Core Group Extended

Team: 2022-23 Pittsburgh Penguins

Initial Creation Date: Mar. 31, 2022

Published: Apr. 4, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I don't think Pittsburgh can have a major shake up if they want to remain competitive for the remainder of the Crosby years. This is essentially the career completion of Crosby, Malkin and Letang. I'm not saying they can't play longer, this is just probably their last big contracts.

• Malkin takes a 30% pay decrease - I don't know if this is realistic, but I'm imagine Pitt offering a 2 year, $15M or a 3 year, $20M contract.

• Letang gets a raise - I read he wants a 4 year deal, that seems nuts for a 35 year old; but who knows what could happen. I was thinking it could be between a 2 year, $17M offer or a 3 year, $23M offer. Regardless, there isn't much precedent for contracts signed by dmen at 35 years old that are this substantial, though I might be wrong there.

• I gave Rust 6 x 6.25M to compensate for other teams offering a 7th year. I supposed Pitt could offer a 7 year deal and that would put his cap hit in the $5.5M range. The last years of that deal are obviously throw away, you're just trying to get value out of these next 3.

• I gave Rakell the Toffoli deal, he might be able to get more on the open market... he'd have to want to stay in Pitt.

• Kapanen gets a 1 year extension of his current deal, he could go to arbitration and get more, either way, 1 year.

• I brought back Fleury because duh

• I'd prefer to move Dumo over Pettersson but I don't think he'd get as much in return