The Cup Changes Everything
With the Blues obligated to pay him US$2.67 million because of their decision to walk away from the final year of his four-year, $16-million deal, [Jay] McKee simply was looking for an opportunity to join an organization with a legitimate shot to win hockey's top prize.
"It's no secret I'm still getting paid by St. Louis. My main objective was to find a winning team," McKee, 31, said.
"But unless that team is interested in what you bring, it can't happen. But Pittsburgh called and they were trying real hard to get me there. They lost a couple of defensive guys with similar attributes (Hal Gill and Rob Scuderi), so it worked out kind of perfect. I just hope to fill their needs."
McKee, who signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Penguins, also hopes to win the first Stanley Cup of his career.
That's from an article in the Kingston Whig Standard.
This is from an article in the Ottawa Citizen:
Twice bitten, thrice shy? Apparently not for the Oilers, who, despite being continually rebuffed by disgruntled Ottawa Senators winger Dany Heatley, haven't given up on the idea of bringing him to Edmonton.
According to the Edmonton Journal, an Oilers representative has delivered a highlight package of tapes to Heatley at his summer home in Kelowna, B.C., hoping the gesture somehow convinces him to change his mind and accept a trade to the Alberta capital.
That's what the Stanley Cup does.
And not just in McKee's case.
We've seen Bill Guerin and Craig Adams and Ruslan Fedotenko take pay cuts to remain with the Penguins.
That's what winning the Stanley Cup does for a team.
Sidney Crosby wants to bring the Cup to his hometown on his birthday.
The Islanders want Miroslav Satan back.
The Lightning want Petr Sykora.
NHL.com has a good feature on Craig Adams.
"The biggest thing with Craig is he knows how to win, knows what has to be done. Then, he goes out and executes. That's why he was on the ice in the last, big seconds of the game."
-- Bill Guerin on Craig Adams