Player Evaluations: Left Wingers/ Quick Hits

Player Evaluations: Left Wingers

#24 Matt Cooke

Season Stats: 79 Games Played, 15 Goals, 15 Assists, 30 Points, +17

Playoff Stats: 13 Games Played, 4 Goals, 2 Assists, 6 Points, -4

Cooke had a terrific season scoring 15 goals and another 4 in the playoffs. He is one free agent the Penguins should definitely re-sign. He is more than just an agitator. Grade: B+

#9 Pascal Dupuis

Season Stats: 81 Games Played, 18 Goals, 20 Assists, 38 Points, +5

Playoff Stats: 13 Games Played, 2 Goals, 6 Assists, 8 Points, +5

Dupuis played in the most games this season than any other season in his career. He also had his second highest goal total in his career this season. He fits well in the locker room too. Grade: B

#26 Ruslan Fedotenko

Season Stats: 80 Games Played, 11 Goals, 19 Assists, 30 Points, -17

Playoff Stats: 6 Games Played, 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 Points,  -3

Fedotenko had the lowest goal total in his career this season and his plus/minus was awful. He did not step up in the playoffs like he has done before. He is probably done with PIT. Grade: D

#14 Chris Kunitz

Season Stats: 50 Games Played, 13 Goals, 19 Assists, 32 Points, +3

Playoff Stats: 13 Games Played, 4 Goals, 7 Assists, 11 Points, +3

Kunitz missed some time due to an injury, but played well in the playoffs and remained with Sidney Crosby the  whole season. He was also very physical in the playoffs. Grade: B

#23 Alexei Ponikarovsky

Season Stats (With PIT): 16 Games Played, 2 Goals, 7 Assists, 9 Points, -6

Playoff Stats: 11 Games Played, 1 Goal, 4 Assists, 5 Points, 0

Ponikarovsky never lived up the hype when PIT got him and was scratched for two games in the playoffs. He didn't have a good attitude or work ethic. Likely gone as he is a UFA Grade: D

Quick Hits

-Kevin Allen of the USA Today reported that the Atlanta Thrashers probably will not be able to re-sign RW Colby Armstrong. Armstrong scored 15 goals and recorded 14 assists in 79 games played. You can expect that him and the Penguins will at least talk about a contract. They probably did not want to trade him to Atlanta, but they wanted Hossa. If he will take a discount, he could be back in a Pittsburgh uniform.

-The Penguins have been rumored to be talking to D Ben Lovejoy on a new deal since he can become a free agent on the first of July. Expect them to get it done fairly soon. The one thing that is holding it up is that Lovejoy wants a 1 way contract instead of a 2 way contract.

-According to TIOPS, the Penguins have discussed with Jordan Leopold's agent, but no numbers were involved. They will likely talk again in a few weeks.

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