The NHL’s free agency market opens up at 12 noon. The Penguins, by signals from Kyle Dubas, aren’t in a hurry to make a big splash in the free agent market.
“We’ll stay after it, for sure,” Dubas said. “But it might not be the one gigantic-type transaction. We’ll try to stay active on those, but it might be more of a brick-by-boring-brick style.”
That applies to July 1, as Dubas doesn’t want to make the mistake of being too aggressive.
“I try to learn from the past, and we’ll try to steer clear of that,” Dubas said. “Rather than just doing something for the sake of doing it, I’d rather come here and say, ‘Yeah, we aspire to do it and the options weren’t there.’ So, we’ve had to check down and continue to build it up the way that we have.”
That’s probably for the best when taking into account that this year’s class of free agents isn’t the best, and plenty of teams have a lot of salary cap space with the recent increases. That adds up to a bad combination.
Elliotte Friedman made some predictions, they contain only a few Penguin related nuggets.
Jason Robertson: Wants Dallas to budge. Don’t see it now. My guess is they go to arbitration. Unless Yzerman decides he’s the best option for Larkin.
Not sure if some, including Dubas, have completely given up hope for finding a way to wrangle Jason Robertson into Pittsburgh, but it doesn’t look very likely. If he files for arbitration then offer sheets are off the table and he’ll be getting a one-year contract with the Stars. Dallas could always still trade him at some point in the next year but that has already proven difficult with the player’s reluctance to sign a long-term contract with a team like Seattle.
Darnell Nurse: Pittsburgh wanted Edmonton to take back a contract. The Oilers didn’t like whatever was presented to them. Philadelphia’s had a challenge putting all of the different pieces together in and out. Boston’s shown interest, but that’s also about what has to go out to make it work. I believe the Sharks are very interested, but Nurse remains east-focused as I write this.
This makes perfect sense, if the Pens and Oilers even want to have a conversation about sending Nurse and his $9.25 million cap hit for four years to Pittsburgh, Edmonton taking Ryan Graves ($4.5mx3) is an unavoidable starting point. Graves’ involvement in a Nurse trade just has to happen for the Penguins to even consider going forward with negotiations. The Oilers don’t have to accept that condition and can go look for a different trade fit as a result, which looks like is exactly what is playing out in real time. That makes for a natural conclusion to the trade rumors around Nurse and the Penguins; neither side has to jump through hoops that they don’t want to and an acceptable trade match for both teams on this deal might be out of grasp.
Alexander Nikishin: A lot of interest. Carolina will hold until they get what they want, which includes a player. Rangers are believed to have offered a first and another pick. But that didn’t do it. Heavy competition, with many asking: what does he want on his next deal? Can’t sign an offer sheet.
Nikishin fits the age range and position the Penguins need the most, but the price to acquire will be very high. Difficult to see Pittsburgh engaging and coming out on a top in a bidding war in this area.
Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Toronto, Utah, Vancouver. These teams were all around Noel Acciari, Erik Haula, Boone Jenner, Scott Laughton, Colton Sissons (Nashville reunion?), Kevin Stenlund
Noel Acciari’s potential suitors could be among this group. Seems like a lot of ex-Penguins end up migrating to Utah, worth watching to see if that happens again or he ends up somewhere else. Hopefully not Philadelphia..
Stuart Skinner: If Hellebuyck is traded, Winnipeg makes the most sense. Otherwise, I’d take a shot if I was the Mammoth. They need to lighten Karel Vejmelka’s load.
Utah traded for and signed Sebastian Cossa, so I’m not sure where Skinner would fit into the mix for them with Vejmelka also signed for next year. But this will be interesting to see if Skinner doesn’t end up signing today that perhaps could mean he’s waiting to see how the dust settles with other situations like Hellebuyck’s before he can find his next spot. Sergei Bobrovsky is out there as a big fish, and Florida is apparently booked up by acquiring Jacob Markstrom (and Samuel Ersson), so there currently aren’t too many teams looking for a 1/1A goalie like Skinner at the moment until something else changes to create an opening.
Ryan Shea: Had a really good year. Heard Lightning really liked him. But they also have their eyes on Werenski and John Carlson, if he doesnt sign in Carolina. Good player.
Tampa has a lot of plates in the air with potentially Werenski and Carlson, Shea’s next spot will be one to track today too. Friedman also mentioned that San Jose is looking to add a defenseman today, that might not be a bad spot to pull up to as a team on the rise over the next 3-4 years for a player like Shea.
Offer sheets: Last year, the Hurricanes threatened the Oilers (who signed Evan Bouchard) and the Rangers (who acquiesced and traded them K’Andre Miller). I think they’re considering doing it again. I have a theory, but I’m too chicken to say it. I also believe Seattle is considering it, as they basically created an offer-sheet trade for Jason Robertson, if he’d taken their cash. I also believe Mavrik Bourque is another potential target. I don’t want to get everyone’s hopes up, but there’s lots of noise out there.
The Penguins, or another NHL team, could offer up to $4.775 million for Bourque and only have to surrender a 2027 second round draft pick if Dallas elects not to match, and that amount could put them in an uncomfortable spot should Robertson head for arbitration. Pittsburgh has two second rounders in 2027 (their own, plus the Rangers) and then three more second rounders coming up in 2028. The Pens certainly have the ammo on hand to force Dallas’ position, if they want to get into that lane. They might have to move quickly to see if Bourque would even sign with them if a team like Carolina is potentially lurking as a consideration.
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Overall, for the Penguins, we’ll see if they dip into the bargain bin for any free agent signings or look to the trade market to reshape their team. Since many/most the Dubas moves (like yesterday’s trade of Parker Wotherspoon) usually come completely out of left field, there could yet be fireworks for the Pens if they decide to keep flipping NHL players around at the start of the free agency period. Whether that means a bigger names like Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust or smaller pieces like Tommy Novak and Justin Brazeau remains to be seen.
