Fleury, Fedetenko and Satan!

Marc-Andre Fleury signed a 7-year, $35 million contract with the Penguins – great news for the Pens, and a great price for a goalie who will surely be a Vezina Trophy candidate within the next few seasons.

Penguins also filled some of the void on the wings caused by recent departures by signing Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko, both from the Islanders, and both on 1-year contracts.  Satan, with his cool name that A’Hottie will have lots of fun with, is likely to end up on Crosby’s wing.  He has a great eye for goal, a very fast skater, and a deceptive style that will just thrive when combined with Crosby.   Fedetenko will likely play alongside fellow countryman Malkin, and is a gutsy player who will pay the price in front of the net, and will definitely rack up the points.

Both are great new signings for Pittsburgh, but they may be the last moves the Penguins make.  There is a little money left before they hit the cap, so it’s possible we may see one more signing, but we’re starting to look set, and it looks as though there will be a few of the minor-league players of last season seeing some ice-time on the 3rd and 4th lines this year.

Current Lineup: (C) Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Kennedy, Talbot ; (W) Dupuis, Sykora, Satan, Fedetenko, Godard ; (D) Gonchar, Whitney, Orpik, Sydor, Letang, Eaton, Gill, Scuderi ; (G) Fleury, Sabourin

With the current excess of D-men, there is a chance that we may see one of them traded before the season begins for another winger, especially when considering that we’re likely to see Goligoski step up from the minors to the big leagues.  As for other players in the organization to fill the wing positions, Caputi, Minard and Filewich are names we may see more of, as is Tim Brent if he shifs from his position of Center to the Wing.

~ by eddie on July 4, 2008.