RED WINGS: Reel in Hossa

Former Pittsburgh Penguins winger Marian Hossa has inked a one-year contract worth $7.4 million to play for the Detroit Red Wings.

BOTTOM LINE: I don’t know why he didn’t sign a long term deal somewhere, but it looks like he either really wanted to play in Detroit, or he didn’t think the market was strong enough. This signing clearly establishes the Red Wings as the team to beat in the West.

LIGHTNING: Malone Part of the Fold

Former Pittsburgh Penguins winger Ryan Malone has signed a seven year, $31 million contract to play for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

BOTTOM LINE: The second Penguin to defect from Pittsburgh. Gary Roberts was the first. Tampa should be an interesting project to watch next season.

PENGUINS: Malkin to Stay in USA

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Evgeni Malkin will not be reporting to Russia anytime soon. Despite reports that said a team in Russia was willing to pay Malkin 12.5 million per season, Evgeni has said he will not be playing in Russia.

BOTTOM LINE: This is good news for keeper league players and everyone else. Malkin has emerged as a top tier forward in the NHL, and I am sure he will go in the upper rounds in this year’s drafts.

NHL Playoffs: Second Round Preview

By: J.P. Del Monte

Update! Writer

Round two of the NHL playoffs are here and NHL editor J.P. Del Monte has broken down each matchup to give you the inside edge on what’s happening. Who will advance to Stanley Cup Finals? Read on to find out:

No. 1 Montreal vs No. 6 Philadelphia
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 24 @Montreal. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS); Game 2 (April 26 @Montreal. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, VS.); Game 3 (April 28 @Philadelphia. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS); Game 4 (April 30 @Philadelphia. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS).
About Montreal: The Canadiens are riding quite the high after scrapping their way through a surprisingly tough series against the Boston Bruins. Many people believed Montreal would walk all over Boston, but the 8th seeded Bruins proved to tough opponent. The Canadiens are at full health to start the second round, but have to be prepared for a Philadelphia team whose talent level is much higher than Boston’s
About Philadelphia: The Flyers are also riding a Game 7 high, beating Alexander Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals in overtime. They have the leading playoff scorer in Daniel Briere, a team full of talented youth and a goalie who many think is much better than Boston’s Tim Thomas. This could prove to be an even tougher task for the Habs.
Prediction: Montreal in six games.

No. 2 Pittsburgh vs No. 5 New York
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 25 @Pittsburgh. 7 p.m. ET. TV: VS., CBC); Game 2 (April 27 @Pittsburgh. 2 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS); Game 3 (April 29 @New York. 7 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS); Game 4 (May 1 @New York. 2 p.m. ET. TV: CBC, RDS).
About Pittsburgh: The Penguins own the league’s best duo in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Both those stars are performing well in the playoffs, while their (currently) underdog goaltender, M.A. Fleury, is coming through in the clutch. The question now becomes: is this team all about hype or are they the real thing? Their first round decimation of the Senators was not a sound enough benchmark.
About New York: The Rangers are turning into everyone’s Eastern Conference dark horse and for good reason — they knocked down the best goalie in the league in less than seven games. Henrik Lundqvist and Jaromir Jagr will be the keys to their success, while the pest-like Sean Avery should have a tougher time getting under Pittsburgh’s skin. With the likes of Gary Roberts, Hal Gill and George Laraque (to name a few), this Penguins team is a much tougher squad than the Devils squad that allowed Avery to walk all over them.
Prediction: Pittsburgh in six games.

No. 1 Detroit vs No. 6 Colorado
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 24 @Detroit. 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: VS.); Game 2 (April 26 @Detroit. 3 p.m. ET. TV: NBC); Game 3 (April 29 @Colorado. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS.); Game 4 (May 1 @Colorado. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS.).
About Detroit: Hockey Town is playing like they have all season long and hasn’t shown any of their recent lackluster post-season play. With their offense firing on all cylinders and their defense currently the best in the playoffs, this squad will be tough to beat. As long as Chris Osgood keeps playing like it’s 1998, the Avs will have their hands full.
About Colorado: Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, Paul Stastny, Jose Theodore and Milan Hejduk. Those four names are all you need to know. They are healthy and they are playing incredibly well. Theodore’s rejuvination has helped carry this club into, and through, the first round while the big guns up front are providing the offense. Let’s not forget that this team has a solid defense with tons of veteran leadership to help them out too. These two teams hate each other and I’m picking this one to be the best series to watch.
Prediction: Colorado in seven bloody games.

No. 2 San Jose vs No. 5 Dallas
Series Facts: Game 1 (April 25 @San Jose. 10 p.m. ET. TV: VS., CBC); Game 2 (April 27 @San Jose. 9 p.m. ET. TV: CBC); Game 3 (April 29 @Dallas. 7:30 p.m. ET. TV: VS., CBC); Game 4 (April 30 @Dallas. 9 p.m. ET. TV: CBC).
About San Jose: You’d think fighting through seven gruelling games against the Calgary Flames would be the toughest thing the Sharks would have to face this season. But now they’re tasked with facing the Dallas Stars, the team that knocked off last year’s champions. The Sharks, however, do boast the West’s most underrated goaltender in Evgeni Nabokov and have proven playoff competitors in Patrick Marleau and Jeremy Roenick. If Big Joe Thornton keeps up his strong play this team could truly do some damage.
About Dallas: The Stars are flying high right now after dominating the Anaheim Ducks in their first round matcup. They’ve got the firepower and a former Conn Smythe winner up front while Marty Turco continues to prove to his critics that he IS a playoff goaltender.
Prediction: San Jose in six games.

Playoff Hunting