Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero has accomplished one of his primary goals this off-season in locking up winger Matt Cooke to a new contract.
The two sides have reached an agreement on a three year deal worth $5.4 million this morning. The deal will become official once Cooke signs the deal this morning and the appropriate paper work is finalized.
Cooke was tabbed by Shero as a top priority along with defenseman Sergei Gonchar.
Contract talks with Gonchar have not broken off but the two sides are not close to a new deal. No talks took place on Monday as the Penguins waver their next move.
Despite free agency beginning in just nine days away and little progress on the Gonchar front, Shero has not turned his efforts to free agent defensemen Mark Eaton or Jordan Leopold.
Stephen Bartlett the agent for Mark Eaton tells Inside Pittsburgh Sports this morning that no talks or negotiations have taken place with GM Ray Shero.
Bartlett says the two sides will “probably meet in LA” at the NHL draft but no talks are officially scheduled at this time.

Eaton is eyeing a two year deal with a slight raise in salary from his 2009-2010 salary of $2 million.
If Gonchar re-signs, Eaton’s camp tells me that they don’t see a scenario where Eaton will be able to return. It is expected that Eaton will test free agency.
The Penguins have just three defensemen signed to one-way contracts.

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