Penguins/NHL
Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero has picked up contract talks with Pat Morris the agent for Matt Cooke, according to a team source.
Cooke is the only pending unrestricted free agent that the Penguins are actively engaged in talks with at this point.
The two sides opened up preliminary discussions last week and talks are believed to have intensified in the past 48 hours.
A source in Cooke’s camp would not confirm that the Penguins have made an official offer but indicated to me the Penguins are showing that Cooke’s a priority. A sign that Pittsburgh is willing to go three years.
Cooke made $1.2 million last season and is seeking long-term security to stay in Pittsburgh.
Cooke has been tabbed by Penguins management as a top priority along with Sergei Gonchar. However, Shero has yet to actively engaged in talks with Gonchar’s camp.
Based on discussions with those in the Penguins organization, the Penguins appear confident that the team will be able to retain Cooke.
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