For the Pens, July 1st is going to simply suck.  The Pens have an astronomical number of players either unrestricted or restricted free agents, and I can see a goodish number of players leaving for greener pastures and more green.  The restricteds are going to be the biggest problem - even if the Pens don't win the Cup, their team has a lot of talent, and I'm sure that other teams are going to be looking hard at the Pens makeup and cherry picking for some talent...

UFAs
Marian Hossa tops this list.  Now, some observers are wondering aloud if Hossa's best role on a team is as a compliment - not the key playmaker, but playing with one who can set him up.  Hossa's proving to be a hell of a finisher in these playoffs, and in the right system (and when properly stimulated) a solid defensive player.  My guess - Hossa will be offered in the vicinity of $5 mil from the Pens.  I'm further assuming - especially if he plays lights-out in the Cup Finals - that some team will offer him somewhere in the area of $7 million.  It'll be hard for him to accept $2 mil less just to continue playing with Crosby et al, but it would be a tough decision for him.  Take more money on an iffy team, and maybe not get all the way again?  Or take less money, and play on a team that certainly seems poised to make deep, annual runs towards the Finals.  Hard choice. 

Kris Beech - picked up on waivers.  Injured.  No one cares.  Bye.

Mark Eaton (D) - he is an interesting choice.  Before his season-ending knee injury, Eaton was the Pens best defensive defenseman - now Brooks Orpik has claimed that title.  Still, Eaton is the kind of tough, gritty player that will make other teams look hard at him, and his 1.6M salary isn't all that difficult to stomach.  He probably won't be able to get more than that, given his injury status this year, and in past years, but he would add a lot of depth and grit to any team needing to add that.

Ty Conklin - boy this is an interesting one.  Conklin really picked up the Pens when Fleury went down, and his career stretch in Jan/Feb probably will earn him a hell of a lot more than the 500K salary he's currently earning.  The Pens Sabourin is under contract as their #2 goalie, but it might be worthwhile to keep Conklin if they can...

Gary Roberts - at 41 years old, Roberts does not figure to be able to earn the 2.5M he's getting this year.  Age and injuries are working against him - his tenacity and veteran leadership are working for him.  He's going to be a semi-hot commodity this off-season - teams that lack grit or need veteran leadership are going to look hard at him.  He seems to enjoy his role as a third- or fourth-line grit player, and has a knack for adding a lot of chemistry to teams.  Ottawa probably wants him just so they don't have to face him any longer.

Ryan Malone - probably the biggest name home-grown player on the Pens UFA list.  Malone's earning himself a hefty raise over the 1.45M he's getting now.  A player of his stature is likely to earn between 3-4 on the open market, and I think the Pens will target him right off the bat.  He's been a key element of their team, and being a home grown Pittsburgher probably won't look all that hard for greener pastures unless the Pens low-ball him, or there are things in the locker room we aren't privy too.  But Malone's probably the #1 major UFA that the Pens will look to lock up - even before Hossa.

Jarkku Ruutu - at 1.15 M he's a steal for the grinding, irritating style of hockey he plays.  I doubt he'd get more than 1.5 on the open market - maybe 2 if someone was desperate.  He gives minutes, depth and toughness.  It's possible the Pens will look to keep him.

Pascal Depuis - at 880K, he's a steal.  And a bit of a traveling roadshow.  But maybe the chemistry he's found in Pittsburgh will get him a nice contract offer by the Pens.  Otherwise, some other team will probably look in the 1.5-2M range to sign him, and they would get a nice, complimentary player.

Jeff Taffe - young, cheap and a role player.  If he gets an offer, it'll probably be 1M or so, by a team looking to add depth and toughness.  It wouldn't kill the Pens to lose him, but he's a nice player. 

Georges Laraque - Big Georges would be another "nice" signing if the Pens can swing it.  At 1.3 he's not overpaid, and has proven in this year's playoffs that he's dependable for some quality minutes. 

Adam Hall - another nice, young role player type. 

On the restricted free agent list - and this is a moving target - the one big name is Marc-Andre Fleury.  He'll be commanding premier-type money.  If he wins the title, then he earns an even bigger payday.  Figure the Pens to jump on both him and Malkin well before July 1 - they don't want to risk Fleury even thinking about getting onto the market.  Malkin will have to be sealed up tightly, too, especially since he's part of the Pens core that are treating them so well right now. 

On the whole, the Pens are facing some major decisions, and their 2008-2009 squad will be a very different one.  It's impossible to keep all of those players - from both cap perspectives and future signing needs.  The extra $2 that Hossa might earn on the open market will probably price him out of Pittsburgh - but if he accepts $5...maybe the Pens can keep him.  Fleury will get probably 6-7M, and Malkin will get 8-9M minimum - maybe even getting the max contract if it's available.  Either way, the Pens are running out of cap room when you consider how much they have to pay their biggest stars...and it's not like the Mellon Arena can hold 18K plus and ensure a bigger, longer revenue stream for the team.  Still, an average of 17.1K per game is awfully nice, and maybe this deep playoff run puts more $ in the coffers, but in the long run the Pens still have to be somewhat fiscally conservative.  it's not like they can drawn upon a 5M fan base, thereby guaranteeing home sellouts every night for ever and ever.