NHL: Letang’s camp using Brent Seabrook deal as a benchmark in negotiations

Letang’s camp seeking a Ryan Whitney type of deal?

With Penguins General Manager Ray Shero opening up contract talks with J.P. Barry the agent for Sergei Gonchar, Shero is expected to make a revised offer to Kris Letang’s camp prior to the regular season opener.

Pittsburgh proposed a four year offer to Kris Letang worth $11.5 million in early August that was quickly rejected.

Letang’s camp is using the deal Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrooke (3 years @ 3.5 million per season) signed as a benchmark in negotiations.

Seabrook, 24, had 8 goals and 18 assists in 82 games last season.

Letang, 22, had 10 goals and 23 assists in 70 games last season.

Pittsburgh knows for Letang to sign on the dotted line it’s going to cost them at the minimum $3.5 million per season with industry sources indicating Letang’s camp is trying to land a Ryan Whitney type of salary ($4 million per season.

That’s why it is very important for Pittsburgh to get the Sergei Gonchar situation resolved first. Pittsburgh maybe forced to offer Gonchar more years than they wanted too, in return for a $1.5-$2 million reduction in salary.

Ray Shero felt bad asking for Craig Adams to take a reduction in salary. He will feel even worse asking Gonchar to take a reduction but that’s the reality of the salary cap era.