The Penguins announced Monday that they have re-signed defenseman Alain Nasreddine to a 1-year contract. Nasreddine, at 32 years of age, played in 44 games for the Pens during the 06-07 season. In this time he had five points, including 1 goal and four assists. Nasreddine also tallied the second best +/- rating on the team, with a +12 at the conclusion of the season.
This is an ideal move for the Pens to re-sign a defenseman. If any part of the team is in question as it relates to reliability, it is certainly the defense, as the offense is backed by Crosby, Malkin, and Staal, and the "flower" Marc-andre Fleury is in full bloom. The doubts about the Pens being in contention for the Stanley Cup are all placed on the defense, as there were many moves made last season to achieve a strong defensive zone. The more defenseman the Penguins have, the better, in that if one paring doesn't quite click, there are always other players that can be relied on to step up to the plate.
Nasreddine is one of these players, and we will see what contributions he can make to the organization in the upcoming season. For any team to succeed at the fullest, they need to be running on all cylinders. The Penguins are nearing that point, and with a strong defense they are able to get the engine running that will ultimately lead them to a leauge championship.
-ShocKer
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