feb 03*
#7-- Andrew Ference:...a promising 23-year old, Ference sacrifices his body for the good of the team. He hits, he fights, he protects his goalie...and sometimes scores.
Plus: plays for the Pens, not himself...(another player that makes you WANT to become a puckbunny...)
Minus: doesn't get the recognition he deserves; after a setback last season, where his placement in Pittsburgh instead of Wilkes-Barre was questioned, Andy may have lost some confidence.
Overall: He's stepped back onto the roster as a threat to the other teams. Again, maybe he just needs more exposure and experience in the NHL.
#8-- Hans Jonsson: ...a veteran defenseman who rarely screws up.
Factors in on the power play and penalty kill more than people suspect, because he quietly does his job.
Plus: points, humility, and a lack of penalties.
Minus: also often a ‘healthy scratch’, works best when paired with Laukkenan.
Overall: will maintain a position on the ice after Rick Kehoe sorts everything out.
#10-- Ville Nieminen: ...a last-minute acquisition at the deadline, and the remaining trade-off for Kasparaitis, his Joker-like grin keeps getting bigger and bigger with each goal he scores.
Plus: finally, someone fast enough to catch up with Danny’s errant passes. The line of Primeau, LaCouture, and Nieminen should not be split up.
Minus: off-track shots and fanning. But it’s alright, even Kovy does it.
Overall: only 25 and promising. Maybe the Pens got the better deal.
#14-- Milan Kraft: ...once dubbed "the next Jagr", Kraft has gone from a disappointment to a talent on the rise.
Plus: putting goals in the net on the all-Czech line with Sivek and Straka.
Minus: doesn't finish quite like he's been expected to.
Overall: has earned a spot on the second line working with one of the best; give him more time to get used to the NHL.
*TRADED 11 MAR 03*
#15-- Wayne Primeau:...finally back from a devastating knee injury, “Baby Primeau” is starting to look more and more like his older brother.
Plus: finally on a line that will stay together! Not just a fourth-liner anymore.
Minus: still needs to focus on shooting and scoring...something Keith seems to have got the genes for.
Overall: with things looking up, Wayne will have a good season. Maybe he can get some pointers on how to make the puck go in the net.
#16-- Kris Beech:...a major component of the Jagr trade, Beech let himself be known to the NHL last season.
Plus: his soft hands and quick feet help the Pens to put the puck in the net.
Minus: plagued by injuries this season! First his back, now his appendix... can Beechy come back in time to save the Pens?
Overall: when he's not hurt, he's doing damage-- to the other team. A solid second or third- line player.
*TRADED 11 MAR 03*
#18-- Shean Donovan:...acquired at the trade deadline last year,
Donovan has proven he can skate with the best and kill penalties.
Plus: short-handers! Power plays! Speed!
Minus: still stuck on the fourth line, with no real advancement in sight, due to the return of Straka and the rise of Sivek and Kraft.
Overall: probably the next Morozov, but buried in the system. We'll see his true talent-- someday.
*TRADED 9 MAR 03*
#22-- Randy Robitaille:...unrelated to the great Luc, but showing a bit of his flair-- he shoots and scores!
Plus: power plays, penalty kills, five-on-five, four-on four-- Green Eyes can do anything.
Minus: named as a healthy scratch in several recent games, Randy may not have been ready just yet to come back from his injury.
Overall: as soon as he refocuses, Randy’ll be right back on track to be one of the three stars of every game.
#23-- Steve McKenna:... he’s 6’8”, 240, and . Re-acquired by the Pens this summer after shipping him off to the NYR.
Plus: ...size. And he has actually put a few pucks in the net this season; something we didn't expect. Also has stuck up for his teammates by fighting (a lot) this season (also something we didn't think he could do.) He's also the love of my best friend's life, and destined to be her future husband. Um, and now that he's a first liner?
Minus: . Will never leave fourth line.
Overall: WHAT? McKenna's on the FIRST LINE with Mario and Kovy now? Has HELL frozen over?? Guess what? he has his own website now, too: 23-- a special edition tribute to Steve McKenna
*TRADED 11 MAR 03*
#24-- Ian Moran: .. the “morale” man of the Pens, with his wild blonde highlights and “Sounds of the Game” microphone antics.
Plus: has his good nights.
Minus: also has his bad.
Overall: still one of the Pens’ dependable defensemen, needs to stay on the streak he’s on now. As long as Ian doesn’t falter, neither will the D.
#25-- Marc Bergevin: ...another former Penguin who the Pens
reacquired this summer. A skilled veteran defenseman who rarely has bad judgment.
Plus: a childhood pal of Mario’s, in the league for almost eighteen years.
Minus: not as sharp as he used to be.
Overall: the Pens traded him for a reason-- but he's getting better and smarter as the season goes on. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
#26-- Kent Manderville:...often confused for a defenseman, this winger leads the Pens in penalty-killing and offensive hits.
Plus: fast, furious, and hard-hitting. Also knows the Flyers inside and out.
Minus: not exactly the Pens’ leading scorer.
Overall: just who we need to take physical control past our blue line. With his quick poke-checks and speed skating, Manderville should stay with us for a while.
*TRADED 10 FEB 03*
#27-- Alexei Kovalev:...one of the hottest forwards in the NHL, has led the Pens in goal-scoring for the past two seasons. One of the top scorers at any given time during the season.
Plus: add him to the ranks of the 'Russian Rocket', Pavel Bure...he's racking up points on the first line with Lemieux. One helluva slapshot, he can also weave through players like it's nothing.
Minus: often misjudges passes, sending them right to the other team instead of his own. Sometimes has just one too many moves on the puck, missing great opportunities.
Overall: he's still Kovy. The Pens need to re-sign him as well, and keep him on for the duration of Straka's contract. When Straka gets back on his line, this bad-ass duo will be up in the ranks for the scoring title.
#28-- Michal Rozsival:...yet another Czech; paired best with Josef Melichar--has come out on his own in the past couple seasons.
Plus: hits, checks, occasionally scores...
Minus: works well with Melichar-- but he's still out injured.
Overall: as long as he keeps up his play like he's done for the past couple seasons, Rozsival will become the Pens' number one d-man...with Melichar by his side.
#30-- J.S. Aubin:...the Pens' "back-up goalie" with an attitude; bumped back to second-string when Hedberg showed up in town.
Plus: can stop the unstoppable.
Minus: can also let in the unthinkable. Two more words: ANGER MANAGEMENT.
Overall: pretty decent on his good nights, an acceptable back-up for when Moose gets injured or tired out.
#32-- Dick Tarnstrom:...a new acquisition for the Pens, one of the stronger defensemen on the team.
Plus: he scores! He scores some more! He keeps scoring on the power play over and over! He hits! He checks! He has a great plus\minus!
Minus: his name...nothing like having a bunch of drunk guys behind you at a hockey game yelling "C'mmmmmmmmmmmmmmon DICCCCCCCCK!"
Overall: very good-- it's a wonder no one else tried to snatch him up? When Dickie T is playing well, the Pens win: he's the key.
*TRADED 10 FEB 03*
#33-- Dan LaCouture:...with bursts of speed and two new semi-permanent linemates, Danny can settle himself in with the Pens.
Plus: skates like the wind, get millions of chances to score.
Minus: kind of erratic and streaky, gets chances and doesn't cash in.
Overall: needs a couple more seasons with his linemates to get used to the passing and scoring on the better goalies in the NHL.
*TRADED 11 MAR 03*
#38-- Jan Hrdina:...one of the Pens' better offensemen, quietly takes his place on the ice and makes an impact.
Plus: scores at crucial times, plays well with Lemieux on the power play.
Minus: still streaky at times. Needs to work on passing some more.
Overall: one of the Pens' unsung heroes, works well with his fellow Czechs.
#66-- Mario Lemieux:...The best hockey player of all time.
Plus: He's back. He's the scoring leader. He's healthy. He is breathtaking. No one can resist watching him play.
Minus: (what could you possibly put here?)
Overall: The best player of all time, and certainly the best player on the ice today. Mario IS Pittsburgh, and we need him. We love him.
#82-- Martin Straka:...the most underrated hockey player in the NHL. He is the secret threat that all goalies fear-- the player who has the puck, that you focus your attention on...only to be beat by the guy he passes it so eloquently to.
Plus: Shooting. Scoring. Passing. Persistence. Speed. He is the heart of the Penguins, and gives his all every night.
Minus: recently plagued by injuries, he was voted "Player Most Likely to Need Bubble-Wrap".
Overall: Needs to retire as a Penguin, so we need to keep him on for the next ten or so years. Put him with either Kovy and Robitaille, or with Mario and Morozov, for optimal scoring power. (Besides, I love him.)
(injured)
#95-- Aleksey Morozov:...not just a Devil killer anymore! Morozov had his breakthrough season (a bit later than expected, but better late than never) last year, and just continues to rack up the goals.
Plus: with Mario and Kovy by his side, Sexy Aleksey will keep tallying the points. They're the number one scoring line in the NHL right now.
Minus: just hope he doesn't go into another slump-- it might take another five years to bring him out of it. Injured for another six weeks with a fractured wrist.
Overall: now that he's no longer buried on the fourth line with a lack of talent, Morozov can roll out the big guns as Mario's protector and go-to guy.
