Ray Shero Speaks!

Free Agency: Day Two Thoughts

Okay I'm am emotionally drained and physically sick on this - the most up and down day in Pittsburgh Penguins history. Let's recap...

(+)
Pens Resign Evgeni Malkin!
God bless you Geno! God bless you for your loyalty...for not upstaging Crosby...and for playing for the best hockey team in the best league in the world! I look forward to you doing 5 more years of this.

Last year's salary: $984,200.
New Contract: 5 yrs. at $8.7 M/yr. (+$7,175,800M/yr.)


Pens Resign Brooks Orpik!
Solid defensive defenseman gets a new deal. Hey and he can play RW too! Both sides win! Orpik gets a long term deal. Pens get a bit of a discount. So much for those Thierren rumors.

Last year's salary: $1,075 M
New Contract: 6 yrs. at $3.75 M/yr.

(-)
Marian Hossa Signs with Detroit
Enough has been said about this. He didn't want to be here. He wanted to play for a team that had a chance to win a Cup. Huh?! Wasn't Pittsburgh just in the friggn' Stanley Cup Final???

In short, he didn't want to be here so *good bye*!

Somewhere Jaromir Jagr is smiling...because he just became the second most reviled ex-Pen today.

Last year's salary: $7.0 MM (of which the Pens paid only about 25%) New Contract: 1 yr. at $7.4 M/yr. (+$7,175,800M/yr.)

Puck Daddy compiles it well in this article. Hossa's decision was a slap in the face.

Until next post...GGG

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

Free Agency is Here!

Today marks the start of free agency in the NHL. Here is a list of unrestricted free agents (UFAs). If you are a Pens fan like the Garbage Goal Guru, then this is the day you have been dreading.

The million dollar question....WWHD (what will Hossa do)?

Will Ray Shero look like a genius or will he fill the role of the goat?

If Shero signs Malkin, Fleury, and a few others but not Hossa and Orpik, will fans give him a pass?

What unhearalded UFA can Shero nab this year ala Sykora or Sydor?

Courtesy of TSN.CA here is the all important timeline...

Jul. 1: Free Agency period begins
Jul. 5: Deadline for player-elected salary arbitration
Jul. 6: Deadline for club-elected salary arbitration
Jul. 20 - Aug. 4 : Salary arbitration hearings held
Aug. 6: Deadline for arbitration decisions to be rendered

If you are a hockey fan this day is right up in terms of excitement with the trading dealine and NHL draft.

Stay tuned....GGG