Penguins
Penguins Day 1 Analysis; What Do Rutherford’s Words Mean? | PHN+
“I think now is the time to sit back for a few days and see what else might come along. So that’s the plan for right now,” Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford said.
So what does that statement really mean in a real-world context?
Day 1 of the NHL free-agent frenzy is essentially done. There may be a few stragglers and late-night ink sessions, but the primary story around the league was not the big signings, but their lack. The big names, Mike Hoffman, Alex Pietrangelo, and Taylor Hall, kept their pen capped and didn’t sign anywhere.
In fact, nor did other affordable players who PHN projected could fall into the Penguins lap. Troy Stecher, Anthony Duclair, and other notable affordable options also let Day 1 play out without signing a contract.
The Penguins signed Evan Rodrigues and center Mark Jankowski to league minimum, one-year deals ($700,000).
Cycle back to Rutherford’s words; the Penguins will sit back and wait. What does he really mean for the NHL free-agent market and the Pittsburgh Penguins?