Pittsburgh Penguins Pressures

The Pittsburgh Penguins organization has had an up and down season. Currently sitting in 18th place, 60 points out of the playoffs, they may have to look to the trade front to sure up their forwards and make a push to the playoffs.

A pleasant surprise this season has been the amount of playing time given to Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers, but he has been slumping as of late and his playing time has diminished. With his lack of playing time, it has put a lot more pressure on the Pens forwards to produce and keep the team in the playoffs race. They have been able to stay close so far, but they lack a top forward to compliment Brandon Dubinsky and Antti Miettinen. It's quite hard to make a trade without including top prospect, Eric Tangradi and the Penguins will not trade him no matter what the offer may be.

The pleasant surprise of the season has to be the play of the Penguins defense as a collective unit. Marc Staal is having a good season and seems to get better every year. The emergence of Victor Hedman shows that this team has a great future ahead of them. Finally, back from a serious leg injury, Kurtis Foster has shown he still has the great potential that prompted Penguins GM, Mitch Robichaud to take a gamble on him trading away Roman Hamrlik for Foster and forward prospect Josh Brittain. "With his strong play, we expect Kurtis to sign long term with us this off season and be a huge part of our defense in the future", explained Mr. Robichaud.

It could be an interesting few weeks ahead as the Penguins make a bid to make the playoffs for the first time in 2 years. Stay tuned!

mild mannered reporter,
Dick Strapon

1/24-1/30 Players of the Week

This week's players of the week are:

3. Jonathan Quick - Minneota Wild - 41 pts

2. Jarome Iginla - Vancouver Canucks - 52 pts

1. Niklas Lidstrom - LA Kings - 56 pts

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Wild making moves

The Minnesota Wild have made two deals over the past two weeks in an attempt to make a playoff push.

The Wild traded Tampa Bay's 1st Round pick in 2010 to the first place Buffalo Sabres for Buffalo's 1st Round pick in 2010 and future Hall of Fame Defensemen Scott Neidermayer.

The Wild traded their own 3rd Round pick in 2010 to Edmonton for Vernon Fiddler.

There are rumor swirling around the league that the Wild are shopping Pekka Rinne and Michal Neuvirth. GM Willgress quoted "We are interested in bringing Michal to the UFHL full time, it's just a matter if he will be with the Wild or another UFHL organization. We have not had any serious negociations we are looking all the possibilities. With the potential of our goaltenders we have in our farm system we feel that we can make a trade to better our organization."

The Wild currently sit in 17th place in the UFHL, twenty-six point out of the playoffs.

-Felix Potvin - Beat writer for Wright County Examiner covering the Minnesota Wild