Sheary Signs Three Year Deal

Conor Sheary avoided arbitration and signed a three year $9 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was great news as the Penguins locked in one more piece of "Sid and kids".

All the detail are in the attached link


https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/sheary-agrees-to-terms/c-290542400

Pens Den Gains & Losses Episode 1

In this video Bill from Pens Den Bill gives us a Pens Den Gains & Losses Episode 1. Bill from Pens Den goes over the Penguins gains, their losses, current needs, and analysis. Bill created the Pens Den channel to be your go to source for news, updates, and analysis regarding you 5x Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pens Den Introduction

Bill from Pens Den Bill gives us a Pens Den Introduction. Bill created the Pens Den channel to be your go to source for news, updates, and analysis regarding you 5x Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

During the regular season I will feature one episode per week going over the previous weeks games, a look ahead, news, updates, and analysis. During the off season there will be a one episode per month regarding news or updates. As always if there is breaking news I will post updates.

Playlists are set up on the channel for Penguins Playoffs Highlights, Penguins Stanley Cup Parades, Penguins Documentaries, Mike Lange goal calls, and video that I shot while attending Pens games.


It's A Great Day For Hockey !

Pittsburgh Penguins: Gains & Losses

NHL Free agent "frenzy" has died down to barely a whisper. The past week or so we have seen some sporadic activity but really nothing of note.

Now that the "dust" has settled it's a good time to look at the Pittsburgh Penguins "Balance Sheet" if you will to see their "gains" and "losses"

Gains:

Acquired Ryan Reaves from the St. Louis Blues:
https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/reaves-has-adapted-style/c-290138254

Signed defenseman Matt Hunwick to a three-year contract:
https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-sign-hunwick/c-290251394

Signed goaltender Antti Niemi to a one-year contract:

https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-sign-niemi/c-290252198

Re-signed Justin Schultz to a three year contract:

https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-resign-schultz/c-290263958

Signed defensemen Chris Summers, Jarred Tinordi and Zach Trotman, and forward Greg McKegg:
https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-free-agents/c-290264338

Re-Signed Tom Sestito and Frank Corrado; Sign Casey DeSmith
https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-resign-three-players/c-290264922

Name Mark Recchi Assistant Coach:
https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/recchi-behind-the-bench-will-be-seamless-fit/c-290367256

Name Sergei Gonchar Assistant Coach:
https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/gonchar-assistant-coach/c-290373848

Re-Sign Forward Josh Archibald and Defenseman Derrick Pouliot:
https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-sign-archibald-pouliot/c-290380950

Losses:

Marc-Andre Fleury to the Vegas Golden Knights

Nick Bonnino to the Nashville Predators

Trevor Daley to the Detroit Red Wings

Ron Hainsey to the Toronto Maple Leafs

Chris Kunitz to the Tampa Bay Lightning

Mike Bales (goal tending coach) to the Carolina Hurricanes

Rick Tocchet to head coach of the Arizona Coyotes.

The one thing the Penguins have not done is sign a third line center. GM Jim Rutherford is looking for the right fit - not only for the team - but salary cap wise. Lot's of names have been brought up including Jordan Staal, Tyler Bozack, and Matt Duchene.

This week the rumor has been circulating that Phil Kessel was on the trading block but Jim Rutherford stated this in a interview on 93.7 The Fan:

"“He's an important part. I don't want to sit here and say that a certain player's not going to get traded at some point in his career. I mean, Phil already did. But that's not something that I foresee happening right now.”

http://triblive.com/sports/penguins/12505594-74/penguins-jim-rutherford-doesnt-foresee-trading-phil-kessel

Bottom Line:

I like the moves the Penguins have made so far. Reaves will provide a smart physical presence, something the Penguins have been lacking for a long time. Nemi is solid backup to Matt Murray (I am hope that Murray stays healthy). Hunwick looks like a solid, dependable blue liner. Re-signing Schultz was excellent. The youth movement was bolstered by signing Archibald and Pouliot (hoping Pouliot finally shows us that he is ready to play in the NHL). Adding Recchi  and Gonchar as coaches were excellent moves - Recchi should really help the forwards and Gonchar with the defense.

The greatest loss was Marc-Andre Fleury to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. He will indeed be missed. Enough cannot be said of him waving his no trade clause which in turn helped the Penguins win their fifth Stanley Cup. He is an incredible net minder but a even better person.