Penguins forward Nick Spaling files for arbitration

Penguins forward Nick Spaling has officially filed for arbitration, a source confirms to Inside Pittsburgh Sports.

Spaling, 25, declined a qualifying offer of $1.5 million from the Penguins this week.

Negotiations between the Penguins and Spaling’s agent Pat Morris of Newport Sports will continue next week as the sides look to negotiate a new deal prior to Spaling’s arbitration date, which will be determined at a later date (July 20 – August 4).

Spaling is seeking around $2.5 million on a short-term deal.

He had 13 goals and 32 points last season for Nashville in a breakout season.

The deadline to file for arbitration is 5:00 p.m. today. It is expected that Brandon Sutter will also file for arbitration, though, he officially had yet to do so as of 12:00 p.m, an NHLPA official said. Sutter has declined a $2.7 million qualifying offer from the Penguins.

Pittsburgh has expressed “very strong” interest in signing Sutter to a long-term deal, team sources say.

The Penguins currently have $7.3 million in cap space. Spaling, Sutter, Simon Despres and Jason Megna remain unsigned.