Inside Look at the top right/left wingers on the free agent market. Players in bold are players of interest for Pittsburgh.
Players are numbered from highest 08/09 salary to the lowest.
Top 22 Right Wingers
1. Marian Gaborik 27 MIN $7,500,000
2. Marian Hossa 30 DET $7,450,000
3. Martin Havlat 28 CHI $6,000,000
* Pittsburgh would have to get very creative and clear salary. Pittsburgh continues to get mentioned as a possibility because of a close working relationship between Ray Shero and Allan Walsh and Havlat’s interest in playing for a contender, if things don’t work out with the Blackhawks. -Major Longshot.
4. Alexei Kovalev 36 MON $4,500,000
* Seeking $4.5 million per season and is currently out of the Penguins price range. Penguins are indeed interested but Kovalev is not as interested in Pittsburgh like he use to be – Major Longshot
5. Brian Gionta 30 NJ $4,000,000
* Seeking a 3-to-4 year deal, which team sources believe will put him out of reach for the Penguins. Currently not on the Penguins radar but the team will likely make an inquiry.
6. Maxim Afinogenov 29 BUF $3,500,000

7. Miroslav Satan 34 PIT $3,500,000
8. Steve Sullivan 34 NAS $3,200,000
* Will test free agency. Ray Shero will place a call into Stephen Barlett the agent for Sullivan.
9. Mike Knuble 36 PHI $2,800,000M
* There were whispers on the draft floor that Pittsburgh is highly interested in Knuble. Will take a two year offer worth close to $3 million per season to lure him to Pittsburgh. How will a two year deal sit with Bill Guerin?
10. Ales Kotalik 30 EDM $2,500,000
* A player of interest who was not offered a contract by the Oilers. A right handed shot who should be a 25 goal scorer alongside Evgeni Malkin. Expected to receive a slight reduction in salary.
11. Petr Sykora 32 PIT $2,500,000
* Pittsburgh has not closed the door on a possible return for the 32 yr old winger, although the team will not make an offer before July 1.
12. Todd Bertuzzi 34 CGY $1,950,000
* The organization has had internal discussions about Bertuzzi as he was a player they looked into last season. Longshot they pursue it any farther but it has been discussed.
13. Mike Grier 34 SJ $1,775,000
14. Richard Zednik FLA $1,750,000
15. Radek Dvorak 32 FLA $1,600,000
16. Michel Ouellet 27 VAN $1,300,000
17. Mark Recchi 39 BOS $1,250,000M
18. Chris Neil 30 OTT $1,200,000
19. Mikael Samuelsson 32 DET $1,200,000
* Could be a player the Penguins look into but there has been no concrete evidence that they will make a run at him.
20. Ian Laperriere COL $1,150,000
* No longer on the Penguins radar as the Penguins can’t put more money into their third/4th line. Would have been a great fit.
21. Dan Hinote 32 STL $1,000,000
22. Tom Kostopoulos 30 MON $900,000
23. Chad LaRose CAR $875,000
* Player of interest for the Penguins. Market value is a mystery right now.
TOP Left Wingers
1. Alex Tanguay 29 MON $5,375,000
2. Jere Lehtinen 36 DAL $4,100,000
* On the downside of his career. Getting mentioned some from people in the know because he will sign for a much lesser price, close friends with Bill Guerin.
3. Erik Cole 30 CAR $4,000,000
* Pittsburgh had interest at the deadline. Would have to take a one year deal at a lesser rate
4. Daniel Sedin 28 VAN $3,575,000
5. Kyle Calder 30 LA $2,700,000
6. Mark Bell NYR $2,500,000
* Penguins scouts wanted Ray Shero to acquire Bell on waivers last season. Don’t see the Penguins making a move on him again.
7. Ruslan Fedotenko 30 PIT $2,250,000
* In talks with Penguins but the two sides are apart on the amount of money per season and the term.
8. P.J. Axelsson 34 BOS $1,850,000
9. Taylor Pyatt 27 VAN $1,575,000
* Look for the Penguins to give Pyatt a look. He has been on the Penguins radar for sometime but does he fit the bill of a top 6 forward?
10. Ville Peltonen 36 FLA $1,200,000
11. Matt Pettinger 28 TBL $1,100,000
12. Marcus Nilson CGY $1,000,000
13. Travis Moen 27 SJ $925,000
* A player the Penguins love but there is no room for him
14. Janne Pesonen 27 PIT $875,000
* There has been discussions about a return but Pesonen is seeking a one way contract.
15. Stephane Veilleux 27 MIN $862,500
* A player the Penguins like but doesn’t fit the bill for a top 6 forward
16. Brendan Shanahan 40 NJD $800,000

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