Confirmed with Link: Rakell to re-sign with the Penguins (6 years, $5 million AAV)

[Pens x]

That said, the term doesn't matter a ton since we'll suck in years 5 and 6 anyways.

People said this crap when we signed Jack Johnson. You don’t know what this team will like in 5 years, except the ghosts of Rakell, Rust and Letang will be here.

 

[Pancakes]

People said the crap when we signed Jack Johnson. You don’t know what this team will like in 5 years, except the ghosts of Rakell, Rust and Letang will be here.

I don't see a path to us contending 4 or 5 years from now unless we get really lucky in the draft or free agency.

Anything is possible I suppose but it definitely looks like dark days ahead.

 

[CallArnoldSlick]

That said, the term doesn't matter a ton since we'll suck in years 5 and 6 anyways.

They're going to suck in years 1 and 2 if they don't re-sign Malkin or figure out a good replacement plan...

 

[Empoleon8771]

They're going to suck in years 1 and 2 if they don't re-sign Malkin or figure out a good replacement plan...

They've made the playoffs comfortably in each of the last 2 years with Malkin missing half of the games.

They'll be fine in the regular season without him.

 

[CallArnoldSlick]

They've made the playoffs comfortably in each of the last 2 years with Malkin missing half of the games.

They'll be fine in the regular season without him.

I was being cheeky

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

They're going to suck in years 1 and 2 if they don't re-sign Malkin or figure out a good replacement plan...

Being an annual 1st round exit for four years running, looking like five--they kinda suck now, bud.

 

[Ugene Magic]

No Geno for you.... Come back 6 year!

Great signing...

 

[SEALBound]

A year or two too long, a million too much but...hard to complain. I'm happy he's back. I find it odd that Rust got $5.125 and Rakell got $5mil. I'd be slightly miffed if I was Rusty.

We are down to one 2C and one RFA/UFA to round out the roster barring trades. Not terrible.

 

[nohero]

5x6 isn't the hometown discount Letang and Rust gave but this also isn't Rakell's hockey hometown yet.

I'm glad he's back and it's definitely a better deal than the Avs just gave Nichushkin with 6.125x8 !

Even the champs can't get better deals than that. If anything, this Rakell deal only highlights how good the Rust and Letang signings were.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Penguins confirm it at 11:34 at night in Pittsburgh

 

[Flying Dego]

The issue if you say it's too much or too long is this...he was gonna get this deal in FA.

So if we balked at it then we would likely be left with scrambling to sign someone worse probably on a bad deal.

 

[Jacob]

That’s a lot, I was thinking 4.5 like Saad. I really liked him here though and am glad he’s back. Works on any line on any wing.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

This makes the team more exciting next year, which is the reason we watch hockey.

 

[AjaxTelamon]

Creates on his own, wicked shot, plays both wings and hangs around the net. Absolutely love the player and am shocked we kept him.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Creates on his own, wicked shot, plays both wings and hangs around the net. Absolutely love the player and am shocked we kept him.

And I would say he's better defensively than almost all our Forwards, or at least was last year.

 

[Ryder71]

I like it!

 

[Andy99]

This makes the team more exciting next year, which is the reason we watch hockey.

i don’t think the team will be all that exciting next season if Malkin isn’t there…unless we trade for P.Kane at 50% retained…otherwise I don’t think I’ll be watching the team much for the foreseeable future

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

i don’t think the team will be all that exciting next season if Malkin isn’t there…unless we trade for P.Kane at 50% retained…otherwise I don’t think I’ll be watching the team much for the foreseeable future

Who will post poorly formatted, pessimistic Grover tweets and posts littered with an overabundance of ellipses?

(In all seriousness, I'm with you though. Team hasn't been exciting to watch, and will only get worse and more boring as the years march on.)

 

[HandshakeLine]

No, surely Rakell is going to turn this sinking ship around.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

i don’t think the team will be all that exciting next season if Malkin isn’t there…unless we trade for P.Kane at 50% retained…otherwise I don’t think I’ll be watching the team much for the foreseeable future

I love Malkin but he missed half the season last year and I personally enjoyed half 1 more than half 2. It's fun for me to see guys outperform their contracts and carry the team. The team came together and were more focused. Jarry was electric. EGod. Jake was among the best league 5v5 players for a while with no Sid. Carter was producing. Some D-men took steps forward. We had the godly PK. The 10 game streak...

Was it that bad?

Sorry to hear you won't be watching, even if I don't believe it!!

 

[HandshakeLine]

So, how exactly is Rakell going to outperform his generous contract?

 

[Turin]

So, how exactly is Rakell going to outperform his generous contract?

By setting up Malkin and Trochek on the beastly second line.

Right????

 

[ColePens]

So, how exactly is Rakell going to outperform his generous contract?

Scoring goals assisted by his new center.... Craig f***ing Adams.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

So, how exactly is Rakell going to outperform his generous contract?

PP1 left wall all year or he won't. Simple as that.

 

[HandshakeLine]

By setting up Malkin and Trochek on the beastly second line.

Right????

I know, it's like someone telling me to bet it all on Zucker because there's no way he's not putting up 60+ on Sid's line.

PP1 left wall all year or he won't. Simple as that.

Oh, wonderful. So he won't, is what you're saying?