Pettersson Upfront on Contract Struggle, Both Sides Wanted Long Term (PHN+)

Marcus Pettersson waited for a contract this summer. And he waited. Then waited some more. Finally, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the RFA defenseman agreed to a one-year, $874,125 deal on the eve of training camp. The deal was for his qualifying-offer amount and not what either side wanted. But instead of each side being unhappy because they had to compromise with the other, both sides were unhappy because they had to compromise with the Penguins suffocating salary cap mess.

The Penguins 23-year-old defenseman was a revelation after being acquired from Anaheim last December. Pettersson had not yet earned a regular spot in Anaheim, so he appeared to be a depth acquisition for faded prospect Daniel Sprong. Pettersson immediately seized his new opportunity, even if the first season in a Penguins sweater didn’t bring the financial security both sides wanted.

Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan heaped big praise on Pettersson Friday when PHN asked about the pending Justin Schultz-Pettersson pairing.