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Penguins Free Agency Live Blog: Penguins Re-Sign Jarry, Snag Graves, Acciari

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10 months ago

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Kyle Dubas, Pittsburgh Penguins

CRANBERRY — The direction of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ new era could begin to firm up as the NHL free agent market flings open its doors at noon Eastern.

Get the Penguins free agent primer here.

And the Penguins’ potential free agent targets for third-line center here. Friday, a few players became available that were not the day prior. By virtue of being non-tendered qualifying offers, Seattle Kraken center Morgan Geekie and New Jersey Devils center Michael McLeod will also hit the free-agent market.

According to Penguins president of hockey operations and interim GM Kyle Dubas, the Penguins will not go big-game hunting but rather look for players who won’t command premium dollars or term.

The Penguins have about $15 million in salary cap space, but Dubas has also mentioned he hopes to keep a nice cushion so young players can be called up, or he can add as needed. The Penguins have been tight against the cap in the last two seasons, meaning only injuries created enough cap flexibility to add without subtracting.

We’re also covering the Penguins Development Camp at the UPMC Lemieux Complex. First-rounder Brayden Yager and third-rounder Emil Pieniniemi will headline the camp. 2019 first-rounder Sam Poulin, who has two professional seasons under his belt is also on the camp roster, with a myriad of undrafted free-agent hopefuls, too.

The Penguins clarified on Saturday morning that former Flyers first-rounder Jay O’Brien would not be in camp.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun is reporting the San Jose Sharks are heavily pushing the Erik Karlsson trade. And according to LeBrun, the Penguins are among the interested teams (11:46 a.m. update below).

Pittsburgh Hockey Now updated the Karlsson chase Saturday afternoon. According to a team source, the field of suitors has narrowed to two, and the Penguins are one of them. Things are moving quickly, but it’s a complicated deal, and there is another finalist with more cap space.

Update: Dubas tacitly confirmed the Karlsson trade talks but seemed to throw cold water on completing the deal, telling the press conference, “I’d be surprised” if the opening night roster was much different than it is today.

Penguins Live Blog

**Denotes Penguins-related transactions. 

5:30: The live blog is now closed. Whew.

The Islanders re-signed Pierre Engvall, not to be confused with Bill Engvall, to a seven-year, $21 million deal. Here’s your sign.

Detroit signed J.T. Compher to a five-year, $25.5 million deal. That’s full boat for Compher, who isn’t a good enough scorer to get $5 million, in this writer’s opinion.

**Brian Dumoulin signed with Seattle. 2 x 6.3 million. Wow. Good on ya, Brian Dumoulin, but that’s one of the worst contracts of the day.

**Just before the press conference, which was delayed by 30 minutes, the Penguins announced they signed the player they expect to be their third-line center, Lars Eller, to a two-year deal worth $2.45 million AAV.

***4:00: Kyle Dubas is going full Terminator now. After Acciari, he re-signed Tristan Jarry to a five-year year with a $5.375 million AAV. Then he grabbed a third goalie with NHL chops, Alex Nedeljkovic ($1.5 million). Then he went big time again, signing LHD Ryan Graves to a six-year, $27 million deal.

Graves is a very good get. Jarry, if healthy, is a very good get. Acciari is a great get. The Penguins have about 933k of salary cap space left, but figure to gain just over $1 million when they assign Nedeljkovic to the WBS Penguins.

**3:49: Multiple sources confirm the Penguins signed Noel Acciari. Dubas acquired the little wrecking ball for Toronto at the 2023 NHL Trade deadline. The deal is for three years and six million total (3x2m).

3:44: The Anaheim Ducks, who earlier signed Radko Gudas, added Alex Killorn from Tampa Bay. The deal is four years at $6.25 million annually.

3:25: It’s a six-year deal for Miles Wood in Colorado, according to Friedman. Nick Bjugstad heads back to Arizona on a two-year deal sporting a solid $2.1 million AAV.

3:21: Laurent Brossoit signs a 1×1.75m with Winnipeg. Vlad Namestnikov signed a 2x2m with the ‘Peg, as well. Ryan Donato inked with the Chicago Blackhawks for one year, $2 million, too.

**2:45 p.m: Josh Archibald gets two years, $800,000 AAV with Tampa Bay.

**Nick Bonino gets $800,000 with the New York Rangers, whose new official sponsor is St. Barnabas Retirement Village.

Sam Steel signs for 850k in Dallas. He was on our list of bargains to watch. Geekie, McLeod, Steel…gone.

**2:38: Jason Zucker signs with Arizona. One-year, $5.3 million. That’s it??

2:23: Now we’re cooking with gas, and the big names are coming off the board. More confirmation on Wood to Colorado. LeBrun says Matt Duchene headed to Dallas, one-year, $3 million.

**Daniel Sprong, 1x2m to Detroit, per Jeff Marek.

2:17: Fridman says Miles Wood to Colorado.

Goalie Colin Delia goes to Winnipeg on a one-year, league minimum deal.

Ryan Johansen, Ross Colton, Miles Wood. Get your bets on Colorado to win the Cup now. That’s a stacked team.

2:10: Thus far, the Penguins have officially lost Ryan Poehling and Dustin Tokarski. Jason Zucker, Tristan Jarry and Brian Dumoulin are still unsigned.

**2:06: Dustin Tokarksi goes back to Buffalo on a two-year deal, $775,000 per.

2:03 p.m. Carolina is having a pretty, pretty good day. They signed Orlov earlier, and they just grabbed Michael Bunting on a three-year deal. Details are 3×4.5.

The Devils acquired defenseman Colin Miller from Dallas for a fifth-rounder.

The Florida Panthers have signed defenseman Nikko Mikkala to a three-year deal with a $2.5 million AAV. Florida also signed Grigori Denisenko to a two-year, one-way extension with a $775,000 cap hit.

The Penguins rookie camp is going on in front of me. I usually like to get a good look at the kids’ skating, but that will have to wait…

1:54: It’s official, the signs bargain shopping spree continues. They signed defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk to a one-year, $1 million deal.

1:40: The Capitals signed Max Pacioretty to a one-year, $2 million deal with an additional $2 million in bonuses available. Patches has been out with achillies tendon injuries. We’ll see what he’s got left.

The Canucks continued adding some anger to their blue line. In addition to Ian Cole, Vancouver signed Carson Soucy to a 3×32.5m deal. The Canucks might not be great, but they might inflict a few bruises.

**1:29: Puckpedia reports the Penguins signed former Bruins prospect Joona Koppanen to a two-year deal. The first year is a two-way deal, the second is an NHL-only deal with a $775,000 NHL salary.

1:18: Dmitry Orlov signs a short-term deal. Two years, $7.75 million AAV. Great get for the Hurricanes, if only for one year.

**The Flyers snatched up Ryan Poehling for one year, only $1.4 million.

I don’t get it. Not sure why the Penguins cut bait with their fastest skater and a guy who looked like he was finding his stride here.

1:13: Ian Cole to the Vancouver Canucks. One year, $3 million. Reuniting with Jim Rutherford.

1:08: Milan Lucic coming back to Boston.

Uhh, no offense, Mr. Sweeney. What are you doing? Lucic and van Riemsdyk? Morgan Geekie shouldn’t be the big get to replace top-six centers.

12:54: Chris Johnston reports Morgan Geekie is headed to Boston. Our James Nichols writes the Devils re-signed Michael McLeod.

12:51: The run on goalies continues, and the Red Wings may have gotten the short end. They signed James Reimer to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. Per Jeff Marek, Erik Johnson is headed to Buffalo.

Sportsnet reports Connor Brown to Edmonton, a terribly kept secret, is finally done.

12:50: Radko Gudas signed for three years, $4 million annually with Anaheim.

12:46: The run on goalies has begun. Mackenzie Blackwood signs for two years, $2.35 million AAV with the San Jose Sharks. The Hurricanes kept Frederick Andersen for two years at $3.4 million AAV. The LA Kings signed Cam Talbot to a one-year, $1 million deal. And the Ottawa Senators splashed the cash on Joonas Korpisalo, four years, $20 million.

12:31: Blake Wheeler, who was bought out by the Winnipeg Jets, signed a one-year, $800,000 deal plus bonuses with the New York Rangers. The Rangers also signed Jonathan Quick, who, at 37, is anything but. Quick gets $825,000 plus bonuses.

The Rangers youth movement seems to have to come to a screeching halt.

12:21: Conor Sheary signs in Tampa Bay.

12:16: Toronto has signed Ryan Reaves to a three-year deal with a $1.35 million AAV. Reaves is 36, but the deal won’t be a 35+ contract unless Toronto front-loads the deal.

Ryan O’Reilly is headed to Nashville, per Elliotte Friedman. The O’Reilly deal is surprisingly affordable at 4×4.5.

Frank Seravalli reports the Boston Bruins are closing in on James van Riemsdyk for 1-year, $1 million.

Drake Caggiula is leaving the Penguins organization to go back to the Edmonton Oilers. Alas Drake, we barely knew thee.

Kevin Weekes says Semyon Varlamov is staying with the New York Islanders. I think we all knew that, and that’s why he didn’t appear on any of our goalie target pieces.

12:01: Darren Dreger reported that Matt Nieto was going to sign with Edmonton. Then, at 12:01 he reported the Penguins snagged Nieto for two-years, $900,000 AAV. Nieto is a smaller LW at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, but skates well, kills penalties, and chips in a bit of offense. He had 24 points in 81 games.

Nieto is a Boston U guy, too.

CORRECTION: Nieto signed for two years. The initial report indicated only one year. We have updated our stories. The Penguins have not made an official announcement as of writing.

12:00: Montreal Canadiens trade Joel Edmundson to the Washington Capitals. The return is a third-rounder.

11:52: The Hurricanes lock up Antti Raanta for one-year, $1.5 million. That seems like a crazy bargain, eh?

**11:46: According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the San Jose Sharks are pushing the Erik Karlsson trade. And according to LeBrun, the Penguins are among the interested teams.

11:44; William Nylander has submitted his 10-team no-trade list to the Toronto Maple Leafs. That could upend a lot of thinking if he’s available. Report per Chris Johnston.

11:37: Elliotte Friedman reporting that it looks like Brian Dumoulin will NOT be back with the Penguins.

Jesper fast signed a two-year, $2.4 million annual deal with Carolina.

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