Analysis: What to do with Penguins' unrestricted free agents?

Kyle Dubas has a busy offseason ahead of him.

As Dubas acknowledged in his season-ending media availability last week, the Penguins still have a ways to go toward becoming a contender. Their late surge doesn't make up for all the early-season failures.

Amidst all the decisions that need to be made are some questions when it comes to what to do with their own free agents. The Penguins have 12 pending unrestricted free agents this summer -- half from the season-ending roster, half from the minors.

What do they do with them? Let's take a look.

ALEX NEDELJKOVIC

One way to free up some cap space this summer would be to move out Tristan Jarry and go into next season with an Alex Nedeljkovic/Joel Blomqvist tandem. Dubas' comments last week made clear that Blomqvist is very much in the mix for a full-time NHL gig next season, with his performance in the upcoming Calder Cup playoffs being a major factor in that consideration as to whether he's ready. But Dubas also suggested that Blomqvist wouldn't replace Jarry. The opening he's looking at is Nedeljkovic's.

"As I said to (Nedeljkovic) yesterday, we have a situation where we have a young goaltender that's also pushing in Joel Blomqvist," Dubas said. "We're going to use this next stretch of weeks -- he'll play one (regular-season) game this weekend, then really the playoffs with Wilkes. How does Joel play? Can he assert himself at that level? Then we'll have more information of how we want to go ahead with our goaltending."

Blomqvist is the goaltender of the future. He went 25-12-6 in Wilkes-Barre's regular season, tying Matt Murray for the second-most wins by a rookie goaltender in Wilkes-Barre history and coming one win shy of Marc-Andre Fleury's record of 26. He posted a .921 save percentage and a 2.16 goals-against average. He was an All-Star. He was also very consistent -- in his 45 appearances, he only allowed more than three goals six times, and three of those instances came in a single three-game stretch starting in November. He had one shutout, and 17 games where he only allowed one goal. 

I mean, what else does he have to prove? Yeah, this upcoming playoff run will say a lot about how Blomqvist stands up to pressure and big games, especially with the heightened pressure of a best-of-three series in the first round, and one of two powerhouses in Hershey and Providence already waiting Wilkes-Barre in the second round after their first-round byes. If Blomqvist handles it anywhere as close as he did the regular season, he shouldn't see Wilkes-Barre again.

Nedeljkovic was what the Penguins needed in the second half of the season, and he's expressed a desire to return to Pittsburgh. But he's also surely due for a raise on his $1.5 million cap hit -- one that the Penguins might not be able to afford. Blomqvist's $887,000 entry-level deal would be a cap-cutting measure that is also preparing for the future. And if the Penguins do go that route and Jarry's play falls off in the second half of the season as it did this year, Blomqvist might just be ready to take over starting duties by then.

JEFF CARTER

This one is easy -- Jeff Carter made that decision for the Penguins and retired. That's $3.125 million off the books.

Carter and his family are staying in the Pittsburgh area. He likes it here. He said after the Penguins' season finale that his focus is on "being a dad" post-retirement, but I can't imagine he'll stay away from the game for too long. He'd be perfect for a development coach role like Matt Cullen has or other executives started out with, like Tom Kostopoulos or Bill Guerin. He's got a lot of experience and the ability to relate to younger players and make them feel comfortable.

Dubas also loves Carter -- a 16-year-old Carter was playing for the OHL's Soo Greyhounds when Dubas was just starting out there as a 16-year-old scout. If Carter wants a job, Dubas will find one for him.

JANSEN HARKINS

Simply put, the Penguins could do -- and must do -- better on their fourth line next season. Harkins brought speed and helped drive momentum with his puck pursuit game and ability to force turnovers. The fourth line wasn't often set up for offensive success with their usage and defensive zone deployments. But regardless of all that, ideally a guy in this position would also chip in offensively once every 45 games or so.

Harkins was good -- and actually scored -- at the AHL level. He'd be welcome back there, but with the number of incoming forwards at the AHL level, he's just not needed. And with forwards like Sam Poulin, Jonathan Gruden, Vasily Ponomarev and Ville Koivunen fighting for spots on the NHL roster, it'd be best to reserve any openings for one of those younger guys.

VALTTERI PUUSTINEN

Yes, Valtteri Puustinen is an unrestricted free agent this summer. Not restricted.

Typically players are restricted free agents until they reach age 27 or have seven years of experience. But Puustinen is 24, turning 25 in June. He is what's called a Group 6 free agent -- players who are at least 25 by the time free agency opens, have at least three years of professional experience in North America, but have fewer than 80 total NHL games. Puustinen has 53 games of NHL experience. 

Puustinen turned into a regular this past season, at times earning a shot in the top six. When Reilly Smith joined Puustinen and Lars Eller on the third line, that line was perhaps at its best all season. Puustinen himself said on locker room cleanout day that he's "so hungry" to come back to play in Pittsburgh next season. 

Puustinen made $775,000 this season at the NHL level, the league-minimum salary. Maybe he's earned a slight raise, but he'd still be affordable.

THE OTHERS

Some much quicker thoughts on the remaining unrestricted free agents from the AHL level...

Vinnie Hinostroza, forward -- He was a welcome veteran presence in Wilkes-Barre all season and did fine when called upon in Pittsburgh. Dubas wanted to add pieces like Hinostroza in free agency to add competition for the younger players. With that being the idea, Hinostroza was a fine signing. That doesn't mean he needs to come back. He's 30 years old, and guys like him shuffle around every offseason as they look for a better path to NHL time.

Radim Zohorna, forward -- Same as above. He's older at 27, contributed at the AHL level, did OK for stretches in the NHL level. Dubas seems to be more fond of Zohorna, and Zohorna himself loves being in the organization ... even if it doesn't always mean he'll be in the NHL. I wouldn't be surprised to see him back, if only for an AHL role.

Jack Rathbone, defenseman -- Rathbone was the return in the Mark Friedman deal at the start of the season. He's left-handed, only 24 but turns 25 next month, and is a Group 6 unrestricted free agent because of the lack of NHL games. He had an encouraging first year in Wilkes-Barre, with eight goals, 16 assists and a plus-12 rating in 67 games. With the defense prospect pool still being on the more shallow side, he's worth re-signing.

Dmitri Samorukov, defenseman -- Same situation as Rathbone. He's lefthanded, 24 but turns 25 in June and is Group 6. He started the year on an AHL deal but was signed to an NHL contract when the Penguins were hurting on defense early in the year and needed a seventh defenseman, and apparently had no interest in having that be Ty Smith. So, Samorukov earned a contract. He never played on that recall and was sent back down, then had a fine year in Wilkes-Barre with five goals, 10 assists and a plus-7 rating in 64 games. For the same reasons as I gave for Rathbone, it's worth a shot.

Ryan Shea, defenseman -- Shea had an interesting year. He earned a spot in the NHL out of camp, played OK to start, couldn't maintain that consistency and ended up in the AHL. He earned another shot late in the season after Ryan Graves was concussed, and this time was on a pairing with his partner from Wilkes-Barre, Jack St. Ivany. That Shea-St. Ivany pairing down the stretch was the best the third pairing looked all season. For that alone, re-sign him. Give him NHL time to start, or keep him as a seventh defenseman, then bury him in the AHL if it doesn't quite work out. Low-risk, potential high reward.

Taylor Fedun, defenseman -- Fedun is Wilkes-Barre's captain. He turns 36 years old this summer. He's had his role reduced to a healthy scratch for stretches this season, only playing 43 games. He hasn't spoken about his future either way, but this might be his last shot at a championship this spring. It'd be nice to see him go out on top. Probably shouldn't be re-signed either way.

Xavier Ouellet, defenseman -- If Fedun does retire and the Penguins want a veteran presence around on the Wilkes-Barre blue line, Ouellet is still that guy. He's a little younger, turning 31 this summer, and is comfortable playing on both sides of a defense pair. He scored two goals, 23 assists and recorded a plus-9 rating in 63 games this season. He'd be a fine minor-league depth defenseman and part of the leadership core next season.

Ludovic Waeber, goaltender -- Waeber was the goaltender the Penguins got back from Florida when they traded Magnus Hellberg in an effort to make Blomqvist the true No. 1 goaltender and allow Hellberg a shot at more NHL time elsewhere. He turns 28 this summer. He only played four games after the trade deadline, always in back-to-backs or in the middle of three-in-threes when it just wasn't feasible to play Blomqvist. He can walk in free agency. Whether Blomqvist is in the NHL or the AHL again, Penguins goaltending prospect Taylor Gauthier is 23 and just won the award for ECHL goaltender of the year in what was his second season down in the ECHL, just because there was no room for him in Wilkes-Barre. A Blomqvist-Gauthier pairing would be great. If Blomqvist isn't in the AHL, then putting Gauthier with a veteran Hellberg-type with NHL experience would be great too. Either way, Waeber doesn't fit into the puzzle.