Penguins Free-Agent Update: Lovejoy and Zatkoff Depart

For our Pittsburgh Penguins, the first day of free agency was a far cry from last summer. Remember? When GM Jim Rutherford sent shock waves through the NHL by acquiring Phil Kessel from Toronto as the centerpiece of a stunning six-player swap?

Of course, the team’s situation is as different as night and day, too. Last year the locals were reeling from a disappointing opening-round playoff exit. This year…Stanley Cup champs!

While news wires fairly crackled with big signings by their NHL brethren, the Pens kept a low profile as expected. Salary-cap constraints played a big part. As of July 1, the black and gold was thought to have about $1 million of available cap space.

Accordingly, Rutherford and his staff focused on reinforcing a defensive corps depleted by the loss of Ben Lovejoy, who signed a three-year pact with New Jersey.

The Pens also lost the services of goalie Jeff Zatkoff. The ultra-popular backup heads west to rejoin his original team, Los Angeles. Minor-league defenseman Will O’Neill agreed to terms with Philadelphia.

Here’s a quick peek at the additions:

Player	Last NHL Team	Age	Pos	NHL Totals
				GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+/-
Cameron Gaunce	Dallas	26	D	20	1	0	1	23	-2
Stuart Percy	Toronto	23	D	12	0	3	3	2	-6
Chad Ruhwedel	Buffalo	26	D	33	0	2	2	4	0
David Warsofsky	New Jersey	26	D	32	2	3	5	2	-7

Percy, a former first-round pick of Toronto in 2011, figures to be an intriguing addition. The 6’1″ 187-pounder handles the puck well and plays a solid all-around game.

Tipping the scales at 203 pounds, Gaunce employs a physical style and isn’t shy about dropping the gloves. Ruhwedel and Warsofsky—who played a dozen games for the Pens last season before being claimed on waivers by the Devils—are mobile and skilled.

The Penguins also inked heavyweight Tom Sestito and rugged defenseman Steve Oleksy to new one-year deals. Defenseman Tim Erixon—part of the Kessel trade—spurned an offer from the KHL to re-sign with the Pens on June 27.

Barring a trade to free up cap space, the Penguins aren’t likely to make a big splash in the coming weeks. However, Rutherford still hopes to re-sign Justin Schultz and center Matt Cullen, the 39-year-old wonder who played a crucial two-way role in the team’s march to the Cup.

New Deal for Rutherford

The Penguins signed Rutherford to a three-year extension. The new contract runs through the 2018-19 season.

A recent recipient of the NHL’s General Manager of the Year award, the 67-year-old Beeton, Ontario native is one of five active general managers to win multiple Stanley Cups.

The Pens also signed assistant coach Jacques Martin to a two-year extension. An invaluable member of the staff, Martin worked with the defense after replacing Gary Agnew on December 12.

Ex-Pens on the Move

Several former Penguins found new homes on the first day of free agency.

David Perron returned to his NHL roots, signing a two-year contract with St. Louis. Lee Stempniak agreed to a two-year deal with Carolina. Pens draftees Chad Johnson (Calgary) and Brian Strait (Winnipeg) moved north of the border, as did Jayson Megna (Vancouver).

Much travelled Adam Clendening signed with the Rangers. Enforcer Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond—cleverly nicknamed PL3—flew south to Tampa Bay.

Earlier this summer, 2009 Cup hero Max Talbot defected to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL.