The Pittsburgh Penguins search for a veteran center will have to move in another direction. The Buffalo Sabres today agreed to a one year deal with Rob Niedermayer. The deal is worth just north of $1 million per season.
The Penguins were pursuing Niedermayer heavily since the weekend as the two sides were engaged in preliminary discussions. However, Kevin Epp, the agent for Niedermayer informed the Penguins this morning that his client was going in another direction.
There were whispers on Tuesday that Niedermayer’s camp had concerns about Niedermayer being a fit in Pittsburgh due to the Penguins uptempo system.
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Alexei Ponikarovsky returning to Pittsburgh was an unlikely scenario to begin with and the door has been all but closed. Pens GM Ray Shero had contact Ponikarovsky’s agent on Saturday morning but there hasn’t been any more contact between the two sides, Inside Pittsburgh Sports has learned.
Rick Curran the agent for Ponikarovsky told Inside Pittsburgh this afternoon that no new talks have taken place and “none are expected, ” Curran said shortly after 11:30 a.m. today via text message.
The market has been slow to develop for Ponikarovsky but the possibility of returning to Pittsburgh for under $2 million is not being considered by Ponikarovsky’s camp.
They will let the market play out.