It was an interesting start to the day for the Pittsburgh Penguins to say the least.
Before the Colorado Avalanche started the afternoon off, reports began to materialize that defenseman Kris Letang is close to signing an eight year, $58 million contract extension that will pay him $7.25 million per season starting in 2014-15. Still nothing official on Letang, who can't sign am extension until July 5th per the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Heading into today's draft, the Penguins weren't scheduled to draft their first player until the third round (77th overall). That quickly changed when the Pens sent forward Tyler Kennedy, a restricted free agent, to the San Jose Sharks for their 2nd round pick (50th overall). The move gives the Pens some more cap space to work with as Kennedy made $2 million last season.
The Penguins didn't hold onto the 50th overall pick for long, however. They traded the pick, along with their 3rd round selection (89th overall), to the Columbus Blue Jackets at the 44th pick.
#Pens In-House Free Agents - What's The Plan?
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Now that the Stanley Cup Finals are over and the 2012-13 season has ended, all 30 NHL teams' focus becomes the NHL Entry Draft and free agency. The Pittsburgh Penguins have quite a bit of decision making ahead of themselves as they prepare to overcome a third round exit from the playoffs.
The biggest decisions to be made will be on what to do with defenseman Kris Letang, who still has one-year left on his contract, and the on-going talks with the agents of free agent forwards Pascal Dupuis, Matt Cooke and Craig Adams.
The draft is on Sunday, June 30th. The deadline for qualifying restricted free agents is the day after that (July 1st). Free Agency opens July 5th. Time will tell, but a look at the options the Penguins have heading into the summer after the jump.
The biggest decisions to be made will be on what to do with defenseman Kris Letang, who still has one-year left on his contract, and the on-going talks with the agents of free agent forwards Pascal Dupuis, Matt Cooke and Craig Adams.
The draft is on Sunday, June 30th. The deadline for qualifying restricted free agents is the day after that (July 1st). Free Agency opens July 5th. Time will tell, but a look at the options the Penguins have heading into the summer after the jump.
Peters' Plan? #Pens Free Agent Forward Tells Highland Park Hockey: "All Options Possible"
Friday, June 28, 2013 |
| Warren Peters hasn't left out the possibility of returning. |
But more times than not its later rather than sooner that a deal gets done. Teams have until noon on July 5th to negotiate with impending unrestricted free agents (UFA) before they are eligible to sign elsewhere among the other 29 NHL teams.
Speaking with Warren Peters today I got the feeling that, although an agreement hasn't been reached as of late this afternoon, it wouldn't be out of the question for Peters to be re-signed by the Penguins. It doesn't seem like he would have any problems staying in the organization either.
More about Peters and his plans for next season after the jump.
Chad Kolarik Signs Two-Year Deal with Linkoping (SHL)
It seems as though there is a theme with these crop of unrestricted free agents. The latest to sign overseas is dynamic scoring forward Chad Kolarik, who joins the Linkoping Hockey Club (LHC) in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Here's the team's official press release.
Kolarik was an offensive leader of this team, posting 11 points (5G-6A) in 15 playoff games for the Penguins and finished third in the AHL in the regular season scoring race with 68 points (31G-37A) in 76 games. His offensive prowess will certainly be missed in Wilkes-Barre.
I spoke with Kolarik shortly after the news broke that he had signed. His thoughts about playing hockey in Sweden and a final message to Penguins fans after the jump.
Phil Dupuis Heads to DEL, Kunitz Extended, Odds & Ends 6/27
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Another former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) player from the 2012-13 roster is heading overseas. Forward Phillipe Dupuis signed a one-year deal with the Hamburg Freezers of the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Here is the story from the Freezers' team site, translated in English.
One thing to note about the Dupuis press release, which was never talked about but should come as no surprise at this point, is that he suffered a concussion while with the Penguins last season and missed from mid-January to the team's final game on June 1st in the AHL's Eastern Conference Finals. A portion of the Freezers' press release below:
"Philippe wanted to go to Europe and has left a good impression both with me and with Benoit, who met him in Canada. In the past season Philippe had long struggled with a concussion and could never get his full power therefore. But now he is fit again."Dupuis joins Dylan Reese as two players from last year's roster that has hopped the pond. Reese, as you might recall, signed in the Russian KHL.
Penguins' Shero Plans on Qualifying Restricted Free Agents
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
More news coming out about the Penguins today, as Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette is reporting that general manager Ray Shero plans on extending qualifying offers to restricted free agents Tyler Kennedy, Dustin Jeffrey, Robert Bortuzzo and newly acquired Harry Zolnierczyk.
Shero was quoted as saying, "I don't see us not qualifying anybody, at this point" which leads me to believe that restricted free agents in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will receive qualifying offers as well, namely forwards Riley Holzpafel, Brian Gibbons, Paul Thompson and Zach Sill.
Shero was quoted as saying, "I don't see us not qualifying anybody, at this point" which leads me to believe that restricted free agents in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins will receive qualifying offers as well, namely forwards Riley Holzpafel, Brian Gibbons, Paul Thompson and Zach Sill.
#Pens Trade D Alex Grant to #Ducks for F Zolnierczyk
Monday, June 24, 2013
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks swap restricted free agents this afternoon as the Pens send defenseman Alex Grant to Anaheim in exchange for forward Harry Zolnierczyk.
#WBSPens' State of the Defense Address 6/15
Saturday, June 15, 2013
With Dylan Reese signing overseas in the KHL with Amur Khabarovsk for one year, the blueprint for the Penguins defense looks to ride heavily on their blue line prospects.
Highland Park Hockey first reported the news of Reese's signing earlier this morning.
This bodes well for Boston College products Brian Dumoulin and Philip Samuelsson, who were both drafted in the 2nd round of the 2009 NHL entry draft, as well as incoming rookie Scott Harrington - the Penguins 2nd round pick from 2011.
Add in Reid McNeill, who appeared in 15 games with the AHL Penguins at the tail end of the 2012-13 season, and there's four guys that could be wearing WBS uniforms in the fall.
Two other names WBS Pens fans should keep tabs on are incoming defenseman Harrison Ruopp and Nick D'Agostino. Ruopp (3rd round - 2011 Phoenix) came to the Pens organization in the trade that sent Zbynek Michalek back to the Coyotes last summer. D'Agostino is a product of Cornell University and will look to turn pro in the fall.
Of course, much can change on the Penguins blueline based on what Ray Shero and company decide to do regarding Kris Letang and Douglas Murray. Letang is entering the final year of his contract and Douglas Murray (as well as Mark Eaton) are set to become free agents in July.
Highland Park Hockey first reported the news of Reese's signing earlier this morning.
This bodes well for Boston College products Brian Dumoulin and Philip Samuelsson, who were both drafted in the 2nd round of the 2009 NHL entry draft, as well as incoming rookie Scott Harrington - the Penguins 2nd round pick from 2011.
Add in Reid McNeill, who appeared in 15 games with the AHL Penguins at the tail end of the 2012-13 season, and there's four guys that could be wearing WBS uniforms in the fall.
Two other names WBS Pens fans should keep tabs on are incoming defenseman Harrison Ruopp and Nick D'Agostino. Ruopp (3rd round - 2011 Phoenix) came to the Pens organization in the trade that sent Zbynek Michalek back to the Coyotes last summer. D'Agostino is a product of Cornell University and will look to turn pro in the fall.
Of course, much can change on the Penguins blueline based on what Ray Shero and company decide to do regarding Kris Letang and Douglas Murray. Letang is entering the final year of his contract and Douglas Murray (as well as Mark Eaton) are set to become free agents in July.
Dylan Reese Signs Overseas in KHL
 |
| Dylan Reese (left) has signed overseas. Alex Grant (right) is the Penguins lone restricted free agent on defense. Photo courtesy of Amy's WBS Picture Page |
AHL Penguins Free Agents: Understanding "Restricted" vs. "Unrestricted" 6/6
Thursday, June 6, 2013
"Restricted" and "Unrestricted" are two words put in front of free agents that put available players for the upcoming season in two very different categories.
My best explanation? A restricted free agent is a typically younger player who has an expiring contract that was either his first professional contract (aka an entry-level deal) or a subsequent contract in which a team submitted a qualifying offer (see below) to the player from the previous year.
Teams have until June 25th to submit what is called a qualifying offer to their restricted free agents to retain their rights or else they will be come unrestricted free agents and be free to sign with any team they choose when the NHL's free agency begins on July 5th.
A qualifying offer is a raise of 110% the player's salary from the previous season if he made under $660,000 (NHL-level) or a raise of at least 105% if he made up $1 million. Players making over a million must be offered 100%. Still with me?
What you should get out of all of this is that a team's restricted free agents have almost no bargaining chips in their stack. If a team qualifies their restricted free agent, they retain his rights through next season. It is only after June 25th and no qualifying offer, that a restricted free agent becomes unrestricted and is free to sign with any team who is interested in him.
Unrestricted free agents, on the other hand, are only exclusive to the team the played on last season until NHL free agency begins. They can reject any contract their team offers and opt to hit the market and field offers from other teams. Thus, it is a little more difficult to retain unrestricted free agents than it is a restricted free agent.
I hope all of that made sense. If you are interested in finding out more or have any specific questions, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to clear the air.
My best explanation? A restricted free agent is a typically younger player who has an expiring contract that was either his first professional contract (aka an entry-level deal) or a subsequent contract in which a team submitted a qualifying offer (see below) to the player from the previous year.
Teams have until June 25th to submit what is called a qualifying offer to their restricted free agents to retain their rights or else they will be come unrestricted free agents and be free to sign with any team they choose when the NHL's free agency begins on July 5th.
A qualifying offer is a raise of 110% the player's salary from the previous season if he made under $660,000 (NHL-level) or a raise of at least 105% if he made up $1 million. Players making over a million must be offered 100%. Still with me?
What you should get out of all of this is that a team's restricted free agents have almost no bargaining chips in their stack. If a team qualifies their restricted free agent, they retain his rights through next season. It is only after June 25th and no qualifying offer, that a restricted free agent becomes unrestricted and is free to sign with any team who is interested in him.
Unrestricted free agents, on the other hand, are only exclusive to the team the played on last season until NHL free agency begins. They can reject any contract their team offers and opt to hit the market and field offers from other teams. Thus, it is a little more difficult to retain unrestricted free agents than it is a restricted free agent.
I hope all of that made sense. If you are interested in finding out more or have any specific questions, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to clear the air.
Not The End Of The Road 6/5
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
For me personally, it was a great season. I ended up making it to 69 of the 76 regular season games to bring live coverage of the action, including the some of the Penguins longer road trips to Adirondack, Albany, Manchester, Norfolk, Portland, Providence, Springfield and Worcester. That, in addition to covering the team for their stint in the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs, made me a much better writer and I have learned way too much this season to explain one post.
That being said, the season is never really over for me. While the Penguins have been eliminated for contention of the Calder Cup, there is still much to be said about the team that played this season. You might have noticed (and hopefully read!) throughout the season some of my features on some of the players. I plan to have a profile feature for more players up on the site over the summer.
There is also the always important FAQ's about who is signed through next year, which upcoming free agents are "restricted" or "unrestricted", understanding the difference between the two and the dates for deadlines on qualifying offers, contract buyouts and the start of free agency. That post will be coming tomorrow and will be often re-posted in some sort of manner to touch on things as it starts to get closer to some of the above mentioned dates.
So stay tuned! The season might be over, but there will be plenty to write about as we wait for the next time some Penguins prospects hit the ice. Don't worry, you only have to wait three months. The Penguins are having a rookie tournament in London, Ontario that runs September 5th-8th.
That being said, the season is never really over for me. While the Penguins have been eliminated for contention of the Calder Cup, there is still much to be said about the team that played this season. You might have noticed (and hopefully read!) throughout the season some of my features on some of the players. I plan to have a profile feature for more players up on the site over the summer.
There is also the always important FAQ's about who is signed through next year, which upcoming free agents are "restricted" or "unrestricted", understanding the difference between the two and the dates for deadlines on qualifying offers, contract buyouts and the start of free agency. That post will be coming tomorrow and will be often re-posted in some sort of manner to touch on things as it starts to get closer to some of the above mentioned dates.
So stay tuned! The season might be over, but there will be plenty to write about as we wait for the next time some Penguins prospects hit the ice. Don't worry, you only have to wait three months. The Penguins are having a rookie tournament in London, Ontario that runs September 5th-8th.
Crunch Finish Penguins, Season Ends in June
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Not the way the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins wanted to end their season, bowing out in five games to the Syracuse Crunch tonight in New York. The final score is rough, a 7-0 loss, but the end result is the same no matter what the score reads in the deciding game. The season is over.
The Crunch capitalized on two gaffes by the Penguins in a 52 second span in the first period, added three goals in a span of 4:21 in the middle period, and for good measure added two more in the third period.
"We couldn't get the one we needed at the right time," head coach John Hynes said. "We couldn't get it within one early in the game and then it just snowballed a little bit after that."
The Crunch are a very good team. They've only lost one game this entire postseason (Game One vs. these Penguins) and dating back to last year's Norfolk team that was moved here, have swept four out of their last five playoff series. They are worthy of the Eastern Conference championship they've earned tonight. They will be tough to beat in the Finals.
The Crunch capitalized on two gaffes by the Penguins in a 52 second span in the first period, added three goals in a span of 4:21 in the middle period, and for good measure added two more in the third period.
"We couldn't get the one we needed at the right time," head coach John Hynes said. "We couldn't get it within one early in the game and then it just snowballed a little bit after that."
The Crunch are a very good team. They've only lost one game this entire postseason (Game One vs. these Penguins) and dating back to last year's Norfolk team that was moved here, have swept four out of their last five playoff series. They are worthy of the Eastern Conference championship they've earned tonight. They will be tough to beat in the Finals.
#AHL Game Five Preview: #WBSPens Look to Stave Off Elimination
The comeback has to start tonight for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who come into Syracuse for Game Five trailing the series 3-1. For the Penguins, more shuffling and another defenseman makes his pro debut: Enter Derrick Pouliot.
I like how the Penguins are giving these prospects a chance to play in some big games at this level right away. I also like how the three "new" guys in Pouliot, Olli Maatta and Scott Harrington are each paired with someone who has been with this team this season. The only change on defense is Pouliot in for Peter Merth.
On defense it's:
Maatta-Mormina
Dumoulin-Harrington
Pouliot-Samuelsson
The Penguins made two changes from their lineup up front, adding the return of Bobby Farnham and Derek Nesbitt. Hopefully both are stoked to get back into the lineup.
The lines tonight:
Holzapfel-Smith-Kolarik
Megna-Gibbons-Thompson
Nesbitt-Peters-Payerl
Farnham-Sill-Uher
Also, the Penguins start Jeff Zatkoff in net in place of Thiessen. Not that Thiessen was terrible - he wasn't - but when you're down 3-1 in a series I think trying to spark the team is key. Another popular theory is just the amount of games Thiessen has played lately and the back-to-back game nights.
I like how the Penguins are giving these prospects a chance to play in some big games at this level right away. I also like how the three "new" guys in Pouliot, Olli Maatta and Scott Harrington are each paired with someone who has been with this team this season. The only change on defense is Pouliot in for Peter Merth.
On defense it's:
Maatta-Mormina
Dumoulin-Harrington
Pouliot-Samuelsson
The Penguins made two changes from their lineup up front, adding the return of Bobby Farnham and Derek Nesbitt. Hopefully both are stoked to get back into the lineup.
The lines tonight:
Holzapfel-Smith-Kolarik
Megna-Gibbons-Thompson
Nesbitt-Peters-Payerl
Farnham-Sill-Uher
Also, the Penguins start Jeff Zatkoff in net in place of Thiessen. Not that Thiessen was terrible - he wasn't - but when you're down 3-1 in a series I think trying to spark the team is key. Another popular theory is just the amount of games Thiessen has played lately and the back-to-back game nights.
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