OPINION- For National Hockey League fans, Oct. 1 marks one of the most exciting days of the year, opening day. For fans of six of the NHL's 32 teams (Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh, Detroit, San Jose, and Los Angeles), that day also holds a sense of fear as their clubs make last minute moves to begin the season under the mandated salary cap of $67,100,000.
2012-13 General Manager of the Year, Ray Shero of Pittsburgh, has yet to release what the Penguins will do save the $1,098,333 the Pittsburgh Penguins are over on the cap ceiling. All analysts and fans can do is pray and speculate to the fate of favorites and less than favorites on the roster.
Dan Bylsma, Penguins head coach, announced Wed that there are only three spots open for competition during training camp which began that morning with team meetings and a media day devoted to video and still images for publication by the organization. Bylsma hinted, without confirmation, that all spots were forward positions, and concluded that all other spots on the NHL team's roster were locked in.
After absorbing all the commentary, reading blogs by Penguins hockey reporters Rob Rossi and Josh Yohe of Trib Total Media, its very clear that even the professionals closest to the team can only offer their best guess as to what lies ahead.
As of Wed night, Pittsburgh and their minor league affiliate, Wilkes-barre/Scranton Baby Penguins, shared 18 defensemen. League wide roster limitations state that each team may dress only six defensemen, totaling 12 active players, while the remaining six can stay as part of the organization. However those inactive players are reserved for situations involving injury, or suspension of the active players. In layman's terms, the Penguins organizations are paying six men to eat cap space, just in case a higher caliber defensemen is injured ect.
The same can be said about any team in the league, in all positions. The difference between the Penguins and most other hockey clubs in the league is that the Penguins have one of the highest paid rarely active defensemen in the league, Matt Niskanen at $2.3 million this year, the last of his contract. Based on a new bi-law introduced after the lockout last fall, a player is only available for trading in the last year of his contract. Before Oct. 1, Matt Niskanen will likely be on the trade block.
Last season, Niskanen, 26 of Virginia, MN, played 40 of 48 games, tallying four goals and ten assists. "Nisky"also played 15 playoff games and had two assists in the post season. With numbers that low, it is likely that the Penguins may attempt to trade Niskanen for draft picks in next June's 2014 NHL Entry Draft. That would keep the organization from paying any newly acquired players from the trade this season.
Niskanen isn't the only option however. Fourth line left winger Tanner Glass, 29 of Regina, SK, Canada, may also see himself playing in Pittsburgh on an away team this season, thanks to disappointing stats and a seemingly halted track of developmental improvement. Last season, Glass' third full season for an NHL club, Tanner played in all 48 games, but only posted one goals, one assist and was rated -11 in plus/minus.
With all the young talent coming up the pipeline from last years 5th seeded, Eastern Conference semifinalist Wilks-barre/Scranton team, such as Beau Bennett, left winger, 21 of Gardena, CA, it wouldn't be surprising to see Glass take the back door to another club. Removing Glass from the equation would free up $1.1 million this season, clearing the cap and keeping more inactive players available if needed, removing an expensive, weaker horse to keep more younger horses in the stable.
Again, most of this is speculation. No one person knows, sparring possibly Ray Shero, what will happen in the days to come for the Penguins organization. It is possible that, despite Bylsma's word, a strong showing in training camp may be the saving grace for Matt Niskanen and Tanner Glass.
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My prediction: Niskanen will be traded before Oct. 1. Leaving the remaining active roster to look something like this.
FORWARDS
Pascal Dupuis - Sidney Crosby- Chris Kunitz
Beau Bennett - Evgeni Malkin - James Neal
Jussi Jokenen - Brandon Sutter - Adam Payerl
Dustin Jefferey - Joe Vitale - Craig Adams
DEFENSIVE PAIRS
Kris Letang - Rob Scuderi
Brooks Orpik - Simon Despres
Deryk Engelland - Paul Martin
GOALTENDERS
Marc-Andrey Fleury
Tomas Vokoun
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