Focus On The Over-50 Crowd As Penguins Prepare For Lightning

As the Pittsburgh Penguins get ready to continue their 6-game home stand tonight at Mellon Arena by hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning (7:30 PM EST) -- who lost last night to the Columbus Blue Jackets -- the buzz surrounding the team remains focused on the over-50 crowd.

That is, #55, #58 and #71.

With the signing of 22-year old defenseman Kris Letang to a 4-year, $14 million dollar contract extension yesterday, common wisdom suggests that teammate Sergei Gonchar is likely to be a salary cap casualty this summer when (or before) he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Don't tell that to Penguins' GM Ray Shero or Head Coach Dan Bylsma, however.

Yesterday, both spoke publicly -- and clearly -- that Letang's signing will not at all influence the Penguins in trying to get a deal done with Sarge.

Both may honesty believe that, but even if the Penguins pick up negotiations with Gonchar's camp after the season, reality dictates that with Letang's signing, it will now be meaningfully more difficult for Pittsburgh to ink Gonchar to a new deal at a price he's willing to accept.

The salary cap is unforgiving that way.

By all accounts, Gonchar wants to maintain his current salary -- $5 million per season -- and probably would take a 3-year deal. But that's no hometown discount, and the Penguins won't pay that much. They probably would have been willing to go around 4 million, but with Tanger's new contract, even that will be difficult now.

Shero and his cap wizard, Jason Botterill, have done great work with a roster up tight against the cap for the last 3 seasons, but I just can't see the two sides being able to work something out in this case.

Assuming Gonchar goes, Letang will have more pressure on him to step up into the 40-50 point range on a consistent basis. And either he or fellow blueliner Alex Goligoski and his $1.8 million dollar salary will have to take charge on the power play. Neither has shown the ability to do that this year, but if Sarge is no longer on the roster, they won't have a choice next season.

In truth, Goligoski may be in a bit of a better position to lead the man-advantage than Letang. GoGo is all offense, and he's 2 years older. Letang has the skill to produce at that level, but he's also a proficient two-way rearguard as well --- which is why he's getting paid at a level commensurate with the Brent Seabrook's of the league.

Sure, Letang's contract is probably a little high right now, but in the salary cap world, Shero has to make hard decisions and take some chances. If Letang ups his game -- and he clearly has the ability to do that -- the contract will be a good one for the Penguins in future seasons, even if the team is borrowing against that by overpaying Letang a bit in the short term.

Remember, Gonchar wasn't nearly the player he is now when he was 22. Letang has the capability of being a cornerstone on defense for Pittsburgh for years to come.

Meanwhile, back on the ice, both #55 and the other member of the over-50 crowd I'm talking about today -- Evgeni Malkin -- participated in practice yesterday.

Gonchar's health is improving and he is much more likely to go tonight than Malkin. While Geno made it through the entire practice, he's clearly not at 100% and with the Penguins not having another game until Saturday, it makes obvious sense not to rush him back into the lineup tonight. Pittsburgh would be better off giving him several additional days rest.

In fact, I wouldn't at all object if the Penguins held him out Saturday against Atlanta, too, and instead didn't play him until next Tuesday when the Washington Capitals come to town.

Again, with Malkin, it's all about getting him ready for the post-season.

I'll have a game recap tomorrow morning. With a win tonight, the Penguins can move three points ahead of New Jersey, since the Devils lost 1-0 in overtime to the Boston Bruins last night and only gained a point in the standings.

The Buffalo Sabres remain worth keeping an eye on, as well. They also are 1 point back and are playing some good hockey.

Let's Go Pens!