Pens Reshuffle The Defense

Jul 01 6:02p by Jimmy Rixner

Coming into today the Pens watched four of their defensemen - Sergei Gonchar, Mark Eaton, Jordan Leopold and Jay McKee - skate into unrestricted free agency.

General Manager Ray Shero had discussions with the agents of Dan Hamhuis (whose rights they'd acquired) and Gonchar, but couldn’t come to terms with either; Gonchar wanted a three year deal and the Pens didn’t want to go that far with a 36 year old defenseman who’s missed 79 games with injuries in the past two years. And Shero couldn’t dissuade Hamhuis, experiencing unrestricted free agency for the first time, from testing the waters.

Shortly after the free agency period opened, Gonchar found the Ottawa Senators,who were willing to give him that third year, as well as a no trade clause and a $500,000 raise on his last contract (up to $5.5 million per year). Hamhuis ended up going back to his home of British Columbia, to join the Vancouver Canucks on a monster six-year contract worth $4.5 million per.

Shero quickly re-shuffled his priorities and snagged Zbynek Michalek. Michalek will fill a role last played by Rob Scuderi: the shot-blocking, tough, defensive-minded defenseman. Last season Michalek finished 16th in the league in blocked shots and played an impressive 4:06 per night on the penalty kill. At 27 he’s young and worthy of the five year deal he received from Pittsburgh. He’s also a right-handed shot, which is a prize in a league where most defensemen shoot left.

Then Shero took Sergei Gonchar’s $5 million per year and he gave it to Paul Martin, formerly of the New Jersey Devils. Martin, 29, is a smooth-skating defenseman who handles the puck well and is the epitome of the “post-lockout” defenseman. He would have played for Team USA in the Olympics this winter, but his season was cut short when he broke his arm, ironically in a game against the Penguins, off the stick of Bill Guerin.

Just like that, with two signings, the Penguins have used $9 million of their approximately $11 million of available cap room. But they’ve locked up two stellar defensemen and have certainly upgrade their most needed position.

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Comments

Good summary of today’s events. I didn’t realize Michalek shot right handed — a nice bonus for the Pens.

by Cari on Jul 1, 2010 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

From what I hear, there’s a lot about Michalek that us Eastern Conference people don’t know….And it all is very positive.

SB Nation PIttsburgh

"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."

by Jimmy Rixner on Jul 1, 2010 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't underestimate his ability on offense...

Michalek does almost all of the things that Scuderi did, but with more size, physicality and offensive ability.

Michalek isn’t the most physical player in the league, but he goes into high-contact areas and, from my limited knowledge and hearing from others, uses his body well enough limit opposing traffic in front and space in corners.

His offensive numbers aren’t overwhelming, but he’s good for 25-30 points a season… when you consider that Scuderi couldn’t put up more than 16 points in a game on some pretty offensive Penguins teams and that Michalek has been averaging about 25 points thus far in his career for the Coyotes, it’s not too far-fetched to see his numbers creeping up into the 30-35 range next season.

And yes, adding another righty shot not named Ric Jackman will be a nice addition.

by Stephen Catanese on Jul 2, 2010 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m stoked for these signings. Now if we can get a decent winger, we’re set.

"Half the game is mental, the other half is being mental." - Jim McKenny

by AlexStitch on Jul 1, 2010 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

Decent may be stretching it, but if Shero can find someone to fill a hole, then it’ll be ok.

I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993

by PensFan8725 on Jul 1, 2010 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Good post, Hooks. Very very interested to learn some new things about Michalek (searching: “Zbynek Michalek” on YouTube doesn’t bring much up). I also didn’t realize he was a righty…very nice.

I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993

by PensFan8725 on Jul 1, 2010 7:54 PM EDT reply actions

So uhhh what did the Washington Caps

do all day?
I thought they had some money to spend…

I've told [a 9 months pregnant] Nathalie that she can't have the baby on a game night. I'm not missing a playoff game. -Mario Lemieux in 1993

by PensFan8725 on Jul 1, 2010 8:06 PM EDT reply actions

@Bob Errey – “For those wondering about the Caps: McPhee waiting for his iPhone4 to be delivered. Plans to participate in free agency in 2-4wks”

They honestly don’t have all that much room though. They still have to resign Schultz, who won’t be cheap at all after the season he had last year, I’m sure they want Fehr and Fleischmann back as well. Those 3 will take up the majority of the cap they have left.

There are two theories on hitting a knuckleball - unfortunately, neither of them work.

by BobPurkey34 on Jul 1, 2010 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Even after their RFA’s the Caps would probably have 3-5 million to spend..they could still get a dman like Willie Mitchell or try to bolster their second line center but other than Lombardi (who will probably want a decent salary and long contract) so it’s not worth it.

SB Nation PIttsburgh

"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."

by Jimmy Rixner on Jul 1, 2010 8:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions