Hello Pens fans!
Our team has been busy the last few days and I wanted to take some time to put out my thoughts on the moves.
What you are about to read are my thoughts on what the Pens did and didn't do over the last week. Enjoy!
Ian Cole Re-Ups With Penguins
Ian Cole remains in Pittsburgh for three more years after signing a new contract on Monday morning. .
Good deal!
This was one of my keys this offseason. Cole showed that he is not the "seventh defenseman" St. Louis valued him as before the deadline deal.
Since the deal, 25 regular season and playoff games as a Penguin, Cole has posted one goal and ten points. Looking beyond the numbers, Cole seemed to be incredibly comfortable in any role given and immediately took to Mike Johnston's system. With more time under Johnston and new assistant Jacques Martin, he should flourish.
Cole's new deal will have an annual cap hit of $2.1 million.
I love the move. Cole seems to be a great guy, especially in the room according to multiple media members. He obviously loves the city and the fans; just check his tweets. He's a good young player and will come at a team friendly deal. I think he's best suited for the bottom pair, but he could easily find himself in the Top 4 this season.
Frolik to Pittsburgh?
Ramblings on the Draft and No Trades
DK on Pittsburgh Sports writer Josh Yohe broke the news Sunday evening that the Penguins top free agent target come Wednesday would be right winger Michael Frolik.
Who?
I must admit, I knew little about this guy before Yohe broke the news. I saw his name on the UFA list, but never for a moment stopped to consider him for the Penguins.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I am a historian and not an NHL general manager.
So I checked the hockey database to see what the deal with Frolik is and I must say, I messed up for not considering him.
Frolik has been in the league for seven years and quietly has become a legitimate two-way top six caliber forward. In 512 regular season games, Frolik has posted 95 goals and 235 points as a member of the Panthers, Blackhawks and Jets. He has proven to be a consistent player, twice scoring 20 goals in a season, and a guy who stays on the ice. He has only missed one game over the past two seasons and has posted over 35 points in each of those seasons. Last season for Winnipeg, Frolik scored 19 goals and 42 points.
Not only is he a dependable regular season player, but a good playoff performer. Frolik has played in 38 Stanley Cup Playoff games and scored 7 goals and 18 points in them. He is also a Cup winner, lifting Lord Stanley's greatest gift as a member of the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks.
Frolik earned 3.3 million over the past two seasons and will be an unrestricted free agent come Wednesday. While he is expected to get a raise on the market, several media members have stated that he will not look to break the bank like Anaheim's Matt Beleskey (who is asking for upwards of 6 million annually).
As I stated earlier, I was wrong to pass over Frolik. He would be a solid fit for the Penguins and at an affordable price. He has good speed and scoring touch, so he should be able to hold down a spot alongside Crosby or Malkin in the top six. What would be best for the Pens, something else Yohe mentioned and I agree with, would be to use him in a top six role this year then maybe move him to the 3rd line later in the contracts life. He is a capable two way forward who could handle such a move and make room for someone like Kasperi Kapanen.
Only time will tell, but expect Frolik's name to be tossed around a lot more between now and noon on Wednesday.
Was it me, or was this weekend's draft incredibly dull?
With all the speculation leading up to the day and on draft day itself, I was convinced the Pens would pull the trigger on a deal for a top-six winger. But they didn't, and besides the Bruins selling the farm for what they could only imagine are magic beans, there wasn't a ton of deals besides pick swapping occurring.
All that being said, I give Rutherford and staff a ton of credit. They could easily have made a big splash on Kessel but didn't give the farm away, ironically like Toronto did for him. Rutherford let the market come to him and instead stood pat.
Personally, everyone out there knows I don't want Kessel in black and gold. And yes, I say that knowing full well all the Star Wars innuendos we could use for him. He is a locker room cancer and even though he is only 27, he is built more for the Steelers line backing corps than the top six. Maybe he does well, but Id still rather see him elsewhere.
The other big rumor was of course for TJ Oshie of St. Louis. I would take a deal for Oshie at the right price. I think he is a talented player who would flourish alongside a Malkin or Crosby.
As for the draft picks the Penguins made, more kudos must be given to Rutherford and staff.
Daniel Sprong at the 46th pick is an absolute steal. It doesn't completely make up for the trading of the 16th overall pick for David Perron, but it's a start. The 18-year-old winger has a ton of talent and had a huge year in the QMJHL for Charlottetown where posted 39 goals and 88 points. Sprong will look to become the 2nd Dutch player to play in the NHL and first since 1983.
According to NHL Central Scouting, Sprong "has blazing speed, a great shot, puck handling skills and hockey sense of an effective playmaker." I think he may be a year or two away, but barring something unforeseen, Id expect to see Sprong in the NHL in a year or two.
The Penguins only had picks in rounds 2, 5, 6 and 7 this year. After Sprong, the Pens took Czech center Dominik Simon in the 5th round, German winger and current college hockey player Frederik Tiffels in the 6th and huge Penguin fan and Russian center Nikita Pavlychev in the 7th. All three of those picks will need a little developing, but I don't think it is completely far fetched to think they couldn't make the Pens down the road.
A few final thoughts:
- It was tweeted out that Steve Downie will officiall hit the free agent market, according to his agent.
- Viktor Tikhonov, a Russian winger linked to the Pens, will narrow down his list to "4-5 teams" he will consider joining on July 1st by Tuesday night. He has been seriously linked to the Penguins since it was announced that Plotnikov would join Pittsburgh.
- Several Baby Pens players up for restricted free agency will not be given qualifying offers according to PPG's Dave Molinari. From other tweets I've seen, Eric Hartzell and Adam Payerl are among those who won't be tendered those offers.
Was it me, or was this weekend's draft incredibly dull?
With all the speculation leading up to the day and on draft day itself, I was convinced the Pens would pull the trigger on a deal for a top-six winger. But they didn't, and besides the Bruins selling the farm for what they could only imagine are magic beans, there wasn't a ton of deals besides pick swapping occurring.
All that being said, I give Rutherford and staff a ton of credit. They could easily have made a big splash on Kessel but didn't give the farm away, ironically like Toronto did for him. Rutherford let the market come to him and instead stood pat.
Personally, everyone out there knows I don't want Kessel in black and gold. And yes, I say that knowing full well all the Star Wars innuendos we could use for him. He is a locker room cancer and even though he is only 27, he is built more for the Steelers line backing corps than the top six. Maybe he does well, but Id still rather see him elsewhere.
The other big rumor was of course for TJ Oshie of St. Louis. I would take a deal for Oshie at the right price. I think he is a talented player who would flourish alongside a Malkin or Crosby.
As for the draft picks the Penguins made, more kudos must be given to Rutherford and staff.
Daniel Sprong at the 46th pick is an absolute steal. It doesn't completely make up for the trading of the 16th overall pick for David Perron, but it's a start. The 18-year-old winger has a ton of talent and had a huge year in the QMJHL for Charlottetown where posted 39 goals and 88 points. Sprong will look to become the 2nd Dutch player to play in the NHL and first since 1983.
According to NHL Central Scouting, Sprong "has blazing speed, a great shot, puck handling skills and hockey sense of an effective playmaker." I think he may be a year or two away, but barring something unforeseen, Id expect to see Sprong in the NHL in a year or two.
The Penguins only had picks in rounds 2, 5, 6 and 7 this year. After Sprong, the Pens took Czech center Dominik Simon in the 5th round, German winger and current college hockey player Frederik Tiffels in the 6th and huge Penguin fan and Russian center Nikita Pavlychev in the 7th. All three of those picks will need a little developing, but I don't think it is completely far fetched to think they couldn't make the Pens down the road.
A few final thoughts:
- It was tweeted out that Steve Downie will officiall hit the free agent market, according to his agent.
- Viktor Tikhonov, a Russian winger linked to the Pens, will narrow down his list to "4-5 teams" he will consider joining on July 1st by Tuesday night. He has been seriously linked to the Penguins since it was announced that Plotnikov would join Pittsburgh.
- Several Baby Pens players up for restricted free agency will not be given qualifying offers according to PPG's Dave Molinari. From other tweets I've seen, Eric Hartzell and Adam Payerl are among those who won't be tendered those offers.
Was it me, or was this weekend's draft incredibly dull?
With all the speculation leading up to the day and on draft day itself, I was convinced the Pens would pull the trigger on a deal for a top-six winger. But they didn't, and besides the Bruins selling the farm for what they could only imagine are magic beans, there wasn't a ton of deals besides pick swapping occurring.
All that being said, I give Rutherford and staff a ton of credit. They could easily have made a big splash on Kessel but didn't give the farm away, ironically like Toronto did for him. Rutherford let the market come to him and instead stood pat.
Personally, everyone out there knows I don't want Kessel in black and gold. And yes, I say that knowing full well all the Star Wars innuendos we could use for him. He is a locker room cancer and even though he is only 27, he is built more for the Steelers line backing corps than the top six. Maybe he does well, but Id still rather see him elsewhere.
The other big rumor was of course for TJ Oshie of St. Louis. I would take a deal for Oshie at the right price. I think he is a talented player who would flourish alongside a Malkin or Crosby.
As for the draft picks the Penguins made, more kudos must be given to Rutherford and staff.
Daniel Sprong at the 46th pick is an absolute steal. It doesn't completely make up for the trading of the 16th overall pick for David Perron, but it's a start. The 18-year-old winger has a ton of talent and had a huge year in the QMJHL for Charlottetown where posted 39 goals and 88 points. Sprong will look to become the 2nd Dutch player to play in the NHL and first since 1983.
According to NHL Central Scouting, Sprong "has blazing speed, a great shot, puck handling skills and hockey sense of an effective playmaker." I think he may be a year or two away, but barring something unforeseen, Id expect to see Sprong in the NHL in a year or two.
The Penguins only had picks in rounds 2, 5, 6 and 7. After Sprong, the Pens took Czech center Dominik Simon in the 5th round, German winger and current college hockey player Frederik Tiffels in the 6th and huge Penguin fan and Russian center Nikita Pavlychev. All three of those picks will need a little developing, but I don't think it is completely far fetched to think they couldn't make the Pens down the road.
A few final thoughts:
- It was tweeted out that Steve Downie will officiall hit the free agent market, according to his agent.
- Viktor Tikhonov, a Russian winger linked to the Pens, will narrow down his list to "4-5 teams" he will consider joining on July 1st by Tuesday night. He has been seriously linked to the Penguins since it was announced that Plotnikov would join Pittsburgh.
- Several Baby Pens players up for restricted free agency will not be given qualifying offers according to PPG's Dave Molinari. From other tweets I've seen, Eric Hartzell and Adam Payerl are among those who won't be tendered those offers.
Was it me, or was this weekend's draft incredibly dull?
With all the speculation leading up to the day and on draft day itself, I was convinced the Pens would pull the trigger on a deal for a top-six winger. But they didn't, and besides the Bruins selling the farm for what they could only imagine are magic beans, there wasn't a ton of deals besides pick swapping occurring.
All that being said, I give Rutherford and staff a ton of credit. They could easily have made a big splash on Kessel but didn't give the farm away, ironically like Toronto did for him. Rutherford let the market come to him and instead stood pat.
Personally, everyone out there knows I don't want Kessel in black and gold. And yes, I say that knowing full well all the Star Wars innuendos we could use for him. He is a locker room cancer and even though he is only 27, he is built more for the Steelers line backing corps than the top six. Maybe he does well, but Id still rather see him elsewhere.
The other big rumor was of course for TJ Oshie of St. Louis. I would take a deal for Oshie at the right price. I think he is a talented player who would flourish alongside a Malkin or Crosby.
As for the draft picks the Penguins made, more kudos must be given to Rutherford and staff.
Daniel Sprong at the 46th pick is an absolute steal. It doesn't completely make up for the trading of the 16th overall pick for David Perron, but it's a start. The 18-year-old winger has a ton of talent and had a huge year in the QMJHL for Charlottetown where posted 39 goals and 88 points. Sprong will look to become the 2nd Dutch player to play in the NHL and first since 1983.
According to NHL Central Scouting, Sprong "has blazing speed, a great shot, puck handling skills and hockey sense of an effective playmaker." I think he may be a year or two away, but barring something unforeseen, Id expect to see Sprong in the NHL in a year or two.
The Penguins only had picks in rounds 2, 5, 6 and 7. After Sprong, the Pens took Czech center Dominik Simon in the 5th round, German winger and current college hockey player Frederik Tiffels in the 6th and huge Penguin fan and Russian center Nikita Pavlychev. All three of those picks will need a little developing, but I don't think it is completely far fetched to think they couldn't make the Pens down the road.
A few final thoughts:
- It was tweeted out that Steve Downie will officiall hit the free agent market, according to his agent.
- Viktor Tikhonov, a Russian winger linked to the Pens, will narrow down his list to "4-5 teams" he will consider joining on July 1st by Tuesday night. He has been seriously linked to the Penguins since it was announced that Plotnikov would join Pittsburgh.
- Several Baby Pens players up for restricted free agency will not be given qualifying offers according to PPG's Dave Molinari. From other tweets I've seen, Eric Hartzell and Adam Payerl are among those who won't be tendered those offers.
Was it me, or was this weekend's draft incredibly dull?
With all the speculation leading up to the day and on draft day itself, I was convinced the Pens would pull the trigger on a deal for a top-six winger. But they didn't, and besides the Bruins selling the farm for what they could only imagine are magic beans, there wasn't a ton of deals besides pick swapping occurring.
All that being said, I give Rutherford and staff a ton of credit. They could easily have made a big splash on Kessel but didn't give the farm away, ironically like Toronto did for him. Rutherford let the market come to him and instead stood pat.
Personally, everyone out there knows I don't want Kessel in black and gold. And yes, I say that knowing full well all the Star Wars innuendos we could use for him. He is a locker room cancer and even though he is only 27, he is built more for the Steelers line backing corps than the top six. Maybe he does well, but Id still rather see him elsewhere.
The other big rumor was of course for TJ Oshie of St. Louis. I would take a deal for Oshie at the right price. I think he is a talented player who would flourish alongside a Malkin or Crosby.
As for the draft picks the Penguins made, more kudos must be given to Rutherford and staff.
Daniel Sprong at the 46th pick is an absolute steal. It doesn't completely make up for the trading of the 16th overall pick for David Perron, but it's a start. The 18-year-old winger has a ton of talent and had a huge year in the QMJHL for Charlottetown where posted 39 goals and 88 points. Sprong will look to become the 2nd Dutch player to play in the NHL and first since 1983.
According to NHL Central Scouting, Sprong "has blazing speed, a great shot, puck handling skills and hockey sense of an effective playmaker." I think he may be a year or two away, but barring something unforeseen, Id expect to see Sprong in the NHL in a year or two.
The Penguins only had picks in rounds 2, 5, 6 and 7. After Sprong, the Pens took Czech center Dominik Simon in the 5th round, German winger and current college hockey player Frederik Tiffels in the 6th and huge Penguin fan and Russian center Nikita Pavlychev. All three of those picks will need a little developing, but I don't think it is completely far fetched to think they couldn't make the Pens down the road.
Was it me, or was this weekend's draft incredibly dull?
With all the speculation leading up to the day and on draft day itself, I was convinced the Pens would pull the trigger on a deal for a top-six winger. But they didn't, and besides the Bruins selling the farm for what they could only imagine are magic beans, there wasn't a ton of deals besides pick swapping occurring.
All that being said, I give Rutherford and staff a ton of credit. They could easily have made a big splash on Kessel but didn't give the farm away, ironically like Toronto did for him. Rutherford let the market come to him and instead stood pat.
Personally, everyone out there knows I don't want Kessel in black and gold. And yes, I say that knowing full well all the Star Wars innuendos we could use for him. He is a locker room cancer and even though he is only 27, he is built more for the Steelers line backing corps than the top six. Maybe he does well, but Id still rather see him elsewhere.
The other big rumor was of course for TJ Oshie of St. Louis. I would take a deal for Oshie at the right price. I think he is a talented player who would flourish alongside a Malkin or Crosby.
As for the draft picks the Penguins made, more kudos must be given to Rutherford and staff.
Daniel Sprong at the 46th pick is an absolute steal. It doesn't completely make up for the trading of the 16th overall pick for David Perron, but it's a start. The 18-year-old winger has a ton of talent and had a huge year in the QMJHL for Charlottetown where posted 39 goals and 88 points. Sprong will look to become the 2nd Dutch player to play in the NHL and first since 1983.
According to NHL Central Scouting, Sprong "has blazing speed, a great shot, puck handling skills and hockey sense of an effective playmaker." I think he may be a year or two away, but barring something unforeseen, Id expect to see Sprong in the NHL in a year or two.
The Penguins only had picks in rounds 2, 5, 6 and 7. After Sprong, the Pens took Czech center Dominik Simon in the 5th round, German winger and current college hockey player Frederik Tiffels in the 6th and huge Penguin fan and Russian center Nikita Pavlychev. All three of those picks will need a little developing, but I don't think it is completely far fetched to think they couldn't make the Pens down the road.