Keep in mind that it’s very early in the process but the Penguins priorities on the free agent front are coming to the forefront this week.
While the Penguins have reached out to the agents of 4 pending free agents, one a restricted free agent in Tyler Kennedy, and are engaged in contract talks with role players Craig Adams and Mike Rupp this week, the team has yet to reach out to Arron Asham’s camp.
Sources in Asham’s camp say the two sides {Penguins} have not had any discussions and it’s the Penguins move to initiate talks.

Asham who had a disappointing regular season, emerged as one of the Penguins best forwards in the playoffs, leading the team with 3 goals. His emergence in the playoffs hasn’t been enough for the Penguins to prioritize him at this point.
Going into the off-season, the expectation has been that the Penguins would evaluate Asham’s future with the team closer to July 1 once the Penguins dealt with others and that’s how things appear to be playing out.
The Penguins are scheduled to conduct professional scouting meetings in the first week of June, which will layout their official plans for free agency and whether the team intends to keep some cap space available to pursue free agent targets on July 1.
There has been no expectations that the Penguins would have deals worked out with Pascal Dupuis or Max Talbot before those meetings but reaching new deals before the scouting meetings with Rupp or Adams is a legit possibility.
At this point, the sense is the Penguins are further along on a new deal with Adams.
Agent Neil Sheehy and GM Ray Shero have spoken at length with some parameters from both sides being laid out. According to a source involved in the talks, negotiations are scheduled to resume on Wednesday after preliminary discussions on Monday.
It’s not being ruled out that a new deal could be worked as early as this week but as of late last night, nothing was imminent.
Adams camp has been hopeful to land another two year deal but the Penguins might be more willing to do a one year deal with an increase in pay from Adam’s previous salary of $550,000.