Sutter out, Bonino, Clendening, Fehr in

The Penguins General Manager, Jim Rutherford, made some big moves today in a shake-up of the bottom six. Those moves saw him trade center Brandon Sutter and a 3rd round pick in 2016 to the Vancouver Canucks for Nick Bonino, Adam Clendening and a 2016 2nd round pick.

Elsewhere the Penguins signed free agent Eric Fehr to a 3 year $2m AAV contract. Fehr was a free agent after leaving the Washington Capitals at the end of the 2014-15 season after spending the last three years there. He was originally drafted by the Capitals but spent a year with the Jets in between. Fehr recently underwent elbow surgery and will be out for around 4 to 6 months. This means that he likely won't be available until November.

Jim Rutherford has now traded Brandon Sutter twice in his hockey career, the other being when he was with Carolina. Rutherford was quoted as saying that he believed that Sutter was one of his "favourite players to work with" during his hockey career. Thankfully, unlike Bylsma or Shero, Rutherford is not slave to favouritism and isn't letting it get in the way of improving the team.

Fehr and Sutter are similar players but Fehr is a more physical player and at $2m he is $1.3m cheaper. That is even more important when you consider that in the future the Penguins will have young players looking for their first big contract. Sutter is likely to sign an extension with the Canucks in the next few days which I would guess to be greater than the $3.3m he is currently on.

Bonino and Clendening are also too interesting players that I am surprised Rutherford was able to include in this deal. Bonino is a great bottom six player who has the ability to play further up when injuries hit, which they will. Whilst Fehr is out injured Bonino will marshal the third line and Rutherford has mentioned the possibility of using him on the second power-play unit.

The Penguins also added a good young prospect in Clendening who will add another dynamic to the Wilkes-Barre team. Who now look prime for a run at the Calder Cup with the depth on offer. Clendening was part of the Utica Comets team that lost in five games to the Manchester Monarchs in the Calder Cup this year.

In the past Rutherford has mentioned that he wants four scoring lines and it looks like he has got what he wanted. Something I think some thought wouldn't be possible due to the players available to trade. But, Rutherford has worked his magic. There will be a change to last years team with the third line being less defensively responsible. That will fall on the fourth line more this season. Whatever happens though,  I can't wait for October.

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Are Quebec a fit for an expansion team?

Recently in the past few weeks Bettman opened the expansion process to bids. He only ended up with two offers from Las Vegas and Quebecor, on behalf of Quebec. There was significant interest from other parties in places such as Seattle but in the end a number of reasons meant they didn't bid.  Partly the $500m cost, partly not having a plan for an arena.

Las Vegas has been known for a while and is basically a foregone conclusion. Daly, the NHL's deputy commissioner gave the green light for a ticket drive earlier in the year. The aim to see how many season tickets they would sell. So far they have sold over 13,000 tickets already.

Quebec is a different. Quebec has had hockey running through it's veins since the early years of the NHL itself with the Quebec Athletics in 1919. Before that amateur hockey had been a key part of the cities make-up. Quebec did have an NHL team in the Nordiques, after they transferred from the WHA but the plunging Canadian dollar in a smaller market put paid to that. The team was sold to Denver and became the Colorado Avalanche.

The Nordiques had a fabled rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens, their less French neighbours. A rivalry labelled the "Battle of Quebec". When Quebec came into the league they were not the best and struggled whilst Montreal were the flag bearers of the league. The chance to be a giant-killer was infectious. The rivalry did spill into Politics due to a difference in ownership and linguistic culture. Having this rivalry back in the league would be superb.

However, despite this storied rivalry and history the NHL does have reservations. Quebec isn't the largest market and if it joined would be second smallest ahead of Winnipeg. The NHL tends to look long-term for growth and it would be harder in Quebec. Especially if you have got places in the USA that have larger populations and have shown interest in expansion but aren't ready yet. It could prompt them to wait.

Another reason is that the team that is leading the charge for Quebec's return is Quebecor. Quebecor owns the regional TV network that games would be shown on meaning the league can't get a good TV deal. Quebec is also a major French speaking area and it is unlikely to have English speaking channels to sell the game on.

Lastly, the biggest risk is the Canadian dollar. The teams are paid in the national currency but teams in Canada pay their players salaries in the American dollar. This means that if the CD$ drops you have less revenue coming in making it harder to pay. With a small market this is a bigger risk.

Personally,  I hope that the league does expand and includes Quebec in that. It needs to return. The league is in a much healthier position than it was when Quebec left in the mid-90's that I think any problem with the Canadian dollar wouldn't be as much as a risk. There would also be a new generation to tap into who would get to experience the Montreal - Quebec rivalry for the first time, like me.

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Wheeling Nailers extend affiliation with the Penguins for 17th season

Wheeling Nailers extend affiliation with the Penguins for 17th season

The Wheeling Nailers of the East Coast Hockey League announced today that they are extending their affiliation with the Penguins for a 17th consecutive season. This is the longest current affiliation between an NHL and ECHL team. This season Pittsburgh will be able to use them more with Montreal moving to pick up the Brampton Beast.

The Nailers have also continued their affiliation with the AHL team, Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. Which marks their 16th consecutive season. Whilst the Penguins have been affiliated to the Nailers 15 players have made their NHL debut. The most recent ones being Dominik Uher and Bobby Farnham.

With the Nailers being solely the Penguins property now they can use them more effectively giving players better instructions and role time. One area this could really help will be in the net. The Penguins have an abundance of goaltending prospects and some missed out on valuable time. Now, that is not the case.

The Nailers opening game is away to Norfolk on October 16th with the home opener later on the 24th October against Brampton. The Penguins will be looking for continued success from their affiliate.

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Ty Loney leaves biggest impression on Penguins at development camp

Ty Loney leaves big impression on Penguins at development camp

The Penguins development camp finished on the 18th July and Ty Loney left the biggest impression on the people who attended it and watched through the live stream provided by the Penguins.

Whilst a good performance at the development camp won't go unnoticed, pre-season camp tends to be where the decisions are made. Management aren't going to decide to put him in based on this performance. They'll want to see him play against NHL calibre opposition to see if he can do it in a full game.

Loney is a second generation with his dad,  Troy Loney, also playing for the Penguins. 624 times between 1983-1993 to be precise. In the scrimmage game Loney scored a hat-trick and in the shoot-out after the game to lead his Team white to a 6-0 victory. Loney will start the season with Wilkes-Barre Scranton but if he performs well there is no reason why he won't be given a call-up.

Some players missed out on participating in the camp due to injury. Perhaps the most notable was Oskar Sundqvist, who some are tipping to be on the fourth line this year. Tyler Biggs, recently acquired in the Kessel trade, was also injured. Both expect to be healthy by the time October rolls around. It was also good to Anton Zlobin back from injury after spending time on the sidelines since last October. Zlobin will hoping to have a break-out year with WBS and start to show his potential.

All in all, a promising camp. Roll on October.

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Penguins re-sign Bennett, sign Simon

Penguins re-sign Bennett, sign Simon

The Penguins yesterday announced that they were re-signing winger Beau Bennett to a 1 year contract with a cap hit of $800k. A reduction from his previous deal which is no doubt due to his injury problems in his three year Entry Level Contract.

Due to Bennett's fragility this is in essence a make or break year for him. If he can stay healthy and put up some good numbers whilst improving his board play then he will be able to earn himself a better deal next year. If he is injured or struggles then he will be entering the free agent market next year.

Due to the Penguins improvements over the summer he will have to prove himself to get top six, even top nine minutes. This is due to the likes of Plotnikov signing, Kessel joining and Dupuis returning. If he can prove himself with the fourth line and on the special units then he may be given more time further up the lines. I believe playing on the fourth line will also help him develop his physical game.

Elsewhere, the Penguins have signed 2015 draftee Dominik Simon to a 3 year Entry Level Contract. This is interesting because he was expected to play for HC Plzen in the Czech  Republic this coming season but the Penguins seem to have a desire to bring him over earlier due to his age and to see what he can do in camp and the AHL. I hope he works out and gets a look.

The Penguins are done mostly with their roster. They might sign a fourth line center and they may trade someone to clear cap space but I don't expect anything major news wise until training camp in  September.

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Penguins re-sign Bobby Farnham to one year, two way deal

Penguins re-sign Bobby Farnham to one year, two way deal

The Penguins announced today that they have signed forward Bobby Farnham to a one year, two way deal. The deal carries an annual value of $575k at the NHL Level. Farnham made his NHL debut last year on December 13th against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had a fight in his first game and that mean streak continued through his brief appearances. In his 11 NHL games he had five fights and finished with 24 penalty minutes.

Despite not being a productive player and going empty in his 11 NHL appearances he has been more successful for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. After leaving Brown University he had very brief appearances for the Providence Bruins and Worcester Sharks before being adopted into the Penguins system.

In his first season with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins he scored 3 goals and 8 assists in 65 games. He beat that mark the season after with 7 goals and assists for 14 points. In total over the 129 games he played in the AHL for WBS he had 440 penalty minutes, which equates to 3.4 a game. In the NHL that tightened up to 2.18 a game. If Farnham can continue to bring his physical presence he will be a great asset.

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Penguins prospect camp starts on July 14th

Penguins prospect camp starts on July 14th

As with every season the Penguins are holding a prospect and development camp this July. This year it is starting on July 14th and finish on the 18th and, as usual, their top prospects will be there along with a number of invites from different walks of the game. Whilst this isn't a place where you can decide whether a player is ready to join the team due to the lack of real games, it is a chance to see where players are at in their skill and mindset.

Recently acquired  Tyler Biggs, part of the Phil Kessel trade, will be there but unable to skate due to injury. As will Scott Wilson. This year there are 37 players attending, that numbers includes the 2015 drafted players. New Wilkes-Barre Scranton coach Mike Sullivan will run the camp and it makes sense as he'll be the first to feel the benefits of most of the players, if at all.

The Penguins have a number of prospects playing in the NCAA and that number was augmented with 2 of the Penguins 4 players playing there next season. Continuing this trend the Penguins invited 5 players from the NCAA to attend the camp along with 1 from the CHL and 1 from the BCHL.

Only one of the invited players is under 20 with most being in their last year of NCAA eligibility next season. There is a possibility they could move early if they make the grade of course but that is unlikely. The idea being the Penguins selecting slightly older players in the draft and for camp is that they want these players ready sooner. We're in win now mode and it makes sense to get an impact quicker.

Jonathan Bombulie made some good notes on the players attending, available to read here. The players to keep an eye most for me are Sundqvist, Simon and Murray. Sundqvist will be no doubt targeting that fourth line center spot in the pre-season camp. Dominik Simon is playing men's hockey in the Czech Republic and whilst he won't get a spot this season, a good season could see him move over next year.

Lastly, Murray. Last season he broke records and was an outstanding player. Having a strong goaltender prospect such as him is a real asset and hopefully he will be able to have a season just as successful. I wouldn't be surprised to see him make an appearance if Fleury or Zatkoff are injured. The AHL is where he should start this season though.

In all, the Penguins will get a good look at the players next week. If there's anyone that takes their fancy then they will no doubt enquire. The pre-season camp will be worth watching though to see if any break through.

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Leafs sign Kadri to 1 year bridge contract

Leafs sign Kadri to 1 year bridge contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs today announced that they had signed center Nazem Kadri, a 2009 first round pick, to a 1 year bridge contract with a cap hit of $4.1m. This is a raise of around $1m on his previous deal. Kadri was on of the unsung players last year in the league and this is a chance for him to have a bigger role.

Kadri was behind Bozak last season but that will likely be reversed this season with Bozak becoming a likely trade target. Toronto are desperate for a top center and they'll hope that Kadri can become that. Until Nylander progresses at least. Because, lets be real, Toronto's center depth isn't that great. They have some great role players, but no-one that stands out.

Arcobello was a great depth signing as he is capable of playing on both the third and fourth lines. He scored 17 goals in 77 goals last year which is okay when you consider he spent most of his time on two lottery teams, the Oilers and Coyotes. Spaling is also capable of playing on both lines but neither have the ability to play on the second or above if required due to injuries or poor performances from the top 6.

It'll be interesting to see how Kadri and Bozak do. Bozak played a lot with Kessel last season so it wouldn't be a surprise to see his production drop by 10 points. Kadri will benefit from his new line-mates. I wouldn't be surprised to see him have a season similar to 2013-14 when he put up 20 goals and 30 assists in 78 games.

If Kadri plays well then he could earn himself a bigger, longer contract next season. If he doesn't then the Leafs could go all out for Stamkos and let Kadri walk. This next season will be interesting for the  Leafs for a number of reasons. I think they'll be one of the more interesting teams to watch this coming season. They won't be one of the best teams on the ice, but they'll have a number of players looking to prove themselves, both young and old which will make it interesting.

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Kessel is thrilled to join Pittsburgh + two myths on Pens debunked

Kessel is thrilled to join Pittsburgh + two myths on Pens debunked

Since joining the Penguins on Wednesday there has been a media circus surrounding the move, some criticising Kessel and trying to pin what happened in Toronto on him, some being sympathetic and thankful for his efforts to the cause. Toronto have not been a successful team in a long time and this is down to bad management and roster acquisitions, not on what Phil Kessel has done.

The Toronto is particularly strong in their scapegoating of players. Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun is someone who has been critical of Kessel for a while and his latest piece does not hide his feelings. His latest piece is more a diatribe against him, trying to pin the problems of the 2014-15 season on him. Something which just doesn't make sense.

Kessel will enjoy the more relaxed media in Pittsburgh. It is different to the media scene in Toronto. It isn't as much of a hotbed but there is still some significant interest in it. The make-up is different as well with independent reporters in Dejan Kovacevic and Josh Yohe alongside the traditional print media types. Their more laid back and professional approach is why players appear more willing to engage with them than the traditional media.

Elsewhere, some interesting comments have popped up regarding the Penguins and their make-up going forward. The most common one mentions the Penguins currently having $25m on their top three forwards and another mentioning that the Penguins have close to $40m tied up in five players.

Looking at the first point we have $25m going to Malkin ($9.5m), Crosby ($8.7m) and Kessel ($6.8m). If you're going to have a strong offence then you need to pay to get it. If you look at other teams in the league then $25m for your top three forwards seems a fair price. Chicago currently have $26.9m signed up to Sharp, Toews and Kane. Minnesota have $21m signed up in Parise, Koivu and Vanek. So, to say it is detrimental when Chicago are perennial cup contenders paying out more is a bit much.

The second is that the Penguins can't build a team because they have nearly $40m tied up in their top five players. Those top five being the three above along with Letang and Fleury. In total that equals $38m. Looking at the league again Chicago have slightly more at $39.1m and the Wild again have around $34m.

The Penguins have been drafting well in the last few years on defence which is why they're able to pay so much to their top five. Maatta and Pouliot are both on entry level deals which are cost controlled and give them more flexibility. Pittsburgh were also helped by their top two, Malkin and Crosby, signing new deals before the new CBA came into being. They'd be earning more now for sure.

This isn't to say that the Penguins have had an easy ride, they have struggled to sign players to deals before and build a good team but that seems to be changing now. If they do need to create space then  Kunitz and Scuderi are available fodder and would create $7m roughly in space. In conclusion, Penguins fans need not worry, they know what they're doing.

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Penguins land Phil Kessel

Penguins land Phil Kessel

The Penguins have managed to pull of a huge trade by acquiring Phil Kessel from the Toronto Maple Leafs. To get him the Penguins gave Toronto a conditional 2016 1st round pick, Kasperi Kapanen, Nick Spaling, Scott Harrington and a 2016 3rd round pick. In reply Pittsburgh obtained the service of Phil Kessel, Tyler Biggs, Tim Erixon and a 2016 2nd round pick.

Penguins General Manager Jim Rutherford alluded to the Penguins imposing a 12 noon deadline on acquiring Kessel today. This was to prevent them from being unable to acquire players in free agency to fill their needs by holding out. The Penguins managed to complement their line-up alongside the Kessel trade by signing Plotnikov, as originally rumoured, to an ELC deal.

Some of the original discussion around Kessel hinged on whether the Penguins would be willing to pay his full cap hit and if they would be willing to give up one of Pouliot or Maatta to obtain his services. The fact that Rutherford was able to get a deal done without including one of them is brilliant. It was made aware in the post-trade media that Dubas, the current Assistant General Manager of the Leafs, made it clear how much the Leafs coveted  Kapanen.

The deal above is great alone but even better when you consider that the Leafs are retaining 15% of Phil Kessel's cap hit. This means that he will only cost the Penguins $6.8m instead of $8.0m for the next 7 years. This enables Pittsburgh to have a bit more room with regards to contract extensions in the future.

Courtesy of Penguins PR

The above shows how lethal Kessel is in front of goal. He is a clear 20 goals ahead of the next player and this has been achieved whilst playing on a below par Toronto team that has struggled in the above time span. Kessel is a speedy winger and will work well with both Crosby and Malkin. I think he will work better with Malkin as he (Malkin) likes to hang back and open the ice more. 

The Penguins power-play should be deadly now and not to mention how potent the Penguins will be in 3-on-3 overtime. A trio of Crosby, Malkin and Kessel will strike fear into any team. 

It is worth mentioning the other players in the deal out of fairness. Tyler Biggs has been with Toronto since being drafted by them in the 1st round in the 2011 draft. Since then he has failed to live up to the hype a 1st round pick usually attracts. Last season he ended up in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears. Rutherford has said that he had potential and that a change of scenery may work. It is expected that he starts the season in Wilkes-Barre Scranton.

The other player coming to Pittsburgh is defenceman Tim Erixon. Erixon is a fairly well rated player and is a classic physical, shut-down defenceman. Erixon has heavy experience in the AHL but if required due to injuries he can do a job as an extra defenceman in the NHL as well. For his cheap contract he is worth it.

In totality, it is a shame to see the Penguins trade Kapanen so soon. I would have liked to have kept him but in doing so we would have had to trade one of Pouliot or Maatta. That would have been harder to take. Sprong is our #1 forward prospect and that is probably what made Kapanen more expendable.

Spaling did okay in his time in Pittsburgh but he isn't the type of player that you will notice has gone. His cap space has been used to get a huge upgrade and that is something you cannot argue against. I just can't wait for the next season now. Now, where can I get a Kessel shirt?

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