Penguins salary cap look after July 1

With the major day of free agency behind us, the 2018-19 season is really starting to come into focus. In the last week we’ve seen Conor Sheary and Matt Hunwick depart and Jack Johnson and...Matt Cullen sign back on, so here’s what the Penguins are looking like as of right now (via capfriendly)

The team still has $3.5 million under the salary cap limit, with defenseman Jamie Oleksiak (a restricted free agent) expected back in the fold sooner than later. Goalie Tristan Jarry also needs to be signed, and even if he makes the team it will likely be close to the amount that Casey DeSmith is under contract for, which won’t make too much of a difference to swap out the backup goalie of preference there, with the other in the AHL.

Financially, the Pens are in pretty good shape. There’s not a ton of excess space but still a bit more than previous years when they’ve been right up against it - like last year when they ended up with just $950 to spare! There is a little more wiggle room this time around and that could help with flexibility for trades in-season as the year advances a bit more space compounds.