Penguins/NHL
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.
- Bill Guerin is showing little interest in taking a significant reduction in pay and continues to wait it out for a legitimate suitor to emerge. The Philadelphia Flyers expressed early interest but went in another direction.
- The New York Rangers, a destination Guerin is highly interested in going too have been in contact with Guerin’s agent Bob Murray but no offer has been made. Guerin still owns a house in the New York area. The Penguins have remained in contact but have yet to make an offer.
- As expected the market for Ruslan Fedotenko has been bleak. Allan Walsh the agent for Fedotenko is actively contacting teams trying to gauge interest in his client. Fedotenko’s camp has spoken with the Wild and Islanders who could give Fedotenko a look later this summer.
