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Penguins lose Scuderi to L.A.
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Former Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi is heading to Los Angeles.
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The Penguins lost free-agent defenseman Rob Scuderi to Los Angeles today.
Scuderi accepted a contract with the Kings that is believed to cover four years and carry an annual salary-cap hit of $3.4 million.
"I'm happy about the deal," Scuderi said. "But kind of sad about (leaving) the team."
He identified the Penguins -- who do not have the salary-cap space to extend an offer akin to the one Los Angeles gave him -- and Kings as his finalists, but the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Minnesota and Montreal, among others, also expressed interest in him.
"I was almost sick to my stomach about turning down some of the offers that were there in the beginning," said Scuderi, who made $725,000 in 2008-09.
It was not immediately known whether the Penguins will target a free-agent defenseman to replace Scuderi, try to acquire one via a trade or give one from their farm team in Wilkes-Barre an opportunity to earn his old spot in the lineup.
The Penguins continue to try to re-sign winger Ruslan Fedotenko, and to have discussions about bringing back winger Petr Sykora.
They also are in the market for a backup goaltender, although restricted free agent John Curry is a candidate to fill that role.
First Published July 2, 2009 9:15 am
