Pens Sign LeClair

[Spider-Man NL]

Along with playing alongside Crosby and Lemieux, John LeClair will also be reunited with Flyers teammate Mark Recchi.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed free agent left wing John LeClair, it was announced today by General Manager Craig Patrick. In accordance with club policy, terms of the contract were not released.

LeClair, 36, is one of the leading goal-scorers in the NHL over the past nine seasons, scoring at least 50 goals in three consecutive seasons (1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98). Since 1995-96, he has scored 308 goals for an average of 34.2 goals a season -- tying for sixth in the NHL with Penguins' right wing Zigmund Palffy.

LeClair has been named a First-Team NHL All-Star twice (1995 and 1998) and a Second-Team NHL All-Star three times (1996, 1997 and 1999). He also has played in five NHL All-Star Games - 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000.

In 873 career NHL games with the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers, LeClair has recorded 382 goals and 379 assists for 761 points. In his first full NHL season in 1992-93, LeClair won a Stanley Cup championship in Montreal.

The 6-3, 226-pound native of St. Albans, Vermont has appeared in at least 75 games in seven of the last nine seasons and has appeared in all 82 games five times. LeClair appeared in 75 games in his last season, 2003-04, scoring 23 goals and 55 points.

"John is a big strong winger who is a proven and consistently productive goal-scorer," Patrick said. "His presence further strengthens the group of forwards we're assembling here in Pittsburgh."

LeClair was originally drafted by the Canadiens in the second round (33rd overall) of the 1987 Entry Draft. He played in 224 games with Montreal over parts of five seasons (1990-94) and scored 49 goals. LeClair was traded to Philadelphia with Eric Desjardins and Gilbert Dionne for Mark Recchi and a third round draft choice on February 9, 1995. Over the next nine-plus seasons with the Flyers, LeClair scored 333 goals in 649 games and currently ranks fifth on Philadelphia's all-time goals list.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp...815_140048_5764

[Edited on 2005/8/15 by Spider-Man NL]

[Guy10]

Wow The Pens are makin moves....should be interesting to see how they do this season.

[Cadian]

scary moves! That is a completely different and a dangerous playoff team now. All that to provide Crosby with a team to compete with... (and to get a new areana)

[shortcat1]

I don't know if LeClairs up to doing a whole lot anymore, especially with his injury and health problems.

If he does well, then that'll be one more piece of the puzzle to support and guide Crosby. That's good.

We'll see.

[Psycing]

Hey, a bag of pucks to anyone who can figure out what Pitts line-up will look like with all their additions this year.

[sakiqc]

Lets give it a try ..

Lemieux Crosby Palffy

LeClair Kraft Recchi

Roy Koltsov Fata

Malone Pirjeta VandenBussche

Gonchar Tarnstrom

Orpik Whitney

Melichar Jackman

Strbak Poapst

Fleury

Thibault

Hope I didn't forgot someone important

[Psycing]

Hmm, their D is a bit weak...

oh yea, you forgot Malkin. (If he does hit the NHL)

[Tony_]

Originally posted by Macaskill

Hmm, their D is a bit weak...

oh yea, you forgot Malkin. (If he does hit the NHL)

Maca beat me to the punch

[ddawwidd]

Those two "Le" guys are a bit of concern

Honestly, I don't know if Lemieux will play more than 20 games... And LeClair is not that old "Legion of Doom" player whom he used to be. I think that Pittsburgh is still long away from being a serious threat.

[BTH]

Yeah, they've become a play-off team but their division is filled with talent. They won't finish ahead of Philly and NJ.

-Lemieux is passed his prime and won't play many games.

-LeClair is just passed his prime.

-Recchi can still score but not as well as he used to.

-Palffy is in his prime and will be their top scorer.

-Gonchar has a chance of being their 2nd scorer despite being a Defenseman. He's the biggest signing and makes a good defender in front of average goaltending.

-Thibault is inconsistent.

-Marc-André Fleury has great potential but is still only a back-up for now.

-Sydney Crosby and the others have still not proven themselves. Remember: Lindros was also once called the "Next One."

-André Roy was a key signing due to the lack of size in the RW position (Recchi, Palffy: 5"10).

-Tarnstrom and Melichar are the only two D that can do their job, excluding Gonchar.

Overall, Palffy and Gonchar are the only huge names. Their team is filled with big names that can't put the puck where their mouth is.

[Tony_]

I wonder how much the Pens are going to have to pay to get Malkin in North America considering the Russians won't sign the new IIHF player transfer agreement.

[puck7x]

Originally posted by Bulis_the_Habbie

Yeah, they've become a play-off team but their division is filled with talent. They won't finish ahead of Philly and NJ.

-Lemieux is passed his prime and won't play many games.

A "past his prime" Lemieux who is 100% healthy (as he is right now) is still the BEST PLAYER in the NHL (Well maybe tied with Forsberg). He's had a year off to heal, and if he plays at least 60 games this year the pens are in great shape and will probably make the playoffs. Mario is still in a class by himself, even at his age.

-Sydney Crosby and the others have still not proven themselves. Remember: Lindros was also once called the "Next One."

Whats your point? Lindros DID live up to the hype, every bit of it. He dominated the NHL early in his career, won a hart trophy, averaged over a point per game. The reason his career went downhill was because of all the concussions, but the hype on Lindros was deserved, and he did live up to it.

Thankfully Crosby knows how to keep his head up. Sidney is the real deal.

[Leafs Suck]

Don't forget about Ryan Whitney. He had a very strong college career and could step right in on their blueline and play some serious minutes.