Penguins/NHL
Penguins Salary Cap Situation Not Dire for Next Season
The new contract for Patric Hornqvist and the addition of Derick Brassard has added $8.3 million against the cap for next season.
Among the 16 players listed below, players currently on 1-way contracts or identified as full-time NHLers, Pittsburgh has approximately $69.3 million committed against the cap.
Forwards (8) | 1-way Contracts or Full-Time NHL Players
Evgeni Malkin – $9.5 million
Sidney Crosby – $8.7 million
Phil Kessel – $6.8 million
Patric Hornqvist – $5.3 million
Carl Hagelin – $4 million
Derick Brassard – $3 million
Conor Sheary – $3 million
Jake Guentzel – $734,167
Notable RFA’s: Bryan Rust, Riley Sheahan
Defensemen (6) | 1 Way Contracts
Kris Letang – $7.25 million
Justin Schultz – $5.5 million
Brian Dumoulin – $4.1 million
Olli Maatta – $4.083 million
Matt Hunwick – $2.25 million
Chad Ruhwedel – $650,000
Notable RFA’s: Jamie Oleksiak
Goaltenders (2)
Matt Murray – $3.75 million
Casey DeSmith – $675,000.00
With the salary cap projected to rise to at least $78 million for next season, with an unlikely best case scenario of $82 million (some executives feel it will fall right around $80 million), the Penguins are in okay shape to keep this current group together for at least one more season if they go on another deep run this spring.
Even with Conor Sheary and Matt Hunwick having very tough contracts to move as the Penguins learned at the deadline, Pittsburgh has the luxury of filling out their forwards ranks with cheap labor in the mold of Zach Aston-Reese, Daniel Sprong, Dominik Simon, Teddy Blueger, Adam Johnson, ect.
Because of that, the door is certainly open for this current group to have little turnover this summer like the 2016 off-season……. if the group warrants keeping together.
However, If the Penguins bow out early in the playoffs, all bets are off. It would surely be an entertaining summer on the rumor mill as those Kris Letang rumors from December when the Penguins gauged his trade value for a short-period in some bigger deals To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Though, talks were very, very preliminary at the time, league sources contend Rutherford even had trade discussions last summer with the Calgary Flames about To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Key Contract Situations to Watch for Next Season
The looming contract situation centers around Bryan Rust.
The 25 year old is on an absolute bargain deal with a cap hit of $640,000. Rust can play anywhere in the lineup, he’s a glue guy/big time playoff performer, and Rust goals/points per game the last two seasons are around a 20 goal-50 point type level were he to stay healthy and play a full season.
Another tidbit on the Rust situation is that he turns 27 in May 2019, therefore, would be eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer. Little bit of leverage for his camp.
The Penguins internally have been bracing for a new deal for Rust to eventually fall somewhere in the To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Signing Rust long-term will be a priority with Pittsburgh seeking a term of To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
The other interesting RFA situation will be Jamie Oleksiak. He’ll be due a qualifying offer of $964,000 that will be declined with a shorter deal To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Just watched this movie called Flint. I knew Americans were some kind of scum bags but after watching the movie makes them more certified about it with a 5 star
Talk about shitholee. Areas Mr Trump
#FlintLivesMatter
Pens can win tonight and won’t need 4 goals to win since isles had a game last night
Should be a good confidence builder. Islanders are falling apart. They shoulda traded Tavares, he’s not staying with that trainwreck.
Yeah your predictions always come to fruition.
With your infatuation, i’m sure you have them all charted in a spreadsheet some where.
No I just remember them on here. Tell us another boring work story…..ZZZZ…..
I’m amazed I can put pants on with how all over my junk you are.
That makes sense.
Vegas has needed 4 to win in 6 of their last 7.
How empty was Florida game last night. maybe 3000 people if only npl would’ve went to the game it would’ve been sold out just by his fat presence.
Oleksiak-Ruhwedel
No wonder people dislike pens fans so much. Piss and moan about everything and want everyone gone just because of a rough stretch. But when they start winning again, look out! Back on the wagon.
It’s comical. Lose 3 games and it’s like you blew a 3-0 series lead in the first round. I actually think it helps if they are able to recognize any weaknesses and adjust before the stretch run. Have a lot of divisional games in the last two weeks.
I’d rather they just get out of the next few weeks healthy. Not overly concerned with where they end up in the standings. Gonna have to beat both Philly and Washintgon in whatever order before they play Tampa. Not an easy route, but our path to a 3rd cup is pretty much already determined. Nothing to gain from the regular season other than individual trophies and health.
that’s most sports teams, both college and professional. Probably about 30% of a fanbase is diehard, the rest…..ya know.
Some even turn off their TV minute pens are down. 2-0
People dislike Pens fans because they are homers. Most dont follow the game, only the Pens. Pens fans think everyone on the Pens is the best. Everyone else sucks.
And drool
Hey fat slob npl were you able to download your roster update.
Wilson posted a nice article touching on roster construction and I think he hits the nail on the head. Sprong isn’t up because he’s not a “complete player”. Well, Kuhnackl and Rowney have a combined 4 goals in 92 games this year. I’d say their offensive game is a bit incomplete. Call Sprong up and play him with Sid or on the 4th line. His game suits this league and the Pens system better than the other two. He’s one of the top 12 forwards in the organization, so play him accordingly.
I’d call him up because there’s no one else. The cupboard is bare (but Pens have 4 top notch centers)
On a positive note Malkin got 2 more points thanks to Sid last night.
Murray skating today
Now is a good time to assess next year’s cap situation.
Pens really Sammed themselves tonight
Sam in their pants.
Not as bad as the fans are, the reaction to this stretch is quite a sight to behold.
Lol people are losing their minds. It actually could be a positive if weaknesses are noticed and the proper adjustments are made.
Tonight? Or ever since Rutherford improved the team with the Brassard coup
Ruhwedel, Ruhwedel, Ruhwedel.
I don’t how but Letang has to go, so does Hunwick and Maatta. The Penguins do not have one solid stay at home defensemen. GMJR needs to rebuild this D core before next season and aquire a solid backup. Brassard was not needed. They are saying win now but shit D and AHL goalies will not win anything.
Dusty, you still think Jarry is going to be better than Murray?
Yes. He’s not ready, and I never said he was ready now. He was to play behind Fleury for the next 2-3 years. You disagree with me and Mark Recchi, I get it, you don’t need to keep bringing it up.
Idiot. Great post Simply Dusty. Stick to your day job. Joke.
TEAR. IT. DOWN.
d please post that poll that I suggested earlier and make people chose
Make people chose!
It’s a free countey sam, we don’t have to do anything except pay taxes and die.
I’d rather see him post the poll tbj suggested and make people choose.
Of course you like tbj suggestion has more none penguins or hockey related choices. You enjoy people like him, stain or npl that brings nothing to this board
Now that’s funny coming from someone whose best contribution to the conversation is posting 3 day old Score articles.
Sullivan should make this team walk back to Pittsburgh!
Jim Rooker would.
Ladies and Gentlemen Elvis has just shit his pants!
Adult Sam is elvis?
Brassard needs to change his number.
Yeah everytime I see that #19 I think of that fraud Bennett
Because Brassard and Bennett are interchangeable? Trottier wore the number too you fuckk
Am getting the feeling this is the Iginla season part 2. Personally still think its all Reaves and Cole’s fault. They are gone from locker room a lot goes into making a team up but you can’t tell people that they all think they want Brian Boitano’s they got it.
No old man.
Maatta is still dog shiit slow, but he’s had a nice year. He should go see a skating coach.
Npl sucks dickss
Gaydogg Mr stats can you tell us his many Pittsburgh residence turned off their TV by now
I will after you explain to me how half of Malkin’s point are because of Crosby.
Imagine if bergeron playing tonight what would the score be
Hey zerofool Nash 50% salary over your sheary anyday sad part he is older and still better
Lol, he’s hit the score sheet but has been mostly invisible in a game where the Pens came out with their pants around their ankles… slow down!
He did slew foot Letang also.
That was Reily Nash
Haha thanks, just saw 20 and Nash. I stand corrected, Rick sucks other than his goal.
Let the record show that in a game where the Bruins thumb fucked the Penguins all over the ice and Nash got in on the scoring… Ricky was a -1 hahaha
By comparison Sheary was even… I know in sammiches world he has used this as a real argument before sooooo
Brassard must feel right at home. The Penguins look just as awful as Ottawa.
Oleksiak is a poser. Dudes not a regular NHLer
Zero strongly disagrees.
I do… I usually don’t let a couple games dictate the whole picture… you have atter tho simply
I also don’t let a few games in Pittsburgh tell me that all his issues from Dallas are gone. I actually really like the guy and think he’ll be fine, but i’m by no means 100% sold to the point that I don’t think we should add an 8th defenseman for insurance.
Based on the Pens history of turning players out vs the clubs they came up with? He’s played like 25 strong games for the Pens… butbthe last 2 or 3… ya those are the ones we need to judge him on.
By the way I’d be curious to hear who you think was sharp the last couple nights outside Malkin…
End of the day this is the page where the alarmists were crying blow it up for years after 2009 so despite the tough few game stretch without Murray I’ll sit back and watch how things unfold as opposed to writing suicide notes to the family. Hockey’s hard bruh, gonna be harder to win 3 straight
I’m the last one who is going to cry blow it up. I’d prefer to mortage the future for 5-7 more runs at a cup. Deal with having a shittty team when it comes, milk the stars for all we can. I’ll be ok if the Pens go into a 5 year slump after sid and geno go, that’s what you’re supposed to do, not be like the Pirates and fail to strike with all you got while the iron is hot.
Honestly, i’ve missed the past few games and only caught snippets of the games. Suprised i’m able to see this one. Major changes coming to work and we’ll all be working late + Saturdays till Easter. Trying to keep my guys from having to work Easter Sunday so they can be with their families.
Cool story bro.
The couple games that Oleksiak looked good appear to be the outlier.
Dirty Bruins
Pusssy Pens
They should be tougher in taking cheap shots? At some point you have respect for your opponent and not try to injure people.
Not when you smell blood. Or in the case of the Pens, pusssy.
So when you smell blood, swing legs and kick out skates. You’re too much man.
Letang even falls into his own goal lol.
Oleksiak. -5
Can’t wait for fanboys to dismiss this off as an off night.
Tinordi, Corrado, Prow, Taylor. Anybody, please no more Hunwick.
Oleksiak and Hunwick should never step on the ice together ever again.
Rutherford fuucked the team chemistry. Crosby looks like he’s pouting.
Starting to wonder if the real loss of Cole was in the locker room….
Thank god no Bergeron…
Sad part is next year we are stuck with pretty much the same team. No one will be intimidated by this team. The only grit this team had was traded away.
Who was their grit last year, or the year before?
Kunitz and Cole and Cullen
I know right… I mean who is gonna step up vs a guy like Chara…
What the fuck… guys still ain’t ready? Are they not past all this? Goaltending let em down but ffs what a bullshit effort all around
Hunwick looks lost. Chad coming back soon?
Fuccckk you GMJR
He slept in on Monday.
Dumo sucks tonight. I miss Werenka.
Sam Sucks.
I’ve never missed Ron Hainsey so much
I miss Mrs Hainsey.
Blow it up… windows closed
Fire GMRJ!!
Or GMJR
Both
If the Pens think Hunwick is going to be a regular PK in the playoffs then Same is right, they will be out in the first round.
GMJR seen stretching in the Penguins locker room.
I bet he wouldn’t do any worse.
Love affair with Oleksiak is over. Give me Ruhwedel.
I agree. D thinks he’s getting 2 million next year. If Cole would play like this they would scratch him.
The pens are are mess in their own end. Hang this one on the goalies but the Bruins are dominating the o zone.
Oleksiak is trending down lately. Should have added a D-man at the deadline.
Apparently it’s better to have 4 top centers than capable Dmen
MY fuck!!! What a mess! The hell with Hunwick look at the entire D core!
Beauty… Sheahan gives the Pens life. I mean I know sammich has been strangling his tiny wiener purple on Nash but me… I like that the Penguins are giving themselves a chance
All these people who think Jarry is better than Murray, pull this game out next time you think or type that. #simplydusty
They should just start DeSmith and Jarry at the same time. Maybe between the two of them one will stop the puck.
How is rick Nash doing zero tool
Looks good tonight… I know watching the Pens lose makes you happy because you’re fake as fuck but I can’t lie… vs a bad start and a 3rd stringer he’s rollin
Hopefully PP specialist Crosby shows up here
Malkin with his second assist of the game! Nice
This team is screwed next years with terrible D contracts.
Looking good DeSmith…. I wonder if GMJR plans to come out of retirement for the playoff run?
Good thing they started DeSmith instead of Jarry
Inb4 sam cheers for Boston…
Nash vs sheary.
Malkin with yet another point that Crosby has nothing to do with!
Again with the narrative that Kessel was being shopped. This is found no where by no one of much greater credibility yet it still comes up. The guy has been nothing short of awesome as a Penguin, he delivers time and again and is a very valuable piece to this team. The last time Kessels name was brought up with Calgary was before the deal to Pittsburgh was complete! Quit feeding the troll!
Agree. He is a sniper with great playmaking ability too. His contract is a bargain the way he is performing.
He’s not saying he isn’t valuable, in fact the contrary, but if JR wasn’t having phone calls regarding players then he’s not doing his job as GM. Is it really that far fetched knowing all the players he was losing to free agency from Bonino, Daley, Kunitz, etc that a player of Kessel’s caliber would potentially return a fwd & D.
CAL has a wealth of young good players. It never hurts to listen…
He flat out claims that trade discussions were had with a specific team. I highly doubt rumours fly about phones calls where teams ask questions.
You’ll get used to this but D is often on another planet when he discusses these so called rumours.