Pens Take Risk and Acquire Hossa

by: Brian Bohl | Senior Writer - NY Sports Day | Wednesday, February 27, 2008



UNIONDALE, NY — Despite the shockwaves the team generated earlier in the day, the postgame dressing room inside the Nassau Coliseum is a mostly quiet place. Equipment bags are stationed on the ground as players throw in gloves, elbow pads, helmets and shin guards. The unpacking signifies an end to a whirlwind day that encompassed victories both on the ice and for the front office.

But this scene didn’t describe the Islanders. General manager Garth Snow did not make a deal similar to the one he completed last season for impending free agent Ryan Smyth. Instead, the Isles jettisoned two mediocre veterans—Chris Simon and Marc-Andre Bergeron—to Western Conference teams for draft picks.

Down the hallway resides the quarters of the visiting team that made the big splash. Pittsburgh pulled off the biggest blockbuster during Tuesday’s NHL trade deadline, acquiring Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis from Atlanta in exchange for three young players and a first round draft pick.

Hossa, who can be an unrestricted free agent this July, will look to propel the Penguins to a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals despite injuring his knee in his debut last night. With Sidney Crosby expected to return to the lineup in the next two weeks, the franchise is banking that the young club can make a push in a wide open Eastern Conference.

Even with Hossa’s contractual status uncertain beyond this season, the Penguins said the move can potentially galvanize them to a strong finish and possibly deep push in the four-round postseason tournament.

“A lots been made about how good he is. He’s the one everyone was talking about,” said goalie Ty Conklin Tuesday night. Conklin finished that contest with a 50-save effort to shut down the Isles, 4-2, at the Nassau Coliseum. “To get him is pretty exciting.”

With 17 regular season games remaining and 64 points, the Penguins could be getting healthy at the right time. Pittsburgh already has climbed to the fourth seed and reside just one point behind New Jersey for the top spot.

Making the news even better is that Crosby is expected to return soon after being out since Jan. 18 with an ankle injury. Gary Roberts is also set to return later in March. Putting those two contributors with Hossa and Evgeni Malkin could mean a new favorite is emerging in the conference, especially if netminder Marc-Andre Fleury returns.

So far, Conklin has filled in admirably for Fleury. But the Penguins will be hoping the 23-year-old former first overall draft pick will return from his rehab assignment in position to backstop a potent offensive attack. General manager Ray Shero’s bold moves reinforces the win-now mentally, a sentiment the Penguins said they respect.

“Ray’s given us a chance to win now,” said Ryan Whitney, another of the team’s young talents. “We understand that it’s a privilege for us to get help like that. I think we’ll be ready to play well and make a long run.”

Whitney, a 25-year-old winger taken fifth overall in the 2002 draft, joins Crosby, Malkin and Fleury as the young core players that are still around even after Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito and Erik Christensen were sent to Atlanta for Hossa.

“We’re a good team and just got a lot better,” Whitney said. “We added very good players who are proven. It’s an exciting time to be on the team.”