GM Shero signed to five-year extension

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed General Manager Ray Shero to a five-year extension, lasting through the 2015-2016 season.

Official release from the Pittsburgh Penguins:
http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=538011&navid=DL|PIT|home

I fully support this decision. Shero has continually added the pieces that made this team into a consistent contender.

Looking back, Shero has made some not so great signings and deals, such as Ekman, Bourque, and Ponikarovsky, but he has also made signings and deals that have made this team into a Stanley Cup Champion and consistently good team.

Top 5 Shero Deals (excluding extensions):

1) Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to the Pens for Colby Armstrong, Eric Christensen, Angelo Esposito, and a 1st rd draft pick.

- This trade put the Pens on the brink of winning a cup, it gave Crosby experience playing with an elite winger, and provided a young pens team with Stanley Cup experience that would prove valuable the next year.

2) Bill Guerin to Pittsburgh for a conditional pick (ended up as a 3rd).

- Turned into an instant leader on this team, a valuable asset to Crosby's line, and a much needed boost that pushed the team to become a Stanley Cup Champion.

3) Gary Roberts to Pittsburgh for Noah Welch.

- Roberts was a huge playoff performer for the Pens and was a big component of the 2008 SCF run, even opening up the scoring against the Senators in the 1st round.

4) Signing UFA Mark Eaton to a 2 year contract.

- One of most under-the-radar signings for Shero in his early years. Although Eaton was injured in consecutive years on 2 separate accidents, he was always defensively sound and ended up resigning with the Penguins and occasionally played 1st pairing minutes with Gonchar.

5) Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi to Pittsburgh for Ryan Whitney.

- Wow, looking back at this deal, I still can't believe he pulled it off. Kunitz made an instant impact alongside Sid and Tangradi looks prime to take a top-six winger spot this season. On the other hand, Ryan Whitney was traded from the Ducks to the Oilers a year later.

Congratulations to Ray Shero on his extension.