DK on Pittsburgh Sports Penguins / Award-winning columnist Dejan Kovacevic covers Steelers, Penguins, Pirates, Pitt and more Tue, 03 Mar 2015 00:09:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1 Column: Penguins build on strength, not size /2015/03/02/column-penguins-build-on-strength-not-size/ /2015/03/02/column-penguins-build-on-strength-not-size/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2015 22:56:04 +0000 /?p=10882 BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC Let’s start with the most cynical summation possible for Jim Rutherford’s performance at the NHL trade deadline today: The Penguins, a well-below-average physical team, traded away their top two hitters, Simon Despres and Robert Bortuzzo, for two other defensemen, Ben Lovejoy and Ian Cole, who skate more swiftly and make prettier plays. […]

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]]> /2015/03/02/column-penguins-build-on-strength-not-size/feed/ 81 News/views: Penguins reacquire Lovejoy /2015/03/02/newsviews-penguins-reacquire-lovejoy/ /2015/03/02/newsviews-penguins-reacquire-lovejoy/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2015 20:04:16 +0000 /?p=10874 BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC News: The Penguins made a second trade for a defenseman, reacquiring Ben Lovejoy from the Ducks in exchange for Simon Despres. Views: Now that’s a surprise. On both ends. I think I’m going to write a full column now combining both trades, so I ask your patience.

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]]> /2015/03/02/newsviews-penguins-reacquire-lovejoy/feed/ 112 News/views: Penguins get Cole for Bortuzzo /2015/03/02/newsviews-penguins-get-cole-for-bortuzzo/ /2015/03/02/newsviews-penguins-get-cole-for-bortuzzo/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2015 18:33:47 +0000 /?p=10855 BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC News: The Penguins have completed a trade of bottom-pair defensemen, sending Robert Bortuzzo and a 2016 seventh-round draft pick to the Blues for Ian Cole. Cole, 26, is a 6-1, 219-pound left-handed shot who had four goals, five assists and a plus-16 rating in 54 games for St. Louis. The games played […]

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]]> /2015/03/02/newsviews-penguins-get-cole-for-bortuzzo/feed/ 46 Video podcast: Rutherford, Cutch on ‘Showdown’ /2015/03/02/video-podcast-rutherford-cutch-on-showdown/ /2015/03/02/video-podcast-rutherford-cutch-on-showdown/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2015 17:53:17 +0000 /?p=10842 BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC Here’s the opening segment of KDKA-TV’s ‘#1 Cochran Sports Showdown’ late Sunday night, this one on the Penguins’ surge and Jim Rutherford’s role. Individually, here are parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, also covering the Steelers, Pirates and Pitt basketball.

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]]> /2015/03/02/video-podcast-rutherford-cutch-on-showdown/feed/ 0 News/views: NHL trading deadline, 3 p.m. /2015/03/02/newsviews-nhl-trading-deadline-3-p-m/ /2015/03/02/newsviews-nhl-trading-deadline-3-p-m/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2015 17:00:59 +0000 /?p=10844 BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC News: The NHL’s trading deadline is at 3 p.m. today. The league’s official site has a live tracker, and Canada’s TSN offers its usual unmatched array of live news, video and audio. Views: There is no rational reason to expect the Penguins to be active today, given that they don’t have enough room […]

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]]> /2015/03/02/newsviews-nhl-trading-deadline-3-p-m/feed/ 8 Column: Rutherford’s Penguins built ego-free /2015/03/01/column-rutherfords-penguins-built-ego-free/ /2015/03/01/column-rutherfords-penguins-built-ego-free/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2015 02:55:23 +0000 /?p=10792 BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC If we’re all being honest, there isn’t much to cull from the Penguins’ 5-3 clubbing of Columbus tonight at Consol Energy Center. Hardly anything, really. Not the power play showing actual flow and converting three times. Not the seamless systematic play in the defensive zone and on breakouts. Not Daniel Winnik assisting […]

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]]> /2015/03/01/column-rutherfords-penguins-built-ego-free/feed/ 106 On location: Penguins 5, Blue Jackets 3 /2015/03/01/on-location-penguins-blue-jackets/ /2015/03/01/on-location-penguins-blue-jackets/#comments Sun, 01 Mar 2015 20:08:24 +0000 /?p=10694 BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC Getting ready for faceoff … Game: Penguins (35-17-9) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (26-31-4), 5:08 p.m., Consol Energy Center Goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury (28-13-6, 2.17) vs. Curtis McElhinney (10-12-2, 2.68) TV, radio: Root Sports, 105.9 the X Online: GameCenter / Multimedia / Official game notes UPDATE 5:02 p.m.: The Penguins’ scratches are right winger Craig Adams and defenseman Christian Ehrhoff. No immediate word if […]

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]]> /2015/03/01/on-location-penguins-blue-jackets/feed/ 55 News/views: Winnik revved up for Cup run /2015/02/28/newsviews-winnik-revved-up-for-cup-run/ /2015/02/28/newsviews-winnik-revved-up-for-cup-run/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2015 18:21:00 +0000 /?p=10735 BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC News: Daniel Winnik took to the ice for his first practice with the Penguins this morning at Consol Energy Center, skating on the third line alongside Brandon Sutter and Steve Downie. Views: Never mind my views. I shared those the other day from D.C. when Jim Rutherford acquired Winnik from the Maple […]

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]]> /2015/02/28/newsviews-winnik-revved-up-for-cup-run/feed/ 50 Podcast: Rapid fire on 970 ESPN w/ Todd /2015/02/27/radio-445-p-m-on-970-espn-w-todd/ /2015/02/27/radio-445-p-m-on-970-espn-w-todd/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2015 20:45:38 +0000 /?p=10492 BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC Here’s the podcast of my weekly rapid-fire segment on 970 ESPN Pittsburgh with David Todd. Lots of Penguins and Pirates.

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]]> /2015/02/27/radio-445-p-m-on-970-espn-w-todd/feed/ 10 Friday Insider: Neil Walker going, going … /2015/02/27/friday-insider-so-long-neil-walker/ /2015/02/27/friday-insider-so-long-neil-walker/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2015 05:01:31 +0000 /?p=10659 BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC Roundup of a lot of randomness from a lot of time around our teams … • Sure sounds like Neil Walker is on his way out of his hometown. It might not happen soon or even this season, depending on how the Pirates fare, depending on how quickly Jung-Ho Kang and/or prospect […]

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