The hockey season might have ended, but the Penguins are making news today for a plethora of reasons.
Earlier today, Team USA Hockey officially announced that Penguins Head Coach Mike Sullivan will coach the Olympic team that will go to Beijing next year for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Sullivan said that over the last 10 to 15 years, the USA Olympic hockey program has grown, and he credits the volunteers and communities for their work on that growth.
While Sullivan is confirmed as the head coach, reports say that the NHL participation is still up in the air. The league did factor in an Olympic break during the 2021-22 season, and the NHL has allowed its players to return for the 2022 and 2026 Olympics as part of a four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the league and NHLPA.
Details like COVID-19 insurance still need to be finalized with the NHLPA and International Ice Hockey Federation.
CECI SIGNS WITH OILERS, PENS ADD MCGINN
In other hockey news, today marked the start of the NHL free agent signing period, and the Penguins signed one player but also lost one.
Defenseman Cody Ceci was signed by the Edmonton Oilers to a four-year deal, earning $3.25 million per year. The 27-year-old Canadien-born skater appeared in 53 games with the Penguins last year and tallied 17 points with 13 coming off assists.
Despite losing one player to free agency, the Penguins also added one to their roster, bringing in 27-year-old forward Brock McGinn on a four-year deal with an annual value of $2.75 million.
McGinn appeared in 37 games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season and scored eight goals. In his career, he’s tallied 106 points and helped the Hurricanes reach the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals.
