Offseason Roundup: Pittsburgh Penguins
Over the next month, theScore's NHL editors will review all the offseason moves for each team around the league.
The Pittsburgh Penguins had their fair share of movement this season. First came a management shakeup, with general manager Ray Shero and all of the Penguins assistant coaches given pink slips. Head coach Dan Bylsma was left to twist in the wind before being fired weeks later.
Jim Rutherford was named general manager after stepping down from the same role with the Carolina Hurricanes, and went to work shaping his new team. Mike Johnston was hired as head coach, and he added assistants Rick Tocchet and Gary Agnew.
In a surprise move, the Penguins dealt winger James Neal to the Nashville Predators. They picked up four free agents, one of whom may have been the steal of the day on July 1st.
The Penguins also extended three players, but made it clear a contract extension for starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury would not be in the works until the end of the season, when he becomes a free agent.
Offseason Roundup
In trading Neal, the Penguins acquired Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling. Neal scored 184 points in 199 games for the Penguins and appeared on the top two lines during his time in Pittsburgh. The Penguins soon after signed Spaling to a two-year, $4.4-million extension.
On the books for the next two years are extensions for forward Brandon Sutter ($6.6 million), and defenseman Simon Despres ($1.8 million), who the Penguins are hoping will become a top-six defenseman this season. A one-year, $2-million extension for trade deadline acquisition Marcel Goc was also signed.
The Penguins made four free-agent signings on July 1st: Thomas Greiss (one year, $1 million), Blake Comeau (one year, $700,000), Steve Downie (one year, $1 million), and, the steal of the day, Christian Ehrhoff (one year, $4 million).
Ehrhoff was bought out by the Buffalo Sabres and was set to make an average of $4 million per season over ten years. The Penguins are getting a veteran defenseman in need of a scenery change on a low-risk, one-year deal.
With all the changes that went on during the offseason, it wouldn't be a surprise to see more next season, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Fleury's future with the team.
Key Additions
GM Jim Rutherford
Head coach Mike Johnston
Assistant coaches Rick Tocchet, Gary Agnew
D Christian Ehrhoff
F Nick Spaling
Key Departures
GM Ray Shero
Head coach Dan Bylsma
F James Neal
2014-15 Outlook
Having a new general manager, coach, assistant coaches, and four new players entering the system will be a lot to get used to. Fleury, being in a contract year, will likely have to put on a spectacular seven-month performance to entice not only his current team but others to give him a contract.
The health of Kris Letang - who suffered a stroke in February - will be closely monitored by Penguins staff, but the acquisition of Ehrhoff helps with flexibility on defense. If everything blends the way the Penguins want it to, they should still be a dangerous playoff threat with Evgeni Malkin and Crosby on their side.