With Free Agency set to open up on July 13.2022, I thought it would be fun to talk about 4 Free Agents who I think the Penguins should sign.
So, at this point we are ok to assume the Penguins are not going to re-sign Letang $7,250,000. or Malkin $9,500,000. or Rackell $3,800,000., meaning a savings of at least $20,550,000.
Here are 4 Free Agents who are a perfect fit with the Penguins.
Vincent Trocheck – Former Carolina Hurricane – Center / RW #16
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, PA
Age: 28
Shoots: Right
2022 Stats: 21G-30A-51 PTS = 81 Games Played
Faceoff %:54.6%
2022 Salary: $6,250,000.
Trocheck is a versatile 2-way center who plays with an edge. He can play in the O-Zone scoring 51 points for the 4th time in his career. He can also play rock-solid team Defense in the D-Zone. He is also over 50% in the faceoff circle. A nice to have, especially in the playoffs. He contributed 6 Goals, 4 Assists for 10 Points in his 14 Playoff Games in 2022.
He is a perfect second line centermen, who is from Pittsburgh and would fit in anywhere in the line up. He is wanting $6.5 Million per year.
Pittsburgh Penguins (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Andrew Copp – Former New York Ranger / Winnipeg Jet – Center – #18
Birthplace: Ann Arbor, MI
Age: 27
Shoots: Left
2022 Stats: 21G-32A-53 PTS = 72 Games Played
Faceoff %:53.2%
2022 Salary: $3,640,000.
Copp is another versatile 2-way center who can throw the body. He can score points in the O-Zone as well as play team Defense in the D-Zone. He is also over 50% in the faceoff circle. A nice to have, especially in the playoffs. He contributed 6 Goals, 8 Assists for 14 Points in his 20 Playoff Games in 2022.
He is a second line centermen, who could fit in anywhere in the line up. He is wanting $5.5 Million per year.
Adrian Kempe – Former LA King – Center / LW /RW- #9 (Restricted Free Agent)
Birthplace: Kramfors, Swe
Age: 25
Shoots: Left
2022 Stats: 35G-19A-54 PTS = 78 Games Played
Faceoff %:50.0%
2022 Salary: $2,500,000.
Kempe is another 2-way center who can muck it up when needed. He can also play in both ends of the rink and he just had his best year of his short career so far. He played the Pens tough in both games, helping with an assist in each contest. Another center who can win at least 50% of his faceoffs. I love it. He contributed 2 Goals, 4 Assists for 6 Points in his 7 Playoff Games in 2022. He is wanting $5 Million per year.
Pittsburgh Penguins. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
John Klingberg – Former Dallas Star – Right-Handed Defensemen – #3
Birthplace: Gothenburg, Swe
Age: 29
Shoots: Right
2022 Stats: 6G-41A-47 PTS = 74 Games Played
Time On Ice: 22.12 / mins per game – ranks 50th overall in the NHL.
2022 Salary: $6,000,000.
A rock-solid D-man who plays tough in his own end, yet has some offensive skills. An adequate replacement for Letang. He is wanting $8 Million per year.
My View from the Cheap Seats
It will be very difficult replacing Letang and Malkin. However, these are 4 players, I feel can fit into the Penguin’s lineup and help the team immediately.
Sign some of them, all of them or at the very least, one of them.
Quote of the Day
“It’s all about your Freedom of Choice”
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