Penguins unrestricted free agents: Who stays and who goes?
The Pittsburgh Penguins are facing an uncertain offseason for a variety of reasons ranging from the coronavirus pandemic to their own internal shortcomings.
How that impacts the rosters moving forward is still anyone’s guess, including their own, perhaps.
With an estimated $13,224,825 of salary cap space, according to Cap Friendly, the Penguins will have to make some tough decisions before the NHL’s 2020-21 season opens in December (as hoped).
This is the second of a two-part series examining the futures of the Penguins’ pending free agents.
On Tuesday, a look at the restricted free agents. Today, the unrestricted free agents:
Riley Barber, right winger
2019-20 salary cap hit: $700,000
His future: A native of Washington (Pa.), Barber joined the organization in February when he was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in a minor league trade. Immediately inhabiting a top-six role with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL), Barber put up six points (three goals, three assists) in seven games. Such has been the story for most of Barber’s professional existence. That’s to say he’s been really good for the AHL but never good enough for the NHL. There’s little to suggest Penguins management views him as more than a “4A” player in that regard. Despite limitations as far as his NHL ambitions go, Barber could garner some strong two-way offers as a top-tier AHL entity once the NHL’s free agent signing period begins in October.
Thomas Di Pauli, center
2019-20 salary cap hit: $700,000
His future: At one time, acquiring Di Pauli was something of a coup for the Penguins. Di Pauli was the 100th overall pick of the Washington Capitals in 2012 draft but opted to not sign and hit unrestricted free agency in 2016, ultimately signing with the Penguins. A gifted skater, Di Pauli’s existence with the Penguins largely has been derailed by injuries. He finally made his NHL debut in 2019-20, appearing in two games in January but was so thoroughly unimpressive to coach Mike Sullivan he was quickly returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and remained there for the rest of the season. It’s fair to say this experiment has not worked out for either party, and it might be in the Penguins’ and Di Pauli’s best interests to part company.
Adam Johnson, left winger
2019-20 salary cap hit: $700,000
His future: Johnson seemed prime to claim some substantial playing time in the NHL this season. But injuries on the NHL roster more often than not seemed to coincide with his own ailments, which prevented him from earning more than the one recall he enjoyed in October. Johnson’s speed seems to fit in well with a team that thrives on that attribute. A tenacious and fearless forechecker, Johnson is one of the quickest players in the organization. This summer, a strong showing in the team’s training camp earned him a spot on the team’s playoff roster, albeit as a reserve. The Penguins seem satisfied with the progress he has made in two seasons with the organization, and he appears to understand there is legit opportunity provided he is able-bodied. But Johnson won’t exactly be a priority for management this offseason.
Patrick Marleau, center
2019-20 salary cap hit: $700,000
His future: It’s fair to say the expectations of Marleau once he joined the Penguins were limited. It’s also fair to say he failed to meet them. A 40-year-old rental player who was filling the “old guy trying to win the Stanley Cup for the first time with a contender” role, Marleau seemed to have enough left in his body to be a meaningful contributor, albeit in a third-line role. But four-plus months of downtime did not do much to aid his remaining skill set, and he was one of the team’s most inert players — on a roster full of languorous bodies — during the Penguins’ brief four-game postseason run. If Marleau decides to squeeze out one more season in the NHL, it won’t be with the Penguins.
Kevin Roy, left winger
2019-20 salary cap hit: $850,000
His future: At 27, it’s tough to say Roy has much of an NHL future. A fourth-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2012, he has all of three NHL games on his resume. Roy is a career minor leaguer but he’s a pretty good player at that level and offered some stability to a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton team that was often in flux because of considerable player movement. Acquired via trade in December, Roy offered a steady 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 35 games with the AHL Penguins. Management seems satisfied with him in that role as well as the leadership he provides and could opt to re-sign him, but he’s nowhere near a leading priority.
Justin Schultz, defenseman
2019-20 salary cap hit: $5.5 million
His future: Back in October, there were legit concerns about how the Penguins could retain Schultz as he entered the final year of his contract. Only 10 months later, it’s all but certain Schultz will be wearing a different jersey in 2020-21. The NHL’s flat salary cap figure, the ascension of fellow right-handed defenseman John Marino and Schultz’s own wretched play virtually have guaranteed Schultz will be moving on. Even with an injury-filled 2019-20 season that saw him largely struggle even when he was healthy, Schultz won’t be lacking for suitors on the free agent market. Right-handed defensemen who can move the puck are always in short supply and always popular with general managers, even if they’re often injured and/or plagued by inconsistency.
Conor Sheary, left winger
2019-20 salary cap hit: $3 million
His future: Sheary’s status is probably the biggest question among the team’s pending unrestricted free agents. Do they retain Sheary, if only because franchise center Sidney Crosby has a comfort level with him? Or do they let him walk and turn to younger, cheaper options and hope they find chemistry with Crosby? As for Sheary, whom the Penguins reacquired via trade in February, his mostly poor 133-game run with a wretched Buffalo Sabres franchise suggested he’ll be hard-pressed to enjoy much success outside of Crosby’s orbit. It might be in the interest of both parties to agree to a contract with less money and less term than the three-year deal he signed in 2017.
Phil Varone, center
2019-20 salary cap hit: $700,000
His future: Acquired in the same trade with Barber in February, Varone offered an immediate boost to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s lineup, inhabiting roles in the top six forwards and the top power-play unit. In six games with the AHL Penguins, he had five assists. As one of the top players in the AHL in recent years — he won that league’s MVP award in 2017-18 — Varone was selected for the NHL Penguins’ postseason roster as a reserve. Management seems happy with him as a “4A” player. He can be dominant in the AHL and reliable enough to fill out a lineup in the NHL when injuries hit. But he’ll have no shortage of suitors as a free agent from teams looking to improve their AHL lineups in October.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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