Penguins GM Aims For Another Cup Run

Pittsburgh native Nate Guenin is now a member of the Penguins, a defenceman who played with Flyers affiliate Philadelphia Phantoms last year.

It was not immediately known if Guenin is viewed as a potential replacement for the newly departed Rob Scuderi, or if the Penguins will look at more established defensemen such as Jay McKee.

The Penguins also signed center Mike Rupp, who played 79 games serving 150 penalty minutes last year for New Jersey.  The 6’4” 230-pounder would allow Max Talbot to move to winger on Evgeni Malkin’s line and will most likely make current team fighter Eric Godard trade bait.

There are four free agents still looking for homes in the 2009-10 season from the Cup-winning team, including Miroslav Satan, Philippe Boucher, Mike Zigomanis and Petr Sykora.

The team is also shopping for a goalie to back up Marc-Andre Fleury, although they think John Curry with their AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton could handle that job.  The Penguins retained Curry's rights by making him a qualifying offer before Wednesday’s deadline.

And what of a 2009 draft class filled with defencemen?  Among them are first round pick Simon Despres (6’4” 215lbs); Philip Samuelsson in the second round, former Penguin tough guy Ulf’s son (6’3” 198lbs); and fifth-round choices Viktor Ekbom (6’2” 194lbs) and Alex Velischek (6’0” 200lbs).  All of them are expected to play for college teams in the upcoming season.

Although there is little change to the player roster in 2009-10, the Penguins are making some moves in the front office. 

Assistant coach Tom Fitzgerald, who joined Dan Bylsma's staff after the team fired Michel Therrien in mid-February, will take the newly created role of Assistant to the General Manager. 

He will oversee the development of all prospects in the system and working with players at the AHL level.  The move is a result of Fitzgerald’s wishes to return to the front office while his wife and four children remain in Boston.

Head coach Bylsma said his list of candidates to replace Fitzgerald is a short one.

Former Penguins general manager Ed Johnston, who had served as senior advisor, will also move into a new role.  The man who drafted Mario Lemieux in 1984 will see less emphasis on hockey operations and more on community and alumni relations.

Ray Shero has to be pleased with his off-season negotiations skills. 

With sixteen of the 20 players in the lineup for Game Seven returning next season and a move to a new arena in October of 2010, the Penguins are set for opportunities at more Stanley Cups in the near future.

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