Penguins Sign Tanev to a Six-Year Deal

Say this for Penguins GM Jim Rutherford. He didn’t take long to make a splash in free agency.

Two days after dealing Phil Kessel to Arizona, the plucky exec inked former Winnipeg left wing Brandon Tanev to an astonishing six-year deal at an average annual value of $3.5 million.

I say astonishing for a couple of different reasons…primarily the length of the contract but also the fact that Tanev really didn’t establish himself as a bona fide bottom-six NHL forward till this past season when he tallied a solid 14 goals and 29 points for a very good Winnipeg team.

Having expressed that, some of the Toronto native’s numbers were eye-popping to say the least. Namely, his 278 hits (third in the league) and 81 blocked shots (third among forwards). So, too, are his five shorthanded goals over the past two seasons.

Plus, he’s regarded as an excellent defensive forward and penalty killer. Perhaps a buzz-saw version of Carl Hagelin.

Which brings me to his core attributes. From what I’ve read, shy and retiring this kid ain’t. To the contrary, he’s a bundle of energy…fast, aggressive, ultra-feisty. A kamikaze on skates. Dare I say, a welcome departure from many of our present forwards, who at times last season displayed all the intensity of a collection of wet dish rags.

“I think I’m a very physical and fast and tenacious player,” Tanev said when asked to describe his style.

“Determined,” offered his trainer, former Pens hard rock Gary Roberts.

Still, the long-term contract appears to be a bit of a crapshoot, especially for a player who’s already 27, employs such a physical style and isn’t all that large (6’0” 180 pounds). But obviously the Pens want to be faster and more difficult to play against, and they checked both of those boxes…plus a bunch of intangibles…with this signing.

“We felt so strong about Tanev that we were willing to go as far as had to go to make sure we got him,” Rutherford said. “You never know with any player, the term of the contract, whether it works, how long it’s going to work, but it’s what you have to do to get the player.

“We’ve changed the make-up of our team,” JR added.

Indeed, he has. Hopefully for the better.

Puckpourri

The Penguins also signed defenseman David Warsofsky and forward Andrew Agozzino to two-year, two-way contracts. Each is expected to provide organizational depth and will earn $700,000/season at the NHL level.

It’s Warsofsky’s third tour of duty with the Pens. The diminutive 29-year-old defender previously donned the black and gold for 19 games over a two-season stretch (2015-17). He tallied a goal and an assist to go with a minus-9.

Agozzino, a 28-year-old left wing, spent his entire pro career in the Colorado organization. He has a goal and four assists in three separate stints with the Avalanche totaling 21 games.

On June 26, the Penguins re-signed defensemen Kevin Czuczman and Zach Trotman to two-year, two-way deals, also with an AAV of $700,000 at the NHL level. Trotman, 28, played well for the Pens while filling in for the injured Kris Letang during the 2018-19 season, tallying an assist and registering a plus-4 in 13 games.