Grading the Pittsburgh Penguins Roster Additions for 2014-15

After a disappointing second-round playoff collapse against the New York Rangers last spring, the Pittsburgh Penguins fired general manager Ray Shero and prepared to make big changes.

New GM Jim Rutherford has been true to his task, making a couple of savvy trades and some budget-conscious free-agent acquisitions. Pittsburgh's improved depth has helped the team immeasurably as it deals with a never-ending series of injuries and other health issues throughout the roster.

Here's how well each new face has contributed since joining the Penguins organization.

All stats courtesy of NHL.com. Salary information from CapGeek.com.

Right Wing Patric Hornqvist

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Age: 27

How He Was Acquired: Traded from the Nashville Predators, along with Nick Spaling, in exchange for James Neal on June 27.

Current Contract: Third year of a five-year deal with a cap hit of $4.25 million this season.

Stats: 28 GP, 11-15-26

Patric Hornqvist was acquired to add some grit to the Penguins' offense and, for the most part, has succeeded admirably. Paired most frequently with Sidney Crosby, his point totals have slumped over the past two weeks as the captain has been at less than full health.

The trade also looks good when considering what Pittsburgh gave up. Neal has fit in well in Nashville but with just 19 points, he's being out-performed so far by Hornqvist.

Grade: A-

Center Nick Spaling

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Age: 26

How He Was Acquired: Traded from the Nashville Predators, along with Patric Hornqvist, in exchange for James Neal on June 27.

Current Contract: First year of a two-year deal with a cap hit of $2.2 million this season.

Stats: 31 GP, 4-8-12

Though listed as a center, Nick Spaling has been used primarily at left wing since joining the Penguins. He has shuffled through the lines as Pittsburgh has dealt with its various injury issues and has seen his ice time increase. Spaling saw top-line duties with Sidney Crosby on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche.

Thrown in as a bit of a spare part in the Hornqvist/Neal trade, Spaling has been a useful, versatile asset for coach Mike Johnston.

Grade: B

Left Wing Blake Comeau

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Age: 28

How He Was Acquired: Signed as an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Current Contract: One-year deal with a cap hit of $700,000.

Stats: 30 GP, 11-8-19

One of the savviest bargain signings of the 2014 offseason, it's an understatement to say that Blake Comeau has more than carried his weight since joining the Penguins.

After his overtime game-winner on Thursday against Colorado, Comeau's now tied with Patric Hornqvist for second place in goals on the Penguins, behind only Evgeni Malkin and two goals ahead of some guy named Crosby. 

Comeau has been a timely scorer—tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals. His resurgence is one of the best stories in the league this season.

Grade: A

Right Wing Steve Downie

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Age: 27

How He Was Acquired: Signed as an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Current Contract: One-year deal with a cap hit of $1 million.

Stats: 31 GP, 5-10-15

Like Comeau and Spaling, Steve Downie is proving to be a valuable depth player as the Penguins weather their latest storm of injury issues.

After four inconsistent seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers, Downie took a big pay cut from his previous cap hit of $2.65 million to join the Penguins. His trademark chippy play has him leading the NHL with 118 penalty minutes, but he's also seventh in team scoring and has stepped up when needed to fill the gaps in the top six.

Downie's versatility is impressing as the season wears on.

Grade: B+

Center Rob Klinkhammer

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Age: 27

How He Was Acquired: Traded from the Arizona Coyotes, along with a conditional fifth-round pick, in exchange for Philip Samuelsson on Dec. 5.

Current Contract: Second year of a two-year deal with a cap hit of $625,000 this season.

Stats: 6 GP with Penguins, 1-1-2

Acquired in early December when the injuries to Pittsburgh's forwards reached their zenith, Rob Klinkhammer has been deployed primarily as a bottom-six winger while players like Spaling and Downie have shuffled up the ranks.

He's nothing fancy, but he's playing his role effectively. Klinkhammer's giving Mike Johnston quality minutes without being a liability and even has a couple of points to show for his first two weeks with the Pens.

Grade: C+

Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff

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Age: 32

How He Was Acquired: Signed as an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Current Contract: One-year deal with a cap hit of $4 million.

Stats: 31 GP, 2-8-10

Christian Ehrhoff hasn't been bad since joining the Penguins last summer, but his offensive contributions haven't lived up to expectations.

Known as a power-play quarterback who scored 14 goals in both his seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, Ehrhoff has just one assist with the man advantage since joining the Penguins. Kris Letang has been Mike Johnston's go-to anchor on the back end.

After finishing last season with a dismal minus-27 before being bought out by the Buffalo Sabres, Ehrhoff has bounced back to lead the Penguins this year with a plus-15. He has helped the team become tougher to score against but needs to put up some points in order to live up to expectations.

Grade: B-

Goaltender Thomas Greiss

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Age: 28

How He Was Acquired: Signed as an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Current Contract: One-year deal with a cap hit of $1 million.

Stats: 7 GP, 3-2-2, 2.52 GAA, .919 save percentage

Last season, backup Jeff Zatkoff posted a decent 12-6-2 record in his 20 apperances for the Penguins, with a 2.61 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

Thomas Greiss was acquired as a free agent to improve on those numbers, but so far his results have been middling. 

Greiss' performance stats are fine for a backup, but when regulation and overtime losses are combined, he's coming out on the wrong side of the ledger, especially on a team that's 21-6-4 overall. More is expected.

Grade: C