Penguins Sign Rodrigues to One-Year Deal

It seems there are some tools you just can’t remove from your tool chest.

In the latest incarnation of David Warsofsky (signed by the black and gold on three separate occasions) the Penguins have agreed to terms with forward Evan Rodrigues on a one-year contract worth $700,000.

You remember Rodrigues (or maybe not)? After arriving at the trade deadline from Buffalo in the ill-fated Dominik Kahun swap, he skated for seven mostly nondescript games at the tail end of the regular season, tallying a single goal.

The Pens liked him so much they scratched him for each game during the qualifying round of the recent postseason before foisting him on Toronto in the Kasperi Kapanen trade.

And now he’s back…like some ill-fated shinny version of a boomerang.

My apologies if you’re getting wet from all of the sarcasm dripping from my words. I’m just disappointed. I know it’s early in free agency, but I was holding fast (pun intended) to the hope that the Pens might land the aforementioned Kahun or Jesper Fast, late of the Rangers. Players who might have a real impact and actually improve our team.

After all, I thought that was the general aim of signing free agents. Silly me.

Truth be told, I’m not being entirely fair to Rodrigues. The 27-year-old Toronto native did a lot of little things well during his brief stint here, like drive possession (an impressive Corsi of 64.4). He’s quick, tenacious and versatile, with the ability to play all three forward positions and he’s a right-handed shot…a rare commodity among our forwards. Qualities that no doubt influenced the signing.

Fine as a depth player. I was just hoping for someone with more of a track record. And perhaps a bit more size and gristle.

Makes me wonder who’s gonna step through our revolving door next.

Dominik Simon?

Don’t laugh (or cry, depending on your perspective). GM Jim Rutherford reportedly has an offer on the table for the “Wrong Dominik” as Other Rick recently and so aptly referred to him.

Stay tuned.

Pens Sign Jankowski

It just keeps getting better.

The Pens have signed a former Calgary Flames center. Just not the one I wanted (Sam Bennett).

Instead, they inked Mark Jankowski, 26, to a one-year deal for $700,000. (Hmmm, there seems to be a pattern here.)

A former 21st overall pick in 2012, Jankowski has had his moments as a pro. In 2017-18, he notched 17 goals as a rookie and followed up with a solid sophomore season (14 goals, 32 points, 52 percent on faceoffs). Then he took a rather precipitous tumble this past season, dropping to just five goals, seven points and a minus-12 in 56 games.

Shades of Riley Sheahan?

Could be.

The one thing that stands out…literally…about Jankowski is his size. He’s 6’4” and 212 pounds. But before your heart gets all atwitter, thinking we may actually have added an Erik Gudbranson-type physical presence, think again. With 14 hits last season, he’s decidedly unphysical.

Ugh. Where do we find these guys?

Jankowski is regarded as a good defensive forward and penalty killer. So at least he’s got that going for him.

The Pens also signed 27-year-old right wing Josh Currie to a two-way contract, again worth $700,000 at the big-league level. The 5’10” 172-pounder has 21 games of NHL experience–all with Edmonton–in 2018-19. He tallied two goals and five points to go with 39 hits.

This year’s version of Andrew Agozzino.

Ex-Pens in Play

Ottawa wasted little time in signing Matt Murray to a four-year contract worth $25 million (AAV $6.25 million). Justin Schultz signed for two years with Washington at an AAV of $4 million.

Much-maligned Jack Johnson signed a one-year, $1.15 million deal with the Rangers. He’ll rejoin former Pens assistant Jacques Martin on Broadway.