On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: (mailbag) Patric Hornqvist will be a UFA after next season, and at 31 years old, he’ll likely be looking for one more big contract and a raise from his current $4.25 million. That will likely have to come from another team as someone will offer more than the Penguins. The Penguins do have plenty of young wingers to take his spot.
Ian Cole will also be an unrestricted free agent and in line for a raise. The Penguins would like to keep him.
doesn’t see any of the remaining free agent centers as third line options for the Penguins.
wouldn’t be surprised if their Penguins fill their third line hole via a trade sometime in September. Tyler Bozak‘s name has come up as an option, but he makes $4.2 million, $2 million more than GM Jim Rutherford has for the spot. Salary could also back in a trade, but it would still be tight.
Rutherford sees the Penguins and Brian Dumoulin going to salary arbitration, though it could just be posturing. The Penguins could be thinking he’s worth in the $3 million range on a new deal, with Dumoulin thinking Olli Maatta money and around $4 million.
Hard to see a Phil Kessel trade that would actually improve the Penguins Cup chances. The Penguins would likely have to retain salary in any Kessel trade as Cup contenders don’t have a lot of cap space. doesn’t see Kessel finishing his career in Pittsburgh, but doesn’t see them trading him now.
Olli Maatta isn’t untouchable but it’s not easy to find a team that can fit his contract in. Don’t think the Penguins are desperate move Maatta.
Seems more than 50-50 that Matt Cullen plays next season as opposed to retiring. If Cullen does decide to play, Rutherford will do all he can to bring him back.