Penguins Offer To Extend Fedotenko
Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jun 18, 07:17 PM | Hype this story!
Mark Madden is reporting on WXDX FM that Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero has reached out to forward Ruslan Fedotenko, offering him a multi-year contract.
The deal is believed to be for three years with a cap hit of $2.4 million per season.
We’ll have more information if/when it is made available.
Comments
mike t
Jun 18, 07:35 PM
2.4 million a season seems a little high for a player like Fedotenko who didnt do that good in the regualr season but was decent in the playoffs
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 18, 07:48 PM
It may be a bit expensive for Fedotenko, but it’s not that much over what he’s worth. This is a guy who really stepped up his game when his duties shifted from defense-oriented hockey to offense-oriented hockey. He may not be a superstar, but I would be willing to bet he could notch 25-30 goals and 20 assists playing with Malkin if the other winger is defensively responsible.
The reality is, though, if Fedotenko is worth, say, $2.25 million and he gets $2.4, there’s not much of a difference. And if that little amount hurts the overall cap picture, the Pens are in big trouble. Getting a second line winger for under $2.5 would be a solid move, especially considering Pascal Dupuis is making $1.4 to play on the fourth line and even be a healthy scratch in the playoffs. And let’s not forget, Fedotenko was absolutely clutch in the playoffs — when the hockey is at its most important. The Pens need those clutch performers, and I’ll gladly keep Fedotenko around at $2.4 rather than seek someone through free agency who, no doubt, would cost significantly more due to bidding from other GMs.
Pens1967
Jun 18, 08:18 PM
This seems a reasonable offer, both in length and money. It’s basically 100k less than Sykora made this year, iow, a wash cap-wise.
Colin44
Jun 18, 08:26 PM
That seems about right for a player of fedetenko’s caliber. And I don’t get why people are critical of his regular season this year. His numbers are right in line with his career averages if not a little better. Also, he has chemistry with both Crosby and Malkin, something sykora didn’t/doesn’t.
bag o' pucks
Jun 18, 09:27 PM
Well, it may be a bit hard to believe, but once you get past the marquee names – Malkin, Crosby & Staal – Tenk led the rest of the club in scoring. The Pens are not in a position to get into any kind of a bidding war come July 1. May as well extend the best deals they can now.
Between cutting loose Satan, Sykora, Gill & Boucher and the increases of Malkin & Staal, the Pens only end up about +5M. Gotta be smart on how they spend that.
Moq
Jun 18, 10:10 PM
In reality, there are few if any alternatives to Fedotenko in that salary range. So I’m hoping that the rumoured contract offer is correct and that Fedotenko accepts.
SprJudd
Jun 18, 10:17 PM
I’m okay with this deal. If there’s one thing Ray Shero has proven to everyone, it is that he knows what he’s doing.
Alex Kirshner
Jun 18, 10:48 PM
Madden cited an internet report.
That could mean TIOPS.
If so, take this with a grain of salt.
bag o' pucks
Jun 19, 12:04 AM
Indeed, Alex, tiops is reporting a potential Dupuis/Lovejoy to Minnesota for a high draft pick “rumor,” as well. Forget the grain, pass me the shaker.
Albert
Jun 19, 12:46 AM
Sounds like more than a fair deal for Tenk.
I like him and he’s a good player, but I don’t get why everyone says he was so clutch in the playoffs.
Malkin set him up CONSTANTLY and he did not convert a very high % in the playoffs and NONE in the Finals other than the loose change he found just lying in front of a yawning net in the game 1 debacle the Pens lost 3-1.
He doesn’t play much PP and he plays no PK. He’s a faster, younger Sykora w/o the quick release or the same high quality shot.
So…$2.4M sounds like a pretty good deal for Tenk.
Not horrible for the Pens, but he would be getting a raise when the Cap is going DOWN, and I’m not sure he’s earned all of that….
Pens1967
Jun 19, 05:34 AM
Just throwing this out, but Madden usually has pretty good sources within the Pens’ organization and it’s not out of the realm of possibility he’s citing the “internet report” to cover for a reliable source inside the Pens’ front office who told him the same thing.
The other thing about signing Fedotenko that I wouldn’t underestimate is that he speaks Russian. IMHO it helps Malkin out to be able to communicate with at least one of his wingers in his native language.
Andrew Rothey
Jun 19, 10:33 AM
I thought the Pens were wisely only signing these complementary players to one and two year contracts. I don’t love the $2.4 million cap hit, but it would be more acceptable on a 2 year deal rather than a 3 year deal.
Remember, Shero walked away from Jarkko Ruuto because of contract length, almost out of principle. Matt Cooke also turned out to be a much shrewder investment. Who knows who they would bring in to replace Tenko and how that would turn out, but the point is, Ray Shero’s strategy of short-term contracts for complementary players has proven wise in the past (in the cases of Sykora and Satan as well), and I don’t think they should abandon it.
Big MFer
Jun 19, 10:35 AM
“Madden usually has pretty good sources within the Pens’ organization.”
Exactly. When Madden says Kovalev to the Pens is a done deal, it’s a done deal!!!!
Nate
Jun 19, 11:05 AM
I think the deal is just about right. Look at the free agent pool this off season, the guys that are gonna be available in the 2-3 mil range are pretty slim. At least with Tenk, Shero knows what he is getting.
Charlie WATTS
Jun 19, 11:43 AM
I think the 3 yrs, if true, is a concession to tenk since his salary really does not go up from where he is now. I think the hometown discount can only work so far and most guys want stability towards the end of their careers. I think it’s a fair deal for both sides.
Pens1967
Jun 19, 01:17 PM
Brian Metzer over at Hockeybuzz is reporting he is also hearing of an offer to Feds in the neighborhood of the same years and salary.
Pens1967
Jun 21, 07:37 AM
FWIW, Rossi is reporting this offer is not true. Then again Rossi also reported Sean Avery was on death’s doorstep last year during the Pens-NYR series, too.
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