The Pittsburgh Penguins are on the verge of signing stay-at-home blueliner Jack Johnson to a five-year contract worth $16 million, according to Mark Madden of WXDC.com.

In order to make room for Johnson, the cap-strapped Penguins sent speedy winger Conor Heary and defenceman Matt Hunwick to the Buffalo Sabres for just a fourth-round draft pick.

In a free agent market that's dominated by scoring forwards - namely John Tavares, Joe Thornton and James van Riemsdyk - Johnson was one of the few quality blueliners available. Though free agency doesn't actually begin until July 1, Pens general manager Jim Rutherford has already managed to land one of the big fish.

Though Sheary was a productive linemate for Sidney Crosby (23 goals and 50 points in 2016-17 followed by 18 goals and 30 points this season), Rutherford felt it was time to upgrade a leaky blue line. Losing Sheary hurts, but the Pens don't have the physical, stay-at-home blueliners that play Johnson's game. As such, this was a difficult but necessary move for Johnson.

The 31-year-old Johnson has hit 40 points twice in his career, and the 30-point mark in four seasons. But he wasn't a great fit under polarizing and demanding head coach John Tortorella. Johnson was relegated to bottom-six minutes, and hasn't topped 23 points in a season over the past three years.

via Sportsnet

But Johnson should fit in nicely on a Penguins team that's built entirely around speed and quick puck movement. Pittsburgh needs guys who can skate the rubber discup the ice like Johnson, and he should emerge as the power play quarterback for one of their two units.

As mentioned above, the blue line market is fairly weak this year - with the offensive-minded Mike Green and New York Islanders standout Calvin de Haan being the best options out there.

Johnson is off the market now, which bodes as good news for other free agent defencemen. With Johnson no longer available, desperate general managers will begin overpaying the remaning blueliners.

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