Pittsburgh Penguins Free Agency Round Up – 2009

1. Afterthought if I may. We have never started a season with this kind of talent in the new NHL salary capped era. Look for Sid and Malkin and Staal and players like Kennedy and the list goes on and on to have big scoring seasons. We can score on the D or on the O, it`s Pens hockey at it`s best!

2. Back from vacation and still as excited as ever about winning the Stanley Cup and what Ray Shero has accomplished in free agency. I got a tee shirt that reads “On Ice or on Grass, we will kick your ass”. People knew I was from Pittsburgh, that`s for sure. Is there anyone not totally excited about Fedotenko and Guerin resigning? I like Mike Rupp and I like having a vet d-man like Jay McKee there to help with what I eventually see happening, and that`s Ben Lovejoy making the team as a seventh d-man. One year deals for a lot less money, what`s not to like? This gives the new kids on the block some time this coming season, to get ready for their big debut in 2010-11. This will be the last time we hang a banner in the Igloo and what a banner it will be. Hope everyone is having a good summer, the Pens will be back in action before we all know it. this will be the season to follow the Baby Pens also. Lot`s of good looking prospects coming in. I see will still didn`t sign Curry or a vet goalie for WBS. In Ray Shero I trust!

3. The Dany Sabourin one is pretty funny as they Boston) can’t afford to bring up Tuukka Rask because of the salary cap. Maybe Kessel is the next one out of Boston. Or Bergeron. Is our competition really getting weaker? I don’t think the Flyers, Capitals, nor Boston has made themselves any stronger.

   1. Yeah, but honestly, I don’t see the Pens getting any stronger either (not that we need to, really). But all I see in the headlines is: “Bouwmeester signs with the Flames”; “Gaborik signs with the Rangers”; Kovalev signs with the Senators”; “Koivu signs with the Ducks”. Not that I had the desire for any of these players to be playing in Pittsburgh (OK, maybe Bouwmeester), but with Talbot injured, and maybe with the releases of Sykora, Satan and Boucher (not to mention already goners Scuderi and Gill), and the paycuts accepted by Guerin and Fedotenko, I mean… where’s all the cap space? Will Shero save it again for a trade late in the season? ‘Cause my guess is that the Pens are short of talent in the RW and Defense departments right now 🙁

      1. I think you need to look at what really happened last year from the Penguins. They grew from within. I’m not talking about bringing up minor leaguers from Wilkes/Barre. The players grew, or the players grew up and their not finished. Malkin became the best player in the world, Crosby was hindered by injury but came through once he was healthy. Players like Staal, Kennedy, Letang, Goligoski and a handful of others not only got better, they all have the ultimate in experience on their resumes both winning and losing a cup. They are only an average of 22 years old. Goligoski proved he can play D coming in under the highest pressure possible during the Washington series and filled in perfect for Gonchar. Lovejoy is big and is it actually possible he could have less skill than Hal Gill? I think not! They will get better and grow again this year, and with Bylsma running the team for the full year, look out. Turn that frown upside down.

         1. Hehehe, yeah the frown was uncalled for 🙂 There you go… You’re totally right about the Penguins’ young talent. But wasn’t Gonchar replaced by Boucher (and not Goligoski) when he was injured in the Washington series? I might be wrong though…

            I’m in no way saying the Penguins will have a hard time in this next season, as it did in more than first half of the last. I just thought that with the precise (or more than one) UFA signing, it would become an even smoother ride.

4. Seems to me with the signing of Chris Lee, who is a lifelong minor leaguer, the Pens are looking at bringing up Lovejoy and Goligoski instead of going after free-agents to replace scuderi & Gill.

   1. It’s “seems” like posters are surprised about Ben Lovejoy and yet with Alex Grant who is following in the development footsteps of Whitney, Letang, Goligoski — Ben Lovejoy has been a top AHL defensemen based on his skating and his PK ability. The Pens felt he might challenge for a spot last season and at 6′-2, 218 I think he’ll move right in. Lovejoy was one of those FA signings last July and I think we’ll all be pleasantly surprised at this kid’s ability. I don’t know what he fished at last season but towrads the end he was a +40. I wouldn’t be surprised if Shero took it easy until camp begins as there is no rush now to sign anyone just to sign him. If Orpik, Eaton and Lovejoy can provide the stay at home for Gonchar, Letang and Goligoski that’s three defense parings that are pretty decent.

5. Penguins signed Fedotenko to a one year contract worth 1.8 million

6. I am not right often so I had to cut and paste my post on the Ewall from 6/29 here….
   Reply By Lucky Pierre June 29th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

   Adams actually signed for less 550 for 2 years Made 600 in 09. I believe they will be able to retain Guerin and Fedetenko. I just don’t see how they can keep Scuderi. He will probably go in the high 3 million range possibly long term. Some team will offer something like 14 to 15 mil over 4 years. No way the Pens can(or should) match it.

7. Three cheers for Scuderi. It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. $3.4 million a year for 4-years. He and his family are set for life. That’s what the hockey business is all about. So far, Gill got a few million – so did Scuderi – and even Garon got into the act. I wouldn’t imagine Fedotenko not cashing-in also.
   We might not like it but the memories will last forever. Boom -Boom -Boom………

8. Good for Rob Scuderi, but wow did the Kings overpay for him. I don’t think the Penguins will have trouble replacing him for a lot less, to be honest I thought this was his first O.K. year, nothing special. I couldn’t wait for the Penguins to get rid of him before this year. He gives the other team to big of a cushion coming into our own zone. I’m still waiting for a bigger trade/signing.

9. Recchi just signed a 1-year $1 million with Boston.

10. Ya know, I would like to see some new faces on this team, well if anyone is available. Need to replace Sykora or Feds and resign Scuds at 1.5-2. Sykora needs to go, id take Feds back. Just want to try someone else with Malkin.

11. I read in the Trib and PG that the Pens are trying to retain Scuds, Feds & Sykora but i think that some sort of deal is in the works. They can’t sign them with the salary cap restrictions and still don’t have a backup goaltender, something has to give.

    I’m sure Curry will accept a small amount just knowing he will be playing on a pro team, but these other players arn’t going to wait for Shero forever. The Rupp signing makes you think Godard might be moving. Shero might be wondering Godards value when he was a healthy scratch the entire playoffs. I think there will be a big trade/move today.

    1. As much as I think GOONS are a sideshow they do keep things from getting out of hand during the regular season games. I don’t think Godard is going anywhere and the signing of Rupp makes us a little bit tougher. Adams, Godard, Rupp bring three forwards who don’t take any crap from anyone. That’s a key when you have these other old-folk GMs getting Brashear, Orr and even the Flyers bring in Laperriere to go with Carcillo and Cote. Until the NHL stops it you’ve got to cobat it IMO.

12. What do we all know about Michael Rupp… not too much. Why do we go after him and why does he sign here? Let’s start with the easy one… why does he sign here. $825,000 is still a lot of money for most people and for two-years that’s a nice piece of change. Plus none other than Ian Moran tells him that he has had nothing but fond memories of Pittsburgh and of their fans and that he should take advantage of the opportunity to play here.
    He is a 6′ 5, 230 pounder… maybe losing Gill we are trying to keep our average size up. He really hasn’t put up anything close to the numbers he had with the Erie Otters in the OHL but there’s always that something hidden in these deals. This is what I think it is. Turns out he a close friend of Tiger Woods and supposedly a pretty good golfer himself. It’s Mario looking for lessons and that’s the hidden factor in the Rupp signing. Remember where you got this inside info first. I don’t think he knows we don’t go golfing until late June around here.
    BTW, he is no relation to the first defenseman ever to score a HT in a Penguin sweater, Duane Rupp. (The former owner of Rupp’s in Mt Lebo) where YINZ all got your skates as a kid.

13. the PG is reporting that Garon has received a contract offer from Columbus and the the Penguins may make another move this evening in an attempt to retain Scuderi.

14. Montreal just signed Hal Gill to a 2 year $4.5M

15. Penguins just signed Michael Rupp from New Jersey 2 years $825K per.

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