GM has plan to offset near-certain losses

The free-agency plan is set for the Penguins, the shopping list for noon Saturday finalized.

They will pick up a defenseman or two and likely a veteran goaltender on a oneyear contract. Meanwhile, their unrestricted free agents are likely out the door, expected to sign with other NHL clubs shortly after free agency starts.

General manager Jim Rutherford isn’t discouraged. He has seen this before. There is plenty of work ahead, however, and Rutherford knows it could happen quickly.

So let’s go through what the Penguins are looking at, starting with the general manager’s promise of adding a defenseman.

“We’ll get another defenseman, I’m sure, over the next few days who fits what we do,” Rutherford said Friday at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complexin Cranberry.

That means a puckmover, someone who can make quick decisions and skate a little bit. A reasonable contract and right shot would help.

Perhaps someone like Cody Franson, formerly of Buffalo.

Acquiring a goaltender to back up Matt Murray is on the list after goaltending coach Mike Buckley said Thursday the organization planned on giving Tristan Jarry another year to develop at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Former Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks and Chicago Black hawks net min der Antii Niemi already has been linked to the Penguins via Sports net’ s Elliot te Friedman, although Niemi’s agent, Markus Lehto, declined to confirm whether he has had contact with the Penguins.

“If we can get a veteran goalie on a one-year deal that we’re comfortable [with], that’s the preference,” Rutherford said.

The general manager also thinks that will happen, that the Penguins will get someone to play 20-25 games behind Murray and keep him fresh for the playoffs.

“I do believe that we’ll get somebody we’re comfortable with,” Rutherford said.

Having money to make both moves won’t be a problemas chances do not appear to be very good that any of the Penguins’ unrestricted freeagents will stick around.

That group includes Chris Kunitz, Matt Cullen, Nick Bonino, Ron Hainsey, Trevor Daleyand Mark Streit.

“As we get closer to [Saturday], it appears that guys are going to get contracts elsewhere,” Rutherford said. “Until it’s official, we’re just keeping them in the loop.”

Daley has crossed the Penguins off his list. Bonino could get in excess of $4 million over the course of a fouryear contract, numbers the Penguins can’t match.

Replacing Bonino likely will happen via trade, Rutherford said, as the Penguins are leery of overpaying and getting saddled with a burdensome contract in a couple of years.

“It’s a combination of things,” Rutherford said of the process of acquiring Bonino’s replacement and why a trade works better. “One of the things is what does that cost you? Not only in cap space but in term. Based on where we’re at, with the amount of younger players that we have, with contracts that are going to be coming up, we have to be careful. We don’t want to put ourselves in a position where we’re forced to move out good, young players.”

That same logic would prevent the Penguins from committing to Bonino for four years at $4 million per season. What would that look like down the road whenever it’s time to pay Jake Guentzel?

Cullen is the exception regarding the Penguins UFAs. He’s not leaving because there’s a boatload of interest elsewhere. He’s trying to figure out whether he wants to play another year and easily could return to the Penguins.

The potential losses all involve veterans with strong voices. Rutherford said he and coach Mike Sullivan have talked about how to address what some might perceive as a cumulative loss of leadership, but that won’t influence Rutherford too much come Saturday..

“Sully and I have talked about that,” Rutherford said. “We still have that strong leadership. [Sidney Crosby] is a strong leader. Some of these guys are now a year older. We expect some of these guys to step up. Make no mistake. There’s some good leaders and glue guys in there that will be missed.”

Contracts talks with restricted free agents Conor Sheary, Brian Dumoulin and Justin Schultz remain ongoing, Rutherford said, although nothing appears to be imminent. Schultz’s agent, Wade Arnott, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that his client won’t sign his qualifying offer of $1.4 million, and they would be comfortable going to arbitration.

Asked whether he thought the two sides would be able to hammer out an extension before the July 5 deadline, Rutherford said, “Probably.”