NHL Free Agency: Latest updates on former Pens' still on the market

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NHL Free Agency: Latest updates on former Pens' still on the market

1:56pm - Monday, July 12th, 2010 by DePaoli

Updates on McKee, Guerin, Ponikarovsky, Fedotenko, more

Veteran defenseman Jay McKee continues to patiently wait out the market for the right situation. According to a source close to McKee's camp there has been zero contact since July 1 between Pens GM Ray Shero and Pat Morris, the agent for McKee.
Pittsburgh has decided to move on. However, the Phoenix Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators and Nashville Predators have expressed preliminary interest in McKee, a league source tells Inside Pittsburgh Sports this afternoon.
McKee prefers to join a contender and have a shot at a title but is also seeking a top-6 role.
Alexei Ponikarovsky is among a current group of 4-to-5 wingers (Torres, Frolov) who can have an impact on any team but have seen a very limited market in free agency. Two reasons for that is the demands of their agents and a consensus among GM's around the league who are showing no interest in making a long-term commitment to the likes of Ponikarovsky, Frolov and even Maxim Afinogenov.
As of Friday evening, all indications out of Ponikarovsky's camp is that the 30 year old forward has yet to receive an offer. Rick Curran the agent for Ponikarovsky told Inside Pittsburgh Sports last week that no new talks with Pittsburgh are expected in the near future.
Teams at least kicking the tires on Ponikarovsky have been the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers and Minnesota Wild. The Kings who were a finalist for Ponikarovsky during the trade deadline have expressed the most interest but can't move on Ponikarovsky until the Ilya Kovalchuk situation is resolved.
Based on the current market, It would be surprising if Ponikarovsky gets anything beyond a one year deal. He has a reputation around the league of a player whose happy with a 4-2 loss as along as he gets a couple points.

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Comments

LeMagnifique

looks like some gms around the league are starting to realize numbers dont matter as much as on ice play

07/12/2010 2:10pm

jeffed

I'm guessing they will bring in someone after the prospect camp this week. They will see where they are and go from there. Make a 2 year pitch at a significant raise to Afinogenov, have Geno give him a call, see what you can make happen. Don't bring in Torres or Poni.

07/12/2010 2:14pm

rkrichter

I didn't want Torres at the deadline. I really don't want him now.

07/12/2010 2:18pm

j_s15226

So basically all Russians not named Kovalchuk are being blackballed by the league. Sam should be happy.

07/12/2010 2:24pm

beerman69

Bring back Morozov.

07/12/2010 2:37pm

mwalluk

jeffed - agree 10000000000000000 %

07/12/2010 2:42pm

mwalluk

really thought pens would have attempted to make a trade

07/12/2010 2:43pm

fatman00

I rerad that dallas may be open to trading neal id love to see what they wanted and even give up gogo to have cap space to resign him

07/12/2010 2:54pm

j_s15226

With Chicago matching Hjalmarssons offer...Lebrun is saying Sharp might be in play....If only we had some more space!

07/12/2010 3:03pm

stoopidful

Most of these free agents want more than Shero can spend under the cap. Pick up Artyukhin. He can be Crosby's right wing. Play Tangradi on Malkin's left and let Johnson, Vielleux, Talbot and Dupuis contend for Malkin's right wing. Both lines would have a big player to crash the net and screen the goalie and both can skate and play down low.

07/12/2010 3:22pm

Jerkhart66

I really wish somehow Afino. would become a penguin this year.....

07/12/2010 3:24pm

Jerkhart66

i hate waiting!!!..haha

07/12/2010 3:25pm

j_s15226

I'd like to see them get Fins and hope he becomes a 3-4 yr fix for Geno. (obviosuly im not saying sign him to that long of a contract this year) I'd like to see them maybe go after Bergeron next year to play with Sid.

07/12/2010 3:27pm

mwalluk

pick up sharp trade dupuis and talbot to clear space

07/12/2010 3:51pm

jeffed

I'm sure they could make Sharp work somehow, won't happen but I'll keep my hopes up for Afinogenov on Geno's wing for a year or two.

07/12/2010 3:55pm

acewhiplash

If you go to capgeek and add in Letestu and Johnson for 14 FW, and add a 7th Dman for $600,000, the Pens have a full roster of 23 and $500,000 in cap space. obviously to sign any sort of free agent winger, someone has to go(go) via trade.

07/12/2010 3:55pm

DeathByEmu

They dont have the bodies to fill in for a 2-for-1 deal. I mean, they would still be a roster spot short and STILL not have any money to fill it.

07/12/2010 3:55pm

Monrovian12

trade our leading goal scorer on the wing?!?! Noo!?! haha...

07/12/2010 4:04pm

dirtmccurt

Yeah, I don't think there's anyway we can make Sharp work without significantly changing the team

07/12/2010 4:15pm

jpaha

u have to also remember that Chicago won't take any salary on so that makes it even less likely that they would make a trade with anybody that is close to the cap like the pens

07/12/2010 4:19pm

j_s15226

ACE: I doubt we carry 14 forwards...

07/12/2010 4:22pm

dirtmccurt

As far as Russians go, I'd rather take a chance on Filatov then give Fin 3 years

07/12/2010 4:22pm

DeathByEmu

Isnt it funny... the Pens were a team in most need of a league-wide salary cap to stay in business when they instituted it.. now they are hogtied by it.

07/12/2010 4:26pm

acewhiplash

JS: true, but that's only half a mill more...not much.

07/12/2010 4:29pm

dirtmccurt

That's kind of the reason why I hope we wait until December/January to call of Tangradi. If you wait until halfway through the season, he's only going to count 400k against rather than 800k

07/12/2010 4:32pm

j_s15226

I don't know how I feel about Filitov. At least Fins has had some success. Filitov is relatively unproven thus far in his career and looks soft running off to Russia last year, Whether CB ok'd it or not.

07/12/2010 4:42pm

jpaha

his cap hit is a little over 2 anyway and CBJ would want a lot in return so i doubt it would happen

07/12/2010 4:43pm

jaluco

He looks soft running off to Russia? Rather than sitting and wilting away on the Bench playing 6 minutes a night because Hitchcock wouldn't play him? Really?

07/12/2010 4:48pm

jeffed

I think I may have went to Russia as well, he wanted to play and it wasn't happening.

07/12/2010 5:06pm

jeffed

CBJ can have Gogo, apparently he's a hot commodity.

07/12/2010 5:06pm

CM2005

Afinogenov would help our team big time. He would bring speed and creative vigor to our offense. He would play with Crosby or Malkin and I just can't see him not putting up at least 55-60 points playing with those two.

07/12/2010 5:20pm

Samtheman

yes afi would hlep but come playoffs he will disapear

07/12/2010 6:09pm

dirtmccurt

Filatov will only count 875k against the cap though, his bonuses don't count. And like you guys said, Hitchcock wasn't playing him so I'm not that afraid. You can move gogo for methot and filatov, which the salaries will equal out and then sign Fin. Kunitz-Sid-Dupuis/Tangradi, Fin-Geno-Filatov as a top 2 sounds really dirty but I doubt RS trades gogo for a ruski

07/12/2010 6:12pm

Samtheman

i would love to have simon gagne it would be the best addition playin whit sid

07/12/2010 6:21pm

jpaha

Actually, both capgeek and nhlnumbers said that bonuses do count against the cap, but only if they are reached throughout the season. So, in Filatov's case 2.2M would be the worst case but more likely somewhere around 1M or a little more would be reasonable since he would achieve some kind of bonuses. It's still pretty unrealistic though

07/12/2010 6:26pm

Jerkhart66

I dont think afino. would dissappear....he has too much talent not to succeed regardless of the situation playing with crosby or malkin....

07/12/2010 6:32pm

dirtmccurt

Again, very unlike it happens, just look at Tavaras's contract. The only way you get killed with a performance bonus is if he were to lead the league in points or something like that

07/12/2010 6:33pm

j_s15226

So he had a rough time w a coach and ran to Russia instead of working through it. Not saying I wouldn't make that trade I'm just saying...

07/12/2010 6:34pm

jpaha

no, he wouldn't achieve all of his bonuses, but im sure u still get some if u play a certain amount of games and points and stuff like that. That would definitely be a nice lineup it could happen but i don't see Ray doing it

07/12/2010 6:36pm

dirtmccurt

Unless you can interpret this differently: "Performance bonuses can be earned at two levels. The first level covers individual benchmarks such as goals scored, goaltender wins, and so on. The maximum a player can earn at this level is believed to be around $850,000 per year. The second level is for much rarer achievements, like winning a major NHL award or ranking among the NHL's top players in a statistical catregory. The maximum a player can earn at this level is estimated at $2 million per year. Performance bonuses under the old agreement were subject to few limits." I think if anything, I counts against next year, like the Toews issue

07/12/2010 6:38pm

jpaha

yeah, it would count against next year's cap. there is a bonus cushion for each team's cap and u r only allowed to go over it by so much ( some small percent)

07/12/2010 6:40pm

froods

An article on the Pens website is talking bout Tangradi and Jeffrey. I don't think I have heard anybody mention Jeffrey's name....he did have a monster year for WBS. He also has moved to LW...I wonder if he has a shot?

07/12/2010 7:22pm

froods

He is still rated as the #3 prospect by Hockey Futures

07/12/2010 7:24pm

gdsmack267

Do you think Sharp will be on the trading block now that they just commited that money to the D? We would need to clear liek 1.8 million to grab him though.

07/12/2010 8:00pm

Samtheman

only time max will play if he has one year contract he will play his ass off to get a longterm but if pens give this guy 4 years deal right away he will play this year and the last year of his contract

07/12/2010 8:01pm

froods

Max wouldn't accept a contract for 4 years that we would be able to afford to give him. It would have to be a 1 year 1 million dollar deal IMO

07/12/2010 8:05pm

Carnauerff

Maybe Jeffrey can learn to use his 6'3" frame. I like him though. Almost a point per game in the A last year.

07/12/2010 8:50pm

jeffed

I always forget about Jeffrey, he had a great year down in WBS.

07/12/2010 9:52pm

dirtmccurt

There's a reason everyone forgets about him...he's not noticeable at the NHL level. I'd rather move Staal to the 2nd line than use him as a top 6 winger

07/12/2010 9:55pm

zerocool6687

Happy with a 4 - 2 loss as long as he scores... perfect attitude for the team... cant see why anyone wants that bum back on the team!

07/12/2010 10:01pm

froods

He is only 22.....he might have grown a lot

07/12/2010 10:12pm

jeffed

When didn't you notice him? During his one game up last year or hit total of 15 games in the NHL?

07/12/2010 10:15pm

jeffed

*his total

07/12/2010 10:15pm

jeffed

I don't think he's the greatest player ever but you guys are tough to figure out. You make excuse after excuse when it comes to some players (GoGo) but then say a kid who is 22 has no chance after 15 NHL games.

07/12/2010 10:16pm

dirtmccurt

Again, if you've watched him play, rather than just look at his game total, you'd see that he's too slow for the NHL and is out of position alot.

07/12/2010 10:24pm

jeffed

I don't know much about him, I admit that, but at least you do. He should hang up the skates I guess.

07/12/2010 10:26pm

jeffed

15 games over two years is plenty of time for an evaluation I guess.

07/12/2010 10:27pm

jeffed

He was a +4 during his 14 games in 2008-09 with the big club, he didn't seem to hurt them too much.

07/12/2010 10:28pm

dirtmccurt

Gogo was a plus player too, so find another stat

07/12/2010 10:28pm

froods

I know the knock on him was that he was not pysical enough to be a bottom 6 center....and because of the Pens depth at center he would never have a chance in a top 6 role. So they moved him to wing last year and made some big steps. I don't think you can write him off yet

07/12/2010 10:29pm

dirtmccurt

Again, when you play with Sid or Geno, speed is a must

07/12/2010 10:30pm

jeffed

Hey, I'm just trying to figure out why some players get two year passes of pretty bad play at the NHL level while others get 15 games to demonstrate how terrible they are. I don't get it.

07/12/2010 10:30pm

froods

Malone didn't have speed....and was arguably the best winger the two have had

07/12/2010 10:31pm

dirtmccurt

Because one actually shows potential and puts up points, the other doesn't.

07/12/2010 10:31pm

jeffed

Billy G did alright without it.

07/12/2010 10:32pm

jpaha

sykora had a good first year with Geno and he wasn't a fast skater. Jeffrey can't possibly be slower than Billy G was

07/12/2010 10:32pm

jeffed

He's had 15 f'ing games to rack up the points.

07/12/2010 10:32pm

froods

I think Goligoski will be ok...playing D in the NHL is tough. Especially now with the top 4....he won't be counted on as much

07/12/2010 10:33pm

froods

I do think this might be make or break for Jeffrey though

07/12/2010 10:33pm

dirtmccurt

You guys realize that Billy G won a fastest skater award right?

07/12/2010 10:33pm

froods

not lately

07/12/2010 10:34pm

froods

touche...but not lately

07/12/2010 10:34pm

dirtmccurt

I realize that, but its not like he was a slug out there. I'll give you Malone though

07/12/2010 10:35pm

jeffed

10 years ago

07/12/2010 10:35pm

froods

I do think speed helps with Sid...not as much with Geno

07/12/2010 10:35pm

jeffed

People were complaining all last year about Guerin's speed, or lack thereof. I understand it goes against your argument here, but its the truth. He was downright SLOW last year

07/12/2010 10:36pm

jpaha

yeah, speed definitely helps when u play with Sid. Geno is more of an east-west player i think and doesn't always go full speed. and if u have somebody fast on the other side of him, then that helps make up for it

07/12/2010 10:36pm

froods

Yea...I do not want him back as a top 6 winger...I would take him back to play the PP and skate on the 4th line

07/12/2010 10:37pm

froods

Yea if we do get Afin....I almost feel like he would be a better fit style wise with Sid.....but he would play with Geno for sure

07/12/2010 10:37pm

dirtmccurt

Alright, so where does he play then guys? Are you going to give him a spot over Tangradi or Johnson?

07/12/2010 10:38pm

froods

Maybe....if he earns it......There might be 2 spots

07/12/2010 10:40pm

froods

I would definetly say he is the 4th most likely guy to make it......but he has a shot

07/12/2010 10:40pm

jpaha

a lot of guys are going to get their shots throughout camp and in the preseason games i'm sure. Johnson plays right wing and Jeffrey plays left so i don't think they would switch them.

07/12/2010 10:41pm

dirtmccurt

Yes and so does Sterling then right? He torn it up in the AHL too.

07/12/2010 10:42pm

jeffed

If he looks good enough, why not? They have no one on the wing outside of Kunitz.

07/12/2010 10:42pm

jeffed

They aren't going to sign anyone of any significance probably so that's probably how its going to be.

07/12/2010 10:43pm

jpaha

yeah, he actually intrigues me a lot. He has scored an incredible amount of goals in the AHL, unlike Bourque who we picked up last year. He was more of a playmaker and just a decent goal scorer, while Sterling is a pure sniper. i think almost every young guy will get some sort of shot throught camp

07/12/2010 10:43pm

dirtmccurt

I wouldn't say we're not signing anyone. I doubt we just sit on 3M

07/12/2010 10:45pm

froods

Sterling is like Bourque or Giroux......he has proven he doesn't have the size to be in the NHL. That was a pure Hershey killer move

07/12/2010 10:45pm

froods

We are not really sitting on 3 million. They need two forwards and a 7th D-man. Lets just say its Johnson, Letestu, and Englland...that leaves it at 1.5

07/12/2010 10:46pm

jeffed

I dont think anyone ever claimed that Jeffrey is going to make the team, but it's impossible to write him off after 15 games, no way around it. That's all that was said.

07/12/2010 10:46pm

froods

I wish everybody on here would relize the cap situation......They are still 3 guys short and have to leave room for Injuries

07/12/2010 10:47pm

jeffed

They have like 2.3 right now don't they?

07/12/2010 10:48pm

froods

I guarntee they will not go many games without 13 forwards and 7 d-man.....maybe for a short time...but not long term

07/12/2010 10:48pm

froods

If you include Tangradi it is 2.2

07/12/2010 10:48pm

dirtmccurt

All's I'm saying is when Johnson and Jeffrey were called up, Johnson looked good, Jeffrey looked out of place. D says his potential is at most only a 3rd line role player. Sure you can give him a shot, but I wouldn't hold my breath

07/12/2010 10:49pm

froods

To leave at least 500K cushion, and make room incase Tangradi is ready......the max contract they can sign without trading anybody is 1.2 million.

07/12/2010 10:50pm

jeffed

We've been playing with 3rd line guys in the top 6 for a while now so it wouldn't shock me.

07/12/2010 10:51pm

froods

and even then....no room at the deadline. Thats why I say keep the 1.5

07/12/2010 10:51pm

froods

or sign Nathan Paetch who can be a 13th forward/ and 7th d-man at the same time

07/12/2010 10:52pm

jeffed

I thought they usually like to keep around 1mm for injuries/trades

07/12/2010 10:52pm

dirtmccurt

Dupuis really was the only one in our top 6 last year that wasn't a legit top 6. Feds might have played like a top 6 but he was regarded as one when we resigned him

07/12/2010 10:53pm

dirtmccurt

*might not have

07/12/2010 10:53pm

dirtmccurt

Currently we've got 3M left with 11 forwards and 6 defensemen

07/12/2010 10:54pm

froods

I think they would be willing to be at 500K to bring in the right guy

07/12/2010 10:56pm

jpaha

capgeek says that with our 11 forwards not including Tangradi, we are at 2.8 since we have a penalty from last year for going over the bonus cushion. and its probably safe to assume that one young guy will make the roster so that brings it down another 500K if it's not Tangradi. That then leaves u with 2.3 for Tangradi, and whoever else they sign

07/12/2010 11:01pm

froods

No I think that bonus is included.....I think the number is just over 3 million

07/12/2010 11:07pm

froods

The carry over bonus was only 83,000

07/12/2010 11:08pm

froods

That 137,000 you see is Tangradi bonus. You take him off...the bonus comes off

07/12/2010 11:09pm

jpaha

i did. it says with our 19 players signed so far that we have 2.88 in cap space with 0 bonuses