NHL 2024 Free Agency: Pittsburgh Penguins preview

A look at where the Penguins stand on the biggest day of the off-season: the start of free agency

Welcome to July 1st, which despite being in the heart of summer serves as one of the most important days of the year on the hockey calendar. The marketplace of free agency opens for business at 12 noon eastern time.

The Penguins will only watch Jansen Harkins and PO Joseph depart them today as NHL lvel players, being as the team has re-signed Alex Nedeljkovic and Valtteri Puustinen while Jeff Carter hung up the skates for good at the end of last season.

Here’s maybe one last look from CapFriendly before the public-facing side of their website is shuttled within the week for how the Penguins stand.

The bad news: The Pens don’t have that much cap space, with what we’re projecting at $5.75 million available. This number does not include Matt Nieto, who is expected to be on IR when the season opens. This figure does include Sam Poulin, who can’t be assigned to the AHL without going on waivers any longer.

The good news: They already have a roster flush with players, so it’s not as if they need to be all that active in free agency.

The more bad news: It’s not that impressive or inspiring of a roster, one that is coming off missing the playoffs.

Top free agents

Unlike last year when the Pens gave out big money and long-term deals to Ryan Graves, Tristan Jarry (and debatably Noel Acciari too, considering role), Pittsburgh is not likely to be active this time around at signing the more in demand names hitting free agency.

That’s an obvious statement from the above picture of limited cap space, but GM Kyle Dubas said as much point blank last week.

“We won’t be involved in the long-term free agency stuff.”

Since that is no fun, here are potential targets that might fit what Pittsburgh is looking at (with projections from the Daily Faceoff link above):

• Nate Schmidt, LD, 32 years old: $2.4 million, two years
• Mattias Janmark, LW, 31: $1.0 million, one year
• Anthony Beauvillier, RW, 27: $900k, one year
• Tyler Johnson, RW, 33: $1.0 million, one year
• T.J. Brodie, LD, 34: $3.65 million, two years

Not much to be excited about, Brodie’s ties with Dubas and Jason Spezza might be worth keeping an eye on, but otherwise Pittsburgh’s free agency targets will likely be for bit players that can’t command big salaries or lengthy deals. Even then, veteran players in that boat are likely prime to jump on with teams perceived to be closer to the playoffs or a championship.

Former Pittsburgh defender P.O. Joseph could still be in the mix to return to the team as well, despite the lack of a qualifying offer.

Trades

While Pittsburgh won’t be adding any sexy names from the free agent heap, the trade market could be their avenue to seek improvements. Dubas talked on that subject as well in prior days.

“With where we’re at, the only thing that’s really important to us is that if we’re moving players out, the return has to be good,” Dubas said. “I don’t think we’re a team, with where we’re at right now, where we’re going to be looking to do these types of deals where we’re looking to move salary out and willing to do poor deals or attach any assets.”

The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reported that Dubas would be willing to trade Tristan Jarry and Reilly Smith, but has not received much interest around the league. Perhaps after the market settles and other players get snatched up we could see teams around the league circle back to these types of targets instead as the summer goes along, more likely Smith.