Around the NHL: Hat tricks from Gaborik, Sullivan highlight Wednesday’s NHL action
GABORIK GETS RANGERS BACK ON TRACK Marian Gaborik scored a hat trick and the overtime winner, a breakaway goal, leading the New York Rangers (1-2-0) to a 4-3 OT win over the Boston Bruins (2-1-0) on Wednesday night. Gaborik was sensational in the win, getting the Rangers back on track. Gaborik last season had 41 goals and 76 points and he’s a player Rangers coach John Tortorella is very tough on but feels he’s getting Gaborik to be the player he can be. “I think he has grown so much mentally in how he conducts himself,” Tortorella said on Wednesday, via ESPNNewyork. “He’s a very talented player that’s willing to be there; and when I first met him, I didn’t
Sources: Niskanen deal not imminent; Sullivan remains on backburner but eyes return
PENS FREE AGENCY BUZZ Some info I’ve been able to gather this afternoon on a few things: WAITING TO SEE HOW DRAFT UNFOLDS — I was told about an hour ago not to look for contract talks between the Penguins and Matt Niskanen to intensify until after the draft, a source directly involved in the negotiations told me. To recap, preliminary talks were established last week after the Penguins made a $1.75 million qualifying offer on Thursday to Niskanen and expressed early interest to Niskanen’s camp in negotiating a multi-year deal at somepoint….. but discussions remain in the very “early stages” and no deal is close or imminent. Word I got this afternoon is that both sides are waiting to
Agent for Steve Sullivan expects to get a “sense” for where things stand this week
WAIT AND SEE APPROACH? As the Penguins have wrapped up their pro scouting meetings, the futures for the likes of Steve Sullivan, Matt Niskanen and Arron Asham will become much clearer in the next week or so. Leading into last week’s pro scouting meetings, 37 year old winger Steve Sullivan is one of those situations that the Penguins were said to have been going back and fourth on. No talks have been established or are imminent between the Penguins and Sullivan,
Pens – Sabres Fallout: Sullivan a better fit with Crosby-Dupuis than Malkin-Neal?
PENS – SABRES FALLOUT The Penguins got a four point night from Sidney Crosby, produced two power play goals, played a responsible game defensively and Brent Johnson who was shaky at times, made timely saves in the third period for Pittsburgh in their 5-3 road win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night. With the team in the midst of a mini-slump, Crosby led the way collecting a goal and three assists, posting his third four point game in 18 games this season. Crosby also hit the 600 point mark in his career, becoming the seventh youngest player in NHL history to reach 600 points at 24 years, 236 days. An intriguing storyline after the game wasn’t just the Penguins
Bylsma hints at big role for Steve Sullivan on the power play
Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma met with the media today at the team’s annual summer youth clinic, and while most of the media members were there for any potential comments on Sidney Crosby (nothing new, he’s 3-4 weeks from being evaluated), the most intriguing comments from Bylsma was about free agent signee’s Jason Williams and Steve Sullivan. Bylsma hinted today that the team has high hopes for Sullivan to play a big role on the power play. Sullivan has not scored more than 6 power goals since the 2006-2007 season, collecting just three power play goals last season, but the Penguins believe Sullivan can add a different dimension on the power play that they don’t have. “See him {Steve Sullivan}