Expansion Primer: Pittsburgh Penguins
Over the next few weeks we will be breaking down each team’s situation as it pertains to the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. Which players are eligible, and which will likely warrant protection or may be on the block. Each team is required to submit their protection lists by 4pm CDT on June 17th. The full rules on eligibility can be found here, and CapFriendly has provided a handy expansion tool to make your own lists.
With the Penguins up two games to zero in the Stanley Cup Finals, the team’s success under the guidance of GM Jim Rutherford cannot be understated. Potential back-to-back championships following a long list of playoff disappointments and identity crises would all but erase the sting of many poor management decisions under former GM Ray Shero.
After the acquisition of Phil Kessel, the team has not looked back in the slightest offensively. They sat out and relished their summer last off-season with minimal movement, but this year Rutherford has decisions to make. Although the makeup of the team will surely be different come October, there are many options to be considered.
Eligible Players (Non-UFA)
Forwards:
Sidney Crosby (NMC), Evgeni Malkin (NMC), Phil Kessel (NMC), Patric Hornqvist, Carl Hagelin, Bryan Rust, Tom Kuhnhackl, Scott Wilson, Josh Archibald (RFA), Oskar Sundqvist (RFA), Jean-Sebastien Dea (RFA)
Defense:
Kris Letang (NMC), Olli Maatta, Ian Cole, Brian Dumoulin (RFA), Derrick Pouliot (RFA), Justin Schultz (RFA), Frank Corrado (RFA), Tim Erixon (RFA), Stuart Percy (RFA)
Goalies:
Marc-Andre Fleury (NMC), Matt Murray
Jake Guentzel, Conor Sheary, Daniel Sprong, Carter Rowney, Tristan Jarry, Zach Aston-Reese, Thomas DiPauli, Teddy Blueger, Dominik Simon, Jeff Taylor, Ethan Prow, Lukas Bengtsson, Sean Maguire
Key Decisions
To get the elephant in the room cleared aside, it seems a foregone conclusion that Marc-Andre Fleury will waive his No Movement Clause in order for the franchise to protect Matt Murray. This arrangement would suit him, as he performs far better statistically in a starting role, and it allows him to be “the guy” in a new city. If for some unforeseen reason Fleury opts against waiving his NMC, Rutherford will assuredly find a trade elsewhere prior to the expansion draft. At the end of the day, Murray, with two amazing playoff performances at only 23 years-old, is going nowhere.
The other four players who must be protected are those which will not give management any sleepless nights. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are both future hall of famers playing prime hockey, providing great value for their contracts. Kessel, at his reduced rate, has absolutely exceeded expectations when his contract was shipped from Toronto. Kris Letang is the only player who some fans have balked out, as he has missed substantial chunks of time, consistently hitting LTIR and wasting cap dollars. Letang, however, is easily a top-10 defenseman in the league,. Watching how these playoffs have been far less decisive than last for Pittsburgh, there is no doubt the entire organization is willing to take the risk to have him return to the blueline.
The major decision right off the start will be whether Rutherford will decide to go with the 7 forwards-3 defensemen-1 goalie model, or the 8 total protected alternative. It seems apparent that most teams will opt for the former, because it provides protection to two additional players. The Penguins, however, are facing truly unique circumstances, and it seems slightly more likely that they will opt for the latter.
Assuming they go that route to protect their defensive corps (one of Justin Schultz/Olli Maatta), the decision at forward will not be an easy one. Beyond the big three up front who must be protected, there are a few names which could intrigue Vegas. Considering the cost to acquire him (James Neal), and his absolutely pivotal net-front presence, Patrick Hornqvist seems the safest bet to secure protection. Rutherford is a big fan, and many in management have placed a lot of faith in him. The downside of this, of course, is that it would leave Bryan Rust exposed. Rust has already made a name for himself in big games, with multiple game-winning and series-clinching goals. He has the same net-front mentality that Hornqvist does, and is five years his junior. Hornqvist is the more proven offensive commodity, but Rust’s 15 goals and 28 points are nothing to look down upon. In the wake of a potential loss of the hard nosed but unrestricted Chris Kunitz, this would be a painful blow to the team’s physicality. Thankfully, both Conor Sheary and Jake Guentzel are exempt from selection, which helps solidify their top lines regardless of this decision.
The defense if the 4-4-1 model is adopted is quite easy to predict. Although Ian Cole has been a completely perfect shot-blocking minute muncher this playoff run, he is 28 years old and relatively ineffective at driving offense with speed. Assuming that Schultz re-signs and doesn’t command an absolute robbery of a contract, he will be protected. His playoff run has been mostly solid, if spotted with occasional mishap, and his 51 points last season was good for 6th among defenseman in the league, just behind the likes of Dustin Byfuglien and Duncan Keith. That sort of production isn’t easily replaced, and especially considering Letang’s precarious health situation, he is the go-to offensive defenseman in his absence.
Maatta could certainly find himself on the outs, but it’s difficult to imagine him being exposed in the expansion draft. The team showed a great deal of confidence in him by inking him to a 6 year contract after limited sophomore season action, and his contract at $4.083 is certainly manageable. The 23 year-old two-way defender will certainly need to improve his skating to keep up with the high-flying organizational mentality, and there is the possibility his sluggishness has landed him in serious disfavor. If Rutherford were intent on moving on from Maatta, however, it would not be via expansion – he is too valuable a piece to lose for nothing. A trade is certainly a possibility, but the smart money is on the front office praying for a healthy summer of training and improvement for the young Finn.
It is certainly conceivable that the Penguins do opt for the 7-3-1 option, if they truly value Rust more than Schultz or Maatta. This would result in Rust, Scott Wilson, and one of Tom Kuhnhackl, Josh Archibald, and Carl Hagelin to be the additional protect-ees. (Hagelin’s $4 MM contract would likely make him a prime target for sacrifice under this scenario.) Maatta would be the likely claim in this potentiality, as he is less favored internally for purely stylistic reasons when contrasted with Schultz.
However, it seems more likely that Pittsburgh has already worked out a scenario between Fleury, his agent, and Vegas management regarding Marc-Andre Fleury. Rutherford’s lack of panic around the draft last year has led many to believe that this situation has already been handled, and that perhaps a sweetener will be thrown in for not claiming Bryan Rust or a young defenseman.
Projected Protection List
F Sidney Crosby (NMC)
F Evgeni Malkin (NMC)
F Phil Kessel (NMC)
F Patrick Hornqvist
D Kris Letang (NMC)
D Brian Dumoulin
D Justin Schultz
D Olli Maatta
G Matt Murray
If for whatever reason one of Maatta and Schultz is left to dry in the place of this prediction, the re-signing of Trevor Daley and perhaps even Ron Hainsey would likely follow suit. The loss of Rust would be difficult to sustain on an emotional level, as he has been a leader for the younger Wilkes-Barre call-ups since last season. But with young players like Zach Aston-Reese and Daniel Sprong looking to claim a roster spot in training camp next season, his offensive production would likely be easy to absorb. Ultimately, however, it seems probable that Fleury will be Vegas’ selection. Following his impressive resurgence in the first two round of the playoffs, and his difficult situation in Pittsburgh behind the legendary Matt Murray, it seems a fit that would work for all parties involved.
Injured Bonino Faces Uncertain Future
The Pittsburgh Penguins have thus far earned the right to not worry too deeply about the summer and the change it will bring. Although a large portion of the core remains locked up, there are serious questions and the team that takes the ice next year will undoubtedly be short a few familiar faces. One of those players who could be on the way out is third-line center Nick Bonino.
Bonino blocked a shot in Game 2 which appeared to do significant damage, as he limped around until play ceased. He somehow gathered the will to return and finish the contest. He was spotted using crutches and with a walking boot on his left foot today according to AP reports. His determination cannot be understated, as there is a solid possibility he is looking to play through broken bones a la Eric Karlsson. He is a game time decision for tomorrow’s Game 3 according to coach Mike Sullivan. That said, this newest injury is just another factor in a larger contract story for the grizzled center.
Facing unrestricted free agency at the age of 29, and hot off yet another solid post-season, there is a strong possibility this will be the most lucrative contract opportunity of his career. The Penguins will be tight up against the cap, and there can be a reasonable assumption that the organization had hoped to have his position filled internally at this juncture. Although surprising Carter Rowney has admirably filled a role as center/wing utility player, it seems quite unlikely that he will be slotted into that shutdown role. He seems more likely to have the 4th line position next opening night. The still-promising Oskar Sundqvist has had what can only be seen as a setback of a season, performing quite poorly in his 10 NHL games this season. The 6’3″ third-rounder filled Pittsburgh fans with hope with an exceptional training camp in 2015, stealing a spot on the roster before being sent down to Wilkes-Barre. However, he has not looked up to task in spot duty, looking sluggish at times, and easily physically dominated at others. With Bonino’s cap-friendly contract drawing in on a close, and Bonino struggling down the stretch, he flubbed an opportunity to impress anyone with 0 points in limited opportunity.
This creates a difficult situation for the Penguins who would have preferred to replace Bonino with a cheaper, younger option. With the highly paid Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel, and Kris Letang, allocating the sort of money Bonino will be commanding is a tough pill to swallow. Even worse – the regular season Bonino has been a model of inconsistency. He went long stretches with no offensive production, and looked noticeably slow in his skating for weeks at a time. His 37 points are certainly not negligible, but it is the second season he has faltered at finding his offensive game. Bonino’s defensive prowess and penalty killing bonafides are often understated, as he has consistently matched up against tough competition with relative success. But in a year where the iconic HBK line sees one member scratched and the other unable to produce with the center, it seems difficult to determine that his role going forward. That said, should he need to be replaced, and the other options are not desirable.
If Bonino does opt to test the market, he would be a hot commodity. Joe Thornton and Martin Hanzal are the only two centers that are easily his superior, and the former has expressed the desire to return to San Jose. Bonino will be due a major raise from his $1.9 MM, if only due to his exceptional playoff performances. Versatile centers are highly valued in this league and it will be difficult for the Penguins to commit to him long term in a way that other teams might not find quite so troublesome. If Bonino were to land outside of Pittsburgh, look to Florida and Calgary to be in the conversation to acquire his services.
Penguins Limp On Past Game 2
Pittsburgh’s defeat of Washington in a 6-2 score in Game 2 is likely to overshadow three potential injuries sustained by their squad. Largely because of the shot-blocking mentality of the Pittsburgh squad, and the absurd number of shot attempts from Washington (35 in just the first period), injuries are bound to occur. Losing 3 players in one game, however, is a massive blow for any team. Although coach Mike Sullivan did not reveal any updates, stating that the players needed to be re-evaluated in Pittsburgh, there is cause for concern for fans.
Patric Hornqvist was the first to fall, after blocking a slapper off his foot/ankle area. He was forced to attempt to defend although doubled over. He left for the locker room and did not return, heavily favoring his one leg. Hornqvist had been performing remarkably well since his promotion to the top line with Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby. He had posted 5 points in 7 games, connecting with solid passes with the two skilled forwards. Conor Sheary returned to his spot at the top in Hornqvist’s absence, with Phil Kessel even seeing spot duty.
Tom Kuhnhackl took a shot off his upper arm and was seen in a good deal of pain as the puck caught in his equipment. Players gathered around and tried to squib the biscuit free before Kuhnhackl was called for delay of game. His penalty had to be served by a teammate, however, as he immediately left the ice and stayed out of competition. Finally, defenseman Ron Hainsey had an incredibly scary moment after getting in the lane of an Alex Ovechkin shot. The shot rocketed up rather steeply, and Hainsey turned his head in a reactionary move of avoidance and protection. The back of his head was struck, near the right ear. Hainsey writhed in extreme discomfort in what one can only hope wasn’t a permanently damaging situation. He also did not return.
None of these players are easily expendable. Kuhnhackl might at face seem to be an easily replaceable part, but when out of the lineup the Pittsburgh penalty kill has struggled mightily. He also has 24 hits through 7 games, and is one of the most consistently aggravating forwards in the roster. Hornqvist is definitively the most irritating and imposing physical player on the Penguins, and his offensive ability and net-front presence only add to his immense value. This is a player who is largely considered to be an integral piece, who can be slotted on any line and play in any situation. Losing the two most physical players they have is a large blow to a team that has been dominated physically by Washington. Hainsey has struggled at times in these playoffs, but has consistently been toward the top in ice time around 20 minutes, while facing a high quality of competition and blocking well on the penalty kill. In his absence, one of Justin Schultz or Trevor Daley will need to improve their game in their own zone. Turnovers and blown coverage have plagued both players throughout April. Olli Maatta‘s improvement in the wake of Kris Letang‘s long term injury has been huge, but too many defenders are struggling to sustain more losses.
In the worst case scenario, the replacement forwards would most probably be Scott Wilson and Carter Rowney, with Josh Archibald likely to be the first call-up. On the backend, Sullivan could opt to go with the veteran offensive defenseman Mark Streit, or instead choose the quieting influence of the stable Chad Ruhwedel. The Penguins have consistently been toward the top of the league in man-games lost, and this season was no different. The franchise has continued to find a way to compete in spite of poor luck, but losses such as these would significantly hurt their cup chances.
Update: Josh Yohe for DKPittsburghSports reports that the injuries for Kuhnhackl and Hainsey may not be serious after all, but information remains sparse. Additionally, the original publication had incorrectly linked Washington’s Tom Wilson instead of Pittsburgh’s Scott Wilson.
Penguins Injury Updates
The Pittsburgh Penguins took care of business in the first round, beating the Columbus Blue Jackets in five games. They did so without several players in the lineup, including their starting goalie.
Coach Mike Sullivan spoke with the media on Saturday, and gave updates on several players (per Wes Crosby of NHL.com):
LW Carl Hagelin – suffered lower-body injury on March 11 – Hagelin likely broke his foot in early March against the Edmonton Oilers. The preliminary estimate was four weeks, but that deadline passed ten days ago. Sullivan reports that Hagelin is undergoing off-ice rehab. It’s still not known when he might return to the lineup.
LW Chris Kunitz – suffered lower-body injury on March 31 – Kunitz has made “significant progress” and skated today.
D Kris Letang – Out of the lineup since late February, Letang underwent season-ending surgery on a herniated disc in his neck earlier this month. Sullivan had no update.
G Matt Murray – suffered lower-body injury before Game 1 vs Blue Jackets – Murray has not skated since leaving the pre-game warmup on April 12. Sullivan says Murray has been rehabbing his injury off-ice, and his return date is not known. Center Evgeni Malkin told Crosby that he expects Marc-Andre Fleury to start when the second round begins.
D Chad Ruhwedel – suffered upper-body injury on April 11 – Similar to Kunitz, Ruhwedel has made progress and is skating.
The Penguins will be watching closely on Sunday night, when the Washington Capitals can eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 6 and clinch a third Capitals-Penguins playoff series in the Sidney Crosby–Alex Ovechkin era.
Potential Suspensions: Matt Calvert Edition
The Columbus Blue Jackets may be down a player going forward in this year’s NHL playoffs. During last night’s Columbus Blue Jackets – Pittsburgh Penguins game 2 playoff match, Columbus forward Matt Calvert crosschecked an unsuspecting Pittsburgh forward Tom Kuhnhackl that should warrant league attention. Below we analyze the situation and past NHL playoff suspensions.
With less than a minute to go in the 4-1 Columbus loss, Calvert skated up to Kuhnhackl from behind and crosschecked him across the back/neck area—breaking his stick in the process—before turning around and shoving him in the face. (Video link). It looked like a deliberate cheap shot to the head area that would concern the Department of Player Safety.
Despite the hit’s optics, ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun tweets that he doesn’t think the NHL will suspend Calvert. The Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline corroborates, stating that his sense is that Calvert avoids a suspension. Pierre LeBrun thinks that the Department of Player Safety is concerned that the stick-breaking aspect of the play makes the play seem much worse, given that hockey sticks are prone to break easily.
If Calvert avoids a suspension, it will reiterate the League’s position that playoff games are more important than regular season games. It will also highlight a growing concern that the Department of Player Safety issues punishments haphazardly, and without any real consistency. As Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News points out, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen received three games for a mistimed hit on Pittsburgh forward Jake Guentzel. The League has always been criticized for its inconsistency in handing out punishments, and if Calvert avoids a suspension that sentiment will only grow. Anything less than a suspension will also reignite the sentiment that the League governs by a different rule book during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Last season the NHL issues four suspensions during the 2015-16 NHL playoffs that directly affected future playoff games. Three suspensions were for one game each, and one was for three games.
The NHL suspended Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Pierre-Edouard Bellemare one game for a hit on Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov (video link). Bellemare hit Orlov from behind a few feet from the boards, causing Orlov to crash headfirst into the boards.
Next, the NHL suspended Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw one game for using a homophobic slur. He directed the slur to an on-ice official while sitting in the penalty box.
The NHL then issued its biggest suspension of that year’s postseason by suspending Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik three games for a late hit to the head of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta (video link).
Finally, the NHL issued its last suspension to Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, giving him one game for his late hit to the head of Washington Capitals forward Marcus Johansson (video link).
All the issued suspensions involving physical hits involved hits to the head. The NHL did not issue any suspensions for stick infractions. If the NHL was concerned with a play’s optics, it would issue Matt Calvert at least a one-game suspension. However, if the League has a strict standard when it comes to playoff suspensions, do not be surprised if Calvert walks away with just a lighter wallet.
Snapshots: Eichel, Panarin, Bruins, Letang
Jack Eichel wasn’t happy at his year-end press conference, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be in Buffalo for a long time. Sabres’ GM Tim Murray told Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald that he hopes to work out an extension this summer for the young superstar. Eichel will be heading into the final year of his entry-level deal in 2017-18, and will be deserving of a huge raise should the Sabres buy out any free agent years. A four year extension would make him an unrestricted free agent at the end of it, and every year after that will cost quite a bit extra.
Should the Sabres choose to go a shorter route they could keep costs down but risk pushing Eichel closer to free agency. Murray also told Hoppe that he’d like to re-sign Brian Gionta, the team captain and long-time NHLer. The 38-year old had another solid season with 15 goals and 35 points, and is a huge part of the leadership group that wants to help Buffalo back to the playoffs. Eichel has mentioned Gionta several times over the years in helping him adapt to life in the NHL
- Stan Bowman wasn’t worried about Artemi Panarin‘s bonuses, he tells Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. The young forward earned a $1.725MM bonus in the final game by scoring and putting himself into a tie for 10th in points among forwards. That’s in addition to his $850K “Schedule A” bonuses for finishing high in various team categories. The Hawks will have to carry much of those bonuses over to next season, but Bowman says he was assuming all season that Panarin would hit them.
- Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com reports that the Bruins will not bring Torey Krug or Brandon Carlo to Ottawa for game 2, still listing them day-to-day. Colin Miller, who exited last night’s game after just seven minutes of ice time, was seen limping around and is questionable for Saturday’s game. Miller was taken out by a knee from Mark Borowiecki last night, and left the game immediately. It will be interesting to see who the Bruins lean on while their defensemen nurse injuries; Charlie McAvoy played over 24 minutes in his debut.
- Kris Letang underwent the scheduled neck surgery successfully, and is on track to return in four to six months. The operation was to correct a herniated disc, and will sideline him for much of training camp if not the beginning of the regular season. The Penguins won their first game of the playoffs last night, but will be hard fought to go all the way without their superstar defenseman.
- Ron Hextall spoke to the media in Philadelphia (including Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post), and revealed that both Dale Weise and Brandon Manning will undergo surgery to correct various ailments. He also said that assistant coach Joe Mullen will not be retained for next season. Mullen has been with the Flyers since 2007, working with several different head coaches.
Kris Letang To Miss Four To Six Months Following Neck Surgery
So much for having Kris Letang back for the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that the star defenseman will undergo neck surgery and be out for four to six months. Letang has been diagnosed with a herniated disc in his neck, and will not only miss the entire playoffs but likely all of training camp and perhaps the beginning of the 2017-18 regular season. Next year he’ll be entering the fourth year of his eight-year, $58MM deal at age 30 and coming off a major injury; it’s a tough blow for the Penguins this year and next.
Letang has long been the Penguins most important defender, driving play and racking up points. Receiving Norris Trophy votes in five of the last six seasons, he’s widely regarded as one of the best defensemen in the league and plays over 25 minutes a night for the team. Now that he is gone, the acquisitions of Ron Hainsey and Mark Streit look even better on Jim Rutherford, though neither come close to replacing the impact Letang has.
In good news for the Penguins, the team saw Olli Maatta back at practice today and now will need him more than ever to be ready to start Game 1 of the playoffs. With Trevor Daley also returning soon, the team will have to use all six of their defenders even more to fill in and hope someone steps up to replace Letang’s leadership and production. Justin Schultz, who has stepped up in Letang’s absence previously this season, will be under a spotlight this postseason to produce offensively while logging more ice time than he’s ever played before.
Chris Kunitz Injured With No Timetable For Return
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ injury-plagued season continues, as winger Chris Kunitz is out with a lower-body injury.
Coach Mike Sullivan told the media that “there currently isn’t a timetable” for his return (via the Penguins’ Twitter). Kunitz took a regular shift on Friday night in New York, but didn’t play during the overtime period or shoot in the shootout, per Josh Cooper of PuckDaddy. It’s not yet clear what caused the injury.
The 37-year-old winger has 29 points this season, after back-to-back 40-point campaigns. He has just three assists in his last 21 games. Nevertheless, it’s another body-blow to the Penguins’ depth.
Even with Jake Guentzel and Ron Hainsey returning in the last week, the team is still missing forwards Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin with upper and lower-body injuries respectively, while defensemen Trevor Daley, Kris Letang, and Olli Maatta are also out, and have missed substantial time this season. Malkin is expected to return soon, and Sullivan believes Letang will be ready for the playoffs.
Snapshots: Penguins Injuries, Couture, Haley
Penguins center Evgeni Malkin did not skate on Sunday as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury. Head coach Mike Sullivan noted to Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the off day was a scheduled one and not a setback in the recovery process. Malkin has missed the last six games as a result of the injury and there remains no timetable for his return.
While Malkin (along with winger Carl Hagelin who has a lower body issue) didn’t skate, several other injured Pittsburgh players took to the ice. Defensemen Trevor Daley (knee), Ron Hainsey, Kris Letang (both upper body injuries), and Olli Maatta along with winger Jake Guentzel (concussion) all took to the ice although they did so before the team took to the ice to prepare for tonight’s game against the Flyers.
Winger Scott Wilson returned to the lineup for the Penguins after missing Friday’s game with an undisclosed issue. However, the team lost winger Conor Sheary midway through the first period after he blocked a shot with his hand and he did not return. Following the game, Sullivan told reporters, including Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link), that Sheary is day-to-day.
Other news from around the NHL:
- Sharks winger Logan Couture was taken to hospital on Saturday after taking a puck to the mouth against the Predators. CSN Bay Area’s Kevin Kurz reports that Couture was able to travel home with the team. However, a source tells Kurz that the injury is a bad one which suggests he’s likely to miss some time. The injury comes at a tough time with the playoffs fast approaching and the team struggling considerably at the moment having lost six straight games. On the season, Couture sits third in team scoring with 25 goals and 27 assists in 73 contests. An update on his condition is expected on Monday.
- Still with the Sharks, winger Micheal Haley will have a phone hearing on Monday regarding an incident against the Predators, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced (Twitter link). Haley was assessed a match penalty on the play, which occurred with just over seven minutes remaining in the third period. Haley has played himself into a mostly regular role with the Sharks this season, picking up a career best 11 points and 110 penalty minutes (fifth league-wide) in 54 games. San Jose next plays on Tuesday so a decision will have to be made whether or not to uphold or rescind the match penalty by then.
Penguins Notes: Crosby, Malkin, Rust
Sidney Crosby is this week’s second star in the NHL, after his sizzling hat trick on Sunday night. The Penguins captain broke 40 goals for just the second time in his illustrious career, while retaking the lead in the Rocket Richard race and tying Connor McDavid for the league-lead in point.
The 29-year old Crosby is doing most of his damage 5-on-5, leading the league in even strength goals with 28. His dominance comes in just the fourth year of his twelve-year, $104.4MM deal he signed in 2012. The contract sees him cause just an $8.7MM annual cap-hit, mostly because of the three extremely cheap seasons tacked on at the end. That means Pittsburgh will only have to pay a 35-year old Crosby $3MM in 2022-23, likely still an unbelievable bargain.
- Olli Maatta and Kris Letang were both spotted out early today in Pittsburgh by Will Graves of the Associated Press. It’s still unclear when the two will return to the lineup, but it is an encouraging sign to see them back on the ice after lengthy absences.
- The team will not bring Evgeni Malkin with them on their road trip to Buffalo and Ottawa as he continues to rehab an upper-body injury that he’s been dealing with. The star center hasn’t played in the last two contests since leaving practice early last week.
- Bryan Rust was not just on the ice, but returned for the practice in full this morning, skating in a regular jersey. He hasn’t been confirmed for the game tomorrow but did say that “there’s a game [he’s] shooting for.” Rust hasn’t played since leaving a game earlier this month against Colorado.