Penguins Free Agents Updates: Jarry, Zucker & Dumoulin Speak
The Pittsburgh Penguins free agent class is all dressed up but has nowhere to go. Significant pieces of the Penguins puzzle, goalie Tristan Jarry, top-pairing defenseman Brian Dumoulin, and top-six winger Jason Zucker are without contracts.
But there’s no one to begin negotiations.
Dmitry Kulikov, Nick Bonino, Danton Heinen, and Josh Archibald are also UFAs.
Friday, Penguins ownership cleaned house. GM Ron Hextall, AGM Chris Pryror, and president of hockey operations Brian Burke were briskly broomed after the team’s disappointing season and seeming lack of direction.
The Penguins were the oldest team in the NHL at the start of the season, and they only got older at the NHL trade deadline. Hextall acquired three players in their 30s, including 31-year-old Mikael Granlund, whose acquisition from Nashville has been widely panned in NHL hockey circles, including off-the-record conversations with PHN over the past several days.
Granlund’s $5 million AAV is on the books for two more seasons. He had five points (1-4-5) in 21 games with the Penguins but 41 points in 79 games overall.
The Pittsburgh Penguins 2023-24 salary cap structure will include about $23 million to sign or replace their nine players, either UFAs and RFAs. Their restricted list includes Drew O’Connor and Ryan Poehling.
The Penguins’ free agents face an uncertain summer, and roster age remains an issue because most players are under contract for at least 2023-24.
For a team that missed the playoffs, there’s plenty of need to improve but not plenty of space or interest in the signed veterans.
As Jarry pointed out, he wants to stay but must wait his turn in line.
“With what happened with Ron, Brian, and Chris, it’s kind of tough for the free agents. You don’t really have anyone to talk to right now,” said Jarry. “My goal is to stay here. I want to stay here. I’ve only been a Penguin, and I only want to be a Penguin. So that’s my goal, and that’s how I’m going into the offseason.”
The Penguins goalie had an injury-plagued season which limited him to just 46 games and further limited his performance in those 46 games. He dipped to a .909 save percentage, despite being in the .920s at various points in the first half of the season.
The next GM will face a thin goalie market, a tight salary cap, but a pressing need for a top-shelf goalie. One need only look at the New York Islanders. Netminder Ilya Sorokin was the difference between an average team hanging around in the playoff race and being buried in the first half.
The “Jarry decision” will be on the front burner for the next front office.
Jarry’s value or attractiveness is wildly subjective and based on market conditions. A new GM might want to move on just as much as a new GM might see the immense talent combined with a lack of options and pay him market value. Jarry’s situation will have a cascading effect on the NHL free agent market because there isn’t another true No. 1 goalie on the market.
Brian Dumoulin
Brian Dumoulin, 31, and his career arc will be the subject of more than a bit of debate. The Penguins’ stalwart defenseman had a brutal beginning to the year and was shuffled around the pairings as his play suffered, possibly from off-season knee surgery.
By mid-year, Dumoulin had rebounded, and despite some ups and downs, he was returned to the top pairing later in the season.
However, he is not the shutdown defender of years past. His $4.1 million AAV contract is expiring, and his value could vary widely based on the suitor.
Coach Mike Sullivan, who is part of the FSG transition team, identified part of his role as identifying team needs. How objective Sullivan could be on the “Dumoulin decision” will be interesting.
At 31, Dumoulin is on the downside, and he’s played a lot of hard minutes on the Penguins’ top pairing.
“(I’ve) spent so much time here in this room, it would be kind of hard to leave,” Dumoulin said. “But obviously, (I’ll) take some time and hopefully get away, and then we can really think about it.”
This might be Dumoulin’s last chance for a substantial contract, and a player can’t pass that up for a “hometown discount” unless the hometown offer is close enough.
Jason Zucker
Jason Zucker, 31, presents another hard decision with significant risk and potential reward. The winger was the spark and energy for much of the Penguins’ season. Coach Mike Sullivan gave him some of the highest praise earlier this season when he said he “drags us into the fight.”
Zucker had the second-highest goal total of his career (27) and 48 points in 78 games. He was a constant factor in the Penguins’ attack, but injuries have dogged him for the past few seasons. He was primarily healthy for 2022-23, but his health outlook, after a few rocky years, is a consideration.
There is no denying he fit well playing beside Evgeni Malkin on the Penguins’ second line, and he became part of the team’s fabric, if not the heart of it.
“This is a place that I want to be. I said that after the last game, and I reiterate it. I love it here,” Zucker said. “I want to be back. But as of now, it’s obviously out of my control, and we’ll figure it out.”
The uncertainty isn’t confined to the players, but the organization, as the search for a new GM didn’t begin until Friday afternoon. FSG ownership declined to put a timeline on the search or even if they would keep the current structure of the front office.
For now, wants and uncertainty are all that exist.
Categorized:Penguins Penguins Free Agent Targets Penguins Offseason Analysis
Sign Jarry to a 1 yr deal to prove it
Ship carter to somewhere
Sign Zucker
The rest of FA can go elsewhere
Granland ; another loser n contract
Maybe hell get hurt n put him LT injured
I agree mostly except I’d keep Archibald if the price is right. Definitely Jarry one or two year deal at tops 2 mil, put Desmith on waivers and go all out for Demco……my spelling sucks
Archibald didn’t seem as effective since coming off the long injury stint.
Why Archibald? Why? Is the competition concerned about playing against him? No? When you sign someone, it should be because they provide WHAT? Archibald is 165 lb what?
Sign Jarry & Zucker? Brilliant? Make this clown GM. Brilliant! Sign their phenomenal Coach to additional 5 yrs. Tired if these idiots that don’t want Cups! This team is a mess. They allowed and deserve what’s about to happen.
Let Jarry walk. He is neither dependable nor available too often. If Zucker is to be signed, Rust has to go. They need some youth somewhere in top six as well as throughout the lineup.
In all honesty, Zucker didn’t seem as effective down the stretch like he was earlier. Besides they know better than us about the risk factor of signing him after being injured a lot.
This is just my opinion. Top 6 + Ryan and Drew, on D Tanger, Dumo & PO. Of course, Dumo and Zuck can’t get top dollars or term. Jarry one year on discount, more than one on heavy, heavy, heavy discount. In both cases bring in a Vokoun type insurance at the very least. Casey is probably one of the best backups, but we need more than that if keeping Jarry. I realize, as I’m writing this, that I’m left with Petry, Kulikov, Bonino, Rutta, Archibald, Pettersson, Carter Heinen, Granlund… Wow, good luck solving that one. Did I say opinion?… Read more »
This team cannot get younger until they tank for a number of years. The problem is FSG has no idea how to run a sports franchise. The press conference on the firings indicate they r begging Mario to come back, which he should not do. Look where their other two teams in baseball & soccer currently r trending to the bottom their sports. Money with no idea how a sport franchise must be run. Very dark days ahead.
Jarry, Dumoulin, Kulikov, and Bonino are all UFAs. Their combined cap hit is $10 million. I would cut them all loose. Zucker is another $5.5 million — try to sign him — but if he wants a ton more money then no. Use the cap space to bring in a starting goalie — someone will eventually be available — and they cannot be worse than Jarry. My guess is that the Pens will resign Jarry — this year his cap hit was $3.5. I hope they keep it to a year or two if they do. Pens are stuck with… Read more »
I dont see how Zucker gets a raise. He was a nice player to have here and did produce better this year but really…48 points? $5.5 mil? In a high scoring league?
He may be due for a cut. In any case, wouldnt be giving out any raises of note that is for sure.
Jarry is not a #1 goalie. If we don’t get a goalie then nothing else matters.
I’d still sign Heinen cheap. O’Conner Poehling and Heinen were very prominent and scoring as a unit till that line fizzled out when Poehling was out again.
Why Heinen? See another Yinzer / Sullivan! What’s Heinen Bring ?Not a scorer, not a physical presence! Why Sully? Watch how fast signed? Not very fast.
Zucker only at a reduced salary to make up for the highly ineffective seasons up to this year. Let Dumo walk. Jarry too. His Beau Bennett like constitution makes him unreliable. Pay some team under the table if necessary to take Carter. Pay the price. Get him gone. Otherwise, he will be the new Penguin albatross contract replacing Kapanen. Heinen, Kulikov, Bonino…see ya. Try to peddle Granlund to someone, or buy him out. Rust can go too. Big contract and a flop of a year. Nice. Take this as a do-over year during the off season, expect to suck next… Read more »
Jarry a problem because back injuries are a problem. They reoccur constantly. Ask Tiger !
One move or twist and he’s out again. Maybe better fitted for the backup role if Sullivan wants to keep him. Need a starter that’s healthy. Carey Price shows us that you can’t play goal with an injury. Jarry has the skills but can’t be trusted to stay healthy enough.