The Penguins found out yesterday that they'll be able to spend $56.7 million on players during the coming season.

They also learned that they still haven't offered defenseman Brooks Orpik enough of that money to convince him to stay.

Orpik, poised to enter unrestricted free agency Tuesday, rejected a contract proposal from the Penguins yesterday. While its details were not immediately known, Orpik is expected to command a salary of well over $3 million if he hits the open market.

His agent, Lewis Gross, confirmed that Orpik did not accept the Penguins' offer, but declined to say whether he is optimistic an agreement can be reached before Tuesday.

"We did receive an offer, which we turned down," Gross said. "But we're still talking."

Penguins general manager Ray Shero steadfastly has refused to comment on most matters relating to free agency.

Orpik is one of the 12 players who finished the 2007-08 season on the Penguins' major league roster who will qualify for unrestricted free agency in a few days.

Some, such as forwards Gary Roberts and Kris Beech, are virtual locks to leave, and others, including wingers Marian Hossa and Ryan Malone, have made it clear they want to see what kind of offers they can receive by exploring free agency.

The NHL's salary-cap ceiling for 2008-09 is up $6.4 million from last season, and the payroll minimum of $40.7 million actually is more than the $39 million maximum in effect for the 2005-06 season, the first after a protracted labor dispute shut down the league.

Shero shouldn't have trouble spending close to the cap, even if, as expected, he sets aside a little wiggle room for personnel moves over the course of the coming season.

Although the Penguins' payroll figures to flirt with the cap ceiling when their lineup finally is fleshed out, they won't have anyone making the maximum allowed by the league's labor agreement. That will be $11.34 million -- 20 percent of the cap ceiling -- for 2008-09.