Confirmed with Link: Malkin re-signs to a 4 year, $6.1 million AAV deal (Eklund called it, start singing his praises)

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Well...I was kinda hiding, trying to shield myself from the inevitable bad news. Sid & Geno being lifers is something I had been dreaming of since before either guy ever played a NHL game and it felt like a small difference of valuation was going to destroy that.

Blame it on the Jagr saga or coming of age as the team's future was severely in doubt, but the thought of either player in another jersey made me sick...and I'm so f***ing happy that I don't really need to worry about that now.

Yeah I was getting some bad Jagr flashbacks.

I actually stand up for ol JJ more than most. I can't help but appreciate all the highlights he coughed up for the Penguins. He's just a really odd duck. But as people he and Malkin are pretty different. So I was starting to feel a bit sick that things were seemingly heading in a similar direction regardless of that.

 

[HandshakeLine]

It's pretty night and day watching the Hawks core trying to scramble over each other to get off the sinking S.S. Rapehawks vs. the Pens.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

It's pretty night and day watching the Hawks core trying to scramble over each other to get off the sinking S.S. Rapehawks vs. the Pens.

I think even Toews had enough self-awareness at the time to be embarrassed that he made that Top 100 list and Malkin didn't. Maybe even worse were the direct comparisons made between he and Crosby for a time. Ew.

 

[edog37]

I'm not sure how you could watch this team's effort in the playoffs this season and say that a country club atmosphere has set in. You can say it's the wrong roster composition or the wrong coaching (I'd disagree, but you could make an argument). But with Crosby setting the tone and the team working its butt off, I see this team as anything but a country club.

they blew a 3-1 series lead & haven't won a playoff series since 2018. I don't care about injuries excuses either. They lost Lemieux in '92 against the Rags & finished the job.

If you think Sid, Kris, and maybe to a lesser extent Geno, have the same sort of work ethic as Mario and co from back in the day, then I really have to question your fandom.

Geno is lazy & he did drag the team down when he returned from injury. Sid & Letang have always worked hard. But that team is stale & has been the last few years. That's the country club atmosphere I am referring to.

 

[edog37]

That's fair. I personally don't think they're done. It's never clear that any team will ever win any playoff series, that's what makes it worth watching! Defending champs and president's trophy winners get bounced in the first round all the time.

I'm not trying to advocate that this this is the path with the best odds to win the next championship, maybe they are delaying that result with this move... but no one knows that. For me, this is still the team I want to watch and I still believe.

It cost Rust, Geno and Letang millions of dollars to believe this team can do it again, it's free for me. I want to believe for as long as this core believes in themselves. It's a treat to watch them and you and I both know what it's like to watch a team flounder at the bottom of the league for years. I'm not in a rush to get back there so that we can hopefully get back to the top sooner, I want to enjoy this ride a bit longer, it's still a fun one for me!

It is a treat to watch, but I want more Cups. Given the performance since 2018 & the bar set by Colorado, there is no evidence what so ever this team is a Cup contender.

 

[SomeDude]

It is a treat to watch, but I want more Cups. Given the performance since 2018 & the bar set by Colorado, there is no evidence what so ever this team is a Cup contender.

Colorado was one of the most dominant teams in the last decade, though. It's not every year there is a team so clearly apart from the pack. Doesn't look like they're getting much worse, though.

 

[edog37]

Not sure if you're a basketball fan too but look at the Bulls dynasty in the 90's. They chose to blow up that aging core to rebuild and here we are several rebuilds and a quarter century later and I don't think they've ever even gotten back to a final, they definitely haven't won.

I'd bet an almost unanimous portion of their fanbase would trade all those rebuild attempts for a few more years of that core... if not for a chance at more championships then to just enjoy watching them compete a bit longer and have a few more memories from the era. Also, you never have to wonder "what if."

There is always risk & no championships are ever guaranteed, but the question always needs to be asked....does a signing of a 35+ age player improve your team? It will maintain it, but that just isn't good enough.

Colorado was one of the most dominant teams in the last decade, though. It's not every year there is a team so clearly apart from the pack. Doesn't look like they're getting much worse, though.

we were Colorado in 2016 & 2017.

 

[edog37]

It does if you pick someone up along the way and put sid and geno together more regularly.
There can be options if GMRH does some magic.

Sid already plays with guys (Rust & Guentzel) who are far better players right now than Geno. This isn't 2009 anymore, so the notion of the two-headed monster is long dead. Geno is still very good on the powerplay, but he's clearly a liability 5 on 5.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

There is always risk & no championships are ever guaranteed, but the question always needs to be asked....does a signing of a 35+ age player improve your team? It will maintain it, but that just isn't good enough.


we were Colorado in 2016 & 2017.

You and I are on the same page, but ultimately Sid got his way here.

Malkin also had a huge wake up call how mgmt sees him, but cooler heads prevailed on his end.

This is the price we have to pay for watching this core win three cups together and 5-6 years ago, all of us would have accepted this deal with the devil so to speak.

In the end, I don’t care enough to get worked up about them circling the drain because they want to keep the band together.

Seeing fans lose their shit when Malkin almost left (better send Sid TY cards Malkamaniacs), made me change my mind agt my better judgement.

Malkin staying makes a lot of people here happy, and I don’t like to see people miserable.

 

[edog37]

You and I are on the same page, but ultimately Sid got his way here.

Malkin also had a huge wake up call how mgmt sees him, but cooler heads prevailed on his end.

This is the price we have to pay for watching this core win three cups together and 5-6 years ago, all of us would have accepted this deal with the devil so to speak.

In the end, I don’t care enough to get worked up about them circling the drain because they want to keep the band together.

Seeing fans lose their shit when Malkin almost left (better send Sid TY cards Malkamaniacs), made me change my mind agt my better judgement.

Malkin staying makes a lot of people here happy, and I don’t like to see people miserable.

they may be happy now, but wait for a year or two when reality kicks in. Malkin's contract has a full NMC clause, so they have no escape valve except for buyout. The real issue is, the franchise has been set back by a full decade or more by these signings.

 

[HandshakeLine]

OK Kingerski.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

they may be happy now, but wait for a year or two when reality kicks in. Malkin's contract has a full NMC clause, so they have no escape valve except for buyout. The real issue is, the franchise has been set back by a full decade or more by these signings.

Trust me, I get the repercussions. I also know fans will turn on Malkin as he keeps aging out.

It’s the whole “careful what you wish for” scenario.

It was definitely time to move on and be big boys, but this is the cost of three cups.

No, it didn’t have to happen and common sense should have won out, but for now a majority of Pens/Malkin fans are happy.

Let them be happy, life’s too short.

 

[AjaxTelamon]

I am hopeful we will get chip on his shoulder Geno, late stage Yzerman Geno who embraces a two game and works on his faceoffs, and muscle Geno who works out with Gary Roberts. I would be happy with 1 out of 3. I hope we don't get power play specialist Geno. He has Rakell now, who is probably the most complete winger he's ever had. So no more excuses for being -10 and bleeding high danger chances, and no more need to shelter his starts.

 

[dekem]

This is the entertainment business , if more fans enjoy watching the end of career milestones for Geno, so be it. Hopefully this trio is still good enough to sprinkle in some entertaining wins. I really don’t expect another Cup or long playoff run with this management team anyway.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

This is the entertainment business , if more fans enjoy watching the end of career milestones for Geno, so be it. Hopefully this trio is still good enough to sprinkle in some entertaining wins. I really don’t expect another Cup or long playoff run with this COACHING STAFF anyway.

Fixed it for you

 

[Honour Over Glory]

I hope that's the end of the idiotic Ruhwedel experience.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Boy this party died in here quick.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I hope that's the end of the idiotic Ruhwedel experience.

Oh you sweet summer child.

Boy this party died in here quick.

Well, it’s hard out here for a pimp insider.

 

[Ogrezilla]

Trust me, I get the repercussions. I also know fans will turn on Malkin as he keeps aging out.

It’s the whole “careful what you wish for” scenario.

It was definitely time to move on and be big boys, but this is the cost of three cups.

No, it didn’t have to happen and common sense should have won out, but for now a majority of Pens/Malkin fans are happy.

Let them be happy, life’s too short.

I still think emotion and legacy have real life value in sports. I would rather watch Malkin retire a penguin than start the rebuild a few years sooner. Especially since it's clear that's what Sid wanted too. I'm happy we will be able to look back on these three guys as a group 20 years from now and know they were with us their entire careers. I think it's the kind of legacy building that is attractive to fans over a slightly higher chance to get a cup a bit sooner. And I think players will like being a part of a team with that sort of history.

 

[Peat]

I never said it was an option here, but signing Geno doesn't bring the team any closer towards the ultimate objective of winning said Cup. It's just more of the same.

We didn't get further away either. Put all the emotions aside and Geno is a ppg player. He was the key component on our PP, had strong possession metrics and wasn't entirely to blame for those not converting to the scoresheet, and ended the playoffs with a sturdy 6 in 7 and plus 6 at 5v5. The biggest problems with last season weren't much to do with Geno. There are blemishes in the record too but you're never finding a 2C at 6m that brings that upside. Maybe there was a path through shifting the team's emphasis, maybe it would be safer considering age and injuries, but you're just not finding that upside.

People who want to see this team get closer to a cup need to collect blackmail material on NHL GMs so we can trade Pettersson/Zucker easily, give Carter (and some others) the elixir of youth, and find a way to reboot Jarry to his best fittest self at the start of each playoff. That gets us closer far quicker than debating the right 2C.

 

[ronduguayshair]

I still think emotion and legacy have real life value in sports. I would rather watch Malkin retire a penguin than start the rebuild a few years sooner. Especially since it's clear that's what Sid wanted too. I'm happy we will be able to look back on these three guys as a group 20 years from now and know they were with us their entire careers. I think it's the kind of legacy building that is attractive to fans over a slightly higher chance to get a cup a bit sooner. And I think players will like being a part of a team with that sort of history.

I think you’re support of this now farewell tour is ridiculous.

As a season ticket holder I care about winning not “legacy building”. The front of tge jersey is more important than the back.

This attitude keeping the band together is easier said when you’re not financially invested.

 

[Pittsburgh1776]

We didn't get further away either. Put all the emotions aside and Geno is a ppg player. He was the key component on our PP, had strong possession metrics and wasn't entirely to blame for those not converting to the scoresheet, and ended the playoffs with a sturdy 6 in 7 and plus 6 at 5v5. The biggest problems with last season weren't much to do with Geno. There are blemishes in the record too but you're never finding a 2C at 6m that brings that upside. Maybe there was a path through shifting the team's emphasis, maybe it would be safer considering age and injuries, but you're just not finding that upside.

People who want to see this team get closer to a cup need to collect blackmail material on NHL GMs so we can trade Pettersson/Zucker easily, give Carter (and some others) the elixir of youth, and find a way to reboot Jarry to his best fittest self at the start of each playoff. That gets us closer far quicker than debating the right 2C.

Yeah sorry this whole idea that 3-time champions and current elite talents Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang set the Penguins back a decade and Vince f***ing Trochek (no offense) was going to lead us to the future is so obtuse I can't even summon the desire to respond to it properly.

The goal of this organization is to try to win while Crosby is still elite. Period. Because they know that while we have had ridiculous fortune in landing superstars in the draft twice, that is unlikely to happen any time soon because of how great this organization has become. So try to win now, and deal with the desert later. We can tread water and rebuild when Crosby is in a business suit.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I still think emotion and legacy have real life value in sports. I would rather watch Malkin retire a penguin than start the rebuild a few years sooner. Especially since it's clear that's what Sid wanted too. I'm happy we will be able to look back on these three guys as a group 20 years from now and know they were with us their entire careers. I think it's the kind of legacy building that is attractive to fans over a slightly higher chance to get a cup a bit sooner. And I think players will like being a part of a team with that sort of history.

Ya, it will eventually all come out but this is what Crosby wanted and he usually gets his way with the org.

If that’s good or bad, I honestly don’t care anymore.

This team has become ultra stale, so seeing something new would have been more interesting to an indifferent fan like myself.

However, again this is clearly what a majority of Pens fans wanted and I’m not going to rain on the parade.

That discussion can be had some other day.

 

[Terrapin]

I'm glad Geno's back! He needs to retire a Pen, and he still has gas left in the tank.

If this stupid organization ever wises up and brings in some size and grit, Geno can concentrate on just playing, and not being the teams 'enforcer'. I'm not holding my breath though

 

[CascadiaPenguin]

I think you’re support of this now farewell tour is ridiculous.

As a season ticket holder I care about winning not “legacy building”. The front of tge jersey is more important than the back.

This attitude keeping the band together is easier said when you’re not financially invested.

You continue to confuse "investment" with "entertainment expense". I hate to break it to you, but you are not an equity participant nor partner with the Penguins or FSG. They don't even know who you are, outside of your account number.