Chicago Blackhawks Sign Fernando Pisani

[HammerHawks]

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/t...spx?id=4335465

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks continued to reshape their roster, signing free-agent forward Fernando Pisani.

TSN of Canada reported on Wednesday that Pisani was given a one-year deal worth $500,000.

A native of Edmonton, Pisani spent his entire seven-year career with the Oilers. Last season, he was limited to 40 games and tallied four goals with eight points and was a minus-16.

Since breaking into the NHL in 2002, the Providence College product has compiled 80 goals and 153 points in 402 regular-season games. The 32-year-old's breakthrough came in the 2006 playoffs, when the Oilers dropped a seven-game Stanley Cup Final to Carolina. The defensive specialist tallied 14 goals and 18 points in 24 postseason tilts, and kept Edmonton's title hopes alive with a short-handed, breakaway game-winning goal in overtime of Game 5 in that series.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=330941

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed forward Fernando Pisani to a one-year, one-way contract worth $500,000.

Pisani was an unrestricted free agent who played his first seven seasons with the Edmonton Oilers.

The 33-year old played 40 games last season with Edmonton and tallied four goals and four assists. In 402 NHL games for the Oilers, the Edmonton native scored 80 goals and 73 assists.

His most memorable stretch with the Oilers came during the club's 2006 run to the Stanley Cup final. Pisani scored 14 goals that spring, including a dramatic short-handed overtime winner in game five of the final against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Pisani was drafted by the Oilers in the eighth round of the 1996 draft.



I am excited!!!

[gagnerfan89]

I didn't even know the Oilers didn't sign him haha..

[davescards]

Very Underrated pick up by the Hawks... When he's not relied upon to be the primary scorer, he can relax and play his game, and he's quite effective when he's on... Good on the Hawks here.

[zunato]

Good signing by the Hawks. Good player with experience and for a good price. Should be a good fit for the 3rd/4th line. Hope he stays healthy.

[HammerHawks]

I'd say if he can stay healthy, it may be the best signing of the summer. I'd love to see Pisani/Toews/Kane and see how it would work.

[Walter Sobchak]

I know Pisani has potential, and its definitely an interesting signing but I dont know how a player with 8 points who was a -16 in 40 games would be a first liner with Kane and Toews, or be the "signing of the summer"...maybe Im just missing something? lol

[MasonRaymond0320]

Great signing by the Hawks. It should be interesting who Fernando plays with, and how he does next season.

Thanks for sharing!

Andrew

[30ranfordfan]

Nope, you're missing nothing at all.

Anyone who hasn't followed Pisani over the last few years, well, you havn't missed much. He's never been close to the 14 goal playoff performance of 05-06.

He was a heck of a good 3rd line / PK guy when he was healthy...... but he hasn't been healthy in three seasons.

I wish him nothing but good luck, but I wouldn't expect much.

I know Pisani has potential, and its definitely an interesting signing but I dont know how a player with 8 points who was a -16 in 40 games would be a first liner with Kane and Toews, or be the "signing of the summer"...maybe Im just missing something? lol

[zunato]

I'd say if he can stay healthy, it may be the best signing of the summer. I'd love to see Pisani/Toews/Kane and see how it would work.

He will play 3rd line at best. He is not a 1st line player.

[HammerHawks]

FYI to all, guess I should have been more clear...I meant that it would be interesting to see him with them if he was healthy and was on a hot streak. I know he isn't a first liner right now.

As far as the signing of the summer...think about it. If he has a good season and gets 30 points, you can't get 10 points out of an AHL call up for $600,000. If he stays healthy and plays to his potenial, it would be the best value signing of the summer.