Penguins Say Goodbye To Guerin; Hope To Say Hello To Staal

If Bill Guerin is going to have one last kick at the NHL can this year at the tender age of 40, it won't be with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pens' GM Ray Shero informed Guerin's camp a little more than a day ago that they would not be extending a contract offer to Guerin and had decided to go in a different direction.

Obviously, it was difficult to make that decision and pass the word to Guerin because he contributed greatly to the organization -- and the franchise's 3rd Stanley Cup -- since it acquired him on trade deadline day in 2009 from the New York Islanders for a conditional draft selection that ended up being a 3rd rounder.

His contributions aside, however, there were several concerns in the organization, particularly from the coaching staff, about whether or not Guerin could continue to contribute effectively this season -- especially if he was not able to maintain a role as a scoring forward on one of the top two lines.

Last year, Guerin had 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points in 78 games.   While he slumped noticably down the regular season stretch, Billy G did chip in 9 points in 11 playoff contests.

Personally, I don't have hard feelings either way about what Pittsburgh decided to do with #13.  Had they brought him back at all, it would have had to have been cheap (read: under $1 million), and at that price, the risk would not have been that great.  Even if he didn't produce, the Penguins wouldn't have been out much.

On the other hand, players Guerin's age hit the wall sometime.  While guys like Chris Chelios and former Penguin Mark Recchi are exceptions to the rule, there simply aren't too many guys that can be effective in the league at 40.  For that reason, I have little indigestion at letting Guerin walk. 

Let's face it.  Guerin was great when he was here.  He contributed on the ice and was a meaningful leadership influence off the ice.  But his time has come and gone.  The Penguins were fortunate for what he added to the franchise when he did, but they made the right decision to give some younger forwards in the organization an opportunity.  It's been a while since they grafted an impact forward on the team that wasn't picked first or second overall, and it's never going to happen unless guys like Eric Tangradi, Dustin Jeffrey or Nick Johnson get a legitimate opportunity.  While Guerin would have brought leadership (which some would say they don't need any longer for that matter), he definitely would have taken a chance away from a young player denting the roster this season.

While talking about the forward ranks, some doubt surfaced yesterday about whether Selke Trophy finalist Jordan Staal would be ready for the start of training camp on September 18.

According to Shero, Staal has had 'a few setbacks' in his recovery from having a tendon in his foot torn with the skate blade of Montreal Canadiens rearguard P.K. Subban in game 1 of the teams' Eastern Conference Seminfinal series last year.

As almost all Penguin observers surely remember, Staal pulled his Bobby Baun at the time and returned after emergency surgery and just 2 games on the shelf. 

As it was, though, Staal had to undergo a second procedure in June and, while the tendon seems to be fine, Staal hasn't had the ability to build up as much strength around the foot or develop his conditioning as well, since he still has difficulty and pain with getting that foot in a skate boot.

Staal plans to be looked at by team doctors next week and at that time, we all should have a better idea of whether Staal will be ready to participate full-go at the start of camp, or whether that may take a little longer (perhaps up to the start of the regular season).

There's been a lot of talk about GRONK moving up to play center on the 2nd line this year while Evgeni Malkin slides to wing, but if Staal isn't ready for game action come the start of camp (or the regular season), that experiment is going to have to be put on hold.

Interestingly, Staal's setbacks may provide an opportunity for one of his former linemates to show he still deserves a spot among the team's top 12 forwards.

Tyler Kennedy is firmly on the bubble going into this year's camp, despite the fact that he's pretty much been a fixture on the 3rd line with Staal and Matt Cooke the last 2 years.

Kennedy had an awful season last year and hasn't taken the step forward that Pens' management hoped he would.  In last year's final 30 games and the playoffs, Kennedy made little impact on the ice, continuing his constant struggles to find consistency.

Kennedy has NHL skill and tenacity.  The problem is that when he's missing the latter, the former tends to be absent as well.

TK is at his best when he's physical and in the opponent's kitchen.   When he does that, he is more in the game and better likely to contribut offensively.  But Kennedy seemed to lose that from his game last year, and he needs to get it back.  Soon.  Because if he doesn't, I could easily see him losing his roster spot.  Pittsburgh didn't sign Aaron Asham to be a healthy scratch.  In fact, my sources indicate that Pens' management told Asham when they signed him that he was going to 'start' on the 3rd line.

With Staal potentially out for some of the pre-season, it might give Kennedy even more of a chance -- particularly in game action -- to demonstrate he still belongs.

I guess we'll see.

More soon.