Jared McCann is sticking around in Pittsburgh — at least for a little while.
The Penguins on Friday announced they had signed the restricted free agent, who had been the subject of trade speculation in recent weeks, to a two-year contract. The forward’s new deal has an average annual value of $2.94 million.
That reasonable salary coupled with last week’s trade of Nick Bjugstad suggests he still has a home in Pittsburgh. But even though McCann is now on the books for the next two seasons, there is nothing in the contract that prevents the Penguins from trading the 24-year-old should they want to do that in the coming weeks.
McCann knows the deal. He has already been traded twice in his NHL career.
“Hockey’s a business. That’s something I learned pretty early in my career, that things happen for whatever reason. … I don’t try to focus on it too much,” he said. “If it happens, it happens. Right now I’m just excited and thankful for the Penguins being able to give me this contract and give me this opportunity.”
Despite going without a goal for the final 25 games of this past season, McCann still ranks sixth on the Penguins in points since arriving via trade on Feb. 1, 2019. And advanced statistics paint the picture of an effective two-way player.
With a first-round pedigree, formidable top-end speed and a wrist shot that some Penguins teammates say is the scariest on the squad, McCann is a player worth investing more time into in the hopes he can bring it more consistently.
“Jared is a good offensive player who can play center or wing,” general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. “We saw improvement in his play this year and feel that there is more upside to his game.”
McCann is a greater threat on the left wing, using his wheels to put defenders on their heels and unleashing that left-handed shot off the rush. But last week Rutherford didn’t rule him out as an option at third-line center next season even though he faltered in that spot during the playoffs.
His versatility has perhaps been a double-edge sword. On one hand, his ability to fill one of a few different lineup spots was beneficial to the banged-up Penguins last season. But it also prevented a talented player from settling into a role.
“Obviously, having a role kind of defines you as a player. But whatever the Penguins need me to do, I’m going to be that guy for them,” McCann said on a video call. “I feel like I had that opportunity to kind of show what I [can do] this year.”
McCann in the first half of last season had success centering the second line when Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin was sidelined. He tallied 14 goals and 28 points with a plus-15 rating through the first 44 games. His contributions were perhaps overlooked as the short-handed Penguins surged up the standings.
But his last goal came Jan. 14, the night Crosby returned from a three-month absence. His line struggled mightily in the playoff loss to the underdog Montreal Canadiens, and coach Mike Sullivan made him a healthy scratch for Game 3. Now, Rutherford and the Penguins are in the midst of shaking up their bottom six.
All that led to chatter that McCann might be on the move this offseason.
The Penguins, who had the option to not qualify the forward as an RFA and relinquish his rights, ensured with this reasonable two-year contract that they hung onto the asset. If they are still open to moving him, the cost certainty may help.
For now, McCann remains an adaptable, enigmatic member of the Penguins. Until someone tells him otherwise, he’ll operate as if he isn’t going anywhere.
“I’m very thankful for the organization giving me this chance. I’ve thought a lot about it. This definitely sets me up for a good future. I’m very thankful for that,” he said, adding. “I’m excited because now I can just focus on training.”
Matt Vensel: mvensel@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mattvensel.
First Published: September 18, 2020, 8:39 p.m.
Updated: September 19, 2020, 12:17 a.m.