1. You had a friend in Francis
  2. 98-99 Penguin Draft Picks
  3. So long Wregget
  4. Mario vs. Marino
  5. Burnt Penguin
  6. Mario's Tribute Page
  7. Pen's finish second
  8. Jagr wins Art Ross Trophy
  9. Lalime is Traded
  10. 1000 to 1 Shot (Francis's 1000 assists...)
  11. Hard Hitting (Kasp's hit on Lindros)
  12. New Coach, New Sysyem (Constantine's new rules)
  13. Black and GOLD (Olympic Penguins)
  14. Some Penguin Opinions


The Mario Lemieux Page

--My opinion if the Penguins are better off without the great Le Magnifique.....


We'll miss you Ron Francis

7 years is alot of years with a team, especially in these free-agent plagued years of the NHL. But we were very lucky to hold onto Ronnie Francis for that long.

On July 13, Francis announced that he would sign back with the Carolina Hurricanes for a reported 4 year - $21 Million contract. Ron was traded from the then Hartford Whalers in one of the most lopsided trades ever. Him and Ulf Samuellsson led the Penguins to two straight Cups. Hartford has now missed the playoffs for the last six years.

Francis is still the Hartford/Carolina record holder in many of the main catorgories. He spent the better part of 10 years with the Whalers. He still leads in goals, games, assists, hatricks, and some others as well.

"My last year in Hartford was a tough year. We had contract problems and it was an extremely tough day for me when I got traded," said Francis. "But my time in Pittsburgh turned out to be great. I participated on Cup champions and winning teams and it's tough to leave there."

We will miss you greatly Ronnie, because you were truly one of the best players in the NHL on and off the ice. You have really made your mark on Pittsburgh.

So long Wregget

After almost 5 seasons with the Penguins, netminder Kenny Wregget has been shipped off to Calgary. In return the Penguins got forwards Tony Hrcak and German Titov. Hrcak was chosen in the expansion draft by Nashville, and Titov seems to be here to take the place of Francis.

Kenny was the league leader in wins during his 1995-1996 campaign. But with vet Barrasso and new rookie sensation Petr Skudra, Wregget became expendable. Skudra signed a three year deal with the Pens right before the Wregget trade.

Also holdout center Josef Beranek was shipped to Edmonton for defensman Bobby Dollas, and center Todd Hlushko. At least we got something out of him, he spent all of last season in the Czech republic playing for his hometown team.

Mario vs Marino

Co-owner Roger Marino was sued by retired Penguin superstar Mario Lemieux for failure to get his deferred payments. Lemieux is reportedly owed $30 Million from a contract he sighned in '95.

Other co-owner, Howard Baldwin, is trying to put togeter a group to buy out Marino's $40 Million share of the penguin francise. Marino came into the Penguin system having no hockey experience, being a self made millionaire from Boston. Roger bought the share on May 8, 1997.


Burnt Penguin

After Finishing second in the League, the Penguins can't keep up with the seventh seeded Habs. In 6 games, Montreal only showed one sign of weakness, and that was only in one period in one game, the 6-3 Penguin win. The Penguins were shutout the last game and if I didn't know better, I would have thought the Canadians were the better team in the series, by far!

So, the Penguins finish out yet another year losing in the first round to a team that looked on paper, the inferior team. Hopefully, the Pens find a combination that works next year. But if the NHL's leading scorer on the right side, the most prolific scoring center of today, and a young bud on the left flank can't get it done, then i don't know what can.

Pen's finish second

The Pittsburgh Penguin's won second place overall in the Eastern Conference, behind the idle New Jersey Devils. The Pen's also finished first in the Northeast Division above Boston and Buffalo. They finished with 98 points, their fourth best point total ever in team history.

The Penguin's play at the Civic Arena for the first round of the playoffs against the no. 7 seeded Montreal Canadians.

Jagr wins Art Ross Trophy

Jaromir Jagr won his second Art Ross Trophy for being the NHL's top point scorer. It was his first since he won it the strike-shortened year.

Jagr finished with 102 points, and lead the #2 scorer (W. Gretzky) by 8 points. Jaromir said that he would trade this award anyday for the Penguin's to do well in the Playoffs.

Lalime is traded

The holdout 2nd year goaltender got what he deserves now, a real shot in the NHL. Patrick Lalime was traded right before the Tuesday deadline to Anaheim for center Sean Pronger. Pronger has totaled 20 points this season, which is not that bad for a third year man. Sean is the older brother of St. Louis defenseman Chris Pronger.

1000 to 1 Shot

Congratulations Mr. Francis, you have become only the 7th player in history to accomplish this 1000 assist feat. Also, congratulations are in order for Ian Moran, for getting a free meal from Penguin's defenseman, Chris Tamer.

After his 1000, Ronnie Francis just skated slowly to the bench and waved to the crowd. On the other hand, Ian Moran jumped and celebrated so vigorously, that several Flyers forcefully made their disapproval of him known after his lone goal of the season became the game-winner in the Pen's 4-3 win over Philly Saturday.

"I figured out that for me to get 1000 assists, I'd have to play somewhere over 200 years." said Moran after the game. "I got pretty excited after I scored, it doesn't happen very often."

Indead, it doesn't Mr. Moran. The last time you scored was about a full calander year ago.

Ian's next meal will be on Tamer, because of their little bet. Moran and Tamer were the lone two Pens without a goal and the loser would have to buy the other dinner. Tamer almost had it reviewed by the video judge for being in the crease, but the Penguins needed that goal.

"We'll find out if he wants fries with his meal." retaliated Tamer.

Hard Hitting

Did anyone see the HIT put on Lindros by Kasp the other afternoon? If you didn't I am sorry, it was big. Then did anyone see what happened next?

I know that hockey is a rough sport, but what I don't understand is people congratulating their teammates for a hit that caused an injury, say a concussion.

This is exactly what happened during the game between the Pens and the Flyers Saturday, March 7. After Kasparaitis gave Lindros the hit of his life, even though it was a legal hit, the young talented Alexei Morozov patted Darius's back. I hope I am not the only one that is appaled by this show of disrespect to one of the players that keep hockey fans comeing back to Philly. I am glad the Pens won, I don't care if it was without Lindros or not. Congratulating a player for giving another a concussion so bad he could not walk off the ice himself is just what everybody that opposes hockey is looking for. It was a nice hit, but nothing to laugh about, (MOROZOV).

New Coach, New System

The Pens got a new coach over the summer in Kevin Constantine and with him, a whole new look. With Lemieux, Jagr, and Francis, the Penguins were traditionally an offensive team, but now with the most notable scorer in recent times in the NHL and the career leader in almost every catorgory for the Pens gone, Coach Constantine incorperated a new system that didn't take well in the beginning.

That is not what their standings show though. Jagr is still up to his usual scoring standards, if not better AND he accepted his coach's new defensive look. It wasn't just that easy, though. In the beginning Jagr said he didn't like the new style at all, but that he would try it. Jagr, looks good so far, eh?

Last year the Pens were the #6 seed in the Eastern Conference, this year they are #2. Last year they finished in second place, behind the Sabres, now they are in sole position of first. My hat goes off for Mr. Constantine. I can't remember the Penguins looking this good since their Stanley Cup days. They have a real good chance at going to the Finals and maybe our first year coach will bring us home a big, silver trophy. High-hopes, I think not. -Chris Cagle


Black & GOLD

The Penguins had the second most players going to Nagano this year, and four came back with gold, and two with silver. Here are the Penguins with their respective teams:

Jagr, Straka, Slegr, Lang....Czech Republic GOLD
Kasparaitis, Morozov.........Russia SILVER
Hatcher............................USA
Johansson........................Sweden
Gronman(minors)..............Finland BRONZE
 

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