Chirps from Center Ice

A fan blog about the AHL's Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins

Category Archives: Pittsburgh

Chirps From Center Ice Dot Com

Comments Off on Chirps From Center Ice Dot Com Posted by on December 14, 2011

I’ve debated for quite a while whether or not I wanted to do it and have finally done it.

Starting today, you can simply put “chirpsfromcenterice.com” into your web browser and it will bring you right here. You also won’t see anymore ads whatsoever.

No more fussing with remembering any confusing “pens fan” backwards or anything like that. You can still navigate here the old way, but why would you want to? It’s easier for people to remember. Chirps From Center Ice. Dot com.

You’re welcome!

In Penguins news, Alexandre Picard and Jason Williams were returned from Pittsburgh and Pens Prospects Scott Harrington and Dominik Uher made their respective World Junior Championship rosters.

Let’s Go Pens!

About Me, Pittsburgh, WBS

Barton Signed 12/9

Comments Off on Barton Signed 12/9 Posted by on December 9, 2011

News du jour today was that Wilkes-Barre / Scranton signed reigning ECHL Rookie of the Month Chris Barton today.

Barton’s number in Wheeling are 15-9-24, +10 and 24 PIMs in 18 games so far. He was in WBS’ camp this fall.

Up top, Robert Bortuzzo has “concussion like” symptoms after a shot from the Flyers’ Zac Rinaldo last night. Deryk Engelland “may” play tomorrow on Long Island tomorrow but if not, yet another defensemen from WBS will be taken.

If another body from WBS is taken, I think it will be Carl Sneep. Alex Grant and Philip Samuelsson by rights belong in Wheeling.

Back to the Barton signing. Could this be in advance of a forward going up tomorrow? Pittsburgh went with Steve MacIntyre on a fourth line in Philly last night. No way MacIntyre is an everyday player.

Speculation makes my head hurt. Wilkes-Barre is off tonight, so I am going to play casual observer tonight of thirteen AHL games this evening. Gameday for Pens / Bears tomorrow from Hershey will be up here Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

Let’s Go Pens!

Pittsburgh, WBS

Blue Line Special

Comments Off on Blue Line Special Posted by on December 5, 2011

Injuries piling up in Pittsburgh. Kris Letang and Zbynek Michalek have concussions. This morning, Alex Picard was recalled. He joins Brian Strait, Robert Bortuzzo and Simon Despres as players who have previously manned the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton blueline.

This leaves WBS short at defensemen. It’s not known who, if anyone, will get the call from Wheeling. Andrew Hotham was placed on 7 day injured reserve by Wheeling yesterday.

Wilkes-Barre plays Wednesday in Binghamton. Pittsburgh hosts Boston tonight then travels to Philadelphia Thursday.

Elsewhere, Wheeling Nailers head coach Stan Drulia resigned today to join the Milwaukee Admirals coaching staff.

“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Let’s Go Pens!

Pittsburgh, WBS

Things That Make Ya Go Hmm…

Comments Off on Things That Make Ya Go Hmm… Posted by on November 30, 2011

Wheeling Nailers beat writer Shawn Rine from The Intelligencer tweeted the following this evening:

https://twitter.com/#!/Shawn_Rine/status/142049630857863168

Lots to speculate on here. Probably a golden opportunity for Pittsburgh to get a good look at it’s first round draft pick from the 2009 NHL Draft. Both Letang and Mihalek will not be available for Thursday’s game at Washington.

It could be to keep bodies fresh on defense at both levels. Pittsburgh plays tomorrow and Saturday. Wilkes-Barre plays Friday and Saturday.

I’d expect that Andrew Hotham will be recalled from Wheeling tomorrow. That is, unless Boris Valabik is finally healthy enough to play this weekend.

I guess we all have to stay tuned.

Pittsburgh, WBS, Wheeling

MacIntrye Up; Tangradi Down

Comments Off on MacIntrye Up; Tangradi Down Posted by on November 16, 2011

Steve MacIntyre returned to Pittsburgh from his conditioning stint. As a result, Eric Tangradi was returned to Wilkes-Barre.

Bombulie had his insights on the Tangradi demotion. I am slowly coming around to the fact that Tangradi’s ship may have sailed in the eyes of the Pittsburgh Penguins. I hope I am wrong with this assessment, but 17:00 of ice time? In two games? That doesn’t sound like to me the staff in Pittsburgh has that much faith in one of it’s top prospects.

I am not bashing Tangradi, so don’t get that confused. I am simply stating what is glaringly obvious to me, is all.

Jonathan is right though, I am thrilled to have him back with WBS. As for MacIntyre, I openly questioned him being here when he was initially sent down but, you know what? I was warming up to the guy. I don’t think we see him again here in WBS.

I am heading to Portland, Maine on Thursday morning. The weather looks great. I’ll probably have a blog post from Vacationland tomorrow afternoon.

Let’s Go Pens!

Pittsburgh, Travel, WBS

Thursday Update

Comments Off on Thursday Update Posted by on November 10, 2011

Only a couple of things to scrape together today:

–> Biggest news of the day is Eric Tangradi getting recalled to Pittsburgh since Sidney Crosby still isn’t ready to play. Tangradi is waiver exempt, so he can come up and down as often as Pittsburgh wants.

–> According to Hershey Bears beat writer Tim Leone and his Thursday practice update Dany Sabourin will be getting the start in net for the Bears tomorrow. Sabourin is 1-1 with a 3.71 GAA and a 0.868 SV% in two appearances against the Pens so far this season. I’d expect Brad Thiessen to get the start Friday. Thiessen’s numbers in three games vs. the Bears is 2-1 with a 134 GAA and a 0.943 SV%.

–> The AHL announced its 2012 Hall of Fame Class today.

Gameday update will be up at it’s usual 3 p.m. spot here on the blog tomorrow. I have been kicking around the idea of publishing it earlier. Need your feedback:

Let’s Go Pens!

Pittsburgh, The AHL

Reinforcements

Comments Off on Reinforcements Posted by on November 8, 2011

Pittsburgh assigned Dustin Jeffrey and Steve MacIntyre to Wilkes-Barre on conditioning assignments this afternoon. They can stay in the AHL for a maximum of 14 days before they would then need to clear waivers if they wanted to stick around for day 15 and beyond.

I’d expect MacIntyre to stick around long term Jeffrey to go back up. Jeffrey has nothing left to prove in the AHL. His serious knee injury may have hampered his development in the NHL, but there is nothing left for him to prove at the AHL level.

I still am optimistic enough that WBS will see Richard Park, Mark Letestu or Jeffrey here long term. There could be a trade in the works, but even if, you can’t move all these bodies. Someone has to come to the farm.

EDIT: Mark Letestu was just traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a 4th Round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft.

Stay tuned, and Go Pens!

Pittsburgh, WBS

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