On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
Jason Mackay of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The Pittsburgh Penguins are getting a big bargain in defenseman Justin Schultz this season. Schultz signed a one-year deal for $1.4 million, and is currently in defenseman scoring this season with points.
Mackey looks some comparables for Schultz’s for his next deal.
Kevin Shattenkirk‘s 2013 deal – 4 years and $17 million, a $4.25 million cap hit – could be the low-end for Schultz. Shattenkirk was 24 at the time, Schultz is 26.
Seth Jones was 21 and a RFA when he signed his six-year, $32.4 million deal – a $5.4 million cap hit. Jones and Schultz have similar CF%, SCA60 and GA60 numbers.
Hampus Lindholm signed a six-year, $31.5 million in October.
Matt Niskanen signed a seven-year, $40.25 million deal in 2014, but Niskanen was a UFA.
On Ben Bishop …
Scott Burnside of ESPN: Interview with Ben Bishop. The Lightning told Bishop last offseason that they were going to try and trade him, and again at the beginning of the season.
On the Colorado Avalanche …
Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: The Avalanche could have a busy offseason after not moving Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog at the deadline.
“We didn’t have to do anything before the trade deadline — the deadline is usually for buyers and sellers for the rest of the year,” Sakic said Tuesday. “We’ll revisit in the offseason. We still want to get younger. That’s not going to change.”
Many GMs didn’t think Sakic would be move either at the deadline and would hold out until the offseason where more teams could be involved.
“We’re only making a move if it’s the right thing for our team and long-term,” Sakic said. “If there’s something that’s bigger that’s going to help us, we’ll look at it. If not, we’re still going to try to bring in some younger kids and go in that direction.”