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How Much Will Niskanen Command on the Open Market? |
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Had an interesting talk with a veteran NHL scout about how much he thinks Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Niskanen will command on the unrestricted free agent market this summer if he does not re-sign with the Penguins first.
"I'm not a capologist, but I would think he'll easily get $6 million this summer on a long-term deal," he said. "He's had a great season, eats a lot of minutes, shoots righthanded and is still just 27 years old. It also helps him that the market has really thinned out because most teams have signed their UFA defensemen that other teams would covet on the market."
"Six million?" I asked. "Has he had enough high end seasons to get that much?"
"That's the risk," the scout said. "He's a good player but will he match his salary-drive season next year and beyond that? That's just the nature of the beast when you are doing business in the UFA market. He's going to get paid like a perennial star in his prime, bank on it."
From what I have heard, Niskanen will have no lack of suitors this summer. It will be interesting for sure.
More to come...
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