2010 NHL Free Agency: Sergei Gonchar signs with Ottawa Senators
Jul 1, 2010, 12:19 PM EDT
Sergei Gonchar, unable to work out a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, has signed with the Ottawa Senators in the opening minutes of free agency.
Gonchar wanted a three-year deal with Pittsburgh at around $5 million per season — the Penguins were unwilling to make that commitment and he walked.
The Senators swooped in and signed Gonchar to a three-year, $16.5 million contract with a no-trade clause, and he’ll instantly upgrade a stale defensive corps in Ottawa.
If Gonchar is getting $5.5 million per season, it’s going to be a long day for teams out there trying to sign a free agent goaltender. This means a Dan Hamhuis and Alex Volchenkov will both likely make around $5 million per season, which they never would have other years. They’re hitting the free agency market at the exact right time.
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- K. Isaac - Jul 1, 2010 at 12:54 PM
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So sorry we didn’t keep him in Pgh. I think he added a lot of stability to the powerplay. I WILL MISS HIM IMMENSELY as many will but he couldn’t reach a compromise with the Pens. Good bye and Good Luck Gonch…SEE YOU IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!! GO PENS.
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- brett - Jul 1, 2010 at 1:08 PM
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Cheers, Gonch. You will be missed in Pittsburgh. I still have to hate the Sens though, no disrespect. Why couldn’t you have gone to the West so I could truly root for you?
