On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins became the first team since the 1997-1998 Detroit Red Wings to win back-to-back Stanley Cups. There's no doubting how difficult this is to accomplish in general, let alone in the salary cap era. Despite this, what's stopping the Pens from becoming the first team to three-peat since the New York Islanders won four straight Cups from 1980-1983?
Not as much as you'd think.
Keeping the boys together
Pittsburgh's core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, and Kris Letang are all locked up to long-term deals, and they are all in the prime of their careers. Letang will be coming off neck surgery, but he had 34 points in just 41 games this season.
The quartet has a combined annual cap hit of $32.25 million. That's a lot for just four players, but thanks to some astute drafting, much of Pittsburgh's supporting cast is making pennies.
Between Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Tom Kuhnhackl, Scott Wilson, and Carter Rowney, nobody is scheduled to make more than $740K next season.
Who's staying and who's going?
Nick Bonino is an unrestricted free agent and frankly, it would be surprising if the Pens are able to meet his salary expectations. Also up front, there's a legitimate chance both Matt Cullen and Chris Kunitz retire. The only other key forward in need of a new contract is Conor Sheary, a restricted free agent who likely won't require a massive pay raise.
On the back end, Brian Dumoulin and Justin Schultz are RFAs. Expect general manager Jim Rutherford to do everything in his power to lock up both, or at the very least, one of them. Trevor Daley and Ron Hainsey are UFAs and probably won't be back.
In goal, Matt Murray has a cap hit of just $3.75 million for the next three seasons (!), giving him one of the most valuable contracts in the league. Marc-Andre Fleury and his $5.75 million cap hit are likely heading to another organization this offseason, giving Pittsburgh some cap relief in which to re-sign Schultz and Dumoulin.
The needs
If they can't retain Bonino and Cullen ends up retiring, third- and fourth-line centers will be needed. Luckily, they won't be required to produce a ton offensively with Crosby and Malkin centering the top two lines. There aren't many capable third-line centers available in free agency, however. Fortunately, Pittsburgh has more than enough internal depth on the wings.
If the Pens are able to lock up Schultz and Dumoulin, only one defenseman will be needed, and that spot could be filled internally, possibly by pending RFA and former top-10 pick Derrick Pouliot. However, depth should be added given Letang's injury history.
With Fleury likely on his way out, a backup goaltender is needed, but those aren't very difficult to find.
The competition
Pittsburgh's biggest roadblock to repeating as champs this year was the Washington Capitals, but they will be getting significantly worse this offseason. The Blue Jackets should be good again, but probably not as good as they were last year. The Rangers' D is holding them back from being contenders.
Over in the Atlantic Division, things look much easier for the Penguins come playoff time. The Leafs are probably a year or two away from being legitimate threats, the Habs seem to only be getting worse, and while Ottawa took the Penguins to seven games, it's unlikely they do so again. Tampa Bay should be Pittsburgh's biggest competition, though it has big decisions to make this offseason.
The Penguins are clearly the only beast in the east.
It seems any team could come out of the west and give the Pens a run for their money next season, but it's hard to match Pittsburgh's offensive firepower and stability in the crease with Murray.
Unsurprisingly, the Penguins are already Stanley Cup favorites heading into next season. Perhaps their biggest competition will be themselves, as it will require immense will to go on a third straight run to the finals, but the pieces are clearly in place for a three-peat.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
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