May 2, 2024 | 11:43am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

CROSBY ASIDE, PENGUINS HAVE OTHER DEALS TO MAKE

Penguins GM Kyle Dubas

The Pittsburgh Penguins will soon engage in formal contract negotiations with Sidney Crosby’s agent Pat Brisson. While the two sides have loosely discussed Crosby’s future, talks will get taken up a notch in the coming weeks.

With Crosby expected to sign a short-term extension worth around $10 million per season, as TFP’s David Pagnotta initially reported in February, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is beginning to focus on other potential moves going into the summer.

The Penguins have just under $13 million in available salary cap space with no major pending free agents to worry about. Forward Emil Bemstrom and defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph are set to become restricted free agents July 1.

As veteran Jeff Carter hangs up his skates, Dubas will look to handle other matters of the current roster, as well. He tried to trade winger Reilly Smith during the season and will dangle him again this off-season. The 33-year-old has one more year left on his contract at a $5 million salary cap hit and owns a 10-team no-trade list until July 1, upon which is shifts to an eight-team list.

Dubas has also been in talks with defenceman Marcus Pettersson’s camp about a contract extension. Pettersson, who attracted trade interest during the season, also has one more year remaining on his deal, but it seems as though the team is set on inking him to a new long-term deal.

The Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks were among the teams that expressed interest in Smith during the season.

Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1 and Dubas suggested during his end-of-season press conference that the team could move ahead next season with Tristan Jarry and young goaltender Joel Blomqvist between the pipes, allowing Nedeljkovic to explore other options.

The mandate from ownership has not changed, as the goal is to remain competitive next season, though Dubas is going to juggle both that direction and the future of the club at the same time.

With limited draft capital – two second-round picks, one fourth-round pick, one sixth-round pick and two seventh-round selections in this summer’s NHL Draft – the Penguins may be more inclined to complete hockey trades or add to their roster via free agency this summer.