Penguins Free Agent Tracker

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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…

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.)