Penguins/NHL category, Page 162

Van Halen (David Lee Roth version) had a motto: “W.D.F.A.” We don’t mess around, or words to that effect. Brian Burke, the Penguins’ new president of hockey operations, operates under the same principle. Read his autobiography, “Burke’s Law.” Burke has been involved in hockey management for 34 years. If you...

The final 10 months of Jim Rutherford’s tenure as Penguins general manager were exhausting. With covid-19 crippling seemingly every walk of life on the globe, the NHL adjusted much of its business not only to stage an unprecedented postseason tournament in August and September to complete the 2019-20 season but...

Like many Penguins fans in their early to mid-40s, I cut my teeth as a hockey fan in the early Mario Lemieux years of the mid-80s and became hooked on the game as they were winning Stanley Cups in the early 90s. That also means — like all Penguins fans...

Ron Hextall, general manager Age 56… Spent four years (2014-18) as GM of the Philadelphia Flyers, assembling a roster that has blossomed into a Stanley Cup contender. …. Hextall was assistant GM of the Los Angeles Kings (2006-13), winning a Stanley Cup ring in ‘12 and being part of the...

The last time the Penguins hired a former goaltender with ties to the organization to be their general manager, it was a resounding success as it led to two Stanley Cup titles. They’re hoping for similar results with their most recent hire. On Tuesday, the Penguins tabbed Ron Hextall to...

Tuesday’s Pittsburgh Penguins practice was staged at their state-of-the-art modern Cranberry Township facility, and it was run under the specter of some very 2021 coronavirus-related protocols. But there was one aspect of the session at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex that turned back the clock about three decades. The players took...

A day after leaving practice following a collision with a teammate, Mike Matheson was back on the ice for a full practice with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. Jared McCann, however, was not. But the initial word on McCann’s injury is that it is not a serious one. Skating on...

Our “Madden Monday” podcast had to wait a day because of Mark Madden’s trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. Did Madden’s mini-vacation soften his recent harsh assessment of our three Pittsburgh sports teams, specifically the Steelers? “They are one year away from nuclear winter, which is where the...

Mike Sullivan stands out for a number of reasons. For one, he’s the only active coach in the NHL who has led a team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, having accomplished that feat with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017. And there’s his loud booming voice with a hint of...

Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson left practice early on Monday in Cranberry after he accidentally collided with a teammate. Approximately 20 minutes into the session, Matheson fell to the ice after coming into contact with an unidentified teammate. Matheson laid on the ice for several moments as athletic trainer Chris Stewart...

A few hours after former Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford abruptly turned in his resignation Jan. 27, team president and CEO David Morehouse laid out what the franchise was looking for in a potential successor. The base requirements for the job really weren’t that complicated. “The criteria is the...

There was plenty to like about the Penguins’ 4-3 road loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday. • Rookie defenseman P.O Joseph got his first career goal. • Forward Evgeni Malkin had his first even-strength goal this season. • The top line of Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Bryan...

The Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Tristan Jarry for Saturday’s road game against the New York Islanders. In six games this season, Jarry has a 2-3-1 record, a 3.92 goals-against average and an .859 save percentage. He has served as the backup to Casey DeSmith for the Penguins’ last...

Eyebrows were raised when Chris Drury and Scott Mellanby declined to interview for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ vacant GM job. Drury, 44, is assistant GM for the New York Rangers. Mellanby, 54, has the same job with Montreal. Drury might be the best of up-and-coming NHL executives. If I were Drury...

The Pittsburgh Penguins activated defenseman Mike Matheson from injured reserve. Sidelined for the past eight games because of an undisclosed injury, Matheson returned to the lineup Saturday in a road game against the New York Islanders. Limited to two games this season, the left-handed Matheson has no points. Additionally, the...

The NHL announced schedule changes for 27 games Saturday because of covid-19 protocol issues around the league. Eight of those changes involve the Penguins. • Penguins at New Jersey, originally scheduled for Feb. 9, is now scheduled for Thursday, March 18, at 7 p.m. • Penguins at New Jersey, originally...

The Pittsburgh Penguins could get a trio of players back in their lineup for Saturday’s road game against the New York Islanders. Two of them, defensemen Kris Letang and Mike Matheson, have missed two and eight games, respectively, because of undisclosed injuries. The third has waited much, much longer to...

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ season-opener has been postponed. Because of covid-19 protocols impacting the opponent, the Binghamton Devils, the game has been moved from Saturday to 5 p.m. Monday. The contest will still be held at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have not played a regular season game...

Penguins defenseman John Marino participated in practice on Friday in Cranberry. After being absent from Thursday’s practice, Marino rejoined his teammates, two days removed from being placed on the NHL’s list of absences for covid-19 related protocol on Wednesday. Inclusion on that list — which is updated daily by the...