Penguins Extend Qualifying Offers to Aston-Reese and Zohorna

Penguins general manager Ron Hextall extended qualifying offers to restricted free agent forwards Zach Aston-Reese and Radim Zohorna today. You might say, covering us from A to Z in the process.

A key member of the Pens’ “Grind Line,” Aston-Reese enjoyed arguably his best season in 2020-21. After recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, a slimmed-down ZAR tallied a career-best nine goals in 45 games while maintaining his rep as one of the top defensive forwards in the league. Although not overtly physical in the manner of ex-linemate Brandon Tanev, the former Hobey Baker finalist finished second among black-and-gold skaters with 95 hits.

Coming off a two-year deal with an AAV of $1 million, ZAR is expected to earn double that on his new contract.

I confess I was very relieved to hear the Pens made an offer to Zohorna. Pressed into service due to injuries this past season, the hulking Czech forward made an impression during an eight-game cameo with his speed, hands and hockey IQ, not to mention his 6’6” 220-pound frame.

After toiling in his native Czech Republic for several seasons with middling success, “Big Z” blossomed at age 24, averaging a point per game over a 33-game stretch, first with Mlada Boleslav BK in the Czech League and then with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

With the Pens looking to add size Zohorna…who can play left wing and center…could be a prime candidate to replace Jared McCann as a middle-six swing man.

Hextall did not extend qualifying offers to four other RFAs. Forwards Mark Jankowski and Sam Miletic, defenseman Jesper Lindgren (acquired last fall in the Kapanen trade) and goaltender Emil Larmi, who signed earlier this summer to play in his native Finland, became unrestricted free agents.

No surprises there.

Assuming recently signed RFA Kasper Bjorkqvist starts the season with the Baby Pens and Aston-Reese and Zohorna sign at their expected rates, the Pens available cap space will be pared to around $4.75 million. Baring a trade to free up salary, that doesn’t leave Hextall with much to throw at the team’s perceived needs…a physical, right-shot defenseman and a goalie.

Bruiser Alert

In a surprising development, the Boston Bruins didn’t extend a qualifying offer to RFA left wing Nick Ritchie, making him a free agent.

A bruising 6’2″ 234-pound power forward and former tenth overall pick in 2014, Ritchie notched a career-best 15 goals for the Bruins this season and piled up 102 hits while skating on their second line. He tallied a goal and four points in 11 postseason contests.

Bottom line? Ritchie’s big and tough. He can score and he can fight. I don’t know what it would take to land him, but the Pens need to jump to the front of the line. FYI: he earned roughly $1.5/season on his existing contract, set to expire on Wednesday.