2:33 p.m. Talbot signs with Flyers
Max Talbot has signed a 5 year deal worth $9 million with the Philadelphia Flyers.
1:55 p.m. Pens have looked into Joel Ward
The Penguins have expressed preliminary interest in winger Joel Ward. The Sharks are also among several suitors, according to a league source.
1:55 p.m. Pens have looked into Joel Ward
The Penguins have expressed preliminary interest in winger Joel Ward. The Sharks are also among several suitors, according to a league source.
12:35 p.m. Cap Space for Pens
The Penguins have around $4.5 million in cap space. They have approximately $59.791 million committed for next season.
12:03 p.m. Pens sign Tyler Kennedy to 2 year deal
Tyler Kennedy gets his two year deal, agreeing to a 2 year – $4 million deal, the team has announced.
11:32 a.m. Pens withdraw offer to Jagr
Big news on the Jagr front as the team has withdrawn their offer to Jagr. GM Ray Shero says in the release that the team made a one year – $2 million offer. Shero says that the team didn’t want to get into a bidding war.
11:32 a.m. Pens withdraw offer to Jagr
Big news on the Jagr front as the team has withdrawn their offer to Jagr. GM Ray Shero says in the release that the team made a one year – $2 million offer. Shero says that the team didn’t want to get into a bidding war.
9:14 a.m. Rupp replacement?
The Pittsburgh Penguins are said to have some level of interest in 30 year old winger Brad Winchester. The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder provides toughness and grit along with some scoring ability, netting 10 goals and 6 assists last season. He made $700,000 in 2010-2011 and had 114 penalty minutes. Winchester scored a career high 13 goals in 2008-2009.
8:30 a.m. Kennedy Watch
The Penguins feel confident that they will get Tyler Kennedy locked up before free agency starts at 12:00 p.m. but both sides are expecting talks to go right down to the wire. As of 8:30 a.m., talks have yet to get going.
8:15 a.m. Quiet on Jagr for now
All quiet on the Jaromir Jagr front. Pittsburgh remains hopeful they will hear something before noon but don’t intend to pull offer if they don’t. There are at least four teams still in play.
The “Replacement List”
The Pittsburgh Penguins have fears about having to overspend on the open market and their plans at 12:00 p.m. will be dictated by the Kennedy and Jagr situations.
Even if they missed out on Jagr and Kennedy, they don’t expect to make a big splash like they did last summer.
Pens GM Ray Shero has talked about a replacement list he has and list is likely be categorized with possible fits for Tyler Kennedy and possible fits that would fill Jagr’s projected spot if he signs elsewhere.
Jagr Replacement List
There are slim pickings on the open market if Jagr goes elsewhere.
The Penguins like Michael Ryder and intend to look at him on a possible Peter Sykora type deal. However, executives around the believe he’s going to land a three year deal in the $9 to $10 million range, due to the landscape of the market.
Erik Cole will hit the open market but the Penguins are not expected to be in the running for him.
A few candidates on one year contracts out there include Simon Gagne and Jamie Lagenbrunner.
Gagne due to his health problems is expected to get a one year deal and Lagenbrunner is said to be eyeing a contender. However, scouts believe he’s on the downside of his career.
I have yet to hear that the Penguins are interested in either but we’ll see.
The Penguins sources confirm have interest in Flyers forward Ville Leino. They are likely to look into him but the Penguins believe he’s going to be out of their price. Agent Bill Zito is said to be looking for $4 million per season on at least a three year deal.
Kennedy Replacement List
The Tyler Kennedy replacement list is said to be long. Two names to keep an eye on include Coyotes forward Radim Vrbata and Wild forward
Antti Miettinen. Vrbata has interest in Pittsburgh and scouts see him as an excellent fit on a second line or third line role.
However, his agent Rich Evans is seeking a three year deal.
Miettinen is a player several scouts see as a fit. He was a player in Minnesota playing out of position in a first line role.
Miettinen, can skate and has some skill, putting up 20 goals in 2009-2010. He is also a player who help a team on the power play, scoring 8 goals for Minnesota last season, which would have ranked 2nd on the Penguins.
Other players of interest are said to be Nashville winger Joel Ward.
One name the Penguins figure to look into is Scottie Upshall who scored 22 goals last season and would be a strong fit in Bylsma’s system.
I asked someone close to the Columbus Blue Jackets if they’ve heard what Upshall’s seeking and he said $3.25 – $3.5 million on a multi-year deal.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s Sean Bergenheim figures to cash in on a strong playoff run and likely get overpaid as a third line player.
“Expecting a ton of interest, ” agent Todd Diamond said this morning.
Players in bold = Players to keep an eye on
Center
Brad Richards – $7,800,000
Tim Connolly – $4,500,000
Jason Arnott – $4,500,000
Michal Handzus – $4,000,000
Tomas Fleischmann – $2,600,000
Todd White – $2,375,000
Vaclav Prospal – $2,100,000
Kris Draper Detroit – $1,583,000
Rob Niedermayer – $1,250,000
Mike Modano – $1,250,000
John Madden – $1,250,000
Marty Reasoner – $1,150,000
Vernon Fiddler Phoenix Coyotes – $1,100,000
Petr Prucha – $1,100,000
Patrick Rissmiller – $1,000,000
Brian Sutherby – $812,000
Marcel Goc – $775,000
Scott Nichol – $760,000
Jerred Smithson – $738,000
Ryan Carter – $625,000
Andrew Murray – $625,000
Ryan Shannon – $625,000
Jamie Lundmark – $600,000
Zenon Konopka – $600,000
Rick Rypien – $550,000
Cody McCormick – $500,000
Left Wingers
Simon Gagne – $5,250,000
Cory Stillman – $3,533,000
Marco Sturm – $3,500,000
Alexei Ponikarovsky – $3,200,000
Erik Cole – $2,900,000
Sergei Samsonov – $2,533,000
Antti Miettinen – $2,333,000
Andrew Brunette – $2,333,000
Ethan Moreau – $2,000,000
Nikolai Zherdev – $2,000,000
Chris Higgins – $1,600,000
Jarkko Ruutu – $1,300,000
Raffi Torres – $1,000,000
Aaron Voros – $1,000,000
Ben Eager – $965,000
Ville Leino – $800,000
Darcy Hordichuk – $775,000
Sean Bergenheim – $700,000
Brad Winchester – $700,000
Eric Boulton – $650,000
Drew Miller Detroit – $650,000
Jon Sim – $650,000
Tanner Glass – $625,000
David Koci – $575,000
Jeff Taffe – $550,000
Steve MacIntyre – $500,000
Right Wingers
Alexei Kovalev – $5,000,000
Teemu Selanne – $4,500,000 (bonuses)
Michael Ryder – $4,000,000
Steve Sullivan – $3,750,000
Radim Vrbata – $3,000,000
Jamie Langenbrunner – $2,800,000
Chris Clark Columbus – $2,633,000
Chuck Kobasew – $2,333,000
Scottie Upshall – $2,250,000
Radek Dvorak – $1,700,000
Mike Grier – $1,500,000
Joel Ward – $1,500,000
Matt Bradley – $1,000,000
Michael Rupp – $825,000
Boyd Gordon – $800,000
Patrick Eaves – $750,000
Eric Godard – $750,000
Fredrik Sjostrom – $750,000
Jonas Andersson – $675,000
Jamal Mayers – $600,000
Cam Janssen – $600,000
Wade Belak – $575,000
Chris Conner – $550,000
Brandon Segal – $550,000
Pens Cap Situation
The Penguins have approximately $57.791 million committed to 19 players for the 2011-2012 season.
Projected Cap Space: $6.5 million
Forwards
Sidney Crosby – $8.7 million
Evgeni Malkin – $8.7 million
Jordan Staal – $4 million
Chris Kunitz – $3.725 million
James Neal – $2.850 million
Matt Cooke – $1.8 million
Pascal Dupuis – $1.5 million
Arron Asham – $775,000
Craig Adams – $675,000
Mark Letestu – $625,000
Total: $33.350
Defensemen
Paul Martin – $5 million
Zbynek Michalek – $4 million
Brooks Orpik – $3.75 million
Kris Letang – $3.5 million
Matt Niskanen – $1.5 million
Deryk Engelland – $566,000
Ben Lovejoy – $525,000
Total: $18.841 million
Goaltenders
Marc Andre Fleury – $5 million
Brent Johnson – $600,000
Total: $5.6 million
Projected Cap Space: $6.5 million
Here are some cap hits for players on two-way deals who could win jobs out of camp:
Forwards
Eric Tangradi – $849,000
Nick Johnson – $550,000
Dustin Jeffrey – $550,000 (Qualifying offer made: Cap hit to be determined, if qualifying offer is not accepted.)
Ryan Craig – $525,000
Joe Vitale – $512,000
Defensemen
Simon Despres – $840,000
Brian Strait – $862,000
Robert Bortuzzo – $535,000
Penguins/NHL
