NHL free agency 2019: Pittsburgh Penguins sign Brandon Tanev

Brandon Tanev, an undrafted Winnipeg Jets forward, leaves for the Pittsburgh Penguins in NHL free agency. He got a six-year deal.

Phil Kessel had been on the trading block for a while, but the move to send him to the Arizona Coyotes was a surprising one none the less. The Pittsburgh Penguins followed up the move that saw them acquire Alex Galchenyuk with a move in NHL free agency Monday afternoon. It’s a six-year deal worth $3.5 million annually. That’s a total of $21 million.

Tanev leaves behind the Winnipeg Jets, who signed him as an undrafted free agent towards the end of the 2016 season. Prior to that, he played for four years at Providence College, and was a part of their 2015 NCAA Championship team.

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The slim 180-pound left winger is coming off of his best season that saw him score 14 goals and 15 assists for 29 points. Tanev should establish himself as a strong bottom-six forward for Pittsburgh.

Details later came out that the contract was for six years at an average annual value of $3.5 million per year. Tanev is only 27 years old, so the term of the contract shouldn’t raise any eyebrows.

If he keeps increasing his production, like he’s done over the past three years with the Jets, the contract can a good value for the Penguins. Tanev was also slow to break out into the NHL and prove he was an NHL level player, so the signing still comes with a little risk that they’re buying into that Brandon Tenev.

The Penguins are still a strong team, but that had their most disappointing playoffs in recent memory. After a season that saw them get dangerously close to missing the postseason, Pittsburgh was swept by the New York Islanders in the first round.

General Manager Jim Rutherford realized that the recent back to back Stanley Cup championships were in the past and it was time for changes to be made. Kessel being moved was not a question of, but a question of when, but the Tanev signing was a little more surprising.

Tanev’s value was at its highest right now. If all goes according to plan, it’s a great pick up for the Penguins. With the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin around him, his production should continue to increase. The Penguins continue to makeover their roster since it isn’t 2017 anymore.