Gibbons to Columbus
Gibbons made his NHL debut last season for the Penguins, scoring on his first shot in his debut v. Anaheim at Consol Energy Center. He went on to play 41 regular seasons games, scoring five goals and putting up seventeen points, the majority of which he scored on Sidney Crosby's right wing. Gibbons was one of the best playoff performers as well, scoring two goals (including a short hander) v. Columbus and being a complete pest on the PK.
There were mixed reactions to the news; some fans content on letting him walk while others were very upset by the move. I fall in the later. Gibbons' move to Columbus will hurt the Penguins. His speed is second to none, and he seemed to draw as many, if not more, penalties than Sidney Crosby in his 41 regular season games. He became incredibly dangerous on the penalty kill, scoring a short hander and assisting on one in the playoffs. Maybe most importantly, Gibbons constantly showed heart. He never gave up, never took a shift off. It was a fresh sight to see down the stretch and in the playoffs when the team looked disinterested at times. He would have been a valuable bottom six asset, and a solid top six player if called upon. I am sure the Penguins will miss Brian Gibbons.
Sill Re-ups with the Pens
It is a smart choice by management to bring Sill back. He reminds me a lot of Craig Adams, a solid penalty killer who can pester the other team when he's on the ice. I don't expect him to make the club out of camp, but am sure he will be among the first called up in the event of an injury.
MEgna, Sutter and the RFAs
Center Brandon Sutter was supposed to begin negotiations with the Penguins starting Wednesday. Some reports state that the young centerman is looking for 3.5-4 million annually on a short-term deal from the Penguins. Whether that is true or not, remains to be seen. I feel Sutter deserves a raise from his qualifying number of 2.7, but feel his play needs to improve for a 3.5-4 number. Somewhere between 3 and 3.25 million annually seems about right.
Nick Spaling reportedly was asking for 2.5 million annually from the Predators before he was traded as part of the James Neal deal on Draft day. Spaling is coming off a career year with the Preds and his versatility in position makes him a valuable asset. Some think he will flank Brandon Sutter on the 3rd line if both should re-sign. While 2.5 million seems a little high for him, I think he signs for somewhere between 1.75 and 2.25 million.
Simon Despres and Philip Samuelsson are expected to re-sign and both will have a chance to make the team out of camp on the blue line. It would be expected that both would earn a raise as well. It's time the Pens see what they have in both of these guys, particularly Despres. His play at Wilkes-Barre has been far superior to his work in Pittsburgh the last two years, that means he was either misused by Bylsma (which he was) or that he isn't what the Pens think he was when they drafted in the first round of 2009 (also possible), or both.
Jayson Megna and Bobby Farnham are two men that I personally feel the Penguins cannot afford to lose, especially Megna. In Megna's case, they have a versatile forward who can succeed at the NHL level and who has some chemistry with Evgeni Malkin. The Pens would be wise to bring him back and give him the opportunity to play in the bottom six to start the season. He can handle it, he just needs to be given the playing time. In Farnham's case, the Pens would be unwise to let rugged forward leave. He will defend his teammates, which we saw in Wilkes-Barre, and I feel he is just as capable in the bottom six as Craig Adams is at this point.
Can Lightning Strike Twice?
Despite all that chatter, it appears that Rutherford and company are hoping to strike gold with their first rounder Kasperi Kapanen. The Finnish winger was taken 22nd overall in the Draft, just as his fellow Finn, Olli Maatta, was two summers ago. Rutherford stated the other day that Kapanen will have the opportunity to make the team out of camp in September.
I would have preferred to see the Pens sign someone rather than throw this kid in the deep end this year, but Kapanen may be just as ready as Olli Maatta was last year. There were no guarantees out of camp for Maatta last year, but his play earned him his stay. Is the same in store for Kapanen? His scouting report has said he's roughly a year or two away, but that does not mean much sometimes. If he can show what he's made of in camp, and that he can produce without any time in WBS or more grooming in Finland, then by all means, he should stay.