Pens Sign Defensemen

It is now being reported that the Penguins have signed a defenseman to replace the departed Sergei Gonchar. Dave Molinari of the Post Gazette is reporting that the Penguins have signed Zbynek Michalek, formerly of the Phoenix Coyotes, to a four year deal worth around $20 million. Molinari writes of the new defenseman, who is only 27-years-old, “Michalek, 27, is an accomplished shot-blocker who plays big minutes and is extremely solid in the defensive zone.”
I have to be honest here as I have not seen much of Michalek so I cannot pass judgment on the player first-hand. As most of you know, the Coyotes do not get too much TV time in these parts. But if what Molinari writes is true, and there is no reason to doubt such an accomplished writer, this is the perfect replacement for Gonchar and another brilliant job by General Manager Ray Shero. The Penguins biggest problem in the playoffs last year was their defense corps inability to shut down their opponents. Adding a solid, defensive minded player to the blue line is exactly what the Penguins needed to add this offseason.

Michalek accumulated 17 points, 30 penalty minutes and a plus five in 72 regular season games last year for the overachieving Coyotes. The penalty minutes seem to be a bit on the low side for a defensive-minded blue-liner, but the rest of his attributes seem solid.

Molinari is also reporting that the Penguins have signed defenseman Paul Martin, formerly of the New Jersey Devils, to a 5 year deal worth $25 million. Martin, as some might recall, was hit with a slapshot in a game against the Penguins at Mellon Arena last year that effectively ended his season. Martin is another solid player in his own zone and was going to play for the United States in last year’s Olympics.

Shero is certainly acknowledging that the loss of his shutdown tandem of Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill last summer was a mistake. The Penguins have now signed two defensemen that are very solid in their own end but will not have the impact in the offensive zone that Gonchar or even Jordan Leopold had. I am a little surprised that the Penguins signed two of this type of defenseman, especially to four and five year contracts, respectively, but I must say that I like what the Penguins are doing so far.