Hey all. I just have a moment, but I thought I’d post a brief entry to give everyone a place to share their comments and updates. Or, in Mike Lange speak, a place to cry or wind our collective watches.
The Penguins…or should I say Kyle Dubas’ first free-agent deal…signing veteran forward Matt Nieto to a two-year pact with an AAV of $900 K.
Yeah boy.
Not hard to guess at the particulars. Nieto’s 30 (going on 31), and a ten-year NHL vet. Altogether now…5’11” 185 pounds (gee, whoda thunk it). Listed as a left wing.
Has spent his entire career flip-flopping between the Sharks and Avs. Not much of an offensive threat…he’s only reached double-figure goals four times, including a career-high of 15 in 2017-18 and 12 this past season. Reputed to be a good penalty killer.
Not exactly the sexy signing we were all hoping for.
Oh…he’s from Boston University, so you know Mike Sullivan will like him.
Makes me pine for Zach Aston-Reese…
Wow, Look What I Missed!
With apologies all around to my fellow Poopers, Saturdays are my get ‘er done days. I write (sometimes both blog and book), do the laundry, go to the gym for my workout, walk afterward…then on to the Iggle (Giant Eagle) to do food shopping for myself and a neighbor.
Needless to say, I missed pretty much all our activity today, although Caleb Di’Natale was good enough to keep me in the loop. Thanks Caleb!
In the order I learned of the transactions, here are my knee-jerk reactions. Matt Nieto (meh), Joona Koppanen (meh), Tristan Jarry (ugh on price and especially term), Ryan Graves (fantastic!), Noel Acciari (yeah baby!), Alex Nedeljkovic (interesting) and Lars Eller (meh).
Let’s see…that’s two wildly positives, one mild plus, three tepids and one negative.
My very brief spin on each signing.
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MATT NIETO, 30, 5’11” 185, LW (Term: 2 years, AAV: $900 K) Hard working, decent skater. Known for his checking and defensive work. A solid fourth liner. My meh was based on his size and aggression…or lack of. |
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JOONA KOPPANEN, 25, 6’5” 216, LW (Term: 2 years, 2-way, AAV: $775 K at NHL level) The big, physical forward we’ve all been craving, right? Well, not exactly. Was taken down by that noted brawler Adam Clendening in his only pro fight. Big ‘n’ soff, just the way we like ‘em (see Jankowski, Mark). |
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TRISTAN JARRY, 27, 6’2” 194, G (Term: 5 years, AAV: $5.375 million) I guess when it comes to goalies, better the devil you know than the devil you don’t. I used to be a big Jarry fan, but health and performance issues have me concerned. Given our loosey-goosey defense, I think we’re better off with a huge goalie like Jacob Markström or Akira Schmid who take up the whole net and just let pucks hit them. |
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RYAN GRAVES, 28, 6’5” 220, LD (Term: 6 years, AAV: $4.5 million) Big, shot-blocking, steady-as-she-goes defenseman. Brings a little offense to the table with eight and nine goal seasons to his credit. Led the league with a plus-40 in 2019-20, was plus-34 last season. An enhanced version of Brian Dumoulin in his prime. A terrific addition. Truly, just what the doctor ordered. |
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NOEL ACCIARI, 31, 5’10” 209, C (Term: 3 years, AAV: $2 million) Straight-line buzz-saw cut from the same cloth as Brandon Tanev. Dished out 244 hits last season. Although obviously not a heavy in the Ryan Reaves mold, very capable southpaw fighter when riled. Notched 20 goals in ’19-20, 14 in ’22-23. Great on faceoffs. |
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ALEX NEDELJKOVIC, 27, 6’0” 189, G (Term: 1 year, AAV: $1.5 million) Intriguing addition to say the least. Had a brilliant season for the ‘Canes back in ’20-21, leading the NHL in save percentage (.932) and goals against average (1.90). Didn’t come close to matching those stats in two enormously disappointing seasons in the Motor City. However, if he can come close to regaining his form, the Parma, Ohio native could prove to be a huge bargain. Could supplant Casey DeSmith as back up while providing the internal competition Jarry seems to need… |
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LARS ELLER, 34, 6’2” 205, C (Term: 2 years, AAV: $2.45 million) Not so sure about this one. In the not-too-distant past, Eller was the epitome of a third-line center…big, fast, capable at both ends of the ice. But the wheels started to come off the wagon last season. Hope we didn’t tie ourselves to the second coming of Jeff Carter. Feels like an overreach…or a misreach. |
Dubas may not be through. There are strong rumors afloat tying us to Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson. This is pure guesswork on my part, but could Jeff Petry and Mikael Granlund be part of a package going to the Sharks? Perhaps a sweetener like Owen Pickering as well…
Wrapping up, I don’t know if we’re an appreciably better team. But we sure are different.
Outgoing Mail
The following UFAs who skated for the Pens last season have signed with other clubs: Josh Archibald (Lightning), Teddy Blueger (Canucks), Nick Bonino (Rangers), Drake Caggiula (Oilers), Brian Dumoulin (Kraken), Dmitry Kulikov (Panthers), Ryan Poehling (Flyers), Dustin Tokarski (Sabres).
Not to mention the one that really stings. Jason Zucker to Arizona on a one-year deal for $5.3 million. (I rated that a ‘s***’ in my response to Caleb.)
Way the Pens bleed odd man rushes, I’m happy to have a quick goalie over a big goalie. The guy has to be able to go post to post over and over, he won’t be allowed to set and absorb. From that perspective, Jarry makes sense.
Hey all.
Just a quicky update. The Pens have added three depth players, Radim Zohorna, forward Marc Johnstone and goalie Magnus Hellberg, who came off the bench in relief of starter Ville Husso and made like Georges Vezina to backstop the Wings to a 5-4 comeback win over us on December 28.
Rick
Lars Eller to pens. pens now over cap 1.5m
So even if the sign O’Connor and Smith they have to play in WBS and one of the Goalies will have to clear waivers and be sent down.
Our Centers are Crosby 35, Malkin 36, Carter 38, Eller 34, with what Granlund 31 and Accari 31 capable of swinging over to Center. Sorry, that just doesn’t look good. Barring injuries, this team may end up having a higher average age of player on the ice than they did last season.
Alex Nedeljkovic 1 year at $1.5 Million
Does this mean DeSmith is gone? Don’t know which is better.
Ryan Graves 6yrs for $4.5 Million
6’5″ 220lb LHD, finally a good signing but we are now out of Cap Space
The Other Rick & Rick
Graves is a good get and it finally gives us a little size on the backend. I’m
expecting some further moves to create some cap flexibility.
I am hoping Jarry,, now that he is signed is traded for a real goalie and Granlund could move on as well.
At this point, all I see is a team that has a chance to make the playoffs and if they do, bow out in the 1st round.
Hey Coach
Agreed Graves is a good signing as was Alex Nedeljkovic . Reilly Smith and Matt Nieto also make us a better team than the 2022- 2023 Pens team that missed the play offs. With regards to resigning Jarry my sources up here said that other teams were interested in Jarry but in the end no one would pay him his 6 million/6 year asking price and Dubas wisely was able to get him for 5 years and 5.3 million. I never was a big Jarry fan but given the prices being offered for other goalies I think this is the best we could hope for.
Plus Dubas is not finished in his make over.
I understand that their is still a 3 team deal trying to get done for Erik Karlsson that involves moving Jeff Petry and his 6.25 million contract and San Jose holding 3.5 million of EK salary for 4 years bringing his salary cap hit to 8 million and then get a third team to take another 2 million plus and land Karlsson for a 6 million cap hit. I hope that Dubas can pull it off but there are 2 other teams looking at this deal as well.
Always interesting times on the first day of free agency.
Cheers
Jim
Hey Jim,
Interesting discussion on how they are trying to get Karlsson. On paper that would probably cause lots of people to think of us as a contender. However, given the age factor of this team and the opposite world strategies we employ, I am not so sure about what the results will end up.
We have to admit, Dubas is doing something, rather than Hextalling it. He is making FA day exciting like back in the JR era. Some of it is bound to workout, with all of the moves he made. Hopefully, most of the deals do workout.
Jarry re-signed for 5 years at $5.3, this was insane, they all should be committed for this stupidity.
These morons let Zucker walk but re-signed Jarry for more than Zucker signed for – risdiculous.
Does the signing of Alex Nedeljkovic mean DeSmith is being moved?
Just saw that and said the same thing above
Noel Accari
3 years $2 Million per year ($6 million)
about 2.5 Hits per game, over 1000 in his career but he is 31.
Not a horrible signing but again, where is the youth?
Hey Rick,
Joona Kpppanen 6’5″ 216lbs
According to Puckpedia
Year 1 $775K NHL, $450K Minors
Year 2 $775K NHL 1-way
Last year only NHL Season 5 GP, 54:07 TOI, 0 G, 1 A, 1 Pts, 2 SOG, 8 Hts, 2 Blks, 4 Tk, 3 Gv, 4 PIM , +/-0
Ian Cole and Teddy Blueger to Van
I would consider Sundqvist as a bottom 6 Center.
Wow, Zucker to Az for only $5.3.
I am sure Dubas could have afforded that…..unless he is looking to grab a big name like Karlsson.
Personally Rick, I would rather deal for Hanifin – He is a LHD while Karlsson would be another RHD
The Other Rick & Rick
My question is why trade for Smith and let Zucker leave for an extra
300K. This doesn’t make any sense to me at all.
Jarry for 5mil plus “No way”. I’m not liking this route at all so far
by Dubas. Also, I’m with the other Rick why are we bringing in
30yr old players??
What I have heard is that Karlsson wants to go to a Cup contender and he has a full blown NMC. It is going to take more than Karlsson to turn the Pens into a true contender; selling Karlsson on Pgh would be a feat.
If Dubas is trying to make this deal, I am not sure how I feel.
Also Rick,
Not sure how getting Karlsson at $10.5 mil would sit with Sid at $8.7
The Other Rick
I’m hearing that they would eat 3.5mil to make the deal.
Things that make you go hmmmm.
I’ve read that the Pens might be trying to acquire Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson from the Sharks. Could a deal be in the works for…say Jeff Petry and Mikael Granlund? The $$$ would work out just about even. The incentive for the Sharks would be to get out from under Karlsson’s long-term deal.
Perhaps other sweeteners from the Pens (Owen Pickering?) might be required…
Rick
Rick
If that’s the deal I would definitely get it done. The Zucker move for me is a
serious head scratcher.
I don’t know about the new guy, but Zucker did seem to be constantly injured. I don’t know if that figured into it.