Although most Penguin fans are waiting for #PariseWatch to end in their favor, that has not stopped General Manger Ray Shero from making signings on the first day of free agency.

Forward Tanner Glass has signed a two year/$1.1 million deal. The 28 year year old spent last season with the Winnipeg Jets where he had 16 points in 78 games along with a career high 246 hits. Glass played college hockey with current Penguin Ben Lovejoy at Dartmouth.

The Pens also resigned enforcer Steve MacIntyre to a two year, two way contract for $625,000.

That leaves the Pens with about $11 million left under the cap, so don’t be surprised to see a trade or two if the Pens are serious about making a push towards either Zach Parise or Ryan Suter.

Don't worry, Staalsy.

In just one interview, Ray Shero has told the media to sit down and shut up when it comes to Jordan Staal. Well, not in those exact words, but you know what I mean.

On Twitter this morning, Dave Molinari, Penguins beat writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, posted bits of an interview with the Penguins GM. Shero says that while teams have called and asked about Staal, he tells them all the same thing: that he wants, and hopes, to re-sign the forward. He also says that the Penguins have not put him on the trading block, and that Staal has not expressed interest in playing anywhere else.

Shero also said there is no rush to re-sign both Staal and Sidney Crosby. Both have one more year left on their contracts and can sign an extension after July 1st.

In other interesting news, Shero said that he is expecting to trade a defenseman “or two” before the start of the new season, but refused to say if he was asked to waive no-trade contracts.

Shero expects to talk to Arron Asham and Steve Sullivan’s agents to see what kind of contracts they are looking for. Asham has expressed interest in staying a Penguin, and Sullivan’s agent has said that he absolutely wants to continue playing in the NHL next year. Shero has said they both have been good players for the Penguins.

When it comes to restricted free agents, the Penguins are expected to give qualifying offers to Matt Niskanen, Eric Tangradi, Robert Bortuzzo, Brian Strait, Keven Veilleux, Alex Grant, and Carl Sneep. Should they choose not to accept, they will become restricted free agents on July 1st.  Alex Picard, Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Mattias Modig or Boris Valabik are not expected to get offers and will become restricted free agents on July 1st.

Thank God for this news, especially on Staal, because it was getting quite annoying hearing everyone and their mothers give their worthless $0.02 on what they believe was going to happen. I have no doubt in my mind that Shero knows what he is doing, and that he will do what he believes is the best thing for our team.

Although August has just begun, hockey fans’ minds are on the upcoming season. One of Penguin fans biggest questions this off-season are Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin’s health. Missing arguably two of the top players in the world, seriously hurt the team in the playoffs. But learning what the team could do (and couldn’t do) without them in the 2nd half of the season probably impacted the off-season signings.

Even though Ray Shero was not one of the more active GMs at July 1st(compared to teams like the Flyers), bringing in a player such as Steve Sullivan could make a quiet impact on the team. Bringing a speedy player like Sullivan on a line with Crosby could result in high offensive numbers.

Speaking of the Flyers, many fans now have December 29th circled on their calendar. The home game marks the arrival of former Pens, Jaromir Jagr and Max Talbot. It should be interesting to see the fan-reaction (probably boos and some other choice words) and also how HBO shows the matchup. Although Jagr Watch is most definitely over, the Penguins have shown that they would rather give current players a chance to make the roster then spending a couple million on a player whose role on the team might only last a year or two at the most.

Shero seems to lean on the importance of young, upcoming players like Dustin Jeffrey and Eric Tangradi. A healthy Jeffrey and a now twitterless Tangradi (tears were shed) could be used to give some youth to this season’s roster. It should be interesting to see how the remodel of the Flyers roster, a healthy and newly resigned Zach Parise for the Devils, and a new star center with the Rangers impacts the rest of the Atlantic Division.

As the calendar turns, we are getting much closer to the season and hopeful closer to answering some of our questions.

Boris Valabik

Signed: July 3
Country: Slovakia
Previous Teams: NHL – Atlanta Thrashers AHL – Chicago Wolves, Providence Bruins
Brief Summary: A strong defensemen who will help the WBS Penguins now that a few players have left the team. His two-way contract is for one year and $550,000 at the NHL Level.

Brad Thiessen

Re-Signed: July 5
Country: Canada
Previous Teams: AHL -Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, ECHL – Wheeling Nailers
Brief Summary: A great goaltender coming off an impressive year in the AHL. His two-way contract is for one year and $525,000 at the NHL Level.

Alexandre Picard

Signed: July 5
Country: Canada
Previous Teams: NHL – Philedelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators AHL – Philedelphia Phantoms, Norfolk Admirals
Brief Summary: Drafted 85th overall in 2003 he is a solid blueliner with decent NHL experience. His two-way contract is worth $600,000 at the NHL level for one year.

Steve MacIntyre

Signed: July 13
Country: Canada
Previous Teams: NHL – Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers AHL – Hartford Wolfpack, Providence Bruins and Rochester Americans
Brief Summary: Originally drafted by the New York Rangers in 2003, MacIntyre (a forward) has played in 78 NHL games for 2 different teams. His one-year contract is valued at $600,000.

The Pens have re-signed Dustin Jeffrey to a two year contract valued at around $575,000 at the NHL level. After spending a large chuck of the past season up with the big boys it’s great to hear that he will be back next season.

He’s proven capable of scoring, both short-handed and at full strength, and is perhaps one of the better players in the Penguins system. He’s NHL ready and has proven so whenever he’s been asked.

It isn’t 100% guaranteed that he will make the line up this fall but with how well he has performed and with the voids left behind by Talbot and Rupp there is room for him. Congrats Dustin!

There Are No Words

It’s that dreaded time of year. The one where players we grown accustomed to seeing and enjoy watching play have to leave us. Some to other conferences, others to other divisions in the east, and one to the orange soul suckers from across the state. In this post we will take a look back on the highs, the lows, and the man who betrayed us all (insert overly dramatic music and mood lighting).

http://youtu.be/tJjBvK_2Wjo

» Continue reading “Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow”

It’s that time! Free agency has begun. Get all the latest news and updates for Pittsburgh right here, as they happen! Settle in today is going to be fun.

» Continue reading “Penguins Free Agency LiveBlog”

At the end of April there were eleven contracts up for grabs and one GM with the unenviable job of choosing who to keep and who is no longer an asset to the team. Tomorrow is the day we find out who is worth keeping and who we will be forced to say goodbye to, some more happily then others.

What We Know For Sure

Max Talbot (UFA): A fan favourite no doubt but probably one of the most overrated players on the roster. He’s a great guy and has played well in clutch moments but probably not worth keeping around long-term.  He’s already rejected a 3 year contract extension with the team and will hit the market on Friday. It will be tough to see him go. There was talk of him moving to the Leafs but that proved to have stalled.

Craig Adams (UFA): Already signed a two year extension at $675,000 per year.

Pascal Dupuis (UFA): We will be seeing Dupers again this fall. He’s now locked in to a two year contract at $1.5 million per year.

Arron Asham (UFA): One more year for Asham. He’s been re-signed at $775,000.

Alexei Kovalev (UFA): Ray Shero has confirmed that he has no intention of extending Kovalev’s contract and with good reason. This time around, his contributions were more taxing than positive.

Mike Comrie (UFA): Easily the easiest decision Shero had to make. A constant underachiever who manages to ride the IR for the majority of the season, and not only for the Penguins (he spent the majority of his last year in Edmonton with mono). Shero cut his losses and let this one loose.

Looking Ahead On July 1^st

Tyler Kennedy (RFA): Keep him. In the absence of Crosby, Malkin, and pretty much anyone else with consistent scoring potential, Kennedy has stepped up and proved his ability to remain consistent and score when given the chance.

Dustin Jeffrey (RFA): Obviously the Pens will be keeping him. His potential is worth the investment.

Mike Rupp (UFA), Eric Godard (UFA), and Chris Conner (UFA): It’s not looking good for these guys. There were some rumours about Rupp being in talks to return but it honestly doesn’t sound promising.

Jaromir Jagr: Where do you even begin with this one? Will he? Won’t he? Angry agents being called at 9pm, unanswered calls, rumours galore. If we get him that’s great but if we don’t, at this point, I don’t think it’s worth the headache.

Hold on to your butts everyone it’s going to be a long day! Oh and Happy Canada Day to all the Canadians out there!