PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He was going to be one of those tough players to play against that every third line wants and he would also add some speed and scoring. Today the Pens waived forward Brock McGinn and defenseman Mark Friedman according to multiple reports including Pittsburgh Hockey Now.
McGinn hasn't had a point, let along a goal since December 22, playing in every game. In his second year of a four-year, $11 million contract, McGinn had a hot November, but this latest draught combined with being part of a third line that has underachieved, led to his end as a Penguin.
Last season McGinn had 12 goals and 10 assists in 64 games. This year he had 10 goals and five assists. The 29-year-old had a career-high 16 goals and 30 points with Carolina in 2017-18. He joins Kasperi Kapanen as the second member of the third line waived in the last four days.
Friedman ended up playing in 26 games last season after being invited to training camp. The Flyers 2014 third-round pick was healthy scratched much of this season playing only 11 games. He brings an edge/toughness/borderline dirty play that none of the other Pens defensemen have, but PO Joseph beat him out early. Even when injuries happened, the team mostly went with Chad Ruhwedel.
The money could free up a recall of defenseman Ty Smith and they could look, at least in the short term, at forwards Alexander Nylander or Valtteri Puustinen to fill in on the third line. It also could signal a trade with the deadline approaching Friday at 4p.
