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Sidney Crosby Returns Tonight!

In an unexpected turn of events, it was announced this afternoon that Sidney Crosby will return to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup tonight as they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in Florida.  It was expected that he would travel to Florida with the team as they start a 3-game road trip that ends in the nation’s capital on Sunday, but his return to the ice had not been projected. 

On Monday, Sidney Crosby practiced with the team and afterwards spoke to the Penguins’ Director of Content and Publications, Joe Sager.  Crosby confirmed that he would make the trip but that his return was still unknown.  However, after going through a solid morning skate in Tampa Bay, Crosby decided to return to the lineup.  In the interview on Monday, Crosby said, “I feel pretty good. I haven’t really had a chance to do much contact. With the way the schedule is, we don’t really practice. We’re pretty much practicing on game days and that’s it.  So, as an injured guy trying to get back, it’s a little difficult to difficult to gauge where you’re at because you’re not really practicing with contact and stuff like that. So, the tough part is knowing when it’s time and also, when it is time, making sure that your skills are there and everything are ready to go. I am not sure where I’m at right now, but time will tell.” 

Crosby missed 21 games and the NHL All-Star Game while he has been out with the high ankle sprain.  Crosby’s return has been much anticipated and will likely be a big boost for the Penguins, who just got goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury back in the lineup.  Fortunately for the Penguins, their play didn’t suffer in his absence.  Forwards Evgeni Malkin and Ryan Malone and Goaltender Ty Conklin all stepped up for the Penguins who went 11-6-4 while Crosby was sidelined. 

Longest NHL Suspension Handed to Simon

In news from Toronto, the League lowered the hammer on New York Islanders forward Chris Simon today, suspending him for 30 games, without pay, for deliberately kicking Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jarrko Ruutu in the third period of the game on December 15, 2007.  Simon will be eligible to return on February 21, 2008 against the Tampa BayLightning.  The sentence is the longest suspension in NHL history for an on-ice incident.  In handing down the deservedly stiff ruling, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell stated, “…the deliberate act of kicking an opponent with an exposed skate blade, especially where the opponent is in a vulnerable position, is and always has been a repugnant and totally unacceptable act in the game of hockey.  In addition, while the act itself was extremely dangerous, the fact that this is the 8th incident requiring the imposition of supplementary discipline on  Simon compelled me to impose a very severe penalty in this case.  When a player repeatedly evidences the lack of ability to control his actions and conducts himself in total disregard of the rules, as well the health and safety of other players on the ice, each subsequent incident is deserving of enhanced scrutiny and more severe discipline.  This response serves not only the purpose of imposing appropriate punishment for the player involved, but also the purpose of deterring the player and all other players from engaging in similar conduct in the future – hopefully creating a safer long-term work environment for all NHL players.”  Simon is projected to forfeit $292,683 in salary which will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.  In other news, Left Wing Ryan Malone returned to Pittsburgh to undergo evaluation of an infected cut on his leg by team doctors.  Malone will miss his second consecutive game as the Penguins face off against the Bruins in Boston on Thursday.  Originally it was reported that he missed Tuesday’s game against the Rangers due to the Flu, which has been flowing through the Penguins locker room.  Today it is reported that the leg infection caused the flu-like symptoms that kept Malone off the ice. 

The Penguins, already in Boston for Thursday’s game, practiced at Boston University on Wednesday.  General Manager Ray Shero announced that the Penguins have recalled forward Jeff Taffe from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and re-assigned forward Connor James back to the American Hockey League club.  James was called up and registered 1-shot in 1 game against the New York Islanders on December 15th.  Taffe, who has 21 points (12G, 9A) in 27 games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, is tied for 13th in AHL goals scored.  Taffe notched 2-points (1G, 1A) in 3 NHL pre-season games with the Penguins.  Signed by Pittsburgh as a free agent on July 13th, Taffe has 28-points (15G, 13A) in 100 NHL games played over the course of 4-seasons as a member of the Phoenix Coyotes and New York Rangers.

Taffe Called Up, Brent Sent Down

General Manager Ray Shero announced this afternoon that the Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled 26-year old Left Wing Jeff Taffe from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and in-turn assigned 23-year old Center Tim Brent to the AHL affiliate.  Taffe, who was picked up as a free agent by the Penguins on July 13, 2007, had just recently been moved from Penguins training camp to the AHL affiliate on September 22, 2007.   

Jeff Taffe was a St Louis Blues first round draft pick in 2000, being selected 30th overall that year.  He attended the University of Minnesota where he helped lead Minnesota to the 2002 NCAA Championship, scoring the game-winning goal in the semifinal win against Michigan and the game-winning goal in the West Regional quarterfinal against Colorado College.  He finished that season ranked second in the NCAA in goals (34) and fifth overall in points (58). 

While playing for Minnesota, Taffe’s rights were traded by the Blues to the Phoenix Coyotes.  He spent his first season in the NHL playing with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2002/03, and has spent time going back and forth between the AHL and NHL ever since.  Almost all of his NHL career has been with the Coyotes.  He did have a short stint (3 months, 2 games) with the New York Rangers after a trade involving Jamie Lundmark, but was traded back to Phoenix in a deal for Martin Sonnenberg.  Taffe has played in 100 NHL games and netted 28 Points (15G, 13A).

Tim Brent was an Anaheim Ducks third round draft pick in 2004, being selected 75th overall that year.  Brent played 15-games for the Ducks last season, his first in the NHL, scoring 1 goal.  The Penguins acquired him from Anaheim in a trade for Stephen Dixon on June 23, 2007. 

The Penguins continue training camp with 27 players, 4 more than they will have once the regular season starts next week.  They currently have 16 forwards, 9 defensemen, and 2 goaltenders for a total of 27 players in training camp. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins will play their final two pre-season games this weekend against the Buffalo Sabres, starting at home on Friday night and finishing in Buffalo on Saturday.