Penguins sign warm bodies on first day of lukewarm free agent signings

 

The highly anticipated free agent frenzy that was supposed to kick off at 12:01 PM yesterday never materialized as only a couple of “big” names signed with new teams, and like the really hot girls at prom time, the giant names sat back and let the courting begin.  Along with  the millions of dollars being offered to guys like Suter and Parisie came phone calls from Sidney Crosby (Parisie) and Wayne Gretzky (Suter) on behalf of Detroit extolling the virtues of their city.

When the day ended, the Penguins had lost one player they allowed to test the free agent waters, Aaron Asham to the New York Rangers, re-signed two of their own free agents, Brad Thiessen(Hey, someone has to play goalie for Wilkes-Barre) and Steve McIntyre (Why?) along with adding four warm bodies: Tanner Glass from Winnipeg (A replacement for Aaron Asham), Dylan Reese from the Islanders (Local kid from Upper St. Clair), Riley Holzapfel from Anaheim (Most likely to start the year centering the top line in Wilkes-Barre),  Jeff  Zatkoff a goalie from the LA Kings farm system  (Brad Thiessen II), and Warren Peters from Minnesota (I think his parents know who he is)

Two free agent Wingers that did sign that I thought the Penguins might have had a passing interest in were Ray Whitney, who left Phoenix and signed a two year $9 million deal with the Dallas Stars (More than the Penguins would have offered a 40 year old) and PA Parenteau, who left the Islanders and signed a 4 year, $16 million deal with the Colorado Avalanche (Penguins don’t give guys like that 4 year deals)

Should the Penguins not land Suter, I’m not sure I see any other defenseman out there worth pursuing now that Bryan Allen signed with Anaheim.  If they don’t land Parisie, and for what I’m hearing he is asking for, I sure hope they don’t. (Philly has supposedly offered a deal in excess of $100 million), the next option is either looking at guys like Shane Doan, bringing back Steve Sullivan,  or possibly making a trade for a guy like Bobby Ryan or Chris Stewart.  I’m not sure the Penguins have the assets to get Bobby Ryan though as Anaheim filled it’s need for defense, the Penguins’ one position of strength, yesterday acquiring both Allen and Sheldon Souray. Chris Stewart, on the other hand, could probably be had for not all that much as his trade to St. Louis just never worked out, and the Blues might just be ready to part with him.

I would really like to see the Penguins come away with 1. Suter or 2. Parisie at a reasonable deal otherwise the Penguins freed up all of this cap space for nothing as there is truly no one else out worth the kind of money they have to offer.

 

Players Penguins signed yesterday:

Dylan Reese:

Recent Career
Year	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	Hits	BkS	PPG	PPA	SHG	SHA	GW	SOG	Pct
2009	NYI	19	2	2	4	4	14	7	25	0	0	0	0	1	16	.125
2010	NYI	27	0	6	6	-12	15	17	22	0	0	0	0	0	23	.000
2011	NYI	28	1	6	7	0	11	22	25	0	0	0	0	0	26	.038
Career Totals (Full)		74	3	14	17	-8	40	46	72	0	0	0	0	1	65	.046

Tanner Glass:

Year	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	Hits	BkS	PPG	PPA	SHG	SHA	GW	SOG	Pct
2009	VAN	67	4	7	11	5	115	165	19	0	0	0	0	0	52	.077
2010	VAN	73	3	7	10	-5	72	130	29	0	0	0	0	1	45	.067
2011	WPG	78	5	11	16	-12	73	246	51	0	0	0	0	1	86	.058
Career Totals (Full)		262	13	26	39	-17	306	541	99	0	0	0	0	2	195	.067

 

Riley Holzapfel:

No games played in the NHL

Warren Peters:

Recent Career
Year	Team	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	Hits	BkS	PPG	PPA	SHG	SHA	GW	SOG	Pct
2009	DAL	11	1	0	1	1	2	27	4	0	0	0	0	0	8	.125
2010	MIN	11	1	0	1	-2	4	24	7	0	0	0	0	0	11	.091
2011	MIN	58	1	4	5	-15	54	70	34	0	0	0	0	0	54	.019
Career Totals (Full)		96	4	4	8	-18	72	121	45	0	0	0	0	0	86	.047