Pens sign Arron Asham

The Penguins inked Asham to a one year deal this afternoon, and to my surprise many Pens fans seem unhappy about the signing, favoring a move to bring in a scoring winger to play on the second line. Well, they did.....His name is Evgeni Malkin. Listen, I wanted the Pens to get a top six winger as much as the next guy, but apparently they were not overwhelmed by what was available for the money they had to spend. Bringing in guy like Asham who can play a tough game, score you 12-15 goals, and fight anybody is not a bad move for this team at this time. This gives the Pens great flexibility and balance in their forward lines. They can create a 2nd line of Staal centering Malkin/Kennedy, Malkin/Tangradi, Malkin/Cooke, while leaving Crosby/Kunitz/Dupuis as their top unit. The third line could be Talbot centering Asham/Cooke, and that line would be a BEAST physically, or it could be Talbot centering Asham/Kennedy, another enticing unit. They could have a Nick Johnson make the team, fill a role on the 2nd or 3rd line and have a fourth line of Adams, centering Asham and Rupp. They could also make a philosophical decision now that they have such team toughness to eliminate the need for Godard's role on the team as enforcer. I love Godard.....He fills the role of enforcer as well as anybody, but that role is dying in the NHL, and he is in the final year of his contract. He will likely play in about 45 games during the regular season, and NONE in the playoffs. So, despite the prescence of Boogaard in New York and Shelley in Philly, the Pens could add $750,000 to their cap space by cutting Godard and relying on Rupp and Asham for protection. It will be an interesting philosophical choice they could not reasonably make without the addition of a guy like Asham. Asham played solid minutes and was a contributor to the Flyers run to the Finals last year, as he thrived in the uptempo system of Peter Laviolette. This uptempo system is pretty similar to the one that Bylsmas favors, so Asham should fit right in. To the other Pens fans who think they should have added a veteran defenseman for that money, I say this. The Pens top 5 defensemen, Orpik, Martin, Letang, Michaelek and Goligoski would rival most in the NHL. Lovejoy, Engelland, and Despres give some young guns who should get a real look at the NHL level. Finally, the way this free agency season has gone, Shero is likely anticipating the chance at a mid September bargain in that area. This looks like a typical low risk, high value solid Shero signing. To summarize, I think this signing gives the Pens the chance to move Staal up to the second line if they choose to, and leaves them with a very capable and physical 3rd and 4th line that will wear opponents down. This is a move that makes them a better playoff team. Welcome to Pittsburgh Arron, and dinner on me if you knock the snot out of Carcillo on October 7th!