Pens trade for Kovalev

By Jeff

The Post-Gazette and Tribune Review are both reporting that the Pittsburgh Penguins have traded a sixth or seventh round draft pick to the Ottawa Senators for Alexei Kovalev.

Let's take it back to 2000 baby!

How can a Pens fan not love this move? Kovalev is having an off year and is 38 and only has 14 goals this season, but he hated the coach in Ottawa. He was on a last place team that was going nowhere. It's no coincidence his game greatly improved once February rolled around. He was ready to get the hell out of there and go to a contender. Kovalev can score and he can skate. The power play will be better with him on it.

Does anyone have Martin Straka's or Robert Lang's number?
Screw it. I'll Facebook them.

Kovalev will be on one of the top two lines with the Pens after being relegated to the fourth line several times this season. Of course, that doesn't mean much if you look at the current lines. Craig Adams is a second line player on this Pens team right now. But the point is he is going to have motivation to play well.

With the addition of Kovalev and James Neal, this team actually has some scoring wingers on it. I may be jumping ahead of myself, but I'm picturing a first line featuring Sidney Crosby and Neal, and a second line of Jordan Staal and Kovalev for the playoffs. It's a beautiful picture that would have to be taken as a Stanley Cup contender.

Even if Crosby doesn't come back, this team can win in the playoffs. They have great defense and a goalie playing the best hockey of his life right now (Where did the Fleury haters go?). Why can't think team make a deep playoff run with the newly acquired talent? Chris Kunitz is a week or two away, Mark Letestu could be back this weekend and Dustin Jeffrey is almost healthy. Add them to Neal, Kovalev and Staal, and you have an offense that can score goals and wreck havoc.

It's going to be a fun and long spring for Pens fans.

Eddie Money - I Think I'm In Love