[Gotham Dark Knight]

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Ray Shero had a surprise waiting for young sons Christopher and Kyle when they arrived home from school in Nashville. On the family phone was a message from Mario Lemieux, welcoming them to Pittsburgh.
That's how Shero revealed to his family he was becoming the Penguins' general manager.
"If you could see the look in their eyes -- the joy in their eyes -- that Mario Lemieux actually left their dad a message, it was really tremendous," Shero said Thursday after signing a five-year contract. "It really makes me feel this is the right place for us."
Shero, the Predators' assistant general manager for eight seasons under David Poile, might change his mind when he starts watching game tapes. A Penguins franchise that made the playoffs every season from 1991-2001 hasn't won more than 28 games during four consecutive last-place finishes, a falloff that even Lemieux's comeback as a player couldn't prevent. "But there's an outstanding talent base of young players here, and it's an exciting, exciting time in Pittsburgh," Shero said, pointing to 100-point rookie Sidney Crosby, promising goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and draft pick Evgeni Malkin. "You've got some wonderful assets to build around here that other teams do not have."

So is this what the helpless Penguins need to turn it around?...Or did they just promote a lower level guy to keep costs to a minimum?

[blueandwhite]

That is definitely a job i would NOT want.
Is he any realation to onetime philly coach fred shero - yes just looked it up, he is his son.

[Lefty Noob]

Currently, I'd say its just a cheap hire. But who knows? Sometimes these things work out.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

That is definitely a job i would NOT want.
Is he any realation to onetime philly coach fred shero - yes just looked it up, he is his son.

You know I would love this job...lots of great new players...a city almost throwing in the towel...its such an underdog role...if you screw nobody really will put all the blame on you...if you pull it off, you are the next great thing in hockey...perfect job really.

[Lefty Noob]

Or, if you screw up, you drive the final nail in the coffin of a dying franchise. You could always look at it that way too, right?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Or, if you screw up, you drive the final nail in the coffin of a dying franchise. You could always look at it that way too, right?

Nope...if you screw up ...you throw up your hands and say...it was over before I got here...I did the merciful thing and shot the dying horse...

[ThePundit]

Does Bill Torrey have a son who can GM the Isles?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

Does Bill Torrey have a son who can GM the Isles?

Pundit, I like to think of you as the son Torrey never had...go apply my man...then toss me a high paying marketing job...

[Trashed]

If this gambling casino goes through it looks like the Pens will stay in Pittsburgh according to the Hockey News and their attendance is quite good but Mellon Arena is a disaster. As for their talent, there hasnt been as good a crop of young players since the final days of the Quebec Nordiques before they became the Colorado Avalanche.

[Lefty Noob]

True, and yet they overspent on so many aging veterans who didn't pan out last season, so they're in financial trouble AGAIN. I've been a pretty big defender of Craig Patrick on this forum, but he really blew it last season. With such a talented young nucleus, there was no need to waste money like that. I hope the team can find a way to stay in Pittsburgh, but at the same time, I'd rather they not legalize gambling and give in to the casinos.

[Trashed]

Well supposedly the congressman is in favor of the casinos being built and he also said that the funds would go to build the Pens a new arena. Sounds like its gonna be built to me but as for those veterans, I suppose after the strike and all players were jumping to other teams the Penguins figured they could grab a few name players for draw value and they didnt pay off on the ice. Once again though if those casinos go up and are used to build the Pens a new arena...their financial troubles will be a thing of the past.