Guerin Inks 1-Year Contract Extension
Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jun 29, 09:27 PM | Hype this story!
Penguins general manager Ray Shero continued a busy day, announcing that veteran Bill Guerin will stay in Pittsburgh for another season.
According to the Penguins’ web site, Guerin agreed to a one-year contract that was supposedly offered to the veteran winger sometime yesterday.
There is some speculation about the value of the deal, as the Post-Gazette is reporting it is worth $2 million, while the Tribune-Review is reporting it is worth $2.85 million. Either way, Guerin has taken a pay cut from the the $4.5 million he made last season.
“We are excited to agree to terms with Billy on this one-year deal,” Shero said. “He made a tremendous impact on this team with his scoring ability, physical play and outstanding leadership and was a key factor in our drive to the Cup. I know our players, coaches and fans will be happy to have him back in Pittsburgh.”
Guerin joined the Penguins in February as a last minute trade deadline acquisition and quickly found himself at home on the right side of Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz.
A look at the Penguins’ 2009-10 roster, including salary figures and impending free agents, can be found here.
Comments
Ivan
Jun 29, 09:30 PM
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BILLY GUERIN BABY! Let’s Go Pens!!!
Albert
Jun 29, 10:01 PM
Niiiiice.
That leaves $4.91M under the cap and two holes to fill: Priority #1) Scuderi/Beauchemin/D and #2) Tenk/Knuble/Top 6 forward/Pesonen.
Justin Maffei
Jun 29, 10:05 PM
Just an FYI, according to TSN, it is a $2M deal. I’m thinking the $2.85M is probably right though.
Pens1967
Jun 29, 10:06 PM
About 1M too much, IMHO, but we’ll see how that affects Fedotenko and Scuds. Much better if it’s 2M.
Pens1967
Jun 29, 10:24 PM
Molinari also reporting the deal is 1 yr, 2M.
TIM
Jun 29, 10:27 PM
I am glad to have Billy G back. I am a fan of this deal. 1 year, and if TSN is right then half of what he played for last year. Seems like another solid signing by Shero who is also saving some bucks.
Albert
Jun 29, 10:28 PM
Wow. Gotta go w/ Dave Molinari.
$2M makes a LOT more sense, too.
That’d leave $5.76M for:
Scuderi $2.5
Lovejoy $1.0
Curry $0.5
With $1.76M left over…Not seeing a Top 6 forward…
Jeff
Jun 29, 10:39 PM
If its 2mill, then we have like 5.6 left to sign: 2 forwards, 2 dmen, backup goalie.
Albert
Jun 29, 10:42 PM
Seems the deal is worth $2.0M (Dave Molinari, ESPN, and TSN).
Using the cap #s here: http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?team=PIT&season=0910
+ the revised Guerin # + Adams @$550k…leaves the Penguins with $5.21M in cap space.
They NEED to sign a veteran D (Scuderi/Beauchemin/other), Lovejoy, and Curry. Say 2.5 + 1.0 + 0.5 for the three.
That would leave $1.21M in cap room and the Penguins would be pretty much finished. Esp. if any of those three cost a bit more.
TIM
Jun 29, 10:42 PM
I didn’t think the Pens were going to try and sign a Top 6 Forward. It seems like there isn’t a TON of stuff out there. Some solid guys like Havlat, Gaborik etc but nothing really in our price range. If Dupuis is gone then that does free up some more space. Maxim Afinogenov MIGHT be an interesting risk if he could be had for around 2 million a year maybe a 2 year deal. Hopefully guys like Sarge, Malkin etc. could inject some life into him.
Pens1967
Jun 29, 10:45 PM
Speculation the difference between the 2M and 2.85M might be bonus/incentive money. Not sure how that counts against the cap.
bag o' pucks
Jun 29, 10:50 PM
I’d guestimate it’s $2M guaranteed, with another $.85M in incentives. All incentives count against the cap.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 29, 11:06 PM
To those who found the $2 million number, thank you. I will use that rather than the $2.85 reported by Rossi, as TSN and Molinari both are quite reputable and have strong track records.
I would presume incentives have been left out, as they really make little sense other than motivation, and if Guerin needs motivated (which I doubt he does), he was a bad signing. The Pens have the money to pay him $2.85 million. The cap space is the issue. So signing him for $2 million, but having him take up $2.85 million in cap space makes little sense.
To those discussing the remaining holes…at this point, I think we’ll see Shero sign a winger for Malkin (Fedotenko, Sullivan, etc), as well as a veteran defenseman (Scuderi, Gill, Zanon, etc). Lovejoy seems a logical fit to step in as the seventh defender, while Curry seems a logical fit to back up Fleury. That should then conclude the signings. Don’t bank on a second winger for Malkin, as that hole will likely be filled internally (Talbot, Dupuis, Kennedy, Caputi, Tangradi, etc).
bag o' pucks
Jun 29, 11:18 PM
I doubt Guerin would even take an incentive deal, just trying to speculate on the difference between the two.
If it is $2M, that Tkachuk deal looks to have been a fine blueprint for this deal.
Albert
Jun 29, 11:20 PM
good point Pucks. do you think that means Knuble will sign for roughly the same?
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 29, 11:23 PM
Some clarification on the possibility for bonuses. If Guerin’s contract has a stipulation for $0.85 million (or any amount, for that matter) in bonuses, the bonus amount will not count toward this year’s cap. Instead, it will count toward next year’s. So, it looks like Guerin has a $2 million cap hit with the possibility of having an $850k bonus cap hit next year.
Moq
Jun 29, 11:26 PM
In principle, all incentives and bonuses count against the cap. (The bonus cushion isn’t available anymore.) If there’s a $2M salary and a $0.85M performance bonus, then the cap hit is $2.85M.
Moq
Jun 29, 11:35 PM
On the other hand, the bonus cushion might be reinstated for 2009-10 season due to the NHLPA decision not to opt out of the NHLPA as someone suggested at another site. That could certainly be the case.
David Scott
Jun 29, 11:53 PM
“Bonuses:
Performance bonuses can be earned by the following players only:
• players on entry-level contracts.
• veteran players (400 or more games) signing one-year contracts after returning from long-term injuries (100 or more days on injured reserve in their recent year).
• players who sign a one-year contract after the age of 35.
A team can exceed the cap by 7.5% to pay bonuses, but its salary cap for the following season will be reduced by the excessive amount.”
http://proicehockey.about.com/od/learnthegame/a/nhl_salary_cap.htm
bag o' pucks
Jun 30, 12:56 AM
“A team can exceed the cap by 7.5% to pay bonuses, but its salary cap for the following season will be reduced by the excessive amount.”
I doubt Shero would do business like that, knowing the cap will come down next season. Of course, stranger things have happened.
bag o' pucks
Jun 30, 01:59 AM
Okay, fer balls’ sake…
Rossi: C Mike Zigomanis, His camp was actively engaged in talks with Shero, and a deal could be reached before Wednesday.
Molinari: The obvious loser in the Adams signing is center Mike Zigomanis, since both work on the fourth line. It’s highly unlikely that the Penguins will keep both.
Frankly, I trust Molinari over Rossi, but I hope Rossi’s right. The two guys aren’t mutually exclusive. Signing inexpensive players who are very proficient in specific roles is the way to build depth throughout the system. We all know the young guys who start in WB/S are going to get ice time this year. Injuries are inevitable. But if the young guys get hurt, who’s going to come up? I’m just not interested in watching Chris Minard and Connor James come in and play three minutes, anymore.
I’m not trying to go all Mormina on yous guys, I’m just saying signing Zigomanis makes good business sense.
DaBich
Jun 30, 05:57 AM
Oh, this is a great signing. One year deal is perfect. Now, on to the D-men…and… maybe Feds might stay??
Pens1967
Jun 30, 07:22 AM
Molinari reports in today’s P-G story that the contract is for a flat 2M, no bonuses or incentives. He reports the final details were negotiated directly between Shero and Guerin with “no bs”.
Giskard
Jun 30, 09:17 AM
Adams (550k) + Zigomanis (850k or less) – Dupuis (1.4M) = 0 CAP hit and more balance
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 30, 10:02 AM
I would have no qualms with a Zigomanis signing, but I also feel Molinari is likely the better source. After all, Rossi was reporting Guerin’s deal was worth $2.85 million before Molinari, TSN, ESPN and others confirmed it was a flat $2 million.
@Bag, re: “I doubt Shero would do business like that, knowing the cap will come down next season.” I thought the exact same thing. Shero doesn’t strike me as the bonus type guy. As constructed this is a better deal than I was even hoping for. I had Guerin pegged as a $2.5 million player. Good stuff.
@Dabich, I have no idea about Fedotenko, though I had heard contract talks hit a snag and the two sides likely would enter free agency with no contract. As for defense, Scuderi will hit July 1 as a free agent and give Shero an opportunity to respond to the offer Scuderi perceives as the best.
One thing is for sure: Shero has more cap room to play with after signing a first liner and fourth liner than most would have expected. He’s working his magic and this offseason looks to have promise.
@Giskard, dropping Dupuis from the payroll would be excellent. I suspect, as others have said, Shero may be hanging on to him for the time being to be sure he is able to lock in a second line winger. If he does not, Dupuis may bump from the fourth line to second line. In other words, it’s possible he may be a Penguin (for now) as an insurance policy, but if Shero brings in/signs another winger (maybe Fedotenko), he could be traded.
Pens1967
Jun 30, 11:22 AM
Matt, Rossi’s story in today’s Trib also now has the contract at 2M. For what they payed Miro Satan last year, they’ve gotten two players, Guerin and Adams for this year.
I could see Ziggy maybe being signed to a two-way contract.
The Pens also want to sign Gonchar and Letang to contract extentions so that has to come into consideration, too.
bag o' pucks
Jun 30, 11:33 AM
Actually, 67, they got those two players for $50K more than what they paid Sykora. Satan made $3.5M last year. At a flat $2M for Guerin, Shero has done an outstanding job.
Apparently the Pens are no longer pursuing Zigo. That’s the way the puck bounces.
Nate
Jun 30, 11:53 AM
Ziggy would be a nice addition of course, but with Sid really stepping up his faceoff % in the end of regular season and post season play, Ziggy might be a luxury they can’t keep. He must want a little too much in his pay raise.
bag o' pucks
Jun 30, 01:34 PM
I’m doubtful he wants too much. If I had to guess I’d say the sticking point would be a one-way or two-way deal, even moreso than term 1-yr vs. 2-yrs.
Shero may want the flexibility of a two-way deal and I would understand Zigo’s hesitancy if that were the case.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 30, 02:19 PM
@Bag, per the Post-Gazette, Zigomanis officially is not returning, according to his agent.
bag o' pucks
Jun 30, 02:38 PM
@Matt, yes, I had heard the same this morning (see a couple posts above).
It’s worth noting that Zigo played well, but he played well for Therrien. Adams played well for Bylsma.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 30, 02:59 PM
@Bag, I had read your comment, just wasn’t sure if it was based on the original article that speculated Zigomanis was done or the later article that quotes his agent. Apologies.
And, very good point on Adams’ connection with Bylsma. It makes sense.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 30, 03:34 PM
Tom, I’m running the exact same thing (minus the line breakdowns) here.
bag o' pucks
Jun 30, 04:29 PM
Gonchar and Tangradi are both expected to be ready for camp.
Bissonnette is another story, he still can’t grasp a hockey stick. He’s a 50/50 on whether he’ll ever play again. That dude is junkyard dog determined and tough as nails, though, and I wouldn’t bet against him.
albert
Jun 30, 05:39 PM
Oduya signed a multi-year deal worth b/w 3.0-3.5M/year. Have to think that is a hard cieling for Scuds.
bag o' pucks
Jun 30, 07:44 PM
@Tom. Brown completed his college eligibility before turning pro. I have no issue with a kid who leaves college early, as long as he decides it’s his best window to make a living at hockey and has a pro contract. Turning pro doesn’t limit a kid from acquiring his degree. He’ll be making enough money, even in the minors, to compelete his degree if he so desires. And if he makes a decent run at a pro career, he can return afterwards and get into the business a la Jason Botterill.
That said, I have no problem with a kid who wants to finish college before turning pro, either. It’s an individual decision. But your comment that the Pens talked someone into anything is unfair and unrealistic.
bag o' pucks
Jun 30, 10:20 PM
Nah, Brownie played his four years at Notre Dame. He was done there.
Why was Strait foolish? It’s not like he was coerced or lied to, nor is it like the Pens were the only source of information he had. I’m quite sure Strait consulted his family, his college coach, perhaps even a pro or two he knew from BU, etc. He took his time to make his decision.
If a kid decides to leave a scholarship for an ECHL contract, well….
But Strait has an NHL deal and a chance to be an NHLer. He made the right decision. Sneep decided to go back to college. He made the right decision, too. Because they both made up their own minds.
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