Kasperi Kapanen Re-Signs with Pittsburgh Penguins, Avoiding Arbitration
The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed F Kasperi Kapanen to a two-year, $6.4 million contract ($3.2M AAV):
The signing means the two parties avoid salary arbitration, which is a notoriously sanctimonious process. Sometimes permanently damaging to relationships, even. It also means that upon expiry, Kapanen will be an unrestricted free-agent.
This leaves the Penguins with a projected -$480,175 in salary cap space, per CapFriendly. While they are over the NHL's salary cap, they do possess a bevy of options to be compliant.
July 24 will feature the start of a 48-hour buyout period, where the Penguins could possibly buyout the contracts of either Jason Zucker or Marcus Petterson. Or possibly facilitate another trade, seeing one of the two out of town. They could also send F Drew O'Connor or D Ty Smith to the minors free of risk, as both are waivers-exempt.
The Penguins roster, otherwise is set. Barring any additional transactions, of course. One of the busier clubs so far this summer, Pittsburgh is currently the oldest team in the NHL with an average age of 30; the only club in the 30s. They are looking to take another kick at the can with the core that won three Stanley Cups before their window ultimately closes. Is this the group to get it done or have GM Ron Hextall & President Brian Burke made the wrong moves?
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 21 | 102 ANSWERS Kasperi Kapanen Re-Signs with Pittsburgh Penguins, Avoiding Arbitration Can Pittsburgh win with this group? | ||
| Yes | 37 | 36.3 % |
| No | 65 | 63.7 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Patrick Maroon | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Lukas Reichel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Connor Murphy | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Craig Smith | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nolan Allan | - | - | - | |
| Joey Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Emil Andrae | - | - | - | |
| Connor Bedard | - | - | - | |
| Tyler Bertuzzi | - | - | - | |
| Bobby Brink | - | - | - | |
| T.J. Brodie | - | - | - | |
| Noah Cates | - | - | - | |
| Sean Couturier | - | - | - | |
| Louis Crevier | - | - | - | |
| Jason Dickinson | - | - | - | |
| Ryan Donato | - | - | - | |
| Joel Farabee | - | - | - | |
| Tyson Foerster | - | - | - | |
| Nick Foligno | - | - | - | |
| Morgan Frost | - | - | - | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 20 | 17 | 3 | - | 34 | |
Wild | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 29 | |
Hurricanes | 19 | 14 | 5 | - | 28 | |
Devils | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 27 | |
Golden Knights | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
Panthers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
Flames | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||