Penguins/NHL
Latest Pens Buzz
On the heels of trading Phil Kessel Friday night, Penguins GM Jim Rutherford has been forward shopping in the free agency market.
A couple agents confirmed Pittsburgh has been a late arrival on the market.
One of those situations was for winger R[hide]ichard Panik, two sources confirm.
Pittsburgh made a late play for Panik, believed to have offered a 3 year deal, but the winger was already far along with the Washington Capitals and reached a verbal agreement with the Capitals yesterday evening on a four year deal.
The Penguins also circled around on Michael Ferland but doesn’t sound like that has gone anywhere. Rutherford has long been enameled with Ferland but others in the organization has been less enthused about Ferland.
What to Watch
— Pittsburgh has a multi-year offer on the table to 27 year old winger Brandon Tanev, a favorite of Penguin scouts. There has been optimism in the organization that Pittsburgh is the front runner but as of 10:45 this morning, Tanev camp hasn’t given Pittsburgh a verbal agreement just yet.
Tanev had 14 goals and 15 assists last season, Pittsburgh likes the combination of Tanev’s 2-way game where the Penguins feel he can move up and down the lineup and he can kill penalties.
— Word from the Matt Cullen camp is we could have some news this afternoon on his playing future. Cullen is mulling a one year offer from the Penguins or the option to join the organization in a front office role.
— The biggest domino not to fall get is Artemi Panarin. Last summer and into the early part of this past season, the Columbus Blue Jackets felt it was a 100% lock that Panarin was going to sign with the New York Rangers on July 1. If Panarin turns down a bigger offer from the Islanders and goes to the Rangers, few should be surprised. [/hide]
