The Penguins today cut ties with 2009 4th round pick Nick Petersen who officially was placed on waivers for $125. Petersen had 11 goals and 27 points in 52 games for Wilkes Barre/Scranton last season. The move grants Petersen his unconditional release from the organization and the Penguins were at the max limit of 50 contracts but will now have 49 players signed once Petersen is off the books and contract is terminated. Are the Penguins clearing a spot for a signing before the CBA expires on September 15th?
There are no indications at this point regarding an NHL type signing in the works but there has been discussions of getting 2012 first round pick Derrick Pouliot under contract and that is considered more likely I’m told.

Some teams are getting final moves taken care of before Saturday. The Chicago Blackhawks today signed former Penguin Michal Rozsival to a one year deal worth $2 million and the Boston Bruins continue to lock up their core.
Just days after signing Brad Marchand to a four year extension, the Bruins reached a six-year, $34.5 million contract extension with budding star Tyler Seguin.
Some teams are taking heat from the media for dishing out contracts when the owners are asking for the players to take pay cuts but I loved Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli comment today:
”I know optics don’t look good, but I’ve got to do my business as usual, ” Chiarelli told reporters in a conference call.
Meanwhile, the NHL and NHLPA will be meeting tomorrow with expectations of the NHLPA making a new offer but the offer is unlikely to gain much traction as indications are right now that the proposal won’t have any rollback on players salaries, something the owners are demanding again.