Shero strikes again

Ray Shero is definitely sending a message to the league that he is looking to bring the hardware back to Pittsburgh.  Not that towering defenseman Douglas Murray is the kind of guy who will turn a team around, but Pittsburgh does not need turned around.  What it was lacking was a big, extremely physical and nasty blue liner to fill a need as the fourth or fifth defenseman.  Murray, a 6'3" 245 lb blue liner who hits (56), and also blocks shots with 64 shots blocked this season (top20) fills that bill nicely for Pittsburgh.    Murray also plays significant minutes on the number 4 ranked PK in the NHL, so he should help the Penguins there as well.  The Penguins felt like they needed more grit on the blue line, and though they preferred another top four player, they felt that prices for those guys were too high so they filled in a very specific need instead, for a second round pick this year, and I believe the pick next year is a second rounder that is conditional upon Murray re-signing with the Penguins.  The third round pick acquired in the Morrow deal may have impacted the willingness to make this move since Pittsburgh has two third round picks in the coming draft.  This move also gives the Pens a left handed shot on the blue line which would have made an impact last night, as well as a veteran player who will definitely leave a physical mark on you.  In the playoffs, adding another shot blocker and significant depth at a key position is an added bonus.   Dan Boyle, a teammate of Murray's in San Jose said today that if the Eastern Conference forwards do not know who Douglas Murray is, they will.  The Penguins to me still have chips in Tyler Kennedy, Dustin Jeffrey, and either Deryk Engelland or Robert Bortuzzo, along with prospects and picks to further improve their team for a long playoff run should the right price and player come along. I like this move as well.  Shero is all in baby.