SB Nation Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Penguins Preseason: Pens Make Cuts, Put Sidney Crosby On Injured Reservehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2011-10-05T20:58:23-04:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21950152011-10-05T20:58:23-04:002011-10-05T20:58:23-04:00Sidney Crosby Injury Update: Penguins Star Says Last Few Weeks Have Been Symptom-Free
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> center <span>Sidney Crosby</span> spoke to the media a bit today after Penguins practice. "The last few weeks for me have been great. Couldn't ask for more," Crosby <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#!/JoshYohe_Trib/status/121705561996791809">told reporters after practice</a>. The star player is recovering from a concussion that has kept him out for quite a while and is the reason he's starting the season on injured reserve. Crosby noted that he's been symptom-free for a little less than a month, but he's unsure of a date to return to the ice despite feeling what he described as "great."</p>
<p>Even though Crosby has been placed on injured reserve to start the 2011 season, he does not fall under the 7-Day rule because he was on injured reserve last season. This means that Crosby can come back at any time, but he's not expected back within the next week, regardless. Head injuries in all sports are becoming a big issue and Crosby is a big proponent of head injury awareness and safety. You can bet he's not going to come back until he's ready.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pensburgh.com">PensBurgh</a>, SB Nation's Penguins blog.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2011/10/5/2471875/crosby-injury-update-penguins-star-says-last-few-weeks-have-beenAlfie Crow2011-10-04T08:05:21-04:002011-10-04T08:05:21-04:00Sidney Crosby Endorses Ban On Hits To Head
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The AP has <a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_760037.html">a good report</a> on the NHL's efforts to crack down on hits to the head. In it, <span>Sidney Crosby</span>, whose battle with the aftereffects of a concussion have given the problem a very high-profile face, says the NHL should ban all hits to the head.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We're not talking about a lot. The game's not going to change," he said, citing statistics that showed that only 50 of the 50,000 hits in hockey last year were to the head. "Whether it's accidental or not accidental, you've got to be responsible out there. At the end of the day, you can do a lot more good than what it's going to take away from the game."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This preseason, the NHL has been aggressive in suspending players who have delivered dangerous hits.</p>
<p>It's still unclear when Crosby will return. There have been positive signs for him in training camp, but he still hasn't been cleared for contact, and he'll need to spend some time getting ready even after he <i>is </i>cleared.</p>
<p>For more on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Penguins</a>, check out <a href="http://pensburgh.com">PensBurgh</a>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2011/10/4/2467915/sidney-crosby-penguins-head-hits-concussionCharlie Wilmoth2011-10-03T16:24:06-04:002011-10-03T16:24:06-04:00Sidney Crosby Not Subject To Seven-Day Rule; Penguins Considered Keeping Joe Morrow
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Rob Rossi has <a href="http://blog.triblive.com/chipped-ice/2011/10/03/crosby-on-ir-but-7-day-rule-doesnt-apply/#.TooQbwUhmes.twitter">a few more notes</a> on the Penguins’ moves to set their roster Monday.</p>
<p>First, Sidney Crosby has been placed on injured reserve, but the seven-day rule that typically applies to players on injured reserve does not apply to Crosby, since he was also on injured reserve last season. This doesn’t really matter much, of course; Crosby wasn’t going to play in the first week of the season, either way.</p>
<p>Also, the Penguins <i>did</i> consider keeping Joe Morrow on the roster, but they would not have kept him for more than nine games.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Morrow, if nothing else, jumped to head of the class regarding the organization’s top prospects. He is now ahead of D Simon Despres, though the Penguins still see Despres as a likely impact player in the <span class="caps">NHL</span>. They see both Morrow and Despres as impact players, actually – and pending their respective developments this season, that could make next summer interesting, but that discussion is a long way off.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It’s looking like the Penguins’ choice of Morrow in the first round of the draft may end up paying off, and earlier than expected.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2011/10/3/2466878/sidney-crosby-seven-day-rule-penguins-joe-morrowCharlie Wilmoth2011-10-03T14:35:14-04:002011-10-03T14:35:14-04:00Sidney Crosby Injury: Penguins Star On Injured Reserve
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2011/10/3/2466337/pittsburgh-penguins-roster-cuts-joseph-morrow/in/2195015">As Stephen Catanese noted earlier</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> made <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=590914" target="blank">their final roster moves</a> of the preseason on Monday, which included their placing star forward <span>Sidney Crosby</span> on injured reserve.</p>
<p>Crosby, the NHL's active leader with a 1.39 points per game average, hasn't played since January due to a concussion, and we knew his return wasn't imminent, so this move comes as no surprise. That the Crosby decision is appearing in its own news articles is a testament to Crosby's popularity and his importance to the team, and not really an indication of any change to his status. We still don't know when he's coming back.</p>
<p>What we do now know the Penguins' season-opening roster. The most pressing issue now is the date of Crosby's return. Though the Pens went a respectable 24-13-5 after their star's injury last season, they still suffered a first-round playoff defeat against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>, and will look to rebound once the 2011/12 season begins.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2011/10/3/2466623/sidney-crosby-injury-penguins-injured-reserveEvan Dunlap2011-10-03T12:48:58-04:002011-10-03T12:48:58-04:00Penguins Reduce Roster To 23, Send Morrow To Juniors
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Penguins</a><a target="new" href="http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=590905&cmpid=pit-twt-pghpenguins"> reduced their active roster to 23 today</a>, just before heading to Vancouver for their season opener against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.nucksmisconduct.com/">Canucks</a> on Thursday.</p>
<p>Defenseman <span>Joseph Morrow</span>, the Penguins’ 2011 first round pick, was sent back to his junior hockey club, the Portland Winterhawks of the <span class="caps">WHL</span>, following an impressive preseason campaign that lead many to speculate he would start the season with the Penguins.</p>
<p><span>Justin Williams</span>, Alexandre Picard and <span>Brian Strait</span> were all assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the <span class="caps">AHL</span>. Williams and Picard will need to pass through waivers.</p>
<p>Along with the demotions and reassignments, <span>Sidney Crosby</span>, <span>Dustin Jeffrey</span>, Nick Peterson, <span>Robert Bortuzzo</span> and <span>Boris Valabik</span> were placed on injured reserve.</p>
<p>The moves mean that <span>Richard Park</span>, <span>Joe Vitale</span> and <span>Mark Letestu</span>, three players battling for one of the few forward spots remaining, will open the season with the club. Crosby’s return is still indefinite, but Jeffrey could return sooner rather than later, and once that happens, the Penguins will be forced to make another decision.</p>
<p>One minor surprise was <span>Brooks Orpik</span> not being assigned to injured reserve. Orpik, recovering from off-season surgery, did not feature for the Penguins in the preseason. Many speculated that Morrow, would start with the Penguins while Orpik recovered, but apparently that was not the case.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2011/10/3/2466337/pittsburgh-penguins-roster-cuts-joseph-morrowVoxMediaUser3526512011-10-01T10:30:36-04:002011-10-01T10:30:36-04:00Penguins Vs. Blackhawks: Pens 5-0 In Preseason After 4-2 Win
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensburgh.com/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> are now 5-0 in <span class="caps">NHL</span> preseason action after knocking off the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.secondcityhockey.com/">Blackhawks</a> Saturday in Chicago, 4-2.</p>
<p><span>Steve Sullivan</span> scored a power-play goal on a slapshot late in the first period to put the Penguins up, 1-0.</p>
<p>Then Matt Cooke scored a shorthanded goal in the second period when he got the puck in the middle of the ice and caught Blackhawks goalie <span>Ray Emery</span> skating way too far from the goal.</p>
<p><span>Joe Vitale</span> scored for the Penguins a few minutes later. <span>Brandon Pirri</span> got the Blackhawks back into the game with a power-play goal at the tail end of the second period and an even-strength goal halfway through the third, but <span>Evgeni Malkin</span> scored an empty-netter with less than a minute left to clinch the game for the Pens.</p>
<p><span>Brent Johnson</span> played the entire game and had 35 saves for the Pens.</p>
<p>For more on the Penguins, check out <a href="http://pensburgh.com">PensBurgh</a>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2011/10/1/2461881/penguins-vs-blackhawks-evgeni-malkin-matt-cookeCharlie Wilmoth2011-09-30T11:55:12-04:002011-09-30T11:55:12-04:00A Day Of Penguins Practice Through The Eyes Of Twitter
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The rise of the tweet has led to a more interesting training camp than one would find in typical years.</p>
<p><a target="new" href="https://twitter.com/#!/RobRossi_Trib">Rob Rossi</a>, <a target="new" href="https://twitter.com/#!/Dejan_Kovacevic">Dejan Kovacevic</a> and <a target="new" href="https://twitter.com/#!/JoshYohe_Trib">Josh Yohe</a> of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and <a target="new" href="https://twitter.com/#!/MolinariPG">Dave Molinari</a> of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (with a major tip of the hat to LetsGoPens.com’s <a target="new" href="https://twitter.com/#!/LGP_netwolf">Eric Majeski</a>) have provided a constant stream of updates from the Consol Energy Center, doing everything from sharing the most banal of minutia, to providing rumor control directly from the source.</p>
<p>A prime example, yesterday, Evgeni Malkin, <a target="new" href="https://twitter.com/#!/malkin71_">Twitter’s man of the hour </a>(a total fish out of water and seriously welcome source of humor) tweeted that Sid had participated in a full-contact practice.</p>
<p>Mass hysteria ensued. People retweeted his post, friends were shooting me text messages. It was a great day to be a Penguins fan. Except, it didn’t happen, and Molinari made it known pretty quickly.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>@MolinariPG: </strong>To clarify: There is no indication that what Crosby did today constitutes being cleared for contact. He still wore no-contact white helmet.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>@MolinariPG: </strong>Crosby got bumped and jostled as much as anyone during today’s scrimmage, but it wasn’t close to game-caliber hitting.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>A short while later, we learned that Malkin was just pulling a prank (“Just jokes I bump Sid in faceoff today…”), but it showed the power of the medium when used right.</p>
<p>With all of this in mind, I thought I’d provide an update on today’s camp, plucked solely from the Tweets of those men whom cover the Penguins on a daily basis.</p>
<p>First, in the “HA!” category…</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>@RobRossi_Trib</strong>: #Pens Orpik returning to practice, still a little stiff #morningskategags <a target="new" href="http://yfrog.com/khpanxej">yfrog.com/khpanxej</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>And then, the real stuff. Like power play work..</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>@Dejan_Kovacevic</strong>: #Pens umbrella power play here now: Letang center point, Malkin and Sullivan outer points, Kennedy and Neal low.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>…practicing draws…</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>@Dejan_Kovacevic</strong>: Lots of faceoff work for #Pens this morning. Not the set plays. Just the actual draws. <a target="new" href="http://yfrog.com/hsb9mhqj">http://yfrog.com/hsb9mhqj</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>…Sid’s status…</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>@Dejan_Kovacevic</strong>: Sid not with this group, obviously, as it’s morning skate for game tonight in Chicago.</p>
<p> </p>
</blockquote>
<p>…Malkin praise, which we should all be adept at at this point…</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>@Dejan_Kovacevic</strong>: One last thing before interview session: I’ve never seen Malkin move with such strength/energy. #Pens</p>
<p> </p>
</blockquote>
<p>…another Sid update…</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>@Dejan_Kovacevic</strong>: Sid heading out to ice now for practice, white helmet donned, smiling and joking with teammates. #Pens</p>
<p> </p>
</blockquote>
<p>…and tonight’s starting goaltender.</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>@Dejan_Kovacevic</strong>: Bylsma: Brent Johnson will play whole game tonight in Chicago. More of usual lines, special teams starting tonight. #Pens</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It’s all short and precise. Brevity is the key, and only option. But, it also shows how the newspaper industry can keep up with the ever-changing landscape of online media, and use it to their advantage.</p>
<p>Providing constant updates and inside tidbits makes fans follow. Share a link with them every now-and-then that further expounds upon something tweeted earlier, and you’ll attract some solid hits to the paper’s website. It all supports each other.</p>
<p>Tonight’s game in Chicago is not televised. Unless you wouldn’t mind sitting by the radio to hear play-by-play (and to be honest, with Mike Lange on the call that’s never a bad option), Twitter may be your best source for up-to-the-minute information on the Penguins game as it happens against the Blackhawks.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2011/9/30/2460203/a-day-of-penguins-practice-through-the-eyes-of-twitter-rossi-kovacevic-molinari-malkin-crosbyVoxMediaUser3526512011-09-29T13:32:32-04:002011-09-29T13:32:32-04:00Minnesota Wild Claims Nick Johnson Off Waivers From Pittsburgh Penguins
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vu2A6neKAixIn6CkeqyUcmXnPkE=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828131/large_pittsburgh.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Wild</a> have claimed forward <span>Nick Johnson</span> off waivers from the <a href="https://www.pensburgh.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>, according to <a target="blank" href="http://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/status/119444164466323456">Bob McKenzie</a>. The 25-year-old, whom the Penguins selected No. 67 overall in the 2004 NHL Draft, appeared in just 10 games over two seasons at the NHL level. As Seth Rorabaugh <a target="blank" href="http://blogs.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/empty-netters/30013-tsn-wild-claim-forward-johnson-09-29-11?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed">points out</a>, former Penguins assistant Mike Yeo serves as the Wild's head coach, so Johnson will have the opportunity to with a familiar face in his new surroundings.</p>
<p>At Pensburgh, Hooks Orpik <a target="blank" href="http://www.pensburgh.com/2011/9/29/2458072/minnesota-wild-claims-nick-johnson-on-waivers">writes</a> the move should benefit Johnson, as Minnesota "can use big forwards." But if the Wild isn't impressed with Johnson and decides to waive him, the Penguins can re-claim him "and throw him immediately in Wilkes-Barre if they so choose."</p>
<p>Johnson appeared in 169 games for the Wilkes-Barre Penguins of the American Hockey League from 2007 to 2011, tallying 114 points. With the NHL's Penguins, Johnson recorded two goals and three assists over 10 games.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-penguins/2011/9/29/2458270/minnesota-wild-nick-johnson-waivers-penguinsEvan Dunlap