Shero Re-Signs Veteran Forward Adams
Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jun 29, 05:30 PM | Hype this story!
Per the Pittsburgh Penguins website, fourth line forward Craig Adams has signed on for another two years, avoiding free agency.
The deal has a cap hit of $550,000, per the Post-Gazette, down from his $600,000 cap hit from 2008-09.
He may not be a top liner or a shut down defenseman, but Craig Adams played a large role in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Stanley Cup run.
“Craig is a steady, reliable, physical player who was an important part of our mix this season,” general manager Ray Shero said. “He plays with a lot of grit, but he also contributed some key goals in the playoffs and was very effective as a penalty-killer. We’re glad to be able to sign him for two more years.”
The signing marks the second re-signing by Shero this offseason. Defenseman Alex Goligoski was re-signed shortly after the Stanley Cup Finals.
Still remaining are unrestricted free agents Bill Guerin, Rob Scuderi, Ruslan Fedotenko, Petr Sykora, Miroslav Satan, Mike Zigomanis, Hal Gill, Phillipe Boucher, and Mathieu Garon.
Of them, Shero has expressed interest in retaining Guerin, Scuderi, Fedotenko, Sykora, and Gill.
Reports out of Pittsburgh have indicated that a one year contract was offered to Guerin yesterday, with a decision expected sometime today, though no news has since surfaced.
Negotiations with Fedotenko appear to have hit a snag, with the left winger likely to hit the free agent market.
Scuderi, meanwhile, will be given an opportunity to see what bids he gets as an unrestricted free agent, but he has claimed he will bring his final offer back to Shero and the Penguins to see how close they can get.
Finally, Sykora and Gill project to serve back up plans should Shero fail to retain those above or sign capable external free agents.
Comments
TIM
Jun 29, 05:58 PM
I guess this mean Ziggy is gone right?
albert
Jun 29, 06:00 PM
The Adams signing indicates they are likely only going to sign ONE Top 6 forward at this time.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 29, 06:02 PM
Just a few opinion notes to add…
Adams had little bargaining power, considering he was claimed off waivers and has been somewhat of a journeyman of late, playing on three teams in the last two seasons. Players of his status typically don’t find themselves on two-year contracts, making it seem likely he will make right around the $600,000 he made last year. I highly doubt he earned a raise, and quite possibly may have taken a pay cut to facilitate the extra year.
Also, in my opinion, this signals the farewell to Mike Zigomanis. It has been my belief that one or the other would be retained, not both. With Pascal Dupuis and Eric Godard under contract and filling fourth line roles, Zigomanis just doesn’t seem logical, especially when young center Dustin Jeffrey is ready to take over if need be.
ML
Jun 29, 06:11 PM
Has anyone heard anything about Janne Pesonens chances for a contract with the Pens next season?
He did have a good season in the minors, and it would be interesting to see if he can claim a roster spot at camp.
albert
Jun 29, 06:18 PM
@Matt – agree. prob means no Zigo. The 4th line is more than covered: Dupuis, Adams, Godard, and Jeffrey + any of the others up for coffee & biscuits.
bag o' pucks
Jun 29, 06:22 PM
@Matt. I’d rather it didn’t mean the end for Zigo. I think the Pens still could use a righty faceoff ace (who also kills penalties, etc). Jeffrey was 41.7% in the circle last season. I’d rather have Zigo signed for one more year while Jeffrey continues to work on his game.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 29, 06:27 PM
@ML, I suspect the Penguins would like him back — but the ball likely is in his court, and he has said in the past he would like to return to the Penguins due to his familiarity with the team and loyalty to the team that brought him over from Finland.
@Albert, I think this could possibly spell the end for Dupuis, as well — though it seems weird they didn’t try to shop him during the draft. A fourth line of Adams-Jeffrey-Godard, with Bissonnette as the healthy scratch would be ideal, in my opinion. Dupuis, at $1.4 million, should be logging third line minutes with a regular penalty killing role. At this point, he projects to be a fourth liner with no penalty killing role. That’s just too much to pay an extra.
@Bag, it’s entirely possible Zigomanis comes back — but, if that happens, as I said above, you’d have to believe Dupuis is gone.
TIM
Jun 29, 06:31 PM
Matt, if Dupuis does get moved any ideas of what kind of trade the Pens could be looking for?
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 29, 06:34 PM
UPDATE
The deal has a cap hit of $550,000, per the Post-Gazette, down from his $600,000 cap hit from 2008-09.
This is a spectacular signing for Shero.
@Tim, they’d be looking for a mid-round pick or a minor league player. The idea would be to shed salary, although Shero said prior to the draft he had no intentions of making such salary-cutting moves.
bag o' pucks
Jun 29, 07:12 PM
@Matt. I wouldn’t object to a deal that shipped Dupuis, but I doubt that would happen until Guerin and Tenk are re-signed. If Shero is unable to re-sign one or both of those guys, we may again be looking at Dupuis in a top-six role. Didn’t work last year, I know, but Shero is patient and he’d wait until later in the season, maybe even the deadline to make further changes to the roster.
Re: Adams, the guy is no dummy. He knows Bylsma trusts him (who was on the ice in the last 6.5 seconds of game seven?), so he’ll get his minutes and he’s got the chance to get another ring or two. I suspect this was an easy decision for both parties.
TIM
Jun 29, 08:12 PM
I agree, and to take a little bit of a cut to stay is good for The Pens, and Adams seemed really happy to be here. Glad to have the guy back.
Albert
Jun 29, 09:09 PM
With the news that the offer to Guerin was approx. $3M and expecting that to re-sign Scuderi (or Beauchemin or similar) will also take a big chunk…doesn’t leave much cap space.
It could mean that Tenk (or comparable) is NOT re-signed and that, like last year, guys from lower lines get a shot in Top 6 roles.
It might mean Pesonen gets re-signed (ugh) and gets another shot.
It probably also means that Dupuis that will be moved up.
Both Dupuis and Talbot can play EITHER wing. So, you could see something along these lines…
Kunitz-Crosby-Guerin
Talbot-Malkin-Kennedy
Cooke-Staal-Dupuis
Adams-Jeffrey-Godard
(Caputi)
(Pesonen)
Gonchar-Orpik
Letang-Eaton
Goligoski-Scuderi/Beauchemin
Lovejoy
(Mormina)
Albert
Jun 29, 09:20 PM
Guerin signed.
Colin44
Jun 29, 10:40 PM
Great signing. I’ve been a fan of Adams since I was at the game against the kings. The kings had a 5 on 3 and one of the pens broke their stick and Adams gave his up. He continued to block around 5 shots before they gave up a 5 on 2.5 goal.
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