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More photos » by Gerry Broome - AP

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Ruslan Fedotenko agreed to terms that will keep him in the black and gold next season. Outside of it being a one-year contract I'm not sure what the details are just yet, but it's good to know Pitt will have a guy returning who really worked out well with the top lines last season.

[Update] The deal is for $1.8 mill. That really says a lot about Fedotenko and his drive to win another Cup. Granted he made just slightly more last season ($2.25 mill), but any guy who takes a pay cut to stay on a winning team has something more important on his mind - as in, another Stanley Cup.

Way to go Feds. Happy to see you back.

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Penguins sign defenseman Nate Guenin

by FrankD on Jul 3, 2009 1:45 PM EDT in Pittsburgh Penguins free agents Comment 2 comments

Stick tap to Malsby for the heads up...

With regards to the history of signing Ryan Malone and Bill Thomas, the Pittsburgh Penguins once again added a local guy to the roster today with the signing of former Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nate Guenin. Actually, he was more like a Flyers system guy more than a Flyers one, seeing as how he only played in a single game last year. However in the time spent manning the Philadelphia Phantoms' blue line, he managed to pull in four goals and 13 assists.

It's hard to say if Pitt plans on bringing this guy up to the Penguins' blue line or if he will step in for Wilkes-Barre as the lower part of a few lateral movements in the system. It's a fairly affordable deal either way, as Dave Molinari notes on the Post-Gazette's web site:

The deal will pay him $500,000 if he plays in the NHL, $105,000 if he plays in the American Hockey League.

Molinari also notes that the Pens may still have their eyes on Jay McKee, a defenseman from the St. Louis Blues. Ray Shero had a presser set for 1:30 today, so I'm sure we'll hear of Pitt's intentions soon enough.

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Minnesota Wild interested in Ruslan Fedotenko?

by FrankD on Jul 3, 2009 11:56 AM EDT in Pittsburgh Penguins free agents Comment 6 comments

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

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We don't really do rumors here because let's face it - you can make any of that stuff up. But once a few reliable sources start chatting a player/team up as a serious suggestion, we're happy to take it into consideration as well.

The Fourth Period suggests the Minnesota Wild may be interested in Ruslan Fedotenko. Tank is allegedly still on Pittsburgh's radar and is expected to make a decision today on where he plans to play in 2009. Keep in mind the Wild have been linked to a few Pittsburgh free agents over the past three days, likely because former Pittsburgh AGM Chuck Fletcher is running the show now.

Fedotenko made $2.25 million last season as part of a one-year deal with the Pens. The same salary could be a fit as part of Pitt's $4.7 mill in spending cash. However, Rob Rossi suggests nothing is close with the Pens and a Ray Shero presser is expected soon.

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Who's left on the free agent market?

TSN has a great list of the players still available on the market. The link above brings you to the East. Here's who's left in the West. Any guys you feel would be a good fit in Pitt?

about 23 hours ago FrankD comment 8 comments 0 recs

Rob Scuderi signs with Los Angeles Kings

by FrankD on Jul 2, 2009 3:42 PM EDT in Pittsburgh Penguins free agents Comment 34 comments

More photos » by Keith Srakocic - AP

Rob Scuderi, shot-blocking defenseman and back-up goaltender heads off to LA.

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Beat writer Rob Rossi confirms via Twitter that the LA Kings and Rob Scuderi have agreed to a deal. Can't wait to see what the details are.

Report on the Trib-Review's page suggest the following:

Terms are not known, but the Kings had offered a multi-year deal at what was believed to be a $3 million annual average salary.

The Penguins are believed to have offered a five-year deal at $10 million total.

I wonder what Scuds was looking for the most. The money or longevity? Five years at $2 mill per seems pretty low, given his stupendous display in the playoffs. But if the multi-year deal in LA is something like, three years, then it could be interesting. I doubt it's three, likely five if that's what he was offered in Pitt, but even still...

[Update] TSN reports the deal is four years, $13.6 mill (annual of $3.4 mill).

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Report: Los Angeles Kings close in on Rob Scuderi, offer $3+ million annually

by Hooks Orpik on Jul 2, 2009 2:42 PM EDT in Pittsburgh Penguins free agents Comment 24 comments

Rob Rossi of the Tribune-Review reports:

Add the Kings to a list of teams in the hunt for D Rob Scuderi. Minnesota and the Penguins also remain in the hunt, but I’m told the Kings are above $3 million annually on a long-term deal.

That Scuderi hasn’t accepted yet proves either: A) he is legitimately torn given the Penguins offer ($2 million annually at four or five years), of B) he, like other NHL players, can’t make enough to head west.

To play off what one of his teammates told me, "What is Scuderi waiting for?" Penguins cannot get to $3 million annual for him, or anybody.

The Kings have made no signings this year and would have the room to offer Scuderi that contract. The Penguins have about $4.7 million under the salary cap and still figure to sign a defenseman and a top 6 scoring forward at the minimum and maybe another depth defenseman and a backup goaltender.

Is Scuderi as good as gone? If the Kings are offering 3+ million for four or five years and the Pens can only barely go over $2 million, that means Scuderi would be leaving --at the bare minimum -- $5 million on the table over the life of the contract, likely the only big money contract the 30 year defenseman will be offered. And for a guy who made $725,000 last year, $5 million is a lot to give up. Heck, for anyone $5 million is a lot to give up.

You can almost feel Scuderi's dilemma. Does he take the money (ala Ryan Malone) and go to a nice climate, a nice organization but suffer what could be losing seasons? Or does he take Pittsburgh's offer and stay in the organization that he knows and where he fits?

We may soon have the answer to that question. Quite honestly, no one blames him for whatever it is he decides, and really not too many fans feel sorry for him making the tough decision. Lots of us would love to decide which NHL team will be paying us millions for the next four-five years to play hockey.

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The only thing better than a Stanley Cup DVD? Meeting some players

If you didn't know, the Penguins Stanley Cup DVD goes on sale this coming Tuesday (July 7th)....If you're in Pittsburgh, some great chances to get a core young player to sign your DVD!

"Letang will be at the Donaldsons Crossroads Giant Eagle in McMurray from 12-2 p.m. Kennedy will sign at the Dick’s Sporting Goods located in The Mall at Robinson from 6-8 p.m. Fans must purchase a copy of the DVD to receive an autograph. Iceburgh will also be at Dick's Sporting Goods with Tyler Kennedy!"

If anyone makes it to meet Letang or Kennedy, let me know or make a fanshot and we'll put your account of the experience on the main page.

1 day ago Hooks Orpik comment 1 comment 0 recs

Team Canada invites Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury and Jordan Staal to summer camp

by Hooks Orpik on Jul 2, 2009 10:50 AM EDT in News Comment 6 comments

Among the 46 players named to Team Canada's summer camp for Olympic preparation, it's no surprise that Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been invited.

But two less likely Penguins also made the cut. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was one of five to be named; along with Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, Steve Mason and Cam Ward. That Fleury beat out guys like Chris Osgood and Marty Turco is a good indication of the respect he's deservedly getting after backstopping the Pens to a Stanley Cup. Brodeur and Luongo are the heavy favorites to see ice-time in the Vancouver Olympic games, but with a strong showing MAF could make the team and then who knows.

A bigger surprise was that Jordan Staal made the cut, joining a star studded group of forwards. Staal will be the youngest player at Team Canada's camp (though Milan Lucic and Jonathan Toews are only months young), which should be great for Staal's confidence and continued improvement this season. Successful Olympic teams seem to have the shutdown and good two-way players, so who knows if Staal can stick. Canada has no shortage of great players to choose from in this role -- like Mike Richards, Shane Doan, Brenden Morrow, Ryan Smyth and Dan Cleary -- but Richards is the only center in the bunch.

Canada's still loaded with pure centers the likes of Crosby, Joe Thornton, Vincent Lecavalier, Joe Sakic, Jeff Carter, Ryan Getzlaf, Patrick Marleau and Andy McDonald among the invited players, so who knows if there'll be room at in the inn for Staal.

Regardless, congratulations to the three Penguins going to wear the red and white this summer, hopefully it'll be a springboard to success in the fall!

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