TAMPA, Fla. — Brock McGinn and Mark Friedman cleared waivers. What’s next?
The Penguins on Tuesday waived both players as general manager Ron Hextall sought to create more salary cap space and roster flexibility heading into Friday’s trade deadline. They have eyed a major trade, engaging in talks with Arizona about Jakub Chychrun and Vancouver about J.T. Miller, per sources.
Pittsburgh opened up $3.2 million in cap space over the weekend when St. Louis claimed Kasperi Kapanen. The Penguins could have gotten another $2.725 million if McGinn had been claimed Wednesday. Unsurprisingly, no team did.
Now that McGinn and Friedman have cleared and are eligible to be reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, PuckPedia projects the Penguins as having about $4 million in cap space heading into Friday’s 3 p.m. deadline. Stashing McGinn’s contract created $1.125 million of that.
That’s much more wiggle room than Hextall had just a week ago, when he couldn’t even fit the cost of a new Zamboni under the cap. But the Penguins will likely need to send out salary to acquire a big-ticket player such as Miller.
Obviously, you want to know if the Penguins land someone of significance before the deadline, and understandably so. We will get clarity soon. Of less concern but still of relevance is what the future holds for McGinn in particular.
Coach Mike Sullivan was effusive in his praise of McGinn, 29, after Tuesday’s win at Nashville, in which McGinn sparked the Penguins with an assist and his gritty play. He raved about his character and referred to him as a “glue guy.” It sure sounded as if Sullivan hoped McGinn would be back at some point.
But if Hextall puts most or all of his newfound cap space to use with his deadline dealings, McGinn may have an extended stay in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Looking beyond this season, McGinn could be a buyout candidate. The Penguins reportedly shopped him around the NHL in recent days, hoping to get the final two and a half years of his contract off the books. Barring a remarkable turnaround, it is hard to imagine that interest in the winger will suddenly swell.
Matt Vensel: mvensel@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mattvensel.
First Published: March 1, 2023, 8:24 p.m.
