However, should Phaneuf retain his clause he'll be automatically protected. The Senators, of course, will certainly protect captain Erik Karlsson, and will likely have to choose between Marc Methot and Cody Ceci to round out their list should they choose the seven-three-one format.
Phaneuf's current contract runs through the 2020-21 season at an annual cap hit of $7 million.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres' coaching search has resumed, with general manager Jason Botterill telling The Associated Press he hopes to make a decision by early next week.
Botterill declined to reveal what candidates from the two Stanley Cup finalists he intends to interview after Pittsburgh beat Nashville to win the championship in Game 6 on Sunday. When asked specifically about his interest in Pittsburgh's Rick Tocchet and Nashville's Phil Housley, Botterill would only say he respects both assistant coaches.
The newly hired GM has already interviewed numerous candidates, including Washington assistant Todd Reirden. Botterill, however, was forced to place the search on hold because NHL rules prevented him from interviewing assistant coaches on teams still competing in the playoffs.
Botterill was hired last month after the Sabres fired both GM Tim Murray and coach Dan Bylsma in April.
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AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno in Washington contributed to this report.
June is an incredibly busy month for the NHL, but that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to what's coming. Free agency begins at 12 p.m. ET on July 1, and we're ranking the top 80 unrestricted free agents in a seven-post series ahead of the madness.
Here's a look at players ranked 30 - 21 on our list.
30. Chad Johnson (G)
Age on Oct. 1: 31 2016-17 Cap Hit: $1,700,000
This journeyman backup could be set to play for his sixth team in eight years.
Johnson, who carries a career save percentage of .915, should have some choices available to him after playing well in stretches for the Calgary Flames this past season while Brian Elliott (also a UFA) was struggling.
29. Drew Stafford (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 31 2016-17 Cap Hit: $4,350,000
Stafford's stock saw a bump after being traded from Winnipeg to Boston, scoring as many goals in limited time with the Bruins (four in 18 games) as he did in almost twice as many games with the Jets (four in 40 games).
Stafford did add two goals in six playoff games, but seems primed for the kind of short-term, low-risk deal that is common among aging players.
28. Peter Budaj (G)
Age on Oct. 1: 35 2016-17 Cap Hit: $600,000
While filling in for an injured Jonathan Quick, Budaj gave the Kings ridiculous value on a modest investment. In 53 appearances, he posted a 27-20-3 record with a .917 save percentage. True, he faded a bit before being shipped off to Tampa Bay, but he certainly proved he's capable of being a high-end backup.
27. Dmitry Kulikov (D)
Age on Oct. 1: 26 2016-17 Cap Hit: $4,333,333
Kulikov was limited to only 47 games in his one - and perhaps only - season in Buffalo, recording two goals, three assists, and a minus-26 rating. Still, he's only 26 and there's no shortage of teams looking for defensemen capable of playing top-four minutes.
26. Thomas Vanek (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 33 2016-17 Cap Hit: $2,600,000
After being bought out by Minnesota last summer, Vanek signed one of the one-year, modest-cap-hit deals mentioned above with respect to Stafford. In 68 games split between Detroit and Florida, he scored 17 goals and added 31 assists. He could be in for a bit more job security this time around.
25. Kris Versteeg (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 31 2016-17 Cap Hit: $950,000
Versteeg began training camp in Edmonton and eventually signed a one-year deal with Calgary, where he managed to contribute 15 goals and 22 assists in 69 games, and an additional four points in four playoff contests. He's already said, "If I'm sitting in Switzerland in September, my agent's getting fired," meaning he's expecting to land a contract with an NHL team come training camp.
24. Ron Hainsey (D)
Age on Oct. 1: 36 2016-17 Cap Hit: $2,833,333
Having never appeared in the Stanley Cup Playoffs prior to this season, Hainsey won his first Cup with Pittsburgh. Where he goes from here is anyone's guess, but we all know teams value experience, and he can now at least boast about scoring a goal in the Final.
23. Michael Del Zotto (D)
Age on Oct. 1: 27 2016-17 Cap Hit: $3,875,000
With his career seemingly at a crossroads, Del Zotto found his game in Philadelphia, where he spent the past three seasons. He never played in more than 64 games in a single season over that span, but his age and skill set should land him a nice deal regardless.
22. Kris Russell (D)
Age on Oct. 1: 30 2016-17 Cap Hit: $3,100,000
It appears as though Edmonton general manager Peter Chiarelli is keen on keeping Russell in the mix, but should he hit the open market, count on endless debates pitting advanced stats against the eye test.
21. Brian Boyle (F)
Age on Oct. 1: 32 2016-17 Cap Hit: $2,000,000
Boyle was acquired by Toronto prior to the trade deadline, and helped the team qualify for the postseason, where it gave Washington a tighter matchup in the first round than was initially expected. The veteran center will command plenty of attention in free agency, and rightfully so, based on all that he brings to the table.
Guentzel's 13 goals in the playoffs - the second-most ever recorded by a first-year player - are particularly impressive when compared to the 22-year-old's output during the regular season. In 40 games, Guentzel managed just three more goals and 12 more points than he produced in 15 fewer playoff matchups.
Rookie playoff scoring has been on the rise in recent years. Five of the 27 rookies to score at least 14 postseason points are currently active. None of those five were older than 22 when they did it, and none of them are currently over the age of 29.
Here's how Guentzel's 2017 playoff performance compares to his four recent predecessors, and how his future might unfold.
Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins, 2011
GP
G
A
PTS
Rookie RS
77
21
20
41
Rookie PS
25
11
8
19
Career RS
534
192
182
374
Career PS
72
17
26
43
Marchand appeared in an unimpressive 20 games for the Bruins during a 2009-10 season that included significant time in the AHL. He finished the year with just one NHL assist, and didn't play a single postseason game for Boston.
Things changed big time in his official rookie season, and his game has continued to improve. Though the Bruins haven't enjoyed a similar level of playoff success since his breakout run, his production clearly represents the upper tier of what can be hoped for from Guentzel.
If Guentzel can stick beside Sidney Crosby the way Marchand has stuck with Patrice Bergeron, he could certainly enjoy sustained success.
Robby Fabbri, St. Louis Blues, 2016
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
GP
G
A
PTS
Rookie RS
72
18
19
37
Rookie PS
20
4
11
15
Career RS
123
29
37
66
Career PS
20
4
11
15
Before Guentzel, Fabbri was the most recent rookie to make the NHL world take notice during the postseason.
He missed the Blues' 2017 playoff run due to injury, though, and was limited to just 51 regular-season games. As is the case with Guentzel, the jury is still out, but Fabbri's proved capable of handling a steady top-six role with St. Louis in a system that's projected to favor offense slightly more under head coach Mike Yeo.
Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks, 2011
GP
G
A
PTS
Rookie RS
79
32
24
56
Rookie PS
18
7
7
14
Career RS
504
179
197
376
Career PS
86
30
39
69
Couture gained the most experience of any player on this list prior to his rookie season. He played 25 regular-season games and 15 playoff contests in 2009-10, just narrowly falling short of the rookie qualifications.
Injuries have been the only thing tempering his production since, as he's led San Jose's second line whenever healthy. He's typically played with inferior and less inexperienced talent while the Sharks tend to load up their top line. Guentzel hasn't shown such a complete game yet, since he's relied heavily on playing time with Crosby.
Tyler Toffoli, Los Angeles Kings, 2014
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
GP
G
A
PTS
Rookie RS
62
12
17
29
Rookie PS
26
7
7
14
Career RS
293
84
91
175
Career PS
43
9
12
21
Toffoli played a total of 22 regular-season and playoff games in 2012-13 before busting out during the Kings' run to the 2014 Stanley Cup.
Like Marchand and Guentzel, Toffoli was able to lean heavily on an elite center - in this case, Jeff Carter. Toffoli struggled with injuries this past season, but put up 49 and 58 points in the two campaigns before that.
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Guentzel was the lowest draft pick among the players mentioned here, but he was the only one to break out in the postseason without any NHL experience from a previous season or playoffs.
He was drafted seven years after Marchand and six selections lower. Guentzel was the same age as Marchand in his rookie run, younger than Toffoli, and only slightly older than Couture and Fabbri.
His success may largely depend on how long he can ride Crosby's coattails, but Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan should have plenty of patience with that experiment.
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.
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.
That was the hashtag being used by plenty of NHL team Twitter accounts on Monday as Adidas teased their upcoming unveiling of new home and away jerseys for all 31 teams.
Of great interest will be the look for the Vegas Golden Knights, who will begin play in 2017-18.
The Florida Panthers are taking a chance on first-time head coach Bob Boughner, but he's hopeful that history has him lined up for a successful tenure in South Florida.
Boughner is coming off two seasons as an assistant with the San Jose Sharks, a situation he views as quite similar to the one he's entering.
"The year before I got there they missed the playoffs. Then we came in and it was an immediate boost," Boughner told Jameson Olive of the team's website, referring to the fact San Jose advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in the first season under head coach Pete DeBoer.
"That's the same thing we're looking for here. I think the players are going to respond to it. They're going to have a little new life. It's a clean slate for a lot of guys. They have a lot of guys, from what I know, that are already hungry to forget about last year and bounce back."
In order for the Panthers to return to the playoffs, honing team defense will be key, and that's something Boughner's taken pride in over the years.
"I love that challenge," he said. "It's what I've done my whole coaching career. I've developed guys at the junior level and then I went to San Jose and had my hands on guys like Brent Burns and Brenden Dillon, the younger D. That's what I love to do.
"We're going to jump right in, dig right in with that group. I'd like to see a huge bounce back from the whole group, but it starts back there, for sure."
Along those lines, it certainly helps to have a star player like Aaron Ekblad - a family friend of Boughner's - on the back end to build around.
"I know he's a proud kid and he's a face of this organization," Boughner said of Ekblad. "We need him to stay healthy and get back to what made him tick the first year. I think he's excited. I've talked to him already and I know he's excited about the change. It's going to be good."
Prior to his stint with the Sharks, Boughner spent several seasons as part-owner and coach of the OHL's Windsor Spitfires, and one season as an assistant with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will be the first team in NHL history to make the 31st pick in the opening round of the entry draft.
By virtue of winning the Stanley Cup, the champions officially locked up the final pick, with the Nashville Predators set to choose 30th as runner-ups.
The extra pick, of course, belongs to the Vegas Golden Knights. They'll be on the clock with the sixth overall selection, as was determined during the draft lottery process in April.
Here's the order of selection for Round 1 - pending further trades - beginning with the New Jersey Devils.
