Penguins Eye Bargains and Gambles in NHL Buyout Market To stretch their salary cap and enhance their roster without committing to long-term contracts or high-profile trades, the Pittsburgh Penguins, led by president of hockey operations and GM Kyle Dubas, may consider several veteran options at minimal cost.
With NHL buyout projections circulating, a few notable players could soon become available. Goalies Cal Petersen and Jack Campbell have seen their NHL careers slide to the AHL despite hefty salaries. Philadelphia could save millions by buying out Petersen, while Edmonton might need to spread Campbell’s payout over the next six years despite his underperformance.
Despite speculative fan proposals suggesting trades involving Campbell and Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry, such moves remain highly improbable.
Other potential buyout candidates relevant to the Penguins’ needs include Ryan Suter from Dallas, who at 39 has struggled in recent playoff runs, and Cam Atkinson from Philadelphia, though Atkinson may not fulfill the Penguins’ scoring needs.
The Athletic’s buyout list included surprising names like Philip Grubauer and Jacob Trouba, though more realistic targets might align with general consensus. The buyout window opens either on June 15 or 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final concludes. Last June, Matt Duchene was a notable buyout.
Key Buyout Candidates for the Penguins:
Torey Krug
Last summer, Krug blocked a trade from the St. Louis Blues to Philadelphia. Now, he’s a buyout candidate as St. Louis tries to retool without a full rebuild. With three years left on his contract at a $6.5 million cap hit, Krug isn’t a probable buyout, but if available, he could fit well with the Penguins. At 33, Krug is a third-pairing defenseman with good puck skills and power-play capabilities, potentially filling a need for an offensive left-side defenseman.
Barclay Goodrow
The grinding forward could enhance the Penguins’ bottom six with his size and playoff heroics. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 204 pounds, Goodrow’s regular-season performance was modest with four goals in 80 games, but he tallied six goals in 16 playoff games. With one year left on his contract at $3.64 million, the Rangers might buy him out for cap space. If Goodrow becomes available, Dubas could strengthen the bottom lines and potentially trade Goodrow for draft picks if the Penguins falter in the playoff race.
Elvis Merzlikins/Spencer Knight
The Columbus Blue Jackets would prefer to trade Merzlikins, but his $5.4 million salary over the next three years makes him difficult to move. Florida might buy out Knight’s $4.5 million salary, reducing it to $750,000 over four years. Both goalies could be reclamation projects similar to Alex Nedeljkovic. Merzlikins’ performance declined after the tragic death of teammate Matiss Kivlenieks, while Knight, at 23, went through the NHL/NHLPA Players’ Assistance Program. The Penguins need a second goalie, and one with potential could be ideal for a short-term deal while top prospect Joel Blomqvist prepares for his NHL debut.
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