The Pittsburgh Penguins are “keenly interested” in free agent winger Tomas Tatar, reports Rob Rossi of The Athletic. Tatar himself alluded to Pittsburgh’s interest in a recent interview with Slovak website Sport.sk, saying, “it [would be nice to play for Pittsburgh], but I don’t want to develop it further.”
Tatar, who was recently back home to accept this year’s Slovak Hockey Player of the Year award, spent the last two seasons with the New Jersey Devils after signing a two-year, $9MM deal with them in 2021. He did well in a middle-six role there after a rather unceremonious end to his time as a Montreal Canadien, as he was healthy scratched for the majority of their run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. The 32-year-old winger recorded 35 goals, 43 assists and 78 points across 158 games in New Jersey, rebounding nicely in his second year after a rather middling 2021-22 campaign. An often underrated standout defensive presence, Tatar received a handful of Selke Trophy votes in 2022-23 for the first time in his career after he posted a career-high +41 rating and a very strong 57.3% Corsi for at even strength.
The 5-foot-10, 173-pound winger hasn’t had documented interest this offseason, although some wondered if he could be a good depth fit for the Edmonton Oilers. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t had interest, however. “It’s been more teams since the beginning. There were many interested parties, which reassured me. The problem was more in the agreement. Whether it was about the length of the contract or the amount, we always fought with someone,” Tatar said. He later mentioned he’s at the stage in his career where he feels he should be picky about his destination in an effort to win the Stanley Cup. He’s been a member of two teams that reached the Stanley Cup Final – the 2021 Canadiens and the 2018 Vegas Golden Knights – but disappointed in both playoff runs.
Another thing Tatar mentioned was his desire for a two-year deal, citing the runway it gave him in New Jersey to improve during his second campaign there. However, he recognized the term demand was likely holding up negotiations and appears to be softening on the two-year requirement in an effort to land with a contender. Rossi also mentioned that if Tatar doesn’t get a guaranteed deal elsewhere soon, he could sign a PTO with the Penguins with the expectation of a one-year deal coming at the end, similar to what Mike Hoffman did with the St. Louis Blues in 2020.
Of course, this would come against what general manager Kyle Dubas said earlier this week after acquiring star defenseman Erik Karlsson. Dubas told reporters he believed the Penguins’ roster was relatively solidified coming into next season, but it’s hard to imagine Tatar not demanding a relatively fruitful roster spot if he does sign – especially to start the season with first-line winger Jake Guentzel briefly on the shelf after undergoing ankle surgery at the beginning of the month.
When everyone is healthy, Tatar would likely slot into a third-line role after playing second-line responsibilities with Nico Hischier for the Devils during much of last season. He likely wouldn’t fracture a top-four wing group that’s made up of Guentzel, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Reilly Smith, although he would assumedly be the first to elevate either alongside Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin if injuries sideline any of those four longer-term.
Also of note, the Penguins are projected to be up directly against the salary cap’s $83.5MM Upper Limit to start the year, per CapFriendly. Signing Tatar would likely mean exposing a depth forward such as Alexander Nylander, Vinnie Hinostroza or the recently-acquired Rem Pitlick to waivers.
I would rather take Jagr at league minimum then then Tatar . Jagr on the wall on 2nd PP..
We need third line help because that line is atrocious right now. Tatar could help and he could play top six in a pinch.
Have zero problem exposing Pitlick.
Guentzel Crosby Rakell
Smith Malkin Nylander*
Tatar Acciarci Rust
To be a real contender, you need a third line that can produce. Moving Rust to the third line is the best way to do that.
Big if, but…IF Nylander can be useful with Geno allowing Rust to go to the third line AND we sign Tatar…maybe we’d have that.
*Or maybe sign another player to a PTO, as well.
Maybe there’s a chance Dubas can sell Jeff Carter and make room for Tatar on the cheap. I know JC has a NM clause, but his contract is holding us back now that most of the other anchors are gone. Tatar is apparently a good defensive forward too, which is always good on a resume.
The Pens should tell Carter that, no matter what happens, he’ll be the 14th forward and let him decide what he wants to do with that information.
I think the sticking points are:
1. A contender wont want him
2. He doesn’t want to move his family again
3. He’d struggle to find ice time even on a bottom feeder
Only path I see is if he would accept a trade back to Philly. That assumes they would take him of course and find him some 4th line minutes.
One can dream I suppose, but somehow the more “realistic” dream may be that he finds the fountain of youth, rebounds somewhat, and plays decent hockey for one final year before hanging em up.
Tatar would actually bring down the Penguins’ average age! Penguins are very top heavy, and the article alludes to Tatar being blocked from a top 6 role minus injuries (almost certain to happen but you never know). I don’t think Pens are best fit.
That’s simply not true. The Penguins average age is right around 30, so Tatar would increase their average age if he replaced one of the youngsters on the roster. If they’re able to unload Carter somehow (who will be inactive most nights), the average age would drop into the 20’s.
The age of the Penguins is one of the most overblown things, without Carter they wouldn’t even be the oldest team in the league and would be right around the same average age as most contenders.
Their top 2 forward lines are averaging 32-33. I don’t think Tatar gets a break in there, he’d have to be a 3rd liner, that bumps a young guy. Average age goes up further.
And if Jagr came back, he bumps the average up to over 40 lol
Tatar would be best served by a team in the west where it tends to be more wide open and he can get 2nd line minutes at least.
How does Pens’ AHL squad look? I have a feeling injuries will make that shuttle busy.
Tatar would be a 3rd liner and flex into the top 6 when there is an injury. You claimed Tatar would make the Penguins younger, but he makes them older like you just admitted, that’s what I was saying you were incorrect on.
AHL team is a mixed bag. A lot of goalie depth with Hellberg and the two prospects Gauthier and Blomqvist. Also, a lot of defensive depth before you even get to the prospects with Butcher, Friedman, and Shea.
Middle Six forward depth is the issue. It also depends on who makes the roster and who clears waivers. Plenty of bottom six guys potentially starting in the AHL with Pitlick, Johnsson, Hinostroza, Gruden, Koppanen, and Zahorna, but outside of Puustinen and Poulin, you don’t have much middle/top six talent.
I know that’s the case with most teams, but the Penguins would be supremely happy if one of Puustinen, Poulin, or Nylander looks like a legit top 6 type of guy moving forward. Would allow them to move a contract next offseason and go after Matthews/Nylander and resign Guentzel.