Penguins/NHL
Latest UFA Updates on Gonchar, Hamhuis
The Pittsburgh Penguins hockey operations staff left Los Angeles today with the Sergei Gonchar situation still unresolved.
Inside Pittsburgh Sports has learned, the Penguins have not imposed a deadline with Sergei Gonchar’s agent J.P. Barry but according to a source close to the situation, Gonchar has informed Penguins GM Ray Shero that he will make a decision Monday on whether to press forward in negotiations on a new deal or decide to test free agency.
We’re told Gonchar is currently mulling over a two year deal proposed by the Penguins.
The offer is still negotiable according to team sources but from the Penguins end, just about every parameter has been established on what they are willing to offer and what they aren’t willing to offer.
Hamhuis Update
Wade Arnott the agent for Dan Hamhuis tells me he had a “brief” talk this morning with Penguins GM Ray Shero in LA. No negotiations took place and the two sides have agreed to talk Monday.
Shero also spoke with Hamhuis today and there isn’t a good read yet on the situation. Some league contacts indicate Hamhuis has full intentions of testing free agency. A lot of that talk is coming out of Philadelphia.
From what I was able to gather, Hamhuis will listen to what the Penguins are willing to offer and go from there. There appears to be no pressure from Hamhuis’ camp to sign with Pittsburgh. They are expecting a strong market on July 1.
The Penguins though are confident that they will be able to sell him on the idea of playing in Pittsburgh and being a top-3 defenseman.
