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Well #Jagrwatch has been over for more than a week now and emotions have since died down, but the Pittsburgh Penguins have remained busy this offseason. Yesterday the Penguins signed two players and saw a their former "enforcer" or "goon" if you will sign with another team.
Pens Sign Dustin Jeffery
The biggest news was yesterday was the signing of Dustin Jeffery. General Manager Ray Shero and the Penguins signed forward Jeffrey to a two-year deal, one that will pay the emerging forward $575,000 at the NHL level.
Jeffrey, 23, led the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 40 games last season before being called up to Pittsburgh for good.
With the Penguins, Jeffrey added seven goals and five assists in 25 games while playing mostly center. Unforanately for Jeffery and the Penguins he suffered a knee injury onMarch 24th, that required surgery and took him out for the remainder of the season. To top that off his recovery is expected to keep him out of training camp and the early parts of the NHL season.
The good news is the Pens won' he Penguins won't be forced to rush him back. The first of Jeffrey's two-year deal is a two-way contract, meaning the Pens can send him back to the AHL without the need to clear waivers. His deal becomes a one-way contract in the 2012-13 season.
That being said, I expect Jeffery to be in the Pens' lineup when he returns.
I'm a huge supporter of Dustin Jeffery. I think he can be the long-term third-line center, allowing the Pens to have Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jordan Staal all to be on the top two lines. Jeffery can also play wing, making him much more versitle than most of the Penguin's other forward prospects.
Penguins Sign Enforcer Steve McIntyre, Godard Signs With Dallas. No Big Deal.
One goon leaves the Penguins and another arrives. Eric Godard, who has "played" with the Penguins for the last three seasons, signed a two-year deal with the Dallas Stars yesterday. In three seasons with the Penguins, Godard registered a whopping 10 points and over 300 penalty minutes.
Yes, I know his job wasn't to score but I still refuse to believe that you need a goon to win a Stanley Cup. Godard is useless. Goons are useless. You don't have to fight to be tough. The Penguins have enough grit and toughness on their team. Remember that Aaron Asham is still on the team. Asham can fight and be a pest, all the while providing much more skill than Godard or the new goon, Steve MacIntyre.
Yep that's right, the Penguins signed Steve MacIntyre to a one-year deal. MacIntyre, 30, spent the 2010-11 season with the Edmonton Oilers, where he collected one assist and 93 penalty minutes in 34 games.
In parts of three seasons with Edmonton and the Florida Panthers, MacIntyre has played in 78 games with a pair of goals and four points.
In other words, MacIntyre is just a retarded boxer on skates. He provides no skill besides being able to beat the hell of someone and/or get the hell beat out of by another goon.
Derek Engelland can fight, Asham can fight, and they can actually play the game. MacIntyre is a bum. You don't need a goon like him to win. You don't have to fight to be tough. Today's game is about speed, skill, and positioning. Which of those categories does MacIntyre fall under?
Furthermore, are you gonna let MarIntyre dress in place of some of these young talented players such as Eric Tangradi, Mark Letestu, and Dustin Jeffery? If you say yes, you probably know nothing about hockey.
As for Godard, good ridance.
There have been whispers that Bill Guerin, the new Penguins player development coach, has been working closely with Tangradi at Pittsburgh's prospect development camp, which ends this weekend. Guerin was a big body, physical player who could make hay in front of the net, among other players.
Tangradi is projected to be the net-front guy the Penguins have lacked since Ryan Malone departed for Tampa Bay. Guerin's tutelage may help Tangradi finally get over the NHL hump and earn a permanent spot on the Pittsburgh roster.
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