PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Now that the trade deadline has passed, how much has changed with the Penguins? Did they do much to improve themselves for a battle just to make the playoffs?
IN
-F Mikael Granlund, 31-years-old,-$5 million each of the next two seasons
2022-23, 59g, 9 goals, 27 assists, -15
-F Nick Bonino, 34-years-old, $2.05 million, unrestricted free agent
2022-23, 59g, 10 goals, 9 assists, -6
-D Peter DiLiberatore, 22-years-old, $880,000 this year, restricted free agent
2022-23 minors (ECHL, AHL)-40g, 0 goals, 6 assists
-D Dmitry Kulikov, 32-years-old, $2.25 million this year, unrestricted free agent
2022-23, 61g, 3 goals, 12 assists, -11
Bonino, even at 34, is an upgrade centering that fourth line. He also plays a game of blocking shots and being a pest that would hopefully rub off on others. Maybe the move for Granlund will reinvigorate him and his game.
“We really like Mikael, he’s a guy we’ve tried to get for a couple of years at the deadline,” said Pens GM Ron Hextall. “I talked to three or four GMs today that said they’ve tried to get him. If we get to next summer, we start penciling your lineup in and you can put him in any of the three spots. We like the flexibility of him now and in the future.”
The two defensemen-Kulikov is likely insurance, although physical, and DiLiberatore is maybe something in the future.
Only one is signed for next season and that’s the 31-year-old center at $5 million on the books in a year where Jason Zucker and Tristan Jarry become free agents with Jake Guentzel a free agent in 2024. The flip of that is they aren’t responsible for the other three in what is hoped to be a bumped-up cap next season.
OUT
-Kasperi Kapanen,26-years-old-next year $3.2 million (2-years, $6.4 million)
2022-23 43g-7 goals, 13 assists, -8//St.L 2g, 1 goal
-Brock McGinn, 29-years-old-next 2 years $5.5 million (4-years, $11 million)
2022-23 60g, 10 goals, 6 assists, 0
-Teddy Blueger, 28-years-old-next year FA (2-year, $4.4 million)
Blueger was going to be a free agent and it was mixed if they would have signed him anyway. They rid themselves of the Kapanen and McGinn contracts which gives them some more room for next season.
Just a bonus at this point to rid themselves of the inconsistent Kapanen and go in another direction and McGinn really struggled much of the season.
How much did they help themselves? The have just over a month to show it.