The Penguins and Zach Aston-Reese have avoided the previously scheduled arbitration hearing for later this month.
The Penguins have re-signed forward Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year contract.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 5, 2021
The contract runs through the 2021.22 season and is valued at $1.725 million.
Details: https://t.co/HMk26jecwk pic.twitter.com/Q35POyuxUR
I thought the range was 1.5M-2.2M and this fits nicely towards the cheaper end of the spectrum.
This is a win win for both parties. Aston-Reese gets a raise and will be allowed to hit unrestricted free agency next year. The UFA status gives him leverage for the first time in his career. The Penguins return a quality depth player. While it is probably a little more than they wanted to spend it doesn’t come with term. A slight overpay is way more palatable on a one-year deal than let’s say a six-year deal.
There is evidence Aston-Reese is the glue that held the 4th line together, not Tanev
I don't know who needs to hear this but Zach Aston-Reese has been a bigger factor to the Pens' fourth-line success than either Blueger or Tanev.
— Danny (@shireyirving) July 18, 2021
Since 2019, 13 + 53 without 12 at 5v5 (324 mins):
5 goals for
13 goals against
43.5% xG share
46.3% shot share
In their time together as a trio (562 minutes) the numbers were:
GF 16 GA10 xGF% 53.09 CF% 49.71
The Penguins are all set with their bottom six forward depth. They are still short at least one top six forward. The team currently has ~$121k of cap space. Barring a Marcus Pettersson/Mike Matheson trade we are likely looking at who the Penguins are going to be heading into the season. They can create a little bit of cap space by sending players like Sam Lafferty and Radim Zohorna down. Dominik Simon already on non-roster section of CapFriendly so his cap isn’t being counted at the moment, but could eventually.
Is this team better than the one who lost to the Islanders? I don't think so, but we'll find out.
Thanks for reading!