Free Agency Predictions - Revisited

Let's take a look at how my free agency predictions turned out...

Let's start with the easy ones....

I said: "Dupius, Rutuu, Laraque, Hall signed"
What Actually Happened: Dupius Signed. Rutuu (Sens); Laraque (Habs); and Hall (TB) all gone.

The skinny: Shero signed Dupius because he needed a speedy winger that showed some flash on his limited time with the Pens. Ruutu and Hall were victims of contract length more than $ (each got 3 years - Shero offered only 2). Laraque was a victim of both length and $. Shero wasn't going to pay him the $1.5 M he wanted, never mind for 3 years!

The repercussions: It'll be nice to see what Dupius can do on Crosby's/Malkin's wing for a full year. I think Hall brings excellent utlilty for the measly $600K he commands....but with him gone others can get more ice time. Ruutu will be missed but should be adequately replaced by Cooke. Which leaves Laraque...this one is tough. Good to see the Pens save some $ for other key players, but they gave up the premier enforcer in the entire NHL! I know they signed Godard for toughness and Cooke for peskiness, but I can't help to feel that this decision might come back to bite them in the ....


I said: "Eaton, Orpik, and Hossa - Gone"
What Actually Happened: Eaton and Orpik signed. Hossa gone.

The skinny: Okay so I was 33% right on this one. I was surpirsed to see the Pens sign the injury prone Eaton - especially at $2M per - but it'll be a good deal if he stays healthy. But that's a BIG "IF"!

The Orpik signing was a bit surprising, too. Good value for punishing D-man. Thought he would be more actively persued by other teams, but when Buffalo walked away it became clear that he would resign with the Pens. Hopefully will see more than just "The Shift" out of him this season.

Hossa was the talk - and the SHOCK - of free agency. If it went down according to some reports then we are good to be rid of him - he didn't want to be in Pittsburgh anyhow. Pffllt!

The repercussions: Over time the Orpik deal should look like a steal. Eaton's might, too, IF HE STAYS HEALTHY. Hossa is simply hard to replace. Period.

Scraps and Snippets...

Empty Netters has nice tributes to the dearly departed Penguins: Adam Hall, Georges Laraque, and Marian Hossa.

Mike Chen from FOXSports says that GMs need to stop spending like crazy. Can you say Lockout-Round 2, anyone?!

Faceoff Factor compiled a Penguins depth chart based on the recent acqusitions and depatures.

Puck Daddy has a rundown of the new NHL '09.

Free Agency: Day One Thoughts Part Two

A conitinued look at the Pens moves...

(-)
Pens Lose Adam Hall.
Adam Hall was a plugger. He was a solid role guy that was good on the PK, good on face-offs, and occaisonally chipped in the big goal. Tampa Bay signed him to a 3 yr. deal at a very slight ($75 M) increase over what he was making last year. To win Cups you need solid role players. Adam Hall was a solid role player. Some would argue that others can easily replace him. I would argue that he brings a lot to the table for little cash. I just have to wonder why the Pens didn't try harder to keep him. Was it that he wanted 3 yrs.? Or was it that he no longer wanted a two-way deal?

Little Know Fact That May Only Interest Me: Both former Penguin Dominic Moore and current Penguin Pascal Dupius have been the other party in trades involving Adam Hall.

Last year's salary: $525,000. New Contract: 3 yrs. at $600 M/yr. ($525M off the books)

Pens sign Eric Goddard.
Eric Goddard was the enforcer for Calgary last year. By signing him they effectively said "bye-bye" to big Georges Laraque. The move was entirely financially motivated. BGL made $1.3 M last year and was looking for $1.5 MM for 2-3 years. Goddard signed for a measly $750,000 per year - half of what big Georges expects to make. I put this in the "-" column because big Geroges was and is the best enforcer in the league. He played well on an energy line with Max Talbot and Jarkko Ruutu. An occaisonally chipped in a goal. But what he'll be remebered for is the fights (esp. with Philly). Who can forget his non-fight with Zdeno Chara that *embarassingly* resulted only in a 2 min roughing call! Or how about his fight with Cote where he put Cote's helmet from blue line to blue line with just one punch! Ahh how I'll miss BGL!

If you are interested in Goddard's work you can see it here and here.

Fact that may only interest me: Georges is actually a real nice guy off the ice. He was involved in several charities in Pittsburgh including Hockey In The Hood. Georges was nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy and given the Edward J. DeBartolo “Community Service” Award.

New Contract: 3 yrs. at $750 M/yr. ($550M soon to be off the books when BGL moves on)

Free Agency Predictions

Here are my free agency predictions for the Pens based on absolutely nothing...

Hossa gone (Boston? Montreal?)
Orpik gone (Buffalo? Atlanta?)
Dupius, Rutuu, Laraque, Hall signed
Eaton likely gone (solid defender - too injury prone)
New contracts for Malkin, Fleury and Staal

New acquisitions: Niklas Hagman, LW, Dallas and Jay Pandalfo, LW, New Jersey

Okay Pandalfo is a stretch. Lou Lam would be stupid not to resign him. But if the Pens could pry him away they would win twice (new player + loss of player for competing team in division)

Personally I would like to see Hagman in a Pens uni. He had 27 goals last years playing only 15 mins/game and by all accounts he is a great, fast skater. How many goals do you think he'd rack up along side Crosby or Malkin???

James Mirtle has a solid UFA rundown found here

TSN will be an excellent place for the latest information, if you plan to follow along at home/work.

Sit tight...the fun begins in just a few short hours....GGG