The lure of free agency can be enticing, but Ryan Craig understands that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence.
That’s why the 29-year-old forward from Abbotsford decided to sign to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization on Monday, foregoing the free agency frenzy, which opens July 1.
His one-year, two-way contract pays $525,000 when he’s in the NHL, and $175,000 at the AHL level.
“Sometimes, leaving isn’t the best option when you’re in a pretty good spot,” Craig said, explaining his rationale for putting pen to paper with the Penguins.
“There was no guarantee that I’d find a better job somewhere else, and the people in the Pittsburgh organization – the coaches and management – know me now after being here for a year. They know what I’m all about and what I’m capable of, and I can now be part of their plans heading into July.”
Craig signed with the Penguins last summer, and spent the bulk of the 2010-11 campaign in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He captained the Baby Pens to the AHL’s best regular-season record, and finished second in team scoring with 19 goals and 29 assists in 71 games.
The hard-nosed forward also suited up for six NHL games with Pittsburgh, accruing 22 penalty minutes and a -3 rating.
“I would have liked to have had more (NHL games),” noted Craig, who has 63 points in 190 career NHL contests with the Penguins and the Tampa Bay Lightning. “My training camp (in 2010) went real well, to the point where I know I had a real good shot of making the club. But I ran into a groin injury in the second exhibition game. When that hit, it took me a while to get back and get going again.”
A big part of Craig’s comfort level with the Penguins stems from the fact they have a track record of allowing players to earn their way onto the NHL roster in training camp.
“Their core group has won a Stanley Cup, and yet they need players who can play different roles on their hockey club,” he said. “I feel I can compete for and fill one of those roles.”
If Craig’s bid for an NHL roster spot falls short, being back in Wilkes-Barre would be a nice consolation prize.
“They’re always a competitive team as well, vying for the Calder Cup,” he pointed out. “I think at this stage in my career, it’s important to be with an organization that’s committed to winning, whether it’s at the American Hockey League level or in the National Hockey League.”
Growing up in Abbotsford, Craig naturally cheered for the Vancouver Canucks, and he’s thoroughly enjoyed watching his home-province team battle the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup final.
“More than anything, just seeing how the Lower Mainland and the province of British Columbia has wrapped itself up in it is amazing,” he said. “Hopefully everything goes well for the Canucks in Game 7 (Wednesday night in Vancouver), otherwise there’ll be a lot of disappointed people.
“It’s been a great series, great for hockey in Canada. As a hockey fan, no matter who you are, Game 7 is pretty exciting.”
