The Pittsburgh Penguins will need to shed serious salary to become significant players in the free-agent market, but regardless of what they do, there will be some fireworks around the league when the signing period opens at noon Monday. Here’s a quick overview.
BIG TICKETS
The Columbus duo of high-scoring winger Artemi Panarin and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky should break the bank. Florida is wooing both. The Rangers are courting Panarin, and the Islanders are after Bobrovsky. … Matt Duchene (Columbus) is the top prize among centers. … Rangy Tyler Myers (Winnipeg) is the defenseman who will command the biggest contract. … Anders Lee (Islanders) is a net-front beast.
WING NIGHT
The strength of the free-agent class is a deep group of wingers who can score in the 20-goal range. … Wayne Simmonds (Nashville), Corey Perry (Anaheim) and Micheal Ferland (Carolina) are the physical types. … Gustav Nyquist (San Jose) and Ryan Dzingel (Columbus) are skilled. … Justin Williams (Carolina) and Mats Zuccerello (Dallas) bring a veteran presence.
EX-PENGUINS
Derick Brassard (Colorado) didn’t pick it up much after leaving the Penguins and probably will take a pay cut. … Riley Sheahan (Florida) is a bottom-six option for teams. … A pair of offensive defensemen taken in the first round of the draft, Derick Pouliot (Vancouver) and Joe Morrow (Winnipeg), were cut loose in restricted free agency.
