Penguins Sign Brad Thiessen to One-Year Deal

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have re-signed goaltender Brad Thiessen to a one-year, two-way contract worth $525,000 at the NHL level.  In five games last season with the Penguins, he posted a 3-1-0 record, with a 3.72 GAA and a .858 save percentage.  He also appeared in 41 games with Wilkes/Barre-Scranton of the AHL, posting a 23-15-2 record, two shutouts, a 2.82 GAA, and a .887 save percentage.  Not a bad depth signing for the Penguins, as Thiessen will be a good option as a third goaltender if Marc-Andre Fluery or Tomas Vokoun should miss time due to injury.  Otherwise, look for Thiessen to play primarily in the minors next season.

Penguins Sign Sidney Crosby to 12-Year Deal

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced they have signed center Sidney Crosby to a 12-year contract extension worth $104.4 million.  The deal will average out to $8.7 million per season.  He would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer and still has one more year left on his current contract.  The new deal will officially be signed on July 1, 2012.  In just 22 games last season, he had eight goals and 29 assists for 37 points.  He missed 60 games last season with post concussion symptoms, which caused him to miss much of the 2010-11 season as well.  This deal comes as no surprise, as the Penguins wanted to get their franchise player locked-up long-term.  Crosby is one of the most complete players in the NHL today, as he has superb vision on the ice and can read and anticipate the play very well.  He has outstanding offensive instincts and has some of the most impressive passing skills in the league today.  He leads by example, plays with some grit, and is a very quick skater.  Concussions have become a problem for him now, which the team will have to monitor for the rest of his career.  Despite the concussion issues, Crosby will continue to help make the Penguins a very competitive team throughout his career.

Penguins Sign Matt Niskanen to Two-Year Extension

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Saturday that they have signed defenseman Matt Niskanen to a two-year contract extension worth $4.6 million.  The deal will average out to $2.3 million per season.  In 75 games last season, he had four goals and 17 assists for 21 points.  Not a bad signing for the Penguins, as Niskanen has plenty of offensive upside and is an excellent skater.  He is a bit inconsistent back on the blueline, but is still a decent defensive option for Pittsburgh.

Penguins Acquire Tomas Vokoun, Sign Him to Two-Year Deal

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have acquired goaltender Tomas Vokoun from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a seventh round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft.  Immediately after the trade, the Penguins announced that they had signed the 35-year-old netminder to a two-year contract worth $4 million.  The deal will average out to $2 million per season.  He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.  In 48 games last season with the Capitals, he posted a 25-17-2 record, four shutouts, a 2.51 GAA, and a .917 save percentage.  Not a bad move for the Penguins, as Vokoun will add lots of stability in goal.  While Marc-Andre Fleury will still have the starter role, Vokoun will add a lot of skill and veteran depth to the team in the backup role and will easily be able to jump in to the starter role if Fleury should miss time with injury.  The signing insures that Brent Johnson will not be retained by Pittsburgh in the off-season.

Penguins Sign James Neal to Six-Year Extension

The Pittsburgh Penguins locked up an important part of their future on Sunday by signing right wing James Neal to a six-year contract extension worth $30 million. The deal averages out to $5 million per season. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency in the off-season. In 59 games so far this season, he has 30 goals and 27 assists for 57 points and 66 penalty minutes. This is an excellent move for the Penguins, as Neal has become one the team's top forwards since his acquisition from the Dallas Stars last season. He has excellent goal scoring skill, a great shot, plenty of offensive talent, good size, and plays with a little grit. With his best years still ahead of him, look for Neal to greatly improve his offensive game over the next few seasons, especially if playing on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.

Penguins Re-Sign Joe Vitale to Two-Year Deal

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have re-signed center Joe Vitale to a two-year contract extension worth $1.1 million. The deal will average out to $550,000 per season. In 46 games so far this season, he has three goals and seven assists for 10 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Penguins, as Vitale is a hard-working forward on the ice who plays with lots of energy. He has played well this season on the team's checking lines and will likely continue his fine play over the next two years.

Penguins Claim Cal O'Reilly Off Waivers from Coyotes

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Wednesday that they have claimed center Cal O'Reilly off re-entry waivers from the Phoenix Coyotes. He was acquired by Phoenix on October 28 from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. In 27 games this season with the Predators and Coyotes, he has two goals and four assists for six points. He also appeared in five games with Portland of the AHL, scoring one goal and one assist. Not a bad pick-up for the Penguins, as O'Reilly has some playmaking skill and offensive ability. He will provide some much needed depth at center with Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal both on injured reserve. Look for O'Reilly to play on either the third or fourth line.

Blue Jackets Acquire Mark Letestu from Penguins

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that they have acquired center Mark Letestu from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. In 11 games so far this season with the Penguins, he has one assist. Not a bad depth move for the Blue Jackets, as Letestu will add some much needed depth at center. He has some two-way upside, a little offensive ability, and some skill on the faceoff. He should be a decent fourth line center for the team. As for Pittsburgh, this move likely indicates that Sidney Crosby is ready to return to the lineup after being sidelined with a concussion since January. It would not surprise me at all if he plays in Friday's game against the Dallas Stars.

Wild Claim Nick Johnson Off Waivers from Penguins

The Minnesota Wild announced on Thursday that they have claimed right wing Nick Johnson off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins. In four games last season with the Penguins, he had one goal and two assists for three points. He also appeared in 48 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL, scoring 20 goals and 19 assists for 39 points. He missed the last 23 games of the regular season and all seven of Pittsburgh's playoff games with a concussion. Not a bad pickup for the Wild, as Johnson has good size, works hard on the ice, and has a little offensive upside. If he secures a roster spot with the Wild for this upcoming season, it will likely be as a fourth-line complimentary winger.

Penguins Sign Richard Park to One-Year Contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have signed center Richard Park to a one-year, two-way contract that will pay him $550,000 at the NHL level. This will be his second stint with Pittsburgh, where he played from 1994 to 1997. In 47 games last season with Geneve Servette of the Swiss League, Park had 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points. He last played in the NHL with the New York Islanders during the 2009-10 season. Not a bad depth signing for the Penguins, as Park will bring lots of veteran depth to the roster, as well as some skill to the penalty kill and plenty of speed to the forward lines. Look for him to play a role on one of the checking lines if he makes the team out of training camp.

Penguins Sign Alexandre Picard, Re-Sign Brad Thiessen

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have signed defenseman Alexandre Picard and goaltender Brad Thiessen to one-year, two-way contracts. Picard's deal will pay him $600,000 at the NHL level, while Thiessen's contract will pay him $525,000 at the NHL level. In 43 games last season with the Montreal Canadiens, Picard had three goals and five assists for eight points. He missed the last seven games of the regular season and all seven of Montreal's playoff games with a foot injury. In 46 games last season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL, Thiessen posted a 35-8-1 record, seven shutouts, a 1.94 GAA, and a .922 save percentage. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. These aren't bad signings for the Penguins, as both players will bring plenty of depth to the team at their positions. Picard has some puck-moving skill and skates well, although he is a bit inconsistent in his scoring. Given the depth on Pittsburgh's blueline for next season, Picard will likely start the season in the minors. Thiessen has been an excellent goaltender at the AHL level and is more than likely ready to see some NHL action as a backup goalie. However, given the Penguins' depth in goal next season with Marc-Andre Fleury and Brent Johnson, Thiessen will likely start the season in the minors.

Penguins Sign Boris Valabik to One-Year Deal

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have signed defenseman Boris Valabik to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay him $550,000 at the NHL level. In 59 games last season with Chicago and Providence of the AHL, he had 11 assists and 189 penalty minutes. He last played in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2009-10 season. Not a bad depth signing for the Penguins, as Valabik has tremendous size and brings lots of grit and toughness to the blueline, as well as some shutdown qualities. However, he is a bit slow, takes bad penalties from time to time, and doesn't have a lot of offensive upside. As a result, Valabik will likely be a seventh defenseman for the Penguins if he is successful in making the starting roster for the 2011-12 season.

Penguins Sign Steve Sullivan and Colin McDonald

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have signed left wing Steve Sullivan to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million and right wing Colin McDonald to a one-year, two-way contract worth $525,000. In 44 games last season with the Nashville Predators, Sullivan had 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points. He missed 37 games in 2010-11 because of injuries. McDonald appeared in 80 games last season with Oklahoma City of the AHL, scoring 42 goals and 16 assists for 58 points. Sullivan is a good signing for the Penguins, as he will bring lots of offensive depth to the wing, as well as plenty of leadership to the team. However, his health is always a big question mark, as he has missed lots of time throughout his NHL career because of injuries. Don't be surprised if Sullivan misses time once again next season due to an injury. McDonald is nothing more than a depth signing and will likely spend the majority of next season in the minors, where he will provide lots of offensive depth and goal-scoring skill for Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Penguins Sign Tyler Kennedy to Two-Year Contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they have re-signed right wing Tyler Kennedy to a two-year contract worth $4 million. The deal will pay him $2 million per season. In 80 games last season, he had 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points. He added two goals and one assist for three points in seven playoff games. Not a bad signing for the Penguins, as Kennedy brings plenty of offensive depth to the team. He has some offensive skill, plays with some ruggedness, and brings lots of energy to the team. He should continue to be a decent forward for Pittsburgh next season.

Penguins Sign Arron Asham to One-Year Contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced tonight that they have signed right wing Arron Asham to a one-year contract extension worth $775,000. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 44 games last season, he had five goals and six assists for 11 points and 46 penalty minutes. He also added three goals and one assist for four points in seven payoff games. Not a bad depth signing for the Penguins, as Asham brings lots of grit and toughness to the lineup, as well as a little bit of offense. He should continue to be a good fit on the checking lines.

Penguins Sign Pascal Dupuis to Two-Year Contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that they have signed left wing Pascal Dupuis to a two-year contract worth $3 million. The deal will pay him $1.5 million each season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In 81 games last season with Pittsburgh, he had 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points. This is a decent signing for the Penguins, as Dupuis brings plenty of offensive depth to the wing. He also plays with lots of energy and is versatile enough to play as a right wing. He's been a good fit for the Penguins over the past four seasons and should continue to be a good fit for the duration of his new contract.

Penguins Sign Ryan Craig to One-Year Contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Monday that they have signed left wing Ryan Craig to a one-year, two-way contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In six games this past season with the Penguins, he had no points. He also appeared in 71 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL, scoring 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points and 84 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth signing for the Penguins, as Craig will likely spend much of next season in the minors. He does possess some offensive skill, but injuries have effected his game. He also plays with some toughness, so he could play a role on the team's fourth line next season in the event of an injury.

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 Sign Nick Johnson to One-Year Contract

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that they have signed right wing Nick Johnson to a one-year, two-way contract worth $550,000. He would have been a group six unrestricted free agent on July 1. In four games this past season with the Penguins, Johnson had one goal and two assists for three points. He missed the last 23 games of the regular season and all seven of Pittsburgh's playoff games with a concussion. He also appeared in 48 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL last season, scoring 20 goals and 19 assists for 39 points. Not a bad depth signing for the Penguins, as Johnson has good size, works hard on the ice, and has a little offensive upside. Any ice time he sees with the Penguins next season will likely be on the fourth line as a complimentary winger.

Penguins Acquire Alex Kovalev from Senators

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that they have acquired right wing Alex Kovalev from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft. The pick will become a sixth rounder if the Penguins win the first round of the playoffs and Kovalev plays in at least fifty percent of the games. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Kovalev, who lifted his no-trade clause to facilitate the trade and will begin his second stint with Pittsburgh, has 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points in 54 games this season. Not a bad depth move for the Penguins, as Kovalev will bring plenty of offensive depth down the wing for the injury-ravaged team, but only as a playoff rental. The enigmatic forward will also bring some depth to the power play and lots of playoff experience to the team. Plus, the Penguins gave up next to nothing to get him, which shows the market for Kovalev was pretty dry.