Pittsburgh Penguins extend goaltender Brent Johnson’s contract

On the eve of Pittsburgh’s quest to defend the Cup, Ray Shero is trying to sign a few players to keep the players focused on hockey and not on contract negotiations. Brent Johnson who has been the Penguins backup goaltender all season signed a contract extension for $.6 million for two years. I’m guessing that means that plans to use John Curry the baby Penguins goaltender as the back up next year will not happen.

I’m hoping Shero tries to ink some defensemen today also, Leopold, Eaton, Gonchar & Mckee are all unrestricted free agents next year. We will keep you up to date this afternoon.

UPDATE: From the Penguins web site –  ”The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman Carl Sneep and goaltender Patrick Killeen to entry-level contracts that begin for the 2010-11 season, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.”

You can read the Penguins signing announcement here: Penguins Sign Goaltender Brent Johnson to Two-Year Contract Extension

Here is the Pittsburgh Penguins Salary Chart:  “Pittsburgh Penguins 2009 – 2010 Salary Cap Numbers”

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Gameday Poop: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Nashville Predators – February 14

Thanks to the Olympics this afternoon’s Valentine matinee 1PM game against the Nashville Predators is the last Penguin game until March. That being said the Pens should leave it all on the table as they try to take down a Predator team that is barely hanging onto a playoff spot in the western conference. Unfortunately I believe that the penguin players who will be boarding a plane immediately after the game headed to the Olympics will be playing safer than usual.

I know there are a bunch of fans that do not like Pittburgh players and other NHL players going to the Olympics because of the possibility of them getting hurt, I am not one of them. While hockey for the last month has been interesting with players pulling their punches against their soon to be Olympic teammates, it to me is well worth it for the quality of hockey I will get to see in the next two weeks.

The Penguins have been releasing Olympic pictures for you computer desktop, I haven’t seen the USA Orpik one yet, but the Canada and Russia ones are kind of scary, especially Fleury’s. I’ve never seen him look anything near that cleaned up before. You can get them here: Penguin Olympic Wallpapers

BTW: Martin Brodeur, one of the Canadian goaltenders that Fleury is competing with got pulled again last night after letting in a few to many goals to the last place Hurricanes.

For the records I believe Slovakia is going to win it all. I will be routing for USA though I do not ...

Pittsburgh Penguins Game Day Poop – Islanders – 1/19/10

The Pens are back from their road trip worse for wear, but with a little good news, even though John Curry is penciled in as goaltender tonight Marc Andre Fleury did practice some this morning.  Brooks Orpik has been cleared to play and is might be in the lineup tonight. The Islanders chased Martin Brodeur out of net last night after two periods and the Islanders with their main goaltender Rick DiPietro back in the lineup shut out the Devils.

The next Sidney Crosby or the next Evgeni Malkin or the next Mario Lemieux, John Tavares of the Islanders will make his first appearance at the Igloo tonight. Tavares’ numbers are just not there yet. Crosby had 102 points his first season, Malkin had 85 and Lemieux had 100. Tavares currently has 31 points in 49 games which is on pace for 52 points this season, numbers more like the next Stamkos or next Lindros.

The last two teams the Penguins beat, the Oilers and Flames both lost last night by a combined score of 15-1.

Mike Yeo is back working practices and will be assisting behind the bench tonight.

Where is the love? Rob Rossi who we accidentally complimented last week, just joined Ron Cook’s withered journalistic form of “let’s kick our superstars when they are down and chase them out of town” with his article: “Malkin paid like Crosby; needs to play like him“    Clark & Heptner no longer the “Suburban Rob Rossis” summed it up perfectly: “Change Is Necessary“.  How about tonight at the game we cheer Geno! Geno! Geno! all night.

Petr Sykora was placed on waivers today by the Minnesota Wild, his salary is $1.6 million and would be half that on re-entry. Hmm…

Fedotenko and Talbot are penciled in as Malkin’s line mates tonight. They have a combined 9 goals on the season, is this ...

Pittsburgh Penguins Game Day Poop – 01/16/10 – Vancouver

The Penguins play the Vancouver Canucks tonight at 10PM it will be shown in HD on Fox Sports Pittsburgh.

Marc Andre Fleury has a fractured finger on his glove hand and with backup Brent Johnson already on IR the Penguins have John Curry the WBS Penguins all time winningest goaltender penciled in to start tonight’s game. As luck would have it for Curry he gets to play his first NHL game this year against a team that has the #1 scorer in the league, 2 of the top three points per game leaders in the NHL, the red hot Alex Burrows who has 10 goals in his last 6 games and most likely facing Canadian Olympic team goaltender Roberto Luongo.

Curry Quote: “I don’t know what the deal is yet for (tonight), I’m always going to be ready to play. You never know what the situation is. With the way that trip has gone with a lot of games, a lot of action, I always have to be ready. I am preparing myself like I’m going to play but I’d do that anyways.”

Speaking of Alex Burrows, if you haven’t heard, he was fined $2500 by the NHL for accusing referee Stephane Auger of threatening to call penalties on him and then actually calling two penalties on him late in a game which cost the Canucks a game. Burrows claimed referee Auger was mad at him for making the ref look stupid by taking a dive in a game on December 8th against Nashville.

Before the beginning of the season started I had a post Crosby Can’t Shoot which had a video of how 14 of Crosby’s 15 goals during the playoffs were 5 feet less from the goal.  30 goals later and the #2 goal scorer in the NHL, I’m glad I could help.         ...

2009 Pittsburgh Penguins Free Agents

Here is a current list of Pitttsburgh Penguin players who’s contracts are up and become free agents as of 12:01 pm, July 1st 2009.

Here is the 2010 list:  2010 Pittsburgh Penguins Free Agents

You can click on their name to see their lifetime stats.

Click here if you are looking for up to date salary cap numbers and upcoming free agents: 
Pittsburgh Penguins 2009 – 2010 Salary Cap Numbers

Unrestricted Free Agents:  On July 1st, 2009 any player not under contract who is 27 years or older or who has at least 7 years of experience in the NHL, is a Unrestricted Free agent.  Free to go where they want and take whatever pay the get offered.

Here is a list of Unrestricted Free Agents the Penguins have at the end of the Year, their age, their current salary level, and position: ...