Chirps from Center Ice

The Penguins announced today that they have acquired Harry Zolnierczyk in exchange for Alex Grant.

A couple things jumped out at me as the news broke this afternoon…

1) The Penguins were a-ok with letting Alex Grant walk this offseason. After what many could say was a disappointing tenure with the Penguins organization coupled with untimely, backbreaking turnovers in this years Calder Cup Playoffs, his departure is not surprising at all.

2) Looking at Zolnierczyk’s body of work, he is a versatile winger that can play all four lines in the AHL and a third or fourth line in the NHL. He also knows how to use his speed as evidenced by this clip shared by Michael Cignoli from The Saratogian.

That’s all well and good, but Zolnierczyk has baggage. A lot of it.

First, on ice, a four game suspension this season for a hit on Ottawa’s Mike Lundin that left Lundin with a concussion. Zolnierczyk did this as a member of the Philadelpia Flyers.

He was later traded to the Anaheim Ducks for Jay Rosehill.

Second, off ice in 2008, Zolnierczyk was given probation for production / distribution of a pornographic video of an underage girl. After completion of his sentence, the charge was expunged from his record.

The move seems like an “un-Penguinlike” move to me. Zolnierczyk is a restricted free agent. Pittsburgh has until next Monday to extend a qualifying offer of $660,000 in order to retain his rights or else Zolnierczyk becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Zolnierczyk may never be seen in Wilkes-Barre. If Matt Cooke finds work elsewhere this offseason, one would assume that Zolnierczyk could assume that rat role that Cooke played so well for Pittsburgh during his tenure.

Regardless, at the end of the day, it seems that the move was a “change of scenery” trade for both Grant and Zolnierczyk. We just have to sit back and see what happens.

The 2013 Offseason Moves chart has been updated.