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FA Day 2: fifth update… — RAY SHERO RECAP: Let me do some tea-leaf reading into some points the Pens GM made during our around-8 p.m. chat Thursday: • Shero: “We’d like to find a replacement for Rob (Scuderi)… maybe a trade at some point.” Rossi: As I’ve pointed out all too often the Pens [...]

FA Day 2: fourth update… — SCUDERI TO KINGS: As the Trib first learned via a text from Rob Scuderi at 3:24 p.m., he has agreed to a four-year deal worth an average annual salary of $3,400,000. I’ve updated the main Trib story several times. For details and reaction, read here: Tribune-Review/Pens • Kings are [...]

FA Day 2: third update… — SCUDERI UPDATE: Add the Kings to a list of teams in the hunt for D Rob Scuderi. Minnesota and the Penguins also remain in the hunt, but I’m told the Kings are above $3 million annually on a long-term deal. That Scuderi hasn’t accepted yet proves either: A) he [...]

Fedotenko, Sykora/Scuderi: Not getting a lot of return calls on any of these players.

A nugget on the Scuderi talks with Pens: I’ve heard they are not willing to go much above $2 million annual average salary, but they would consider going that high on a four- or five-year offer.

LW Ruslan Fedotenko: Just heard something is “close” on him. Again, if he doesn’t re-sign with Pens, don’t rule out a Petr Sykora return on a one-year deal with a no-movement clause. At least Sykora would be willing to take that term if the trade-off is control.

Happy UFA Day, kiddies. Seventh update: — — G Mathieu Garon: He has agreed to a two-year deal at $2.4 million with Columbus. — D Rob Scuderi: Heard from him around 5 p.m., and he believed his situation would become clearer once D Mike Komisarek signed. Komisarek agreed to a deal with Toronto just before [...]

D Hal Gill: He has agreed to a two-year deal with Montreal, a $4.5 million total and $2.25 million annual cap hit. The Penguins were not offering that term or salary.

Gill teamed with D Rob Scuderi, also a free agent, to form the Penguins’ top shutdown pairing. His arrival at the NHL trade deadline in 2008 helped transform the Penguins’ penalty kill from a weakness to a strength each of the past two postseasons.

SCUDERI: Several of his teammates confirm the Penguins are making a strong effort to keep Scuderi as of about 4 p.m. If they fail, D Hal Gill is on their short list.

Still not a lot of buzz from Penguins. Again, I remind that GM Ray Shero has said he would not reach to fill a hole, adding that he had a list of the “type” of players, but would be willing to wait.

Quiet regarding Penguins, who remain optimistic of keeping LW Ruslan Fedotenko but are expecting D Rob Scuderi to be out of their price range. Minnesota and Scuderi makes sense, according to folks within the NHL.