2014 Penguins Free Agents

1. Let Juici go and bring in these other guys – why not keep juici – he works so hard – now he’s gone and what have we got? Blake? At least there used to be someone to look forward to – so far there has been nobody new I am looking forward to seeing in a Pens sweater.

   1. Hey Yvonne,

      I certainly can understand how you feel. It’s hard to watch players you like—good players like Jokinen—sign with other teams, isn’t it?

      Unfortunately, it’s a numbers game. The Penguins simply couldn’t afford to keep Jokinen, who’ll make $4 million to play for Florida this year.

      Even though it’s hard to get used to all the changes, hopefully you’ll grow to like some of the new Pens. In particular, Patric Hornqvist and Christian Ehrhoff are very good.

2. We should keep Jokinen and Niskanen, but as the Pens always do they will let them go and bring in some unproven players. So many players we have let go that go on to become big assets to other teams as they were to ours. I will never understand how they think, cap or no cap.

   1. Hey Sue Ann,

      In this day and age the salary cap dictates to a certain degree who teams keep and who they allow to leave.

      By rewarding so many players with lucrative long-term deals—a trap that’s all-too-easy to fall into when you’re chasing the Stanley Cup—former GM Ray Shero left us with very little room to maneuver.

      Unfortunately, there was no way we could keep Niskanen and Jokinen, even though they played so well for us.

3. iam very happy because the old players are gone we will have a young team now

   1. Hey Christopher,

      I think you’re going to get your wish. I don’t think the Pens will try to re-sign any of their UFAs—most of whom are in their 30s.

      I don’t know if Rutherford has made qualifying offers or not, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Farnham and Zolnierczyk get a crack at fourth-line duty next year. Neither guy is big. But Farnham is a lot like Philly’s Zac Rinaldo—ultra abrasive and a real pain to play against. And Zolnierczyk has the speed, sandpaper, and skills to be effective in a bottom-six role.

      Why they never got a chance under Dan Bylsma is beyond me. It’s one of the reasons I’m glad they made a coaching change.

4. Minimum salary

5. why is there never anything said about Adams its time for him to go.

   1. Hey Kathy,

      Probably because he’s a good team guy and a solid citizen. But I agree. Frankly, his presence kept the Pens from giving younger guys like Zach Sill, Bobby Farnham, and Harry Zolnierczyk (now with the Islanders) more of an opportunity.

      Although Adams is signed for one more year, let’s hope that doesn’t happen again.

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