The Penguins today announced the acquisition of journeyman agitator and maverick name speller Arron Asham on a 1-year, $700,000 contract, as per the team's website. The 32-year-old native of Portage-La-Prairie, Manitoba had a solid 2009-10 season, putting up 24 points and 126 PIM in over 72 contests, and relishing the grinder/agitator role he's become known for over the course of his career.
↵Asham will fit in well on the third, or even fourth, line this season, and the potential combination of Asham/Talbot/Cooke could conceivably lead the league in the coveted 'irritation' stat.
↵Hopefully Asham and Mike Rupp can kiss and make up before the start of the season ...
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Joking aside, this is a solid signing for the Penguins. Asham is a good grinder who chips in points and, really, plays as a lesser version of Cooke, though not as much less as their contracts would suggest. If you can deal with his antics, Asham qualifies as a player who you would much rather play with than against.