Penguins Free Agency: Day Three

- Marc-Andre Fleury is locked up for seven years. This means Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Fleury will be skating together in Penguins uniforms for, at the very least, the next five years for roughly $22 million per season. That's quite a bit for three players, but when two of them are among the top 5 players in the world, and the other is a No. 1 goalie that already has a 40-win season and a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals under his belt before his 24th birthday, that's not bad. Not bad at all.

- While the Penguins didn't make the sexy splash in free agency with a Jaromir Jagr, Markus Naslund or Marrian Hossa (one year?!??) they did make two reasonable signings today that could prove to be quality, short-term value.

First, they brought in former Sabres and Islanders winger Miroslav Satan. It's a one-year deal that will pay him $3.5 million. That's a similar dollar figure to Petr Sykora's contract, and could prove to be quite the bargain, just as Sykora has become.

He had an off-year last season with the Islanders, but everyone had an off-year with the Islanders, that team was rancid from top to bottom. He's been a steady 25-30 goal guy throughout his career, and hopefully he can regain that form playing alongside 87.

Plus, his name is spelled S-A-T-A-N. Evil.

Aside from sharing the same spelling as the prince of darkness, he also bares a striking resemblance, yes?


Those eyes. It's like they're looking right through you.

The other addition today was forward Ruslan Fedotenko who, like Satan, spent last season mucking it up on Long Island. He's 29, he bangs in rebounds and garbage goals, and in terms of actual point production he'll probably replace what Ryan Malone provided on the second or third line. I'm not sure he's anywhere near as physical or menacing, but he might pot 20 goals for the Pens. He has a Stanley Cup ring on his finger, and he scored the game-winning goal in game seven of the 2003-04 Finals for Tampa Bay.

He, too, signed a one-year deal. Fedotenko will make $2.5 million playing for the Pens.


- I'd still like to see a Matt Cooke here to play on the third or fourth line.



- Georges Laraque, fighter/role player/all around good guy signed a three-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens today.

- Markus Naslund is a Rag.

- Jaromir Jagr appears to no longer be a Rag. I hear his No. 68 is still available in Pittsburgh. Just sayin'.

Brooks Orpik Stays; Malkin's Deal Official

While the news that Marian Hossa will be sporting the winged wheel next season was a major, shocking disappointment, these two nuggets are breathes of fresh air.

Brooks Orpik has been signed up for six years. If he plays like he did in the second half of last season, and the playoffs, that's a really good contract. If he doesn't...it's still market value for Brooks Orpik. You also have to think something else is coming because the Penguins now have too many defensemen (nine, as of the moment) and nowhere near enough forwards. Daryl Sydor for a bag of pucks and a broken koho. Do it, Ray.

Also, Evgeni Malkin's deal is now official. Best. Signing. Of. The. Off-Season.

Hossa To Detroit......FOR ONE YEAR?!?!

TSN is reporting that Marian Hossa has signed on with the already loaded Detroit Red Wings for a one-year, $7.4 million deal.

That. Hurts.

I would have rather seen him break the bank in Edmonton if this was the alternative. But Detroit? For one year? Was the Penguins multi-year deal worth $2 a year or something? Holy shit. That sucks.

*throws internet machine out the window*

Of course, it's better Detroit (until a potential re-match in the Stanley Cup Finals...heh) than say...Montreal, New York or Ottawa. Or New Jersey. Or any other team in the East.

One year? Goo.

NHL Free Agency: Day One So Far

Insanity. First, the best news of the day seems to be the potential contract extension for Evgeni Malkin. If the reports are true, then the off-season for the Penguins is already a success and they've made the best signing of any team in the NHL.

Then, while you were still salivating at the thought of an Evgeni Malkin extension, came the almost unbelievable, I only dreamed of this sort of thing type of news: The Penguins apparently had preliminary discussions -- and according to Sportsnet, actually made an offer -- with Jaromir Jagr. It's still wishful thinking at this point, but I have a jersey folded up in a drawer that is just waiting to be dusted off at any moment. Come on, Ray. Do it.




As for deals involving the Penguins that were actually completed:

- Pascal Dupuis was re-signed -- just minutes before the 12:00 frenzy began -- to a 3-year contract that will pay him just over $1 million per season. Solid deal, solid depth, solid throw-in on the big Marian Hossa trade.

Speaking of which, it appears Hossa is all but gone and the only thing the Penguins will have to show for Erik Christensen, Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito and the No. 29 pick is Dupuis. And I'm still fine with that. The trade accomplished what it was meant to accomplish, and cost the Penguins nothing more than role players and a late first round pick. Esposito, meanwhile, was left off Canada's under-20 team this year. He's one dance class away from being the 21st century Alexandre Daigle.

- Mark Eaton was re-signed to a 2-year, $2 million contract...and he was injured in the process, knocked out for the entire season. Okay, not really.

Love the deal. He's not going to dish out 40 hits a night, and he's not going to work the point on the power play, but he's a rock-solid defenseman that has been, perhaps, the Penguins best defensive-defensemen the previous two seasons......when healthy, that is.

He's only played 71 games the last two years, and admittedly that is a small concern, but I'm not going to fault the guy for breaking his upper body in half after being crushed from behind on a cheap shot in San Jose two years ago, or tearing his ACL this year. Shit happens. I realize Ryan Malone would have played through the pain and eaten a diet of molten steel and rusty nails, all while playing with four broken noses in the process...but again, shit happens.

- Free agent forward/fighter/otherwise talentless hockey player Eric Godard inked a 3-year deal with the Penguins, probably to fill the role that was previously held by Georges Laraque.

Here is a sample of his work.




And here is getting (sort of) pounded by the guy he's replacing.




Guys the Penguins lost today......

- Adam Hall signed a 3-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Pittsburgh south. You know, for that price I wouldn't have minded to see Hall back with the Penguins. A solid fourth-liner that could kill penalties and win faceoffs? Sure. Why not? Oh well. There's another Adam Hall out there somewhere.

- Ty Conklin signed a 1-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Other notable signings/deals/comments

- I like Ryan Whitney -- and his contract -- a lot more than I did earlier this season, or yesterday for that matter. Seriously, he and Sergei Gonchar are signed to what look like absolute steals, at least when you consider the monstrosity Brian Campbell signed with Chicago today for $56 million over 8 years. Not to mention the $39 million Wade Redden (Ryan Whitney's bitch this post-season) is going to collect over the next six years from the New York Rangers.

Oh, and let's not forget the $12 million Jeff Finger is going to get over the next three years from Toronto. I've never even heard of Jeff Finger. I'm not kidding when I say I had to look his name up just to make sure he was an actual NHL player and not just some evil science experiment concocted by Maple Leafs 200-year old General Manager Cliff Fletcher. Jeff Finger. Who knew?

And now Mark Streit just signed with the Islanders for $20 million over five years.

Yes. Whitney may be a steal after all.

- I was disappointed to see Brian Rolston end up in New Jersey. I was hoping to see him in a Penguins uniform this year, but I'm not sure I would have wanted to see him for the four-year deal New Jersey gave him. He'll be 39 when that contract is up. Eh.

- Still some good players out there as first and second line options on the wing for Crosby and Malkin. You can still hold out hope for Marian Hossa to re-sign, and while I'd love to see it, I just don't think it's happening. I'm also clinging to that potential reunion with 68.

Markus Naslund is still out there, while Miroslav Satan could be a nice gamble/reclamation project. At the very least, a Satan signing would prevent him from scoring the 10 goals per season he seems to get against the Penguins.

Ruslan Fedetenko perhaps? Could put up Ryan Malone numbers for 1/4 the price.

Potential sleeper for the second-line: Jason Williams.

NHL Free Agency On The Brink Of Insanity

NHL free agency starts at Noon on Tuesday, and the Tampa Bay Lightning seem to be intent on ruining the fun for everybody else.

Yesterday, the Penguins sent free-agents-to-be Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts to Tampa for a conditional 2009 pick -- A third-rounder if Malone signed, a fourth-rounder if he didn't.

Tonight, Ryan Malone has signed, so the Penguins get that third-rounder. A solid deal for a player that wasn't going to re-sign in Pittsburgh anyway, and even better since the '09 draft is supposed to be loaded with talent. It's also a nice surprise to get anything since Malone seemingly nixed a similar deal just prior to the draft by saying he was testing the free agent market.

That's the good news. The bad news, however, is that Tampa Bay signed Malone to an absurd seven-year, $31.5 million dollar contract. The Lightning even hired his dad, Greg Malone, to be a scout in their organization. That's quite a bit of work, and a ton of money, for a 30-year old, second-line power forward that has never topped 51 points in a single NHL season.

From TSN:

Ryan Malone has agreed to a seven year, $31.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Malone, who would have drawn considerable interest from around the NHL as an unrestricted free agent, will earn between $7 and $8 million in each of the first two years of the deal.

Between $7 and $8 million in each of the first two years? Apparently the Lightning feel that Malone is worth more money than Pavel Datsyuk, Jarome Iginla and Joe Thornton over the next two seasons. Jay Feaster is out of what's left of his mind.

If that is Ryan Malone's market value, what's Marian Hossa worth? A billion? A small island? A unicorn?

It seems breaking your nose in the Stanley Cup Finals is worth quite a bit of cash, more so than actually, you know, producing.

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On top of my wish list for the Penguins is a reunion with 68, especially since it appears Marian Hossa is already out the door, but that's not happening. So the next guy on my list is Minnesota Forward Brian Rolston.



Rolston would fit like a glove on this Penguins team with his excellent 2-way game and blistering slap shot. But, as a guy that's actually scored 30-goals in the NHL (four times, including each of the last three years) and is regarded as one of the best defensive forwards in the game, I fear that he might cost $400 billion dollars per season, over 20 years, even at the age of 34. That is, if we're using Ryan Malone's deal as a base for other free agent forwards.

Rolston is basically an older, less expensive version of Marian Hossa with the ability to man the point on the power play and take slap shots on breakaways. Do it, Ray.

Ryan Malone And Gary Roberts' Rights Traded To Tampa Bay

I suppose that pretty much closes the books on their Penguins careers, as if they weren't already closed before this.

As of right now, the Penguins are getting a fourth round pick which will become a third round pick if the Lightning sign Malone. I'm not expecting that to happen. Of course, Tampa Bay's new owners seem like they are determined to spend the money that is currently burning holes in their pockets. I suppose they could always throw a pile of money at him before Tuesday when Free Agency officially starts.

Either way, it's better to get something than the nothing we were going to get had we just held onto them.

Keep in mind, of course, Ryan Malone was a fourth round pick himself once upon a time.

Random Stuff

Last night the Pirates opened a weekend set with the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays at PNC Park. The Bucs' starter in the opening game? Some guy named Jimmy Barthmaier. He lasted just a little over two innings, giving up 7 earned runs including a pair of 3-run homers.

Jack Wilson looks like he's ready to start taking swings at John Russell in that picture, and for some reason, I can't help but feel just a little bad for Barthmaier. Still, not as bad as I feel for the fans that had to stick around and watch the rest of the game.

After Barthmaier mercifully exited, the Pirates then turned their fortunes over to some guy named Denny Bautista. He pitched to three batters and had to be removed from the game after taking a screaming line drive off his pitching arm. It didn't look good as hi arm was just sort of hanging off of his body.

Next up? Sean Burnett.

In three innings last night the Pirates went from Jimmy Barthmaier, to Denny Bautista, to Sean Burnett. Taking the mound tonight for the Pirates -- according to ESPN.com, anyway -- will be 25-year old Ty Taubenheim, an off-season waiver claim from the Toronto Blue Jays.

In just a little over 24 hours the Pittsburgh Pirates will have sent Jimmy Barthmaier, Denny Bautista, Sean Burnett and Ty Taubenheim out to the Pitchers mound, all because Phil Dumatrait is injured. And to think, pitching was supposed to be this teams strength.

That list of names is bringing back memories of the 2001 season when the Pirates lost half of their starting rotation to injury before the season even started. At that point, they were forced to bring in anyone capable of throwing the ball 60 feet on a fly. Omar Olivares. Ramon Martinez. Joe Beimel. Dave Williams. Don Wengert. They lost 100 games.

Joe Starkey of The Tribune-Review pointed out this scary nugget of information the other day when discussing the Pirates alarming lack of quality pitching:

It's true the Yankees' 10-0 victory Wednesday marked Chamberlain's first win as a starter, but one win is pretty heady stuff when you compare it to what the top five bonus babies in Pirates' history - all starting pitchers - have done.

Here's a look, if you can bear it:

1. Bryan Bullington: $4 million (2002)

2. Brad Lincoln: $2.75 million (2006)

3. Daniel Moskos: $2.475 million (2007)

4. John Van Benschoten: $2.4 million (2001)

5. Bobby Bradley: $2.225 million (1999)

Total payout: $13.85 million.

Total wins: One.

Oof. The five richest signing bonus' in Pirates draft history have produced one Major League win. If that's not embarrassing enough, consider that Van Benschoten (the pitcher who can claim the win) has hit the same number of home runs in his big league career.

Now, it's a little unfair to group Lincoln and Moskos in that group, seeing as how they've only been picked within the last three years, but Lincoln has already had major surgery and the Moskos pick was a nightmare (from a baseball angle and a PR angle) right from the very start. So, maybe it's not unfair.

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What the hell is Chukki Okobi doing in this picture?

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network reported yesterday that the Steelers have released running back Najeh Davenport. Not really a surprise considering the Steelers loaded up at the running back position this off-season with free agent Mewelde Moore, and first round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall.

Willie Parker and Mendenhall will probably split the bulk of the carries, while Moore takes over as the third-down back.

When the Steelers signed Davenport two years ago he was supposed to be the new and improved short-yardage POWER BACK, but it never really worked out. For a guy that was 6' and 240 pounds he never really seemed to run with much power, and the smaller, faster Parker always seemed to be better at moving the sticks. He definitely was in '06, I'm not sure about '07. Doesn't matter now, because with Mendehnall and Moore in the mix, there just wasn't room for Davenport's salary under the cap. Speaking of salary caps......

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The NHL set its salary cap numbers this week as the cap went up about $6 million, making the maximum team salary $56.7 million heading into the 2008 season. It was $39 million just three years ago coming out of the lockout. That's less than the minimum salary now. Quite a jump.

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Just days away from the start of NHL free agency and all of the Penguins Unrestricted Free Agents are set to test the market. It's going to be a busy, and interesting off-season.

That Was Fun While It Lasted

So much for those wild thoughts of sweeping the ever powerful, legendary New York Yankees. Feh. I'm already sick of hearing about the Yankees, so hopefully we can take tomorrow nights game and win our World Series for the season.

The 10-0 pounding at the hands of Joba Chamberlain and Bobby Abreu also ended the Pirates 48-year, 2-game home winning streak against THE MIGHTY YANKEES! So, there was that on the line as well.

On the plus side, catcher Ryan Doumit added two more hits, including a double, to boost his batting average to .354 on the season. He's sporting a 1.036 OPS behind the plate. Damn shame Jim Tracy wasted so many at-bats on Ronny Paulino the last two years.

If Doumit could ever avoid having a piano dropped on his head, or however it is he gets injured, the Pirates might have actually solved this catcher problem. So we have that going for us.

Pirates Pound Yankees, Win World Series; Hank Steinbrenner Probably Not Amused By Any Of It

Heading into this week you would have thought this was the start of a World Series between the two greatest teams ever assembled, with the winner taking its rightful place on top of the world as king of the universe.

The reality of it is, this is just another random interleague series featuring a slightly above average American League team taking on a slightly below average National League team.

I realize it's THE YANKEES! And I realize they wear the pinstripe uniforms and play in the house that Ruth built and have that magical mystique about them that makes everyone moist -- Well, everyone that lives in New York -- but these aren't your grandfathers, or even your fathers, or even your slightly older brother Yankees(!).

These Yankees(!) currently trail the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays by 3.5 games in the American League East. They're a good, solid team with an inflated payroll that may not make the playoffs.

Ho-hum.

Even with all of that, make no mistake, this IS the Pirates World Series this season, sad as that may be.

But, man, the media and the Pirates are eating this series up. There were some opening round playoff games for the Penguins that didn't receive the fanfare and build up this game took on the evening news.

All for Darrell Rasner Vs. Tom Gorzelanney. Crazy.

Still, it's nice to see the Pirates pound out 19 hits and 12 runs, while Hank Steinbrenner (probably) throws bottles of champagne against the wall and screams for the head of Joe Girardi on a platter while taking more shots at the National League because Darrell Rasner has to run the bases.

The only thing better would be if the Pirates could take one of the next two -- or, if you really wanted to be greedy, both of them -- and laugh as THE YANKEES(!) offices go into defcon 1 panic mode.

THE YANKEES!


YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES YANKEES