The Penguins and Devils have some tough choices ahead

Mark Easson

14 years ago

Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: The Pittsburgh Penguins have a solid nucleus locked up for at least next season: Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Fleury, Orpik and Letang. Due to their salary contraints, several players won’t be re-signed, or if they do it will be a discounted price. Their UFA list contains: Gonchar, Ponikarovsky, Guerin, Cooke, Fedotenko, Leopold, Eaton and McKee. The 36-year Gonchar is looking for a 2 year deal worth more than $5 million. If they don’t bring Gonchar back, it would create a big hole that they’d need to fill.

Mark Everson of the NY Post: Everson thinks the New Jersey Devils will have to choose which left winger, Zach Parise or Ilya Kovalchuk, they’ll want to throw millions at, as they won’t be able to afford both after next season. Do they look to lock up Parise past next season, do they try to bring Kovalchuk back and let Parise go, or do they think they think they can make it with 2 high paid left wingers. I can see them locking up Parise long term, he’s turning out to be a top player in the league. Kovalchuk is probably looking for at least $8 million, Parise will be looking for something around $7 million, Elias is a $6 million cap hit, Rolston is at $5 million, and Zubrus is at $3.4 million. Paul Martin is also a UFA, and will be looking for more than his $3.833 cap hit, unless he’ll take something along the same lines to remain with the Devils.