Team: 2020-21 Pittsburgh Penguins

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 15, 2020

Published: Jul. 15, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

With the "flat cap" for the next year or two, I think there will be plenty of 1 or 2 year deals. Perhaps 3 years if a GM really likes a player.

All of the Pens NHL UFAs were let go. Most of the Pens RFAs were re-signed. Evan Rodrigues was let go. But this depends on how he performs in the playoffs (if he gets to play).

Bjugstad was traded to NJ for pick(s) and/or prospect(s). I believe NJ could use some forward depth and also has plenty of cap space.

Jack Johnson was traded to DET to fill a "veteran presence" in their defensive corps. Also was sent out for pick(s) and/or prospect(s).

Both of the above trades retained salary on each player: $1m and $500k, respectively.

[trade edit] These trades obviously don't have to go to NJ or DET. I'm just clearing cap space. If these two aren't moved then the Pens can't sign any UFAs and likely have to trade one or two RFAs. Bjugstad may even be on LTIR all of next season...

The goalie tandem was signed for $7.25m total with Murray signing a one year deal and Jarry signing a two year deal. Murray gets a slight pay increase that's not at the level of Gibson or Hellebyuck. But that's because it's just a one year deal and because Murray had a down year in 19-20. Jarry gets more than DeSmith because of potential and good recent stats. But not as much as Korpisalo because Korpi has had more solid years as a pro than Jarry. Oh, and DeSmith was traded to Florida who I believe needs a back up. Dustin Tokarski is then signed to a two way deal.

[goalie edit] I mistakenly thought Murray would be an RFA at the end of the one year deal. He isn't. I bumped his contract up $0.75m and added another year.

Based on brief talks with NYR fans, they don't think they'll re-sign Jesper Fast. Fast could fill a fast, defensively responsible role on the Pens team. Similar to what Pascal Dupuis did. He gets a 2 year deal at double of what he made previously ($3.7m/year). His deal expires, likely, when the cap goes up. Meaning he hopefully gets a chance to cash in even more with whatever team.

[Fast edit] Based on the goalie edit and other talks, Fast's cap hit needs to go down. I changed his hit to $2.9m/year.

The Pens seem happy having 8D on the team. Four of each handedness. There was a recent report that the Pens would like to sign a veteran bottom pairing defender than can play both sides to insulate the 6th thru 8th defender. I believe Dylan DeMelo can fill this role. He gets a two year deal of $1.8m per (also double his previous cap hit). DeMelo's contract also expires the same time as Fast's and hopefully has the same benefit.

In the Seattle draft, the Pens protect: Crosby, Malkin, Guentzel, Rust, Zucker, McCann, (the better of Blueger or Tanev), Letang, Dumoulin, Pettersson, and (the better of Murray or Jarry)

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