The Penguins Run-Down.

Pittsburgh Penguins Co. never rests, because after the Stanley Cup there is the rush of the Draft. I promised that I would fill in the rest of the details, and have been slacking since. Sorry. So here's the Cliff's Notes on what's happened.

The Piece and Free Candy (Rob Scuderi and Brooks Orpik, respectively), were invited to the USA Hockey Olympic Camp. Bill Guerin was re-signed (only for a year though), YES! Oh, and so was Craig Adams. woo hoo. Hal Gill is a goner, signing a 4 mil. deal with Montreal.

The Draft had a very "passing of the torch" like feel, since a handful of teams (the Flames, Red Wings, Lighting, Sabers, Maple Leafs...) all picked sons of hockey veterans. Including the Penguins. As the last pick in the second round, they chose Philip Samuelsson, who is a defenseman for Boston College and son of Ulf Samuelsson, who was insanely popular during his time in Pittsburgh. He has cutie potential. Got to hate the spikey greased hair, but we'll see Phillip, we'll see.

The Pens also drafted Alex Velischeck (not my type- square face, and every picture I've seen he looks like he's in a police line up), son of Randy V. (not spelling it again), and Andy Bathgate, grandson of...Andy Bathgate, who led the Penguins in scoring their first expansion in '67-'68. Can't find a picture of him, but his grandpa was a total hottie. So, that's a positive sign, even if good looks skip a generation or something weird like that.

Apparently they're loading up on Defensemen, because they also signed Brian Strait to a three- year entry level contract. He kind of has a tall, dark and drunk look about him if you ask me. I want to know who the cutie on the left is. But, to each his own. He is also a Boston College alum and captained the gold-medal winning Team USA in the 2006 International Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championships. Sweet.

Here's the real catch: Mike Rupp from the New York Islanders was signed to a two- year contract. Dude is 6' 5''. He's going to dwarf Jordan Staal. He seems like such a cutie. I'm calling a kind of crazy attitude. I bet he's going to give Max a run for his money.Rupp brings to Pittsburgh a wealth of experience, versatility and a Stanley Cup ring from the New Jersey Devils' championship run in 2003. The "real catch" part? HE'S FROM CLEVELAND! yeahhh. He seems like a fighter. That's the Cleveland in him. The cold Erie air makes us tough. Betches.

I cannot wait.

-CE