Free Agency XII | All Pens FA News, Legit FA Rumors, Trade Ideas Here

[Riptide]

All figures are cap numbers, not salaries, and are taken directly from www.capgeek.com.

Confirmed 2014-2015 salary ceiling: ....69,000,000
Projected cap spending: .....................68,619,167
Projected cap space: ..............................380,833



PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Forward.................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

Evgeni Malkin|

C​

|

27​

|

9,500,000​

|

9,500,000​

|

9,500,000​

Sidney Crosby|

C​

|

26​

|

8,700,000​

|

8,700,000​

|

8,700,000​

Patric Hornqvist|

RW​

|

27​

|

4,250,000​

|

4,250,000​

|

4,250,000​

Chris Kunitz|

LW​

|

34​

|

3,850,000​

|

3,850,000​

|

3,850,000​

Pascal Dupuis|

RW​

|

35​

|

3,750,000​

|

3,750,000​

|

3,750,000​

Brandon Sutter|

C​

|

25​

|

3,300,000​

|

3,300,000​

|

UFA​

Nick Spaling|

LW​

|

25​

|

2,200,000​

|

2,200,000​

|

UFA​

Marcel Goc|

C​

|

30​

|

1,200,000​

|

UFA​

Steve Downie|

RW​

|

27​

|

1,000,000​

|

UFA​

Beau Bennett|

LW​

|

22​

|

900,000​

|

RFA​

Blake Comeau|

LW​

|

28​

|

700,000​

|

UFA​

Craig Adams|

RW​

|

37​

|

700,000​

|

UFA​

Defense.................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

.2016-17​

Kris Letang|

D​

|

27​

|

7,250,000​

|

7,250,000​

|

7,250,000​

Paul Martin|

D​

|

33​

|

5,000,000​

|

UFA​

Christian Ehrhoff|

D​

|

32​

|

4,000,000​

|

UFA​

Rob Scuderi|

D​

|

35​

|

3,375,000​

|

3,375,000​

|

3,375,000​

Simon Despres|

D​

|

22​

|

900,000​

|

900,000​

|

RFA​

Olli Maatta|

D​

|

19​

|

894,167​

|

894,167​

|

RFA​

Robert Bortuzzo|

D​

|

25​

|

600,000​

|

RFA​

Philip Samuelsson|

D​

|

22​

|

550,000​

|

RFA​

Goalie...................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

.2016-17​

Marc-Andre Fleury|

G​

|

29​

|

5,000,000​

|

UFA​

Thomas Greiss|

G​

|

28​

|

1,000,000​

|

UFA​

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS

Forward...............​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

Jayson Megna|

RW​

|

24​

|

874,125​

|

RFA​

Josh Archibald|

RW​

|

21​

|

659,167​

|

659,167​

|

659,167​

Scott Wilson|

LW​

|

22​

|

655,000​

|

655,000​

|

RFA​

Bryan Rust|

RW​

|

22​

|

652,500​

|

652,500​

|

RFA​

Adam Payerl|

RW​

|

23​

|

626,667​

|

RFA​

Anton Zlobin|

LW​

|

21​

|

608,333​

|

608,333​

|

RFA​

Matia Marcantuoni|

C​

|

20​

|

608,333​

|

608,333​

|

608,333​

Dominik Uher|

C​

|

21​

|

601,667​

|

RFA​

Tom Kuhnhackl|

LW​

|

22​

|

598,333​

|

RFA​

Jean-Sebastien Dea|

C​

|

20​

|

598,333​

|

598,333​

|

598,333​

|

RFA​

Zach Sill|

C​

|

26​

|

550,000​

|

UFA​

Bobby Farnham|

LW​

|

25​

|

550,000​

|

RFA​

Nick Drazenovic|

C​

|

27​

|

550,000​

|

UFA​

Andrew Ebbett|

C​

|

31​

|

550,000​

|

UFA​

Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond|

RW​

|

29​

|

550,000​

|

UFA​

Defense.............................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

Derrick Pouliot|

D​

|

20​

|

863,333​

|

863,333​

|

863,333​

Brian Dumoulin|

D​

|

22​

|

831,667​

|

RFA​

Harrison Ruopp|

D​

|

21​

|

650,833​

|

650,833​

|

RFA​

Nick D'Agostino|

D​

|

23​

|

625,000​

|

RFA​

Scott Harrington|

D​

|

21​

|

589,167​

|

589,167​

|

RFA​

Reid McNeill|

D​

|

22​

|

575,000​

|

RFA​

Taylor Chorney|

D​

|

27​

|

550,000​

|

UFA​

Goalie................................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2014-15​

|

2015-16​

|

2016-17​

Matt Murray|

G​

|

20​

|

620,000​

|

620,000​

|

620,000​

Jeff Zatkoff|

G​

|

27​

|

600,000​

|

600,000​

|

UFA​

Eric Hartzell|

G​

|

25​

|

550,000​

|

RFA​

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Player........................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2013-14​

|

News and notes​

Brooks Orpik|

D​

|

33​

|

3,750,000​

| Signed with Washington (5 years, $5.5M per) !

Jussi Jokinen|

LW​

|

31​

|

3,000,000​

| Signed with Florida (4 years, $4M per) ?

Lee Stempniak|

RW​

|

31​

|

2,500,000​

| Signed with N.Y. Rangers (1 year, $900k)

Matt Niskanen|

D​

|

27​

|

2,300,000​

| Signed with Washington (7 years, $5.75M per)

Tomas Vokoun|

G​

|

37​

|

2,000,000​

|God bless the man if he's able to continue playing, but it won't be in Pittsburgh

Marcel Goc|

C​

|

30​

|

1,700,000​

| Re-signed with Penguins (1 year, $1.2M)

Taylor Pyatt|

LW​

|

32​

|

1,550,000​

| Signed with Genève-Servette (NLA)

Tanner Glass|

LW​

|

30​

|

1,100,000​

| Signed with N.Y. Rangers (3 years, $1.45M per) ?!

Spencer Machacek|

RW​

|

25​

|

632,500​

|Group VI UFA provided much-needed scoring touch for WBS after trade

Deryk Engelland|

D​

|

32​

|

566,667​

| Signed with Calgary (3 years, $2.9M per) ?!?!?!

Joe Vitale|

C​

|

28​

|

550,000​

| Signed with Arizona (3 years, $1.117M per)

Brian Gibbons|

C​

|

26​

|

550,000​

| Signed with Columbus (1 year, $750k, 2-way)

Zach Sill|

C​

|

26​

|

550,000​

| Re-signed with Penguins (1 year, $550k, 2-way)

Chuck Kobasew|

RW​

|

32​

|

550,000​

| Signed with Bern (NLA)

Chris Conner|

RW​

|

30​

|

550,000​

| Signed with Washington (1 year, $550k, 2-way)

Harry Zolnierczyk|

LW​

|

26​

|

550,000​

| Signed with N.Y. Islanders (1 year, $600k, 2-way)

Nick Drazenovic|

C​

|

27​

|

550,000​

| Re-signed with Penguins (1 year, $550k, 2-way)

Brendan Mikkelson|

D​

|

26​

|

550,000​

|Decent scoring defenseman ... in the AHL

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Player......................​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

2013-14​

|

News and notes​

Brandon Sutter|

C​

|

24​

|

2,066,667​

| Re-signed with Penguins (2 years, $3.3M per)

Nick Spaling|

LW​

|

25​

|

1,500,000​

| Re-signed with Penguins (2 years, $2.2M per)

Jayson Megna|

RW​

|

24​

|

925,000​

| Re-signed with Penguins (1 year, $874k, 2-way)

Simon Despres|

D​

|

22​

|

840,000​

| Re-signed with Penguins (2 years, $900k per)

Philip Samuelsson|

D​

|

22​

|

627,500​

| Re-signed with Penguins (1 year, $550k, 2-way)

Bobby Farnham|

LW​

|

25​

|

550,000​

| Re-signed with Penguins (1 year, $550k, 2-way)

SIGNED PROSPECTS

Player​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

Current Team​

|

Contract​

Kasperi Kapanen|

RW​

|

18​

|

KalPa (Liiga)​

|

3 years/925,000 per​

Oskar Sundqvist|

C​

|

20​

|

SkellefteÃ¥ (SHL)​

|

3 years/708,333 per​

Tristan Jarry|

G​

|

19​

|

Edmonton (WHL)​

|

3 years/650,833 per​

UNSIGNED PROSPECTS

Player​

​

​

|

Pos.​

|

Age​

|

Current Team (League)​

Anthony Angello|

F​

|

18​

|Omaha (USHL)

Dane Birks|

D​

|

18​

|Michigan Tech (WCHA)

Teddy Blueger|

F​

|

19​

|Minnesota State (WCHA)

Blaine Byron|

F​

|

19​

|Maine (HEA)

Jake Guentzel|

F​

|

19​

|Nebraska-Omaha (WCHA)

Troy Josephs|

F​

|

20​

|Clarkson (ECAC)

Sam Lafferty|

F​

|

19​

|Tri-City (USHL)

Jaden Lindo|

F​

|

18​

|Owen Sound (OHL)

Sean Maguire|

G​

|

21​

|Boston University (HEA)

Alexander Pechurskiy|

G​

|

24​

|Magnitogorsk (KHL)

Ryan Segalla|

D​

|

19​

|Connecticut (HEA)

Jeff Taylor|

D​

|

20​

|Union (ECAC)

Click to read more...

 

[WayneSid9987]

#Hayes and #BizWatch at this point.
Carry on.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Kevin Hayes to be a Pen in 3 days, 6 hours, and 26 minutes.

 

[SprootsMasterFlex]

Kevin Hayes to be a Pen in 3 days, 6 hours, and 26 minutes.

Hope this is combined with Adams becoming an Ex-Pen @ the same time.... since they'll have to clear up a roster spot for Hayes (50 contract limit)

 

[redsono93]

What camp invites would you guys like to see?

 

[Shady Machine]

What camp invites would you guys like to see?

Nobody. We have enough players to fight for spots. Payerl, Sill, Megna all fighting for that 12th spot. Plus if they sign Biz Nasty, then they are fighting for 12th/13th spot.

 

[Kristopher Letang]

What camp invites would you guys like to see?

Kobasew lol

 

[mikethelegacy]

Kobasew lol

I'm sure we'll have another hack that scores like 14 goals in camp and does nothing after he gets a contract...lol

 

[AjaxTelamon]

So it seems clear Hayes will want a guaranteed NHL spot. Do we even have that to offer at this point? Our top 9 seems set, with just that L4 RW spot available. That's not exactly a ton of opportunity.

 

[Ogrezilla]

So it seems clear Hayes will want a guaranteed NHL spot. Do we even have that to offer at this point? Our top 9 seems set, with just that L4 RW spot available. That's not exactly a ton of opportunity.

I'd promise him 10 games or so in the NHL to prove he deserves a spot. I wouldn't guarantee anything beyond that.

 

[Riptide]

Kevin Hayes to be a Pen in 3 days, 6 hours, and 26 minutes.

There's going to be some bitterly disappointed people when he signs elsewhere.

 

[Riptide]

I'd promise him 10 games or so in the NHL to prove he deserves a spot. I wouldn't guarantee anything beyond that.

Which is fair... but it also means he'd likely go elsewhere (which he probably will anyway).

 

[Shrimper]

I don't see us getting Hayes but we should at least try. We have a top 6 spot open, why not give him a shot?

 

[Ogrezilla]

Which is fair... but it also means he'd likely go elsewhere (which he probably will anyway).

That's fine. I don't want to see us get in the habit of promising kids who have earned nothing anything beyond a good chance.

A 10 game trial gives him a good chance and it guarantees he gets at least 10 games worth of NHL salary. That's a bit over 100 grand.

 

[Waffle Fries]

So it seems clear Hayes will want a guaranteed NHL spot. Do we even have that to offer at this point? Our top 9 seems set, with just that L4 RW spot available. That's not exactly a ton of opportunity.

With all the talk about Kapanen potentially making the team, I don't know if the top 9 is set.

 

[iFishyHD]

Hope this is combined with Adams becoming an Ex-Pen @ the same time.... since they'll have to clear up a roster spot for Hayes (50 contract limit)

We have enough. I am not a contract Wiz, but I believe Jarry's slides, and maybe Kaps.

There's going to be some bitterly disappointed people when he signs elsewhere.

This. I really don't see him signing here, not unrealistic, but not exactly guaranteed like some people tend to think.

 

[Ogrezilla]

This. I really don't see him signing here, not unrealistic, but not exactly guaranteed like some people tend to think.

I don't think anyone actually thinks that.

 

[ColePens]

So we are all bored... let's throw out some questions:

1) With the current roster, where do you rank the Penguins coming into this season? Is it even plausible to rank without knowing our strategy first?

2) What are your strengths/weaknesses?

3) Who is one Penguin you think will have an unexpected great season?

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I don't see Hayes signing with the Pens either. I think he'll want more money and more of a guarantee he plays in the NHL, he won't get that in Pittsburgh unless he's really that good or has that good of a discussion with Rutherford.

He'll end up either in Florida or some other team that will throw more money at him and is crappy enough to give him a spot.

 

[Shady Machine]

1.) We are still the top team in the division in the regular season. That's more a product of being in a ****** division than a comment on our elite status. Likely a top 3 team in the East. None of that matters until the playoffs though.

I will say I think we addressed some of our issues by cutting some dead weight and adding to the bottom 6. On paper we appear tougher to play against.

2.) Strengths:

The two best players in the world.
Center depth (5 top 9 centers).
Special teams. Crazy good PP on paper.
Our defensive depth is very good.

Weaknesses:

Top 6 winger depth is pretty terrible.
Goaltending is always a potential issue with MAF as the starter (even though I think Greiss could help).
Lack of size/physicality among the forwards.

Question marks:

Coaching. We all think it's an upgrade but it's hard to know until we see the system in action.
Are we a tough enough team to play against?
Do we miss James Neal more than we realize?
Did we bring in the right complimentary wingers for Sid and Geno?

3.) I expect Ehrhoff to have a great season. I'm not sure if it's unexpected or not, but he will score 45-50 points and lead our PP to ridiculous success rate.

Unexpected is Despres (although many here would agree). I think he solidifies himself as a legit top 4 dman due to injuries during the season. He stands to benefit a lot of Johnston's system.

Bennett stays healthy and produces 45 points. pixies still hates him.

Totally off the wall unexpected: Nick Spaling plays a top 6 role and does very well.

 

[ColePens]

Interesting perspective about the center depth, Shady, but I'll ask you this...

Is having a bunch of average to good third line centers worth it? Is that good depth? Or should we have focused on one of those guys and allocating funds elsewhere. Or maybe taking all 3-4 3rd line centers we have and putting it to one much better 3rd line center?

 

[penguins2946*]

So we are all bored... let's throw out some questions:

1) With the current roster, where do you rank the Penguins coming into this season? Is it even plausible to rank without knowing our strategy first?

I think we'll definitely win the Metro division, and we'll either come in 1st or 2nd in the East. The only team I could see finishing above the Pens is Tampa.

2) What are your strengths/weaknesses?

Strengths:

-Center depth
-Defensive depth
-Top pair D (we have 3 of them)
-Top line centers (duh)
-Grit on the wings
-Bottom-6 wingers

Weaknesses:

-Top-6 wingers
-Skill and size on the wings
-Goaltending
-Coaching (maybe not a negative, it's a question mark though)
-young NHL ready forwards with legit potential

3) Who is one Penguin you think will have an unexpected great season?

Ehrhoff and Hornqvist both will have fantastic seasons. Career numbers for each.

 

[Shady Machine]

Interesting perspective about the center depth, Shady, but I'll ask you this...

Is having a bunch of average to good third line centers worth it? Is that good depth? Or should we have focused on one of those guys and allocating funds elsewhere. Or maybe taking all 3-4 3rd line centers we have and putting it to one much better 3rd line center?

Those are fair questions. I think Goc at 1.2mil is a very good deal. Vitale, while a different player and a guy we both loved, commanded nearly as much in free agency. If we have Crosby-Malkin-Sutter-Vitale as our centers and one of the top 3 went down, I'm not very comfortable with Vitale as a 3rd line center.

Having Spaling, Sutter, and Goc may be overkill by one spot. My concern isn't so much with the 3 centers, because supposedly Spaling is equally good if not better on the wing, but with the vision for the 3rd line. Spaling-Sutter-Dupuis while all good players, lacks an identity.

So I think that's the bigger struggle with the forwards. Collectively, we have better players (although currently a worse top 6), but do they work as a cohesive unit? Is there too much redundancy, not in terms of position but of type of player? I guess we will find out.

 

[Fordy]

There is simply no way you can call coaching a weakness coming off of Dan Bylsma. Even having a below average coach would be an improvement in that category.

 

[penguins2946*]

There is simply no way you can call coaching a weakness coming off of Dan Bylsma. Even having a below average coach would be an improvement in that category.

Johnston will probably be an improvement, but we can't be sure yet. He has said all the right things so far.