Penguins/NHL
Training camps open in 13 days and many quality NHL players still can’t find jobs.
Marcel Goc and Max Lapierre, two players traded for each other last season, both signed in Europe this week.
Scottie Upshall a solid bottom-6 player signed with the St. Louis Blues on a professional tryout on Tuesday.
One veteran agent said the market has shaped up for established players to either accept an $800,000 offer or go to camp on a tryout.
The Penguins have gone the tryout route twice already, signing Sergei Gonchar and Tim Sestito to professional tryout contracts in August.
The Penguins brass, though, wouldn’t be doing their job if they weren’t looking to take advantage of the current market and exploring the possibility of bringing in another forward on a tryout.
The past week there have been discussions with a few.
In fact, four notable wingers the Penguins looked into prior to the deadline remain in play as possible tryout candidates for NHL teams this fall.
[hide] Jiri Tlusty,| Carolina/Winnipeg
14 Goals – 17 Assists – 31 Points
*Jim Rutherford has always been a big fan and tried to acquire Tlusty in February. Tlusty’s value took a huge hit after failing to fit in with the Jets and struggled with the speed in the West. However, still only in his 20’s and has history of playing with top talent. Also exploring options in Europe. Made $2.95 million in 14-15.
Curtis Glencross | Calgary/Washington
13 Goals – 22 Assists – 35 Points
*The Penguins have liked Glencross dating back to the 2011 deadline and looked into him again this past deadline. Glencross is similar to Tlusty where he joined a playoff team and struggled mightily, crushing his free agent value. A player on the downside and doesn’t fit with the Penguins desire to be a faster team.
Brad Boyes | Florida
14 Goals – 24 Assists – 38 Points
*Elliotte Friedman reported back in December the Penguins were looking into Boyes and the 33 year old winger was being discussed internally again by the Penguins prior to acquiring Phil Kessel, we were told.
Boyes playmaking ability and hockey sense made him a strong fit with John Tavares in 2013. Boyes possession numbers have been that of a second line player and he’s fantastic in shootouts. Intriguing depth option, has same agent as Sidney Crosby.
Erik Cole | Dallas/Detroit
21 Goals – 18 Assists – 39 Points
*If the cap space was there, Erik Cole might have been a Penguin at the trade deadline. Has a history with Rutherford but dealt with a spinal contusion that limited him to just 11 games with the Red Wings and has Cole undecided whether to keep playing with him destined to take a big pay cut.
[/hide]
