Penguins Sign Craig Adams to Two-Year Extension

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Thursday that they have signed center Craig Adams to a two-year contract worth $1.35 million. The deal will pay him $525,000 each season, with a $200,000 signing bonus next season, and $100,000 in 2012-13. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 80 games this past season, he had four goals and 11 assists for 15 points and 76 penalty minutes. In 669 career NHL games with the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, and Pittsburgh Penguins, he has 41 goals and 74 assists for 115 points and 531 penalty minutes. Not a bad move for the Penguins, as Adams has really good defensive skills as a forward. He's excellent on the penalty kill, is a great shot blocker, and plays with lots of grit. He will continue to be an excellent fit on the team's checking lines and penalty kill over the next two seasons.

Penguins Re-Sign Veterans Craig Adams & Bill Guerin

The Pittsburgh Penguins locked two important parts of their 2009 Stanley Cup winning team by resigning right wing Craig Adams to a two-year contract worth $1.1 million and right wing Bill Guerin to a one-year contract worth $2 million. Adams' contract averages out to $550,000 per season. The Penguins acquired both players at the 2009 trade deadline. Adams was claimed off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks, while Guerin was acquired from the New York Islanders in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2009. In 45 games last season with the Blackhawks and Penguins, Adams scored two goals and five assists for seven points. In 78 games last season with the Islanders and Penguins, Guerin scored 21 goals and 27 assists for 48 points and 81 penalty minutes. These are both excellent signings for the Penguins, as Adams and Guerin played well for the team at the end of last season and into the playoffs, especially in the Stanley Cup Finals. Adams provides the Penguins with lots of physical, two-way play, while Guerin brings lots of veteran leadership, offensive talent, and toughness. These two signings will definitely help Pittsburgh stay near the top of the standings next season. Look for Adams to play more of the two-way hockey he did against the Red Wings in the Finals and look for Guerin to be playing alongside Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin on the Penguins' scoring lines.

Penguins Claim Adams Off Waivers from Blackhawks

The Pittsburgh Penguins added some grit to their lineup on Wednesday by claiming right wing Craig Adams off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks. Adams has been a frequent healthy scratch in recent games and was obviously expendable to the Blackhawks. In 36 games so far this season, he has two goals and four assists for six points and 22 penalty minutes. The Penguins were rumored seeking grit for their lineup and were possibly trying to reacquire Jarkko Ruutu from Ottawa, but those rumors were quickly denied. Adams does give the Penguins a very gritty player and a veteran presence on their young team without having to part with a roster player.

Latest from the NHL Waiver Wire

With the trade deadline almost 24 hours away, several players have been placed on waivers in an effort for their teams to cut some salary. These players will likely have until noon ET tomorrow to clear waivers when waiver wire will come to a close for the 2008-09 season. The list of players currently on waivers include:

Miroslav Satan, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins
Brendan Morrison, C, Anaheim Ducks
Gary Roberts, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Martin Gerber, G, Ottawa Senators
Brendan Bell, D, Ottawa Senators
Aaron Voros, LW, New York Rangers
Erik Reitz, D, New York Rangers
Eric Perrin, C, Atlanta Thrashers
Craig Adams, RW, Chicago Blackhawks
Jon Sim, LW, New York Islanders
Lawrence Nycholat, D, Vancouver Canucks (claimed by Calgary Flames on 3/3/2009)

Most of these players are likely on waivers because they have little or no trade value right now. Satan is probably the most marketable player on this list and could be of some use to a team looking to acquire a top-six forward for the playoffs. However, he has had a poor season and has never really clicked well with linemate Sidney Crosby. Perhaps a change of scenery could do Satan some good. The Ducks are looking to free up cap space for returning injured players, so Morrison was the odd man out. Several teams have expressed interest in Roberts, but he will likely have little impact on a playoff team's success. Gerber has been on waivers many times this season and cleared each time, so expect him to clear waivers once again. Bell could be of some interest to teams looking for a depth defenseman. Voros and Reitz were likely waived to make room for Avery. Voros could be of use to teams seeking a physical forward, while Reitz could be of use to anyone looking for a young, physical defenseman. Sim could be of use to a team seeking a depth forward, while Perrin and Adams have played awful this season and will almost certainly go unclaimed.