Fansided

Biggest winners and losers of NHL free agency 2018

By Mackenzie Ingram

TORONTO, ON - JULY 1: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs, poses with his jersey in the dressing room, after he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, at the Scotiabank Arena on July 1, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JULY 1: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs, poses with his jersey in the dressing room, after he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, at the Scotiabank Arena on July 1, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 11: Captain Sidney Crosby #87 and Matt Cullen #7 of the Pittsburgh Penguins pose for a photo with the Stanley Cup in the locker room after Game Six of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the Bridgestone Arena on June 11, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Penguins defeated the Predators 2-0. The Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup Final series against the Nashville Predators 4-2. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 11: Captain Sidney Crosby #87 and Matt Cullen #7 of the Pittsburgh Penguins pose for a photo with the Stanley Cup in the locker room after Game Six of the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the Bridgestone Arena on June 11, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Penguins defeated the Predators 2-0. The Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup Final series against the Nashville Predators 4-2. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins

Name a happier duo. I’ll wait.

Give up? I don’t blame you

According to most hockey players, the smiles both Sidney Crosby and Matt Cullen are rocking after winning the 2016-17 Stanley Cup are two of the most genuine you will ever see from an athlete.

In their time together, Crosby and Cullen were part of a Penguins squad that will go down in history. Over a two-year span, Pittsburgh became the first team of the 21st century to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup in back-to-back seasons.

After playing with the Minnesota Wild this past season, Cullen decided to return to the Penguins franchise on a one-year, $650,000 contract. Although the re-addition of the 41-year old journeyman will not guarantee the Pens’ their third cup in four years, the team did make a series of valuable moves as well.

To begin, Pittsburgh’s upper management added further depth to the team by signing Stefan Elliot, Jimmy Hayes, and goaltender John Muse to two-way contracts. Additionally, they re-signed defenseman Zach Trotman to a congruent one-year deal.

Highlighting the list of additions by general manager Jim Rutherford, however, was the announcement that they had signed a marquee free-agent defenseman to a long-term deal.

Specifically, Pittsburgh scooped former third overall pick, Jack Johnson, on a five-year, $16.25 million contract

Johnson, who was a longtime member of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings, has appeared in at least 77 games in four out of the last five seasons. Though his stats aren’t eye-popping, Johnson consistently finds himself among the top four defensemen on his team, a role he should once again serve for the Penguins.

Additionally, bringing in Johnson not only gives Pittsburgh another defensive asset immediately, but, it increases the potential they make a trade for a top forward, such as Max Pacioretty.

Should Rutherford still be interested in acquiring the services of Montreal’s captain, it’s highly likely a package will include one of Oli Maatta, Jamie Oleksiak or Justin Schultz, since the team now has more depth on the blueline.

With the addition of Johnson, Pittsburgh may have very well put itself into a prime position to make one of the biggest moves this offseason. Even if not, the Penguins were able to keep their core intact and brought in a few solid pieces to support them, so a winning grade for Jim Rutherford is deserved.

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