Enough Offense? 4 Bargain UFAs to Add Goals to Penguins’ Bottom-Six
The Pittsburgh Penguins draft and free agency haul have been substantial. Not in recent memory or ever have the Penguins had three first-round picks on the ice together at development camp. Penguins’ president of hockey operations and interim GM Kyle Dubas is nearing double-digit free agent signees who could play in the NHL this season, yet one issue remains unaddressed.
The Penguins’ bottom six has a significantly better chance of achieving competence in 2023-24 than last season. Still, there remains a lack of goal-scoring ability unless the Penguins are banking on Drew O’Connor (a yet unsigned RFA) to triple his output and Mikael Granlund to 20x his output.
Newly signed center Lars Eller is a shutdown center who should help coach Mike Sullivan address the Penguins’ horrific tendency to squander leads large and small, early and late.
However, for all of the adding and subtracting over the past three weeks, the Penguins’ bottom six remains offensively light.
Drew O’Connor had five goals in 46 games. Granlund had one goal in 21 games with the Penguins. Eller had 10 goals and 23 points in 84 games split between Washington and Colorado.
Noel Acciari is the high scorer with 14 goals in 77 games. The oft-criticized Jeff Cater had 13 goals. Matt Nieto had 12 goals and 12 assists in 81 games. Alex Nylander had one goal in nine games.
Neither Vinnie Hinostroza nor Andreas Johnsson contributed much at the NHL level last season.
To be clear, the increased speed and defensive responsibility of the Penguins’ bottom six will create an improved team. However, there will also be power outages and injuries in the top six, shifting some offensive burden to the middle and bottom lines.
From there, Dubas has more work to do.
The Penguins are currently more than $500,000 over the salary cap when factoring in only two goalies on the NHL roster, though O’Connor’s arbitration hearing is pending. The Penguins could be about $1.5 million over the cap soon.
Yet Dubas shrugged off salary cap worries on July 1 with the confidence that can only come from a person with a plan. Perhaps the next issue Dubas should tackle is the quiet offense within the bottom lines, and we’ll dish the benefit of the doubt that Dubas knows where the money will come from.
5 Bargain Free Agents
1. Zach Parise
At 38 years old, he won’t command a long-term deal or one that exceeds $1 million. Last season, he scored 21 goals on a $750,000 contract with the New York Islanders. He’s still got some wheels and hands. In the right situation, he could again post solid goal totals.
Now that the Islanders lost out on the Alex DeBrincat plan, maybe they will find space for Parise again, but they also barely squeaked into the playoffs and badly need a refresh. A third-line scorer could see significant power play time with the Penguins, and the points boost it creates.
2. Eric Staal
Another 38-year-old that still has some gas in the tank for one more season. Staal had 29 points, including 14 goals, with the Florida Panthers last season despite being cast in a fourth-line role. He could neatly fill the Penguins’ fourth-line center role, allowing Sullivan to mix and match the wingers that fit Eller and Staal best.
Staal has become a hard-nosed pivot, excelling in the dirty areas of the rink and able to kill penalties. He made only $750,000 last season. If he’s willing to brave snow again, he could be a solid addition.
3. Denis Malgin
The least option on the list. Malgin is an inconsistent small forward who was non-tendered by the Colorado Avalanche. He’s only 26 years old and is looking for his fourth team.
Malgin does have ties to Dubas, who acquired him from the Florida Panthers. Dubas signed him to RFA deals in the summers of 2021 and 2022 before trading him to Colorado near the 2023 NHL trade deadline.
He popped 13 goals last season, and perhaps he could be another “tweener” like Hinostroza and Johnsson, who might make the NHL club or add some pop to the WBS Penguins.
4. Tomas Tatar
How much of a bargain will Tatar become? He scored 48 points, including 20 goals last season. His ability to score isn’t in doubt, but the other facets of his game are.
Inconsistency remains the bugaboo, yet he has speed and hands.
His two-year, $9 million contract with the New Jersey Devils set a solid market base. Still, it’s July 10, and he remains the second-highest scorer on the market (excluding Patrick Kane and his potential injury issues) behind Vladimir Tarasenko. Perhaps he, too, will accept a short-term tender with a more affordable AAV in the hopes of racking up big totals and cashing in next summer when the salary cap spikes.
If Dubas does have a plan, perhaps he can squeeze some offense into the bottom six. Tatar would be the big get if Dubas needs to tap the free-agent market for that offense.
Categorized:NHL Free Agency Penguins
These are not legit options. Too old, getting slower, likely injury prone. See Jeff Carter this past season. Pens have to gamble that between O’Connor, Nylander, Poulin, and Puustinen, at least 2 legitimately win jobs, are in the opening day roster, and contribute offensively. There is no other way short of a trade that may be in the works.
Still think Poulin is a bust and will stick in the minors or be traded.
disageee
Agree with Rob. I always felt Legare was the better of the two.
I don’t want to see another season of spending right to the cap. EK would’ve been an intriguing add, but it seems that ship has sailed and Petry will stick. We have enough 30+ y.o. players.
You’re wrong, brah. That ship has not sailed. Duby cannot afford to whiff twice on the same HOF player. His legacy depends on it. What’s more, I hear that EK65 prefers this team to the Hurricanes. He and Burns are oil and water in more ways than one. He also likes the Penguins legacy of superstar players. In other words, the deal is teed up for Duby to hit long and straight down the middle.
Who’s desperate enough to take Petry with his salary or Granlund with his?
Could release one or both ($7.4 mill) to gain cap space next season.
By “release” you mean “buy outs?” Dubas already said he hates the buyouts because it crushes your cap space for years. Pens are still eating 3 more years of Jack Johnson’s buyout at $916,000 per year.
You Can’t Always Get What You Want . . .
Give them Joseph Petry, and Granlund, two decent blueliners and they take Granlund to reduce their $11Mil savings, throw in a high pick–but not #1–to sweeten the deal.
I actually like the team as is and don’t think they need to add anything else. There are a couple players that need subtracted because of the salary cap, but they will get there before the season. I think adding another tough LHD is the only really glaring need this team has. What i mean is a LHD besides Graves that isn’t 175lbs with wet equipment
What? You have a problem with the midgets and giraffes we seem to have accumulated on D? LOL! Might work during regular season, but we’ll never get out of 1st rd of playoffs if we don’t bulk up. Not a single one will punish offenders who dare to plant themselves in the crease and wait for loose pucks and rebounds to slam home. At least the bottom 6 has been toughened up – Eller and Acciari are pains in the ass to play against.
Maybe they just have a super fast metabolism, but i really wish a couple of them would bulk up at least a tiny bit 🤣
I guess Dumba is out of the question to come here? Thoughts?
Petry or Rutta would have to go. Don’t see that happening. Dumba’s production has went down so much that Minnesota thought he was expendable.
My guess is that Dumba will become a Coyote.
He’s complete garbage. That’s why he’s still without a team in mid July
This! I honestly don’t think anyone in this organization has watched a playoff game the past 3 seasons, even the ones their team played in. Fast and heavy is the only way to go if you think you’re a legit contender.
Exactly! But who with what free agents are left? Unless they trade and again who is willing unless we give up something decent who has a No trade clause or draft picks or prospects.
We now have a good team. If only we had a winning durable goalie.
How many games til Jarry is injured?
Sullivan made a yuge mistake to play Jarry so often in the first half of last season. Finally, he became convinced that Jarry is not a workhorse goalie. I predict a 60-40 split with Neddy after DeSmith is traded elsewhere. (What I would do: Move Jarry and another player(s) to the Ducks in a trade for Gibson. Or include Jarry and Granlund/Petry/DeSmith/others in a three-way deal that nets Gibson and Karlsson in return.)
That seems so easy, why hasn’t it already happened?!?! 🙄
Cannot buy out players until the O’Connor arbitration case is settled.
I think Jarry is past the nagging injury that bothered him this season. It seems illogical for someone as smart as Dubas to sign him for 5 years if he wasn’t healthy.
Injuries are part of the game. Remember when Sid missed the majority of 2 seasons? He seemed to find his way back from that, eh?
Let’s not forget Malkin being out a lot for 3 years and for the first time in along time Both Crosby and Malkin played the whole season and still missed the playoffs! Go figure!
Jarry has no track record of postseason success whether injured or healthy.
True, but neither did Adin Hill. Who saw that coming?
Hill never had the opportunities that Jarry was gifted in the past. Last season was his playoff debut at the the NHL level.
Hill was gifted a stacked team that played well defensively. Jarry didn’t get that in his lone playoff series against the islanders. The fact that he tried to play that game 7 against the Rangers on an unhealed ankle tells me all I need to know about his heart and passion for the team. Its a damn shame that they didn’t make the playoffs last season so he could get his true chance at redemption and put his critics to rest.
I set odds at 70-30 that Hinostroza has a spot with the bottom six on the NHL club out of camp. Brings lots of energy/experience and scores the occasional goal. (Think: Tanev Lite). Plus, Duby likes him. Always good to have the prez on your side, ya think?
who do you think he beats out for a spot?
Probably the spot that Granlund leaves behind. Also, don’t be surprised if Carter is a healthy scratch in some games. What Duby has done with his many additions will result in competition for jobs. No gifts this time around.
Carter will be gone .
Can’t buy him out and will be difficult if not impossible to trade him.
Always liked Tatar, Wouldve liked to have see him here a few years ago but not now with his salary wants. Besides he didn’t show up this last playoff with much production.
Hopefully Carter plays occasionally (20 games) on the second night of back games and manages to not look like a zombie on skates. Let’s start a GoFundMe page to buy him some press box nachos.
Staal would be interesting. He’s transformed his game the past couple seasons. He’s happy with a bottom 6 role and still can score a bit. Kills penalties and was a match up against some top lines. Better than Carter and Granlund, but unfortunately they aren’t going anywhere, especially Carter.
If the GM hadn’t rejected Sullivan on a Chychrun trade, your heroes wouldn’t be in this situation.
#StillHexed
So I put some money into Parise. Good genes, established player. I would to see my in-laws reaction if it came to be. Would be priceless.