Kings growing impatient with Alexei Ponikarovsky

Los Angeles Kings forward Alexei Ponikarovsky has had an injury filled season followed by inconsistent play, and the 30 year old winger is finding himself in the same spot he was last spring with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the playoffs; The Press Box…

The Latest NHL Free Agency Buzz

Free Agency Buzz *The Atlanta Thrashers will be shopping for wingers this off-season. Contract talks with winger Maxim Afinogenov have gone nowhere and Colby Armstrong has already made his intentions known that he intends to test free agency. Afinogenov, 30, is coming off a breakout season scoring 24 goals and 61 points. Afinogenov is looking for a significant raise over his $800,000 salary from 2009-2010 but a stumbling block in talks with the Thrashers has been the term of the contract. Afinogenov is seeking a mult-year deal and Thrashers management doesn’t appear ready to commit beyond two years. Look for Alexei Ponikarovsky to be a target of the Thrashers. *Hurricanes winger Ray Whitney and Sabres winger Raffi Torres will test

Penguins haven’t ruled out extending an offer to Ponikarovsky before July 1

The writing has been on the wall that Alexei Ponikarovsky’s time in Pittsburgh will likely end up being short stint. Like the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Penguins have no interest in meeting Ponikarovsky’s demands of a four year deal, which is what he sought from the Leafs, according to GM Brian Burke. However, as the Penguins are finishing up their organizational meetings this week, word out of Penguins headquarters is that the team has not completely closed the door on making an attempt to retain Ponikarosky. According to one team source, the Penguins intend to talk “specifics” with Ponikarovsky’s camp in early-to-mid June as contract talks with potential free agents will heat up leading into the NHL draft. The two

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Photo Courtesy of South Central The most glaring thing of the Penguins 3-2 shootout loss against the Islanders Monday afternoon is playing in front of their new coach for the first time they couldn’t come up with enough of a adrenaline rush to beat the worst team in the league. Personnel wise this team is flawed. There is no way around it. I am all about the Penguins moving to a more up-tempo system but all Dan Bylsma will be is a fresh face. Until the roster is upgraded where the Penguins can be effective playing a up-tempo system, were not going to see much improvement. Sidney Crosby is clearly frustrated and he is just doesn’t seem like himself lately.