Cannon Firing Line
Tootsie on Ice
By Ellis G. Cannon
PSR Publisher

In the days following the Pens run to within two games of the Stanley Cup championship, Brooks Orpik allowed that a player would be less than truthful if he didn't acknowledge wondering during the regular season what his status would be next year.

He went on to also point out the turnaround time between the end of the playoff hunt and the beginning of free agency-July 1-was not far away.

Looking at the calendar, you realized just how right he was - the time frame was less than a month.

As it turns out for the average Penguins fan, or perhaps even the casual type who jumped on the parade as the Pens made their serious drive to hoist the Stanley Cup, maybe we should have been happy the window was short.

The truth is, just about every day seemingly brought new reports of developments, gamesmanship and speculation befitting a much longer running soap opera.

In fact, if there was another chapter in Penguins history worthy of being dubbed "As the Pens Turn," please submit your entries. Actually, considering a pair of bankruptcies, the arena game and moving to Kansas City, Howard Baldwin and a litany of others, let's take that back.

Still, you get the point - this past month proved to have a lot of twists and turns. Such was the case-and should have been expected-when you combine success, an embarrassment of riches, a salary cap and youth, not to mention guys looking to hit the lottery perhaps one last time.

And if you were surprised by anything that transpired, you're very much encouraged to go online to pghsports.com or find last month's hardcopy issue of PSR to read Bob Grove's one-of-a-kind definitive analysis on what challenges, and turns, could reasonably be expected, including that of trying to spread out enough money to more than enough players.

Take your pick - the Pens offer arbitration to the goalie, the high-priced winger acquired at the deadline is seen by some as talking out of both sides of his mouth, 71 says he's in for the long haul here even if the Russians are after him, the homegrown kid doesn't seem too happy and sends signals he's skipping town, and a defenseman who played left wing this season is suddenly considered indispensable. And that's not even half the list - nor, even as PSR goes to print, the last.

In other words, keep tuning in all summer to what promises to be one nutty soap opera. Let's just hope we don't wake up some day soon and find Michel Therrien-he of the "We'll get to your contract when we're done with the stickboy's"-doesn't show up dressed in drag to protest his travails.

Because the idea of "Tootsie on Ice" is too much to take.

"Ellis Cannon's Sportsline Pittsburgh" airs weeknights from 6-8 p.m. on FM Newstalk 104.7. Ellis is also a regular contributor on "#1 Cochran Sports Showdown" aired Sundays at 11:35 p.m. on KDKA-TV.