Pittsburgh Penguins Sign veteran Arron Asham
Another NHL contract, another free agent signed by another team. Or so one would think, but Arron Asham’s signing with the Pittsburgh is all that and more.
On Friday the General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ray Shero, signed 10 year NHL veteran Arron to a one year $700,000 contract. The deal is without a doubt a bargain for Pittsburgh in every respect and another victory for Ray who has been working towards finding success in building a formidable Pittsburgh offence.
With Arron, the Penguins training camp would have 12 forwards. Shero is confident that the camp would prove highly beneficial for the Penguins team as prospects Eric Tangradi and Dustin Jeffery raise the stakes overall with their bid for spots on the team.
With Arron’s signing and the very real possibility of Shero bringing in another veteran in Bill Guerin, the odds start to look grim for Tangradi and Jeffery but the Penguins offence starts to take a real threatening posture. General Manager Shero confirmed that the franchise has been engaged with Bill and his agents and that the coaches would be informed about a decision within the week. Arron’s almost non-existent cap hit makes it likely for Shero to cough up anywhere up to $1.7 million for another forward. The Penguins already have 7 defensemen on their roster.
Arron certainly adds depth to the Penguins but fans have more interest in the excitement he brings to games than his scoring ability. Arron has never been shy of taking off the gloves and even at 5’ 11, not big at all for the NHL, he plays like someone over 6 feet tall. With the Philadelphia Flyers, Arron got to know first hand the rivalry between the Flyers and the Penguins. He has been a part of it for many years. Come next season he would find himself on the opposite side of that bitter sweet rivalry as he dons the Penguins uniform instead of the Flyers.
Arron said that his time with the Flyers was great but it was in the past now. “It is a great rivalry and fun to be a part of. I’m just switching sides.” Arron said that coming off the Flyers squad and onto the Penguins doesn’t change the way he plays the game. He said that he still would go out and play his hardest and try to win games and play good hockey. “All friendships are put on hold until the game is over. It’s a great rivalry and I’m looking forward to it.”
Arron has the ability to play both the right and the left wing, a style of playing that sits well with what the Penguins want from him according to their general manager. It’s not just the penguins who can use him, Arron too can do better with the Penguins with his mix of grit and skill. Arron said that the way Pittsburgh lets its forwards play was a factor in his decision to play for them. He said that he had shown in last year’s playoffs that he wasn’t just a guy who skates around the ice picking fights. “Given a chance, I can help a team offensively,” Arron said.
The Penguin’s Coach Dan Bylsma and Arron have a history which could help them work better with each other. Both were with the New York Islanders in 2005. Teaming up again, the two would try to make the most of the opportunity that has presented itself. Bylsma would now have to find a way to get Arron to repeat his playoff run. Last year Arron set a career high post season score with 4 goals and 3 assists in 23 games as the Flyers made their bid for the title. “I know my role on the team and know what I can do,” Asham said. Arron said that he hoped to make the top 3 three lines and take another shot at the Stanley cup after a disappointing finish to their title run last season. “I’m happy to be a Penguin.”
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