Update 12:12 PM
Penguins have signed Matt Nieto for two years at a 900k AAV. I really like the signing if it is for the fourth line. He is great defensively. I'm hoping it is for the fourth line because I would like the third line to have more of an offensive profile. Nieto to me is like the Matt Cullen signing which shape shifted the Penguins fourth line from garbage to competent. Good start for Dubas
Free agency is here. The Penguins have a lot of needs. It doesn’t sound like free agency is going to be the path to solve the bigger ones. This market should play to one of Dubas’ strengths of acquiring depth players on the cheap. This is a buyer’s market for depth players even more than normal. It is a buyer’s market, period. It will still be tougher to land the biggest prizes of the day and those prizes aren’t as shiny as most years. There are so many teams in a cap crunch and there are players who want to wait out the stagnant cap waiting for a boost a year or two down the road.
The Penguins need a starting goalie, an entire third line, and another top four defenseman.
We have had some interesting buyouts in the past week. Players with name recognition and a past of success. When a Matt Duchene drops into the marketplace, I feel like you should at least inquire on what the temperature is on his next deal. Blake Wheeler is another player you should do that with. Wheeler has proclaimed he wants to play in the Eastern Conference now. Max Pacrioretty is a bet I want the Penguins to make. The ceiling is high and the floor is an LTIR injury. Dubas spoke about taking home run swings at drafting prospects with high offensive ceiling. Well, Pacrioretty is the free agent version of that mentality.
There are some mid-tier guys to monitor depending on how the market plays out. For me they include: Tomas Tatar, Even Rodrigues, Pierre Engvall, Michael Bunting, James van Riemsdyk, and Max Domi. I need players who can contribute offensively either through traditional points or in expected goals for the third line.
As for defense I don’t think the Penguins can rely on landing Noah Hanifin. The cost will probably be too rich for them. A free agency replacement? Shayne Gostisbehere. He’s been better than most think. It was weird how desperate the Flyers were to get rid of him, but they are the Flyers. Since then he’s kinda been lost in the desert with a brief cameo in Carolina. Penguins could sign Gostisbehere for a similar cap to Hanifin minus the assets. It isn’t perfect, but there is a glaring hole in the Penguins top left defense, one I don’t think Pierre-Olivier Joseph is going to fill. It won’t be Brian Dumoulin, either. He is hitting the market.
Some late updates: sounds like longtime PIT D Brian Dumoulin is not returning to the Penguins and will hit the market
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2023
As for the goaltending you still have Tristan Jarry as an option. It is being reported there is mutual interest, but term is the issue
Some late updates: sounds like longtime PIT D Brian Dumoulin is not returning to the Penguins and will hit the market
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2023
Another option hitting the market is Frederick Andersen.
Not that the door is closed on Carolina, but it sounds like Freddy Andersen is headed to the UFA market. Pittsburgh could be an option depending on what happens with Tristan Jarry. @TSNHockey @TheAthletic
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2023
This blog has mostly been about some free agent names, but I’m going to leave you with this. Something I am very much in favor of and talked about a week ago
As I just said on TSN, Sharks continue to try to push the Erik Karlsson trade talks. Believe Sharks allowed teams to speak directly with Karlsson yesterday. Believe Seattle, Carolina and Pittsburgh among teams interested, among others. Leafs interested but not among front-runners
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2023
Now that would make for quite a day.
NEW: https://t.co/Cvi2d0FY9h - Ryan Wilson - Let's get crazy: Erik Karlsson https://t.co/5eaReP8M6S pic.twitter.com/4kMnIaMqpe
— Ryan Wilson (@GunnerStaal) June 21, 2023
It is a busy news day, but I'm also busy. I'll likely have thoughts tomorrow unless things break at a convenient time for me.
Thanks for reading!