Pirates/Kings Agree on Trade

Mark Zelena

Adam Cristallini The third trade of the week was agreed to by the two captains, Jamie Zelena and Andrew McDonald, around midnight on Wednesday night. Zelena acquires his brother, Mark, and ships out Adam Cristallini to the Pirates. Mark Zelena (District 5, Hawks, Pirates, Kings) will start his second stint with the Kings, while Cristallini joins his fourth team (Crosby's, Boyle, Kings, Pirates). Cristallini had this to say in a press conference this afternoon: It was really a pleasant surprise finding out I was traded right before I went to sleep. Jamie (Zelena) and Andrew (McDonald) both texted me the news around midnight. I'm happy to have a new home now. (Playing with the Kings) was a lot of fun playing here for the last year and a half. I played with some really good players that came in and out of here, especially Chad Kanz, he's the best of all time. Amac told me up front that I can't be the same guy on the ice as I was with the Kings, and I know that. I'm not the so called leader anymore, I have people to follow and listen to like Tony (Bonacorso) and Joe (Rogers), but my intensity is coming with me for sure. He also said they need a shut down defender, and I want to be that, and help this team go back to the final again. I think this team team is way better than the record showing, there's tons of skill and talent here, and if it all comes together at the right time, look out for us. It is neck and neck up there with those three teams ahead of us. Each week is another story. I think the Jets are silently being dangerous, they have enough to defend the Cup again, with (Brian) Barca, (Jason) Kortz, (Jason) Tatrai, and (Bill) Seaman. (Zak) Campbell knows what he's doing over there, and he don't even show up, his job's been easy [laugh].....The Crosby's are a great unit and a team that's bonded well, it's like a family almost. They feed off one another and play sound hockey from top to bottom. John George has built a great defense to compliment Roy (McDonald), it's a complete team over there.....Zack (Siniawski) is doing a tremendous job in his first year as captain with the Moose, they're definitely the top team right now, (Jeff) Pingor and (Jeff) Rogers have really cared them on their backs alone, they've been unreal. Although, I sense they think they won the Cup already back in January, but if they want to be January champions, that's fine with me, May is the month that matters.