Ray Shero Rips Mike Milbury

After the trade deadline came and went, Penguins General Manager Ray Shero said he believed in his team, and he's shown exactly how much he's willing to go to back that statement up.  Mike Milbury made himself look like an idiot by going on a Philadelphia radio station poking fun at Sidney Crosby and his concussion problems. Well Ray Shero took it very personal and fired right back.

JagrWatch's Final Hour

The offer is in to Jaromir Jagr's camp as of last night. JagrWatch is on standby at this point, as all of us sit back and wait on word from the man himself. Who will he choose?  Pittsburgh or Detroit? Or is Montreal in the Mix?

Pens Re-Sign Craig Adams to a Two Year Deal

The Penguins have re-signed Craig Adams to a two-year contract. We've said that this was an absolute must-sign for Ray Shero. Great to see that Craig Adams will be back for the next two seasons.  It's players like him giving up their body that make a team successful in the long run. Cap average is $675,000. Adams got his raise and even an extra year. A very low risk, high reward signings.  

Article from the Pens' site.  

Pens Ink Nick Johnson to one year deal.

What The Pond Said about him in our post previewing the Pens' free agents:

Could possibly sign a two-way deal and see time between the Baby Pens and the NHL club. He only played 4 games with the Pens and suffered a concussion while doing so. He should fill a role on the wing sooner or later, and it would be wise to keep him within our system.

It is a two way deal for $550,000.  Interesting that it was only for one year.

Article from the Pens Website:

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Nick Johnson to a one-year contract, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero. 

Johnson, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, opted to re-sign with the Penguins to a two-way deal worth $550,000 at the NHL level that runs through the 2011-12 season. 

Johnson, 25, appeared in four games for Pittsburgh this past season, posting three points (1G-2A) before suffering a concussion that sidelined him for the remaining 23 games of the regular season and playoffs. 

Johnson (6-foot-2, 196 pounds) spent the majority of the year with Pittsburgh’s top-minor league affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. He posted 20 goals, 39 points, 10 power-play goals and a plus-12 rating in 48 games with WBS. 

Johnson, Pittsburgh’s third-round pick (67th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, has played 10 games with Pittsburgh in his career, notching two goals and five points. He’s played three-plus seasons with WBS after turning pro in 2007-08. He’s totaled 50 goals, 94 points and a plus-46 rating in 169 career games with WBS, adding 15 postseason points (8G-7A) in 26 contests. 

The Calgary, Alberta native played four seasons at Dartmouth from 2004-07. He finished his college career with 125 points (57G-68A) in 133 games. Johnson was named First-Team All-ECAC and First-Team All-Ivy League as a senior after scoring 35 points (10G-25A) in 32 games.  

Craig Adams Wants A Raise

This is a little late, but better late than never. Craig Adams seems to want a raise from his 1 year deal of $550,000 that he made last year. This throws a wrench into The Pond's reasoning behind the Penguin free agents of this summer. This probably throws an even bigger wrench in to Ray Shero's plan leading up to the NHL's free agency beginning almost a month from now.  

The Offseason Review Series: Max Talbot

Over the next few weeks, The Pond will take a look at how different aspects of the team performed throughout the 2010-2011 season, and consider the criticisms offered about them. This will be a series of posts updated pretty frequently to give us as fans an opportunity to look towards the 2011-12 season and discuss any areas which we would like to see the Pens improve upon in the future.

Max Talbot

The Offseason Review Series: Tyler Kennedy

Over the next few weeks, The Pond will take a look at how different aspects of the team performed throughout the 2010-2011 season, and consider the criticisms offered about them. This will be a series of posts updated pretty frequently to give us as fans an opportunity to look towards the 2011-12 season and discuss any areas which we would like to see the Pens improve upon in the future.

Tyler Kennedy