Amid the 25 minutes that Kyle Dubas answered reporters' questions yesterday at PPG Paints Arena, this after being formally introduced as the Penguins' new president of hockey operations, this particular reply might've been buried: “The team does have a very good opportunity with the salary cap this summer as well. There’s about $20 million in space.”
The who what?
The NHL's salary cap for the 2023-24 season is expected to increase by only about $1 million, which would put it at $83.5 million. And sure enough, contrary to public perception -- including, I'll acknowledge, my own occasionally -- the Penguins' projected cap space of $20,208,158 is the league's eighth-largest such figure, per Spotrac, taking into account 15 active players signed of the maximum 23.
So, where's it coming from? Or, more appropriate, where's Dubas see it coming from?
Well, start with this: The goaltending position as a whole accounts for only $1.8 million of the $62,375,175 in total cap commitments toward next season, and all of that's going to Casey DeSmith. If Tristan Jarry's retained -- and Dubas sounded awfully ambiguous on that front -- or if someone's brought in from the outside, that's easily a $5 million-plus annual cap hit, and I might be big-time lowballing it. And just like that, in addition to the remaining active players that must be signed, half that cap space goes poof.
Next potential big-ticket item internally: Jason Zucker, whose name never came up. He might've been the roster's most surprisingly important player this past season, even beyond his 27 goals, but he'll also be 31, and the last thing this franchise would seem to need is yet another half-decade extension going to a 30-and-up player who was just a $5.5 million cap hit. And this goes double with Jake Guentzel entering the final year of his contract here and undoubtedly earning a raise over his $6 million cap hit.
Is letting Zucker walk part of Dubas' $20 million? How about buyouts and/or trades for Jeff Petry, who'll be the team's second-biggest cap at $6.25 million, behind only Sidney Crosby, or Mikael Granlund, who's due a still-hilarious $5 million thanks to Ron Hextall's final masterstroke? And since it sure won't be any of the Core, judging by Dubas' effusive outlook on the collective future here of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, who else might exit who's expensive?
What I'm envisioning: Major money on goaltending, as many buyouts as possible ... and Drew O'Connor, who's still minimum-wage, into the top six. Also, babies will be asked to buckle up.
MORE PENGUINS
• My mind's as open as my eyes on Dubas. I don't have much more to add. No sport's fans build up false idols like those of the Maple Leafs and, similarly, no one tears them down just as quickly. In turn, no one coming from that toxic environment should be judged on anything they do there, good or bad.
• Make no mistake: The most attractive aspect of this job for Dubas was the control, after five years of having to fight for every millimeter under Brendan Shanahan. This couldn't have been clearer. By assuming a title that almost certainly won't align with his duties -- he's going to be the de facto GM by any definition -- he gets to do what he wants, and he'll answer only to owners who are out in Boston watching baseball games. Dream come true.
• Dubas intends to rely at least partly on the advice of Mike Sullivan and Andy Chiodo when it comes to a call on Jarry. Both those gentlemen respect Jarry's talent level to the extent they believe he's capable of being elite. Both also have significant doubts about other, less tangible characteristics.
• In weighing trade possibilities, there's no way to ignore Bryan Rust being among those many sizable contracts to a player 30-and-up, in addition to Rust coming off his least productive season in the league. He's got five more years at $5.125 million, until he's 35. One could argue he's either traded now or never.
• With the strikingly visible loyalty Jason Spezza showed in quitting his post in Toronto right after Shanahan dumped Dubas, is there really any doubt Spezza will be the GM here? Or whatever passes for a GM here?
• There's $30 million of upgrades being poured into PPG Paints Arena, and not a penny to replace those worn and now-terribly-outdated Vegas gold seats in the main bowl. Yuck.
STEELERS
• I spent yesterday at the conclusion of Week 2 of OTAs on the South Side, and no subject came up more often in discussions than that of Dan Moore Jr. not being dead yet in this environment. And not just because coaches and teammates are urging both Moore and Kevin Dotson to not get discouraged in the wake of apparently losing their jobs as starters, but more because Moore's taking first-team reps at right tackle on some days, as he's confirmed, and because Broderick Jones has been first-team left tackle when that happens. Oh, my.
• Corey Trice Jr., the other freakishly long rookie corner in camp, had a pick and three passes defensed yesterday, as confirmed by his teammates and as heard by howls echoing off the South Side Slopes from his defensive mates. "It doesn't matter where I was drafted," Trice told me, referring his seventh-round selection out of Purdue, "it only matters what I do." Addendum: It says so much about Patrick Peterson that he was the one raving out loud about Trice afterward.
• My two minutes yesterday with Jaylen Warren:
• Kenny Pickett's stronger and, thus, sharper. Unmistakable. Supported by others.
• Najee Harris hasn't spoken to reporters at these OTAs. Nor is he required to, as this event's voluntary. Only sharing in case anyone wonders why he isn't being quoted.
PIRATES
• Tucupita Marcano's the quiet sort, and not just because he'd need to converse in his distant second language to converse with more than half of the clubhouse. Just kinda keeps to himself. Not too demonstrative when playing, either. So I made it a point to spend a little time with him in Seattle, with the necessary interpretive help of major-league coach Stephen Morales, and liked what I heard from maybe the roster' most pleasant surprise to date with a slash line of .269/.333/.473 with three home runs and 10 RBIs: "I definitely feel much better at the plate right now. The key to this is just to eliminate the bad pitches and look for the pitches that I can put good swings on. But yeah, much better."
• Management's impressed. And I'm getting the impression they're believing he's a part of the future far more than was the case in the spring. Kid's still just 23.
• For all the rightful focus on Henry Davis and/or Endy Rodriguez as potential promotions, the prospect whose name I'm hearing from within as being among the closest is ... Nick Gonzalez? Yeah, he's still striking out way too much -- nine times in the past four games alone! -- and his .245/.333/.434 slash line with five home runs and 19 RBIs aren't exactly banging the door down. But he also isn't anchored down by having to master a position as complex as catcher.
• It's Roansy Contreras day around here and, man, I've got to tell you, this young man handled the brief bullpen demotion as well as it can be handled. Kept his head up, behaved professionally, spoke all the right things and acted as if this weren't, in fact, the biggest setback of his career to date. Good for him. Remember it if he bounces back.
• Seen on the road, more than once: Ji-Man Choi spending time with a struggling teammate here or there, trying to offer a friendly word or ear.
• Thanks for reading Insider, as ever. I'm headed to PNC Park tonight for the series opener between the Pirates and Cardinals.
