Per the team:

The Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Ben Lovejoy to a one-year contract and forward Tim Wallace to a two-year deal, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Lovejoy figures to be the #7 defenseman in Pittsburgh this year and possibly make the jump to being a full-time NHL player.  Lovejoy made his NHL debut in 2008-09, appearing in two games for the Penguins.  He posted an AHL best +/- of +42 last season in 76 games with Wilkes-Barre.

Wallace was impressive in his stints in the NHL where in 16 games played, he showed a willingness to skate hard, throw hits and take on bigger guys in fights.

Terms of the deal not immediately released, check the comments when it breaks.

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From the official team release:

"Jay is a strong defensive defenseman who will bring additional experience to our lineup," Shero said. "He has great size and is an outstanding shot-blocker, and his veteran presence will help in the continued development of our young defensemen."

 

Penguins.com

Forgive the skepticism and mild standoffishness to yesterday's rumors, but until something is official Hooks and I try to avoid saying a deal's a deal.  Especially when various news outlets suggest it as just being an offer, no matter how many rumors tend to favor Pitt.

But hey, enough of that.  We have our "replacement piece" and his name is Jay McKee.  Ray Shero and co. signed him to a one-year deal worth a reported $800,000 earlier today.  This is definitely a significant pay cut from his $1.3 million buyout from St. Louis, but I suppose he's looking at it in two ways.  (or at least I would)

1) He's jumping on board with a championship team and
2) Technically it's more like $2.1 mill since he was bought out.

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[Edit] News has since been reported that McKee will decide over the next day or so where he will sign.  Nothing official as of yet, as now reflected in this post.

According to Andy Strickland (St. Louis based NHL writer for hockeybuzz.com) and his twitter:

Jay McKee signing 1 yr deal worth $800,000 with Pittsburgh Penguins.

Whether you like it or not, Twitter's become the fastest the fastest way to get information now in this super-paced world of technology and information.

McKee's signing, which we've spotlighted here on Pensburgh, may be the best fit the Penguins could get at this point of free agency.  McKee is a veteran, positional play defenseman -- much like the two Pittsburgh lost through free agency in Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill. 

McKee was bought out by the St. Louis Blues, so he's drawing a paycheck from them and is in the perfect position to not need money (good thing, the Pens don't have much room under the cap).  And McKee, who by all accounts had a pretty good season last year, could have a chance to play on a marquee team in Pittsburgh to redeem his name and set himself up for a better contract next go around.

Last year McKee killed 3:18 of penalties a night, a hole the Penguins obviously could use to fill without Scuderi and Gill.  Also McKee led the Blues in blocked shots with 185, more than Scuderi or Gill.  McKee was also credited with 78 hits, so don't expect a basher but he will throw his body around a little.  At 6'4 and 205 pounds he'll also add size to the blueline.  Perhaps best of all McKee is turning 32 years old this September, a little younger than you may think.  McKee has had injury problems in the past, but is said to be healthy and feeling good coming into his offseason training regimen.

It's the perfect player to be place in the perfect role at the right price and term.  If Ray Shero gets this done he comes up aces once again.

Projected Penguins defense (still early but the pieces are now in place):

Orpik/Gonchar
Eaton/Letang
Goligoski/McKee
--Lovejoy, Guenin in reserves

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

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Max Talbot's surgery was a success and he will miss the first month or two of the season.  That much is certain.  The big question that a lot of people tend to be pondering is this - who can fill his skates while he's recovering?

According to the Post-Gazette, Talbot's replacement will come from within:

"We've known for a while this was coming. It doesn't catch anybody by surprise.  We may give one of the younger guys an opportunity or maybe [Tyler] Kennedy moves up a little bit."

Ray Shero
Post-Gaz

When you consider where the Pens are coming from financially, keeping it within the system seems like the most logical solution.  It's not like the team has money to burn on a third or fourth line guy who more or less returns to purgatory when Talbot is back in the lineup.

Seth from Empty Netters touches the topic a bit, wondering if maybe an old friend may have an opportunity to return or perhaps even a WBS regular:

With Talbot sidelined, does that make re-signing Petr Sykora or some other fairly competent second-line winger a bigger priority? Or can the Penguins get by for two months plugging the gap with a guy like Dustin Jeffrey?

Empty Netters

Seeing as how Shero suggested he wants to keep the replacement internal, I'd imagine Jeffrey stands out as the better candidate at this point than Petr Gunn.  Besides, Sykora and Talbot couldn't be more polar opposites if they tried.  At least with a younger guy like Jeffrey you know he's going to skate like his season is on the line.  If that means logging a few extra minutes and throwing his body around then I'd imagien he'll do what it takes.  Since when have the Pens called up guys from the farm that didn't play their hearts out like that? 

There are big skates to fill for someone, but who will fill in for Max remains up in the air.  Have anyone in mind?

[Edit] Phantaskippy is already a fan of Tyler Kennedy in the role.

More photos » by Mark Avery - AP

Chris Conner, seen here playing for the Dallas Stars during the 2008/09 season, signed with the Penguins earlier today.

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Just when you thought things would be a bit quiet on the nation's birthday, there are a few depth moves worth addressing. 

Forwards Chris Minard and Jeff Taffe have officially left the Pittsburgh Penguins' system, shipping out of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as part of two separate deals worked out earlier today.  Minard will join the Edmonton Oilers next season, while Taffe has his eyes set on the Florida Panthers.  In a system like Pitt's that is ripe with talented forwards you'd have to imagine the difficulty in cracking the lineup on a full-time basis.  Both guys had a few shots here and there but if you ask me I think their chances increase greatly as members of new clubs.  Good luck to em both.

In light of shipping out two guys from the system, the Pens compensated for some depth in WBS with the signing of former Dallas Stars forward Chris Conner.  Conner picked up three goals and 10 assists over 38 games last season and will likely face the same struggles as Taffe and Minard if he hopes to crack the Pittsburgh lineup.

Big ups to Seth from Emptynetters and Jonathan from the Citizens Voice, two guys who work night and day, holiday or weekday, to get the word out.

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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.

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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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.