The Penguins made big waves today getting goal scoring winger James Neal, along with a defenseman Niskanen in return for Alex Goligoski, in what was considered a hockey trade, not a rental. Both players have a year left on their contracts, have fairly cap friendly deals, and are RFA at the end, not UFA. Shero hinted that he had more up his sleeve. The following are players that have been rumored to be on the radar screen:
Clarke MacArthur-Toronto-1.1M cap hit, RFA-6'0" 191 lbs-17G and 18A -LW
Chris Higgins-Florida-1.6M cap hit-UFA-6'0" 205 lbs-10G and 11A -LW
Stephen Weiss-Florida-3.1 cap-signed til 2013-5'11" 193 lbs-16G and 24 A -C
Jakub Voracek-Columbus-1.27M cap-RFA-6'2" 214 lbs 11G and 27A -R
Andrew Brunette-Minnesota-2.33M cap hit-UFA-6'1" 210 lbs 15G and 19A- L
Alex Kovalev-Ottawa-5M cap hit-UFA 6'2" 222 lbs-14G and 13A- R
The cap situation is complicated, and I hear several different stories, but I get the impression that within reason the LTIR situation with Crosby and Malkin gives the Pens a lot of room to what they need to within reason. I also get the sense that Shero is not really looking to do much in the way of rentals, but really wants to make deals that affect the team over a longer period of time. Or he could do a little bit of both, depending on what is out there. Every player above has varying degrees of interest for me with the Penguins this year over at least this season and next except for one, Kovalev. That said, Kovalev makes for an intriguing rental possibility. He is an enigma, and an expensive one, so a longer term deal would scare me, but for the playoff run, Kovalev would be a big offensive threat, especially on a struggling power play, and could even take some of the point time that Goligoski took so productively. He can be had for a 4th or 5th round pick, not exactly future draining stuff for the Pens. I am not sure what Shero has up his sleeve, but do not be surprised if a couple of our favorite veterans were part of a deal with a prospect or pick to add some more punch up front. In Shero we trust, and come on Crosby, get healthy!
Clarke MacArthur-Toronto-1.1M cap hit, RFA-6'0" 191 lbs-17G and 18A -LW
Chris Higgins-Florida-1.6M cap hit-UFA-6'0" 205 lbs-10G and 11A -LW
Stephen Weiss-Florida-3.1 cap-signed til 2013-5'11" 193 lbs-16G and 24 A -C
Jakub Voracek-Columbus-1.27M cap-RFA-6'2" 214 lbs 11G and 27A -R
Andrew Brunette-Minnesota-2.33M cap hit-UFA-6'1" 210 lbs 15G and 19A- L
Alex Kovalev-Ottawa-5M cap hit-UFA 6'2" 222 lbs-14G and 13A- R
The cap situation is complicated, and I hear several different stories, but I get the impression that within reason the LTIR situation with Crosby and Malkin gives the Pens a lot of room to what they need to within reason. I also get the sense that Shero is not really looking to do much in the way of rentals, but really wants to make deals that affect the team over a longer period of time. Or he could do a little bit of both, depending on what is out there. Every player above has varying degrees of interest for me with the Penguins this year over at least this season and next except for one, Kovalev. That said, Kovalev makes for an intriguing rental possibility. He is an enigma, and an expensive one, so a longer term deal would scare me, but for the playoff run, Kovalev would be a big offensive threat, especially on a struggling power play, and could even take some of the point time that Goligoski took so productively. He can be had for a 4th or 5th round pick, not exactly future draining stuff for the Pens. I am not sure what Shero has up his sleeve, but do not be surprised if a couple of our favorite veterans were part of a deal with a prospect or pick to add some more punch up front. In Shero we trust, and come on Crosby, get healthy!
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