Value of: Malkin is a UFA this summer

[Tetragrammaton]

Montreal won't be signing Letang .

This is for Malkin

 

[Habs10025]

This is for Malkin

They won't be signing Malkin either.

 

[Tetragrammaton]

They won't be signing Malkin either.

Most likely not but it would be great if they did.

 

[n8]

If Kessel is the standard for a good winger then there are many centers out there who have never had a good winger in their career.

you are ignoring hot-dog-prime Kessel. He had 82 points (point per game) the season prior to his summer trade. 92 points the season before. So maybe your standard of good wingers is Jagr, Ovechkin, P.Kane, 1st class MVP level wingers.

 

[beowulf]

Most likely not but it would be great if they did.

Why would it be great? He will be 36 and has missed so many games over the last few years that it's a HUGE gamble.

 

[SomeDude]

you are ignoring hot-dog-prime Kessel. He had 82 points (point per game) the season prior to his summer trade. 92 points the season before. So maybe your standard of good wingers is Jagr, Ovechkin, P.Kane, 1st class MVP level wingers.

That's the point. He currently has good wingers in Rakell and Zucker. Kessel was not a good winger, he was a great winger when he was here.

 

[Tetragrammaton]

Why would it be great? He will be 36 and has missed so many games over the last few years that it's a HUGE gamble.

Because he’s a legend and it would be amazing to see him in a Habs jersey for 3 years.

I’m still not over Bergevin denying Jagr who wanted to be a Hab

 

[Extra Texture]

FSG at Liverpool let Steven Gerrard when he was aging, and he was arguably more of an icon than either Malkin or Letang are. Point being they can be ruthless when they need to be if it makes sense financially and sportingly.

Valid point,but the situations are not really comparable IMO.

FSG had owned for 5 years by the time Gerrard walked. In that time Liverpool had gone they had already overseen a mini-rebuild (from Roy Hodgson to Brendan Rodgers), and then challenged for the title and failed in heartbreaking/hilarious fashion (depending on where you sit). Gerrard was already 35 (not bad in hockey terms but approaching ancient for a top footballer) and LFC followed that with another down year. In short, they looked years away from the title, Gerrard wanted a pre-retirement gig in MLS, and a parting of the ways that summer seemed like a natural end to his career. And the proof was in the pudding, because Liverpool didnt win another major title for 4 more years until after Klopp had rebuilt the whole team.

Meanwhile, FSG have been in charge of the Pens for barely 5 months. I think turfing both those guys after 15+ years here would be interpreted very differently by the Pens fanbase. Not with the HF crowd, necesscarily, but the twitter/facebook/radio call-in fans. These are the same people who still pine after Marc Andre-Fleury and still try to pretend like he was betrayed by a graceful exit after winning two cups. The hero worship is real, and while Letang might not fall in for that, Malkin definitely will.

Now, part of the reason I wanted FSG as owners was because of what you alluded to: they havent let sentimentality get in the way of winning. They've been pretty ruthless with the Red Sox, swapping teams, managers, and GMs when something wasn't working, sometimes just one down year after a WS title. Less ruthless with Liverpool, but they did move on from Hodgson, Rodgers as managers pretty quickly. I think the Pens have a bit of a country club mentality and need a bit of that. Once a coach wins a cup there, he gets half a decade even if the team seems to be exhibiting signs of degradation or tuning the coach out. It happened with Bylsma while the team came apart mentally under him. Sullivan is at the 5 year mark too, and a first round exit is looking likely. The Pens need a reminder that a fresh voice in the room isnt a bad thing. In fact, its twice jolted this team into winning a championship.

 

[Jerkbait]

Burke , Hextall have no sentimental attachment to Letang , Malkin like the fans do unfortunately if Pittsburgh fail to advance past the 2nd rd then it could very easily be the last time Letang , Malkin play for the Pittsburgh Penguins .

Incorrect as usual........

 

[Pantokrator]

This is currently a playoff side. The amount of deliberate selling off and refusing to replace players you'd have to do with this team to turn it into a bottom five team overnight is absurd and something that almost never happens in the NHL, if ever.

I agree - that is the logical way of thinking. As a Flyers fan, I just can't help but believe that Pittsburgh somehow comes up with that number 1 pick just to keep my life miserable. I fear Hextall will want to rebuild and not resign Malkin and Letang, and then somehow, Crosby gets hurt and they win the lottery. That is my worst nightmare. So it must come to fruition.

 

[Habs10025]

Incorrect as usual........

Your hoping their resigned but Burke ,Hextall don't owe Letang ,Malkin anything.

 

[MNRube]

Hope he ends up somewhere new, would be fun to see him away from Crosby.

 

[chethejet]

Not sure there is a master plan here as the playoffs to me will be a determining factor in what the Pens are. A first round exit and have a hard time seeing the Pens go all in again. Rust will get an offer that is financially tough to match. Malkin is simply not the player he was as to availability and spending 7 to 8 million AAV for maybe 60 games is just not the way to go. The question is how much of a market is there for Malkin? Malkin doesn't want to play for most teams and Florida is simply cap strapped to sign him.

 

[Rafafouille]

Will be 36 this summer, constantly injured, lack of longevity means he doesn't have the possibility to go chase records like Ovie or Crosby, made 120 million over his career, won 3 cups, Smythe, 2x Art.

Not entirely sure he keeps playing.

 

[orby]

There is little incentive for Hextall not to re-sign Malkin. He will take a discount to remain in Pittsburgh; he's said as much. There really aren't many good replacements readily available, and odds are the Pens will try to compete until Crosby retires. I concur with posters thinking he will get something like 3 years, 7.5mil AAV.

 

[jr99svt]

I agree but ownership does not. The Letang trade by Rutherford was shot down and all 3 are will most likely retire as penguins. There is NO chance sid leaves , zero chance malkin leaves and an ultra slim chance Letang moves on

Who own da penguin?(Lemieux/Burkle are Not the majority owners)
What Loyalty does FSG have to Malkin and Letang?

 

[kerrabria]

If the Penguins lose Letang via UFA, then they need to start the rebuild. Unless they replace him by overpaying Klingberg or something, their defense will be among the worst in the league.

 

[Gurglesons]

If the Penguins lose Letang via UFA, then they need to start the rebuild. Unless they replace him by overpaying Klingberg or something, their defense will be among the worst in the league.

nah. we got king Matheson dog.

 

[Eggtimer]

My best guess is Letang - Habs or Pens
Malkin - Pens or Avs to fill the hole Kadri leaves . I have no clue . Just my two best guesses

 

[centipede2233]

I say Pitt resigns letang for 6 mil and let malkin walk.

 

[Flukeshot]

I think his contract will mostly come down to term. Is he willing to take a 1 or 2yr deal or will he push for 3 or 4?
I'm sure he'd be put on LTIR if needed but I could see Hextall wanting short term instead.

 

[Beauner]

I say Pitt resigns letang for 6 mil and let malkin walk.

Malkin has been adamant on taking a discount to stay

 

[3ladesof5teel]

Malkin has been adamant on taking a discount to stay

I think this is pretty much it, I dont see Geno wanting to play anywhere else at this point in his career and if he does it will be off to the motherland (if injuries don't force him away sooner) ..............So far so good.. Glad he wants to stay and finish up his career here and I feel/hope that that is mutual.

 

[centipede2233]

Malkin has been adamant on taking a discount to stay

Ok I didn’t know, well i assume Pitt boss out in rd 1 or rd 2 again, and for those thinking burke will sign off on a 7.5 mil x 3 yrs to malkin is lunacy. He’s injury prone, Pitt has had zero playoff success 3 years this going on 4, I see more like a 2x5 mil offer. But we will see how it plays out

 

[Jerkbait]

Who own da penguin?(Lemieux/Burkle are Not the majority owners)
What Loyalty does FSG have to Malkin and Letang?

Both still own a minority share and have a say in hockey operations. Remember both hextall and Burke were brought in under thay regime. Burkle and Letang are good friends and they will do everything to keep him. Malkin is a no brainer