Something happened between July 1st and today to make Ruslan Fedotenko give up his demands for a multi-year deal and return to the Penguins on a one year contract. What exactly happened will only be a matter of conjecture but I have a feeling it has something to do with the inevitable salary cap pinch all teams are feeling for the coming year. This is made more likely by the stinging fact that while Ruslan made $2.25 million last season he will only make $1.8 million under the terms of the new contract.

A pay cut was certainly not warranted based on his production in 08-09 so the only reason is that the market has dried up fast as teams have inched closer and closer to the cap since free agency began. In 65 games Feds racked up 16 goals and 23 assists missing some time with a broken hand suffered during a fight. Fedotenko’s return will keep one of the most dangerous and feared lines in all of hockey together for one more season.

I am glad to have Feds back but I hope that he doesn’t feel as though he got screwed over by accepting less money and doesn’t play up to his potential.

The Penguins also signed Defenseman Nate Guenin, a Pittsburgh native, to a one year contract as well today. Guenin has been with the Flyers since 2006 but appeared in just 12 games.

Rob Scuderi is now a Los Angeles King and he went there for the money let’s not deny it. Let’s also not begrudge him for that. For some people money is just that important and I can understand a 30 year old defenseman who gave everything he had during a Stanley Cup run wanting to cash in. But now rumors are circulating that perhaps even though Scuds wanted to return to the Penguins, that became practically impossible simply because he waited too long.

In an article today by Rob Rossi of the Tribune Review we see evidence of this:

Not that Scuderi ran to the Los Angeles Kings, who signed him to a four-year deal at an annual salary of $3.4 million yesterday afternoon.

According to some teammates, Scuderi waited too long before choosing the Kings over the Penguins, who are thought to have offered a five-year deal worth $10 million total.

“They’re probably right,” Scuderi said. “I thought I held out for a while, but with respect to L.A. you just can’t … look, it was time to make a decision.

“I always had always hoped maybe something could be worked out (with the Penguins). It was strictly a numbers thing, not a lack of need or want.”

Probably the fact that Scuds had never had teams throwing oodles of money at him in the past and his inexperience in the matters of contracts could be blamed, but what about his agent? Was it Scuds or his agent looking for a bigger cut that convinced Scuderi to keep looking around when several teams including the Penguins had made him offers or he was at least in negotiation with them? Teams like according to reports the Wild, the Rangers, the Lightning and the Stars were all reportedly interested.

Scuderi’s comment about it being time to “make a decision” was probably the most telling of the article. Because while he waited teams were signing free agents left and right making less cap room on their rosters available for someone like Scuderi. Some teams probably even had to withdraw offers or modify them as other players were signed and Scuds no doubt saw his potential paycheck dwindling so he pulled the gun. His comments seem to indicate that he is not happy about heading to the Kings but the paycheck he will be getting will ease that discomfort somewhat as more than likely he will be sitting at home next spring watching some of the teams he held out on making a run for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Jordan Staal has shown signs of inconsistent promise on the ice this year. He had a hat trick against the Red Wings and then a short spurt of productivity but really has not been a regular on the scoring sheet. Now he has a new 4 year contract for millions and maybe that was all that was holding Jordan back. Since that contract was announced Jordan Staal has goals in three consecutive games including a short handed marker, something he did with frequency his rookie year but not so much of since.

Let’s hope that Jordan can keep up the production and make me truly believe he is worthy of the $16 million contract he has been rewarded with. Because really the way that he has played I believe only warranted about a $12 million commitment ($3 million per year) at most. I would love to be proven wrong though.