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What is the record for number changes worn by a Penguins player?
Penguins Q&A with Dave Molinari
Monday, June 29, 2009

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Question:
Do you know the record for the number of different numbers worn by a Penguins player? With Alex Goligoski having worn 67, 13 and now 3, I am hard-pressed to think of anyone else who has worn three numbers.

Mike Georger, State College

MOLINARI: Goligoski is averaging one sweater number for every 16 games he plays in the NHL. Suffice to say, he's not likely to maintain that pace, and he already has gone through more numbers than the vast majority of players who have labored for the Penguins since they entered the NHL in 1967.

He does not, however, have even a share of the team record, because at least five players had four different numbers while playing here. They are Greg Andrusak (Nos. 4, 36, 37, 49), Todd Charlesworth (2, 6. 27. 34), Dwight Mathiasen (11, 22, 24, 34), Gary Rissling (10, 15, 20, 23) and George Swarbrick (10, 15, 20, 23).

Others who, like Goligoski, have worn three numbers as a member of the Penguins include Phil Bourque (2, 4, 29), Jeff Christian (34, 28, 72), Kim Davis (16,22,30), Mario Faubert (5, 24, 28), Lee Giffin (11, 17, 34), Jim Hamilton (13, 23, 28), Greg Johnson (20, 9, 22), Rick Kessell (14, 15, 23), Tom Price (6, 25, 28), Dan Quinn (10, 14, 9), John Stewart (20, 23, 25), Garry Valk (26, 8, 18) and Bennett Wolf (3, 6, 16).




Question:
How is Eric Tangradi doing with his recovery? Will he be ready for camp and can he make a serious run at making the big club?

Joe, Atlanta

MOLINARI: General manager Ray Shero said over the weekend that Tangradi, who required surgery this spring to repair tendon damage in his left hand caused when he was cut by a skate during an Ontario Hockey League playoff games, appears to be progressing on schedule and is expected to attend the team's prospects-development camp this later summer.

Tangradi, the power forward acquired from Anaheim in the Ryan Whitney trade, seemed like a long shot to play in the NHL next season even before he was injured, because bigger players generally take a little longer to develop. Even if there are no lingering effects of his injury -- and that can't necessarily be assumed -- the training time he lost because of it makes him even less likely to start 2009-10 in the NHL. There's nothing wrong with easing a prospect into the pro game, however. Guys are more likely to suffer from being rushed to the NHL than they are from spending a little extra time in the minors.




Question:
It seems to be a common occurrence in sports for a newly hired general manager or coach to bring in players from his old team. Do you expect Minnesota to make a run at the Penguins' free agents?

Randall, Portsmouth, N.H.

MOLINARI: Chuck Fletcher, the former Penguins assistant GM who is now the Wild GM, hasn't shared the finer points of his personnel plans designed to transform Minnesota into a Stanley Cup contender, but if any of the Penguins' free agents fit his team's needs, it's only logical that Fletcher would pursue them.

Because he served as general manager of the Penguins' farm team in Wilkes-Barre and oversaw their scouting operations, he might have even a better feel for their talent outside the NHL than anyone now in the organization. Being so familiar not only with a prospect's skills set but with his character and other intangibles certainly might make Fletcher more willing to make a commitment to him, much as Ray Shero was willing to bring in guys like Mark Eaton and Adam Hall that he knew from his time in Nashville.

Shero joked last week that he couldn't even get Fletcher to return his phone calls, let alone have an in-depth discussion about possible trades, but no one should be surprised if the two connect on some deals in the future. Assuming, of course, that both are willing to part with players, prospects or other assets the other is interested in adding.

First published on June 29, 2009 at 12:00 am