Another (and perhaps final?) piece of the 2021-22 Penguins puzzle fell into place today. Methodically working through his off-season to-do list, general manager Ron Hextall signed restricted free agent Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year deal worth $1.725, squeezing the gritty forward in under the cap limit with roughly $121,000 to spare. In the process avoiding potentially costly salary arbitration.
After recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and slimming down, Aston-Reese gained a step and enjoyed arguably his finest season in ’20-21, notching nine goals and 15 points in 45 games while seeing mostly bottom-six duty next to Teddy Blueger and the departed Brandon Tanev. More grinder than over-the-top physical presence, ZAR nonetheless stuck his nose in to the tune of 95 hits, second on the club to Tanev’s 139.
A top scorer and Hobey Baker finalist during his collegiate career at Northeastern University, Aston-Reese isn’t flashy and has yet to fully develop the offensive side of his game at the pro level (an average of roughly 13 goals and 25 points per 82-game season). On the flip side, he’s established himself as a solid performer and one of the premier shutdown forwards in the NHL.
In fact, defense is the one area where he shines, as a sparkling three-year even strength defensive WAR of 100 will attest. Despite an overall WAR of 68, the rest of his metrics are on the red side of the 50 percent break-even mark, including penalty-killing (42 percent). Which makes him a bit of a one-trick pony, albeit a very good one.
It should be noted that ZAR’s offense-zone starts (32.2 percent) were among the lowest of all black-and-gold skaters.
In terms of the coming season? When everyone’s healthy, the 26-year-old native of Staten Island will likely slot in next to his old linemate Blueger. Perhaps he’ll be deployed on the off wing on a reconstructed energy line with No. 53 and newcomer Brock McGinn.
Rick & The Other Rick
IMO players like Ashton Reese are a dime a dozen and I will make the prediction that this coming year
he’ll struggle to score 9 goals in 82games. He has zero feel offensively and I think his defense is
overrated. I’m not a fan.
Quick observation now that the bulk of Free Agency is over. The Rangers are going to be a handful
to deal with this coming season. I could see them winning the Division.
Hey Mike,
I agree 100%!
ZAR is a career 4th liner. At $1.8 mil he may not be overpaid but at 27 years of age he is a road block for younger/faster players. And like Simon, if he is in Sullivan’s tool box Sullivan will use him at every opportunity and excuse. He makes Sullivan and the team complacent, they WILL pass up the opportunity to improve should it present itself, comforting themselves for their self-destructive behavior by saying, we have ZAR we don’t need to look.
And as for the Rangers, unless they screwed their locker room chemistry up with all of their maneuvering, they look like the team to beat in the Metro. I may change my mind after I get the chance to really sit down and dig into the new rosters of the Pens rivals but my surface look, my gut reaction is Ranger and Canes with our Pens fighting for a playoff spot or possibly finishing 7th. The only team I feel confident will finish behind the Pens are the Jackets. I think even the Devils have a chance to pass us up.
But I don’t think that would be the worst thing in the world. I would love to see the team get a shot at a Number 1 pick again. From all reports Shane Wright could be the next big thing.
Hey Rick,
ZAR certainly wasn’t the worst player on the team last season nor will he be the worst player on the coming season’s team. No that wasn’t exactly a recommendation of Hextall’s latest signing. I may have a slightly higher opinion of ZAR than say Mike, but I do view this signing with a touch of trepidation. On this team ZAR will more than likely be one of several road blocks either impeding the development of younger players or masking how poor the pipeline is.