Pittsburgh Penguins sign defenseman Kris Letang to a 4 year deal

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced that defenseman Kris Letang was signed for four more years and seriously it’s about time Ray Shero started shoring up the Penguins defense for the future or for next year which ever comes first. The Sergei Gonchar vs Ray Shero signing has taken center stage and because of that there hasn’t been much talk about how the Pens could lose not just their core defense, but also their main prospects next year. All 8 of the players that have seen time on defense in a Pittsburgh Penguins uniform are unrestricted free agents next year.

With the signing of Letang, the Pens now have  3 defensemen signed for next year, Orpik, Goligoski and Letang. It has been reported that Kris Letang got $3.5 million a year by ESPN.   Rob Scuderi got a contract last year with LA for $13.6 million for four years and he was an average defenseman, which they are finding out about now with his no goals 10 assists.  Though Letang is less experienced than Scuderi, I would take him for $14 mil for four years ahead of Scuderi any day of the week ...

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: ...

Pens Win Opener: Beat Rangers 3-2

It was an electrifying evening at the old Igloo last night.  I think the town was buzzing more last night then any of the Stanley Cup games.  Everyone was in town early last night.  All of the usual watering holes were extra crowded, traffic was crazy and everywhere you looked you could see Penguin’s gear. 

For a miserable, rainy night, there were a suprising number of fans outside to watch the ceremony and game on Mario’s big screen.  It was great to see the energy exhibited by the fans last night.  I wonder if the support of the fans is going to keep up at this pace.  Are the Pens going to broadcast all the games outside?  It is only going to get better as the Pens move into their new facility across the street. 

Inside, the ceremony was presented very well, I thought.  The crowd was loud for the entire 20-25 minutes that the ceremony lasted.  I thought the Penguins did a very nice job with the whole thing.

Here are a couple of images that I captured last night.  Sorry about the quality, I took them with my Blackberry.

Oh, and by the way, the Pens won the game 3-2.  It was a great way to start the season.  I was pleasantly suprised by how well the Pens played.  That may sound weird, but I based that on what I had witnessed throughout the pre-season.  They really came together and played a nice game.

Notes:

• Goligosky looked very good.  I think this kid is going to have a great season.  He is going to make it easier to forget about the losses of Scuderi and Gill.  Having the luxury of three very capable (offensive) blueliners is going to do wonders for the powerplay.
• Both Crosby and Malkin scored.  Some in the hockey media are saying that Geno has the potential to really go off with some big numbers.  That would be great to see.
• Fleury made an amazing save last night to keep the game in check.  This guy is going to win games for the Pens.
• I think our boys are not going to fall into that “Stanley Cup hangover” so many people are talking about.  They are so young and so driven. 

Here is to a long and exciting season!