2010-2011 Pittsburgh Penguins

[Merman1983]

If they are intent on playing both geno and staal on that 2nd line (which i am against, but that's a whole different argument) i'd rather just go with internal options at 3rd and 4th line center or sign an extremely cheap faceoff guy (where have you gone, mike zigomanis?). Letestu, max, adams, hell even kennedy can play center. save that 2.2 million for the deadline, where it effectively becomes about 8 million, and bring in what you need then. And it's really time to see if some of the WBS guys can sink or swim, anyway.

[Merman1983]

Odds are increasing that he ends up in the khl:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/hockey/nhl/la-sp-kings-kovalchuk-20100708,0,7816136.story?

Attracted by Kovalchuk's production and electrifying style, the Kings reportedly offered him $63 million over 12 years, an annual cap hit of $5.25 million, or $84.5 million over 13 years, an annual cap hit of $6.5 million.

Several sources familiar with the situation but not authorized to talk publicly said Kovalchuk hasn't compromised on an average annual value of $10 million, close to the NHL-leading $9.538-million average Washington's Alexander Ovechkin earns in a 13-year deal.

he's nuts if he thinks he's getting ovie or sid money. shit, that last offer is better than hossa's deal, and i'd take hossa 100 times out of 100 times over kovalchuk.

[Merman1983]

Couple of rumor sites reporting the Pens have had some discussions with Afinagenov. I'm sure he's waiting for dickface Kovalchuk to sign somewhere and set the market, though.

Could really see Afinagenov putting up good numbers on Geno's line in the transition game. 2 million in cap space is probably not enough to get it done though.

[Merman1983]

http://devils.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=534603

Kovalchuk back to the devils. rumor is it's a 17 year deal. 17 years, yowza.

edit: also, Gange traded to TB for Walker and a 4th:

St. Louis-Stamkos-Downie
Gagne-Lecavalier-Malone

if they ever learn to play defense down there, wow.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=327890

[Merman1983]

http://twitter.com/DarrenDreger

Ponikarovski agrees to deal with the LA Kings.

[Merman1983]

Here's a listing of all the FA forwards left available:

Petteri Nokelainen, 24, Phoenix
Evgeny Artyukhin, 27, Atlanta
Ilya Kovalchuk, 27, New Jersey
Clarke MacArthur, 25, Atlanta
Miroslav Satan, 35, Boston

Steve Begin, 32, Boston
Tim Kennedy, 24, Buffalo
Adam Mair, 31, Buffalo
Raffi Torres, 28, Buffalo
Nigel Dawes, 25, Calgary

Brian McGrattan, 28, Calgary
Stephane Yelle, 36, Colorado
Scott Walker, 37, Washington
Darcy Tucker, 35, Colorado
Marek Svatos, 28, Colorado

Fredrik Modin, 35, Los Angeles
Jere Lehtinen, 37, Dallas
Jason Williams, 30, Detroit
Kirk Maltby, 37, Detroit
Patrick O'Sullivan, 25, Edmonton

Mike Comrie, 30, Edmonton
Fernando Pisani, 33, Edmonton
Jeff Halpern, 34, Los Angeles
Owen Nolan, 38, Minnesota
Petr Sykora, 33, Minnesota

Dean McAmmond, 37, New Jersey
Jay Pandolfo, 35, New Jersey
Andrew Peters, 30, New Jersey
Richard Park, 34, N Y Islanders
Sean Bergenheim, 26, N Y Islanders

Enver Lisin, 24, N Y Rangers
Jonathan Cheechoo, 30, Ottawa
Shean Donovan, 35, Ottawa
Arron Asham, 32, Philadelphia
Robert Lang, 39, Phoenix

Lee Stempniak, 27, Phoenix
Bill Guerin, 39, Pittsburgh
Ruslan Fedotenko, 31, Pittsburgh
Paul Kariya, 35, St. Louis
Stephane Veilleux, 28, Tampa Bay

Todd Fedoruk, 31, Tampa Bay
Wayne Primeau, 34, Toronto
Kyle Wellwood, 27, Vancouver
Ryan Johnson, 34, Vancouver
Darcy Hordichuk, 30, Vancouver
Brendan Morrison, 35, Washington



Kind of shocked Stempniak hasn't been signed yet. He's been inconsistent but has had a couple 25+ goal seasons.  Torres faded down the stretch last year but could be a cheap young option. I'd be interested Svatos at a bargain basement price as well.

[SCacalaki]

Aaron Asham signs with the Pens for $700K

Pretty good signing for the 4th line but still lacking on the 1st two.  I guess Tangradi is set for the NHL, ready or not

[Captain Chaos]

After Dan Carcillo, Aaron Asham was my most hated Flyer.  I can't even stand to look at his face.  The man has no eyes.  Just slits were his eyes sould be.  It's like he's sucking on a lemmon or something.  Now I'm gonna have to see him every game.

I'd have rather signed Stempniak.

[Merman1983]

I think it's a great signing, especially at that price. 700k is chump change in the cap world and Asham is better than a 4th liner. He's a good hitter and has halfway decent hands. Not 20 goal hands but he doesn't embarass himself out there either. He'll also fight anybody and hes a good hitter. Downside is I don't think he kills penalties, but we got enough forwards who do that.

CC, i hated him as a flyer too but I also hated MAtt Cooke when he played for the capitals. Penguin fans are going to love Aaron Asham.

[whitmer_87]

Good signing. It's going to be a little weird rooting for the guy, but I think Asham will fit in nicely.