Important NHL Offseason Dates, Penguins Buyout Window

The Stanley Cup was awarded on Sunday night and the clock began ticking for general managers and players in danger of receiving a buyout, rather than a paycheck from their team. The COVID pause at mid-season altered some of the planning dates, including the buyout window which the Pittsburgh Penguins could utilize.

The original buyout date was to be the later of June 15 or 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final. However, according to our friends at PuckPedia.com, the critical dates calendar was adjusted to July 1.

1st Buyout Window:
In standard years, starts later of June 15 and 48 hours after the cup is awarded.

In the 21-22 Critical Dates Calendar, the buyout window is set to open July 1, 2022 (closes July 12). This is due to adjusted/later calendar this season.

Other key dates:
1/2

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) June 25, 2022

Pittsburgh Hockey Now, specifically this writer, has opined that buying out winger Jason Zucker is not only plausible but could be the key to signing Kris Letang. The Penguins would save about $3.4 million this season, though get socked with a $1.6 million cap penalty in 2023-24.

Last season, Zucker missed

The remaining critical dates for the Penguins roster construction (or rebuild):

July 11: Deadline for Qualifying Offers (Kasperi Kapanen, Danton Heinen)

July 12: First buyout window closes

July 12: The ability to offer a player an eight-year contract ends

July 17: Deadline for player-elected arbitration

July 27: First day of arbitration hearings

The Pittsburgh Penguins development camp will also occur shortly after the 2022 NHL Draft held in Montreal on July 7-8. However, specific dates have not yet been announced.