Should the Penguins re-sign Mike Zigomanis?

by FrankD on Jun 23, 2009 11:48 AM EDT in Pittsburgh Penguins free agents

Mike Zigomanis

#15 / Center / Pittsburgh Penguins

Height: 6-1

Weight: 200

Born: Jan 17, 1981

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2008 - Mike Zigomanis	2	4	6	-2	27

Mike Zigomanis put in 22 games with the Penguins during the regular season before an injury and surgery left him off the ice for the remainder of the season Ziggy's role was simple - get on the ice, win faceoffs and chip in where you can.

Up until a should injury took him off the ice following the December 3 game against the Rangers, Ziggy was doing just about all you could've expected from him. His win percentage on faceoffs floated around the 62% range. He wasn't afraid to get dirty or stand up for his teammates when the situation called for it (Nov. 22, 15 PIM including a game misconduct) and ice time rarely fell below 10 minutes per game. All in all he posed as a consistent third/fourth liner, killed off a few penalties and lived up to the title of faceoff specialist.

One glance at the salary situation in Pittsburgh is just about all management needs to see when making decisions on certain players. Ziggy's cap hit of $650,000 in 08/09 is the least of the team's problems. Should the Penguins make Zigs an offer, it will likely be a bit lower than last year's, especially when you factor in the 60+ games he spent injured. Yet even at, say, $500 - $600K, Ziggy could pose as a much-needed role player and chip in on the PK similar to the role of Pascal Dupuis, a guy a lot of Pitt fans have recently talked about unloading due to cap issues.

Mike Zigomanis - where do you stand Pens fans?

Poll

Should the Penguins re-sign Mike Zigomanis?

Yes, he's cheap and a solid roleplayer

966 votes

No, they could use the money elsewhere

78 votes

Maybe, but guys like him aren't hard to find

113 votes

1157 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Zigomanis is great at faceoffs but then I noticed he’d stay out (on the PP or PK) for a full shift. Granted this was under Therrien, but I think the Pens over-used him in the big scheme of things (2:51 per game on the PK) just for one small trait.

Center depth the Pens have Crosby, Malkin and Staal. Talbot may be a winger next year more than a center but Dustin Jeffrey seems to be developing into perhaps a NHL level player.

I’d bring back Zigomanis but in the right role (8-9 minutes a night instead of the 11:25 he got) and if the price was right (i.e ~$600k). Otherwise I’d roll with what we got.

by Hooks Orpik on Jun 23, 2009 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

pretty much agree with all of that. If he’s cheap, why not? We need to fill out the roster somehow.

by AronV on Jun 23, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I think PK was one of his specialties as well, kinda like Adams and Dupuis. The Pens may not need all of them next year, but if they can get him at league minimum I think it is worth it.

by PensFan024 on Jun 23, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I definitely agree with the notion that Therrien used him a bit more than his role would normally require. PK is huge though because with the faceoff coming in the penalized team’s zone after a call you want a guy who can get the draw. But once he gets it and they clear, I think they should send him to the bench and work someone else in. He’s a powerful weapon if used correctly.

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by FrankD on Jun 23, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Zigomanis is replacement-level talent, just like Craig Adams. There’s nothing to see here that they can’t get somewhere else. That said, if he’s okay with a pay cut, keep him.

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by JustinM on Jun 23, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

Ziggy’s ability to win face-offs makes him valuable. Twenty-two games is hardly a good sample, but for the sake of argument, Ziggy was cruising along at around a 62% clip when he was hurt. Rod Brind’Amour led the league at 61% and Kris “Somebody Shake My Hand” Draper was second at 60.3%. It’s impossible to say whether Zig would have continued that pace, but if he had, he obviously would have finished among the league leaders. That said, the rest of his skill set certainly does not warrant a truckload of cash. As Justin said, if he can be signed cheap, he’s worth it. If not…

by GeneUbriaco on Jun 23, 2009 3:01 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t think he needs to take a pay cut for the penguins to keep him. He’s already cheap enough as it is. He is great at faceoffs yes, but he is also a great PK and isn’t a liability as a fourth line center. The best thing the pens could do is unload Dupuis and use his 1.4 to secure Adams and Ziggy. He is much too expensive for the limited roll the Pens give him.

by bbill on Jun 23, 2009 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

besides its not like we’re going to find role players much cheaper than Ziggy ($650,000) and Adams ($600,000).

by bbill on Jun 23, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I like it

Adams impressed the hell out of me in the playoffs (especially in the early rounds), and having a guy like Ziggy to win faceoffs and kill penalties is never a bad thing especially at bargain prices. Nothing against Pascal but his ice time and effectiveness were at a minimum as the season wound down and into the playoffs (partly because of injury) while Adams showed himself to be a great asset to this team. To keep him and to have Ziggy and Jordan Staal out there killing penalties would certainly be a nice deal.

by GeneUbriaco on Jun 23, 2009 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

.7 m or less keep him

LTIR long term injured reserve doesn’t count against the cap, its just money even if he gets hurt again. You won’t find a guy cheaper that is better at faceoffs, Drapers overpaid 1.5 mil the next 3 years must not sit well with the wings, but he gets them out of alot of sticky situations and usually kills 20 seconds himself on the pk with a clean win, much like Zigomanis does. I can’t see the Pens using him on the PP for the draw like Therrien did unless Crosby is having trouble that game and the pens bench is close to the offensive zone.

Phili B

by ColeHarbour on Jun 23, 2009 7:08 PM EDT reply actions