Anthrax Jones ‏@AnthraxJones 9m
Ask Hossa and Staal: when Pittsburgh releases details of the offer, your ass is gone. Letang traded by Sunday night.



- rival22

Yup. Offer was 8yrs 54mil not sure on NMC (partial # years or full contract). That's $6.75 per and the last and best offer the pens are willing to give. Letang sees he can get $7.5-8 per from any team who trades for him, and possibly more if he hits UFA.

Expect PITT to allow agent to talk w/other teams wrt contract as early as tomorrow, and a trade by Sunday afternoon - barring somebody caves in this game of chicken...it will have to be Letang as PITT is really up against their limit in their offer.

And Letang is going into his 3rd contract. Karlsson is making that much in his 2nd contract already.
- Orpik44

yeah, the idea of what Karlsson will get when his contract is up in the summer of 2019 is interesting. If he continues his play and gets better, he may be getting 10 mil a year by them. 7 million for Letang may look like a bargin by then.

Letang will get his 6 mil a season and stay with the pens ,him and his agent have to know that letang fits well with that team.To chase after another million a season on a team that will probably not be as good as Pittsburgh just doent seem to make much sense really

So, if you think he benefits from playing with Crosby and Malkin, then you shouldn't think he should be paid the same level as Karlsson. Your comments are conflicting.
- Oneonta Penguin

No I'm saying that Letang's point production is undeniable, but it should be taken with a grain of salt. Over his career he averages a higher ppg than Karrlson, but that doesn't necessarily make him a better player. I was also suggesting that Letang had more to work with so to speak, which makes his stats better. All I'm saying is I don't think Letang is worth much more than Karrlson, if at all.

Letang will get his 6 mil a season and stay with the pens ,him and his agent have to know that letang fits well with that team.To chase after another million a season on a team that will probably not be as good as Pittsburgh just doent seem to make much sense really
- top shelf 15

6.5 to 6.75 for that kind of term is a reasonable deal for both sides. Guarenteed 54 Million..... I have to think that playing with a contender for 8 years is worth that on a team with a core like the penguins.

If he leaves, I hope it is through a sign and trade so the pens can extract full value.

On an unrelated matter....

How much fun would playing golf with this group be:



James Neal, Gary Roberts, and Pierre Larouche.

Letang will get his 6 mil a season and stay with the pens ,him and his agent have to know that letang fits well with that team.To chase after another million a season on a team that will probably not be as good as Pittsburgh just doent seem to make much sense really
- top shelf 15

One word: money. Some players would rather play on a slightly less competitve team if it means they can get that extra million which, let's face it, is a lot of coin.

6.5 to 6.75 for that kind of term is a reasonable deal for both sides. Guarenteed 54 Million..... I have to think that playing with a contender for 8 years is worth that on a team with a core like the penguins.

If he leaves, I hope it is through a sign and trade so the pens can extract full value.
- Genobuzz

A carbon copy of Karrlson's deal is fair. Even if he is truly better, he should take a hometown discount so the Pens can afford to stay competitive. Crosby did it and he's the best player in the world, why shouldn't Letang?

Also, how great does it feel to have Crosby on your team? I'm happy with my wonder kids so I couldn't even imagine Crosby and Malkin.

6.5 to 6.75 for that kind of term is a reasonable deal for both sides. Guarenteed 54 Million..... I have to think that playing with a contender for 8 years is worth that on a team with a core like the penguins.

If he leaves, I hope it is through a sign and trade so the pens can extract full value.
- Genobuzz

Thats probably the bar here ,but he has to know how good he has it in Pittsburgh.He has grown up with that team and is a big part of it ,to leave a cup contender to make sure you get paid 500k or so on a weaker team .Just doesnt seem to add up

A carbon copy of Karrlson's deal is fair. Even if he is truly better, he should take a hometown discount so the Pens can afford to stay competitive. Crosby did it and he's the best player in the world, why shouldn't Letang?

Also, how great does it feel to have Crosby on your team? I'm happy with my wonder kids so I couldn't even imagine Crosby and Malkin.
- TomKlassen

To be honest ,how would fans of the team aquiring him view him .He left a cup contending team to chase the cash ,seems kinda russian to me

On an unrelated matter....

How much fun would playing golf with this group be:



James Neal, Gary Roberts, and Pierre Larouche.
- cap1681

I hope he's working out hard on his speed and defensive play....we need more from Neal.

I hope he's working out hard on his speed and defensive play....we need more from Neal.
- Orpik44

More jesus ,he is already one of the best wingers in the east

To be honest ,how would fans of the team aquiring him view him .He left a cup contending team to chase the cash ,seems kinda russian to me
- top shelf 15

Geno and Datsyuk never did that.

Seems kind of Jagreish to me

To be honest ,how would fans of the team aquiring him view him .He left a cup contending team to chase the cash ,seems kinda russian to me
- top shelf 15

haha I love the last bit.
There is a point when knowing you will enjoy your 8 years is probably worth 10% of your salary.

More jesus ,he is already one of the best wingers in the east

- top shelf 15

You don't get to watch those guys on a daily basis. Everyone of them can get better at something. Neal skates in molasses but can snipe it

Just like Letang. People are calling him an offensive defenseman only. He's not. He's very good overall.

You don't get to watch those guys on a daily basis. Everyone of them can get better at something. Neal skates in molasses but can snipe it

Just like Letang. People are calling him an offensive defenseman only. He's not. He's very good overall.
- Orpik44

You are talking to a sens fan ,goals from the wing are just a dream

Thats probably the bar here ,but he has to know how good he has it in Pittsburgh.He has grown up with that team and is a big part of it ,to leave a cup contender to make sure you get paid 500k or so on a weaker team .Just doesnt seem to add up

- top shelf 15

It doesn't add up, but it happens all the time.

haha I love the last bit.
There is a point when knowing you will enjoy your 8 years is probably worth 10% of your salary.
- Genobuzz

This has been my entire point all along ,i have pestered pens fans at an almost trollish rate.Letang may be worth 7 to 8 mil on the open market ,but how many teams that have that kind of cap will be as tallented as Pittsburgh.My guess is none
he will take a fair deal from Pittsburgh ,and look to try and win some cups

It doesn't add up, but it happens all the time.
- Ben37

If Letang does that ,gl to him finding a better situation than the one he is currently in

Your chart confirms my beliefs that he should get a deal worth 6.5 per year. I wouldn't go any higher and I think that is fair value for him. It is slightly higher than the average of the players on that list.

This has been my entire point all along ,i have pestered pens fans at an almost trollish rate.Letang may be worth 7 to 8 mil on the open market ,but how many teams that have that kind of cap will be as tallented as Pittsburgh.My guess is none
he will take a fair deal from Pittsburgh ,and look to try and win some cups
- top shelf 15

That's assuming he cares that much to win cups with PITT. Think about it, the PENS have had a great team for a few years now and won only 1 cup. Letang has his ring. There are a number of other teams who are more or less as competitive as the PENS, and 8 years is a long time. I'm willing to bet EDM takes a few runs at the cup starting in a couple of years, Letang would be an enormous part of that. If he's added to VAN, that hugely increases their odds. Same for any other team really. So, the point of winning more cups is mute.

The decision Letang has is whether he wants to win cups in PITT, or whether he would like to win cups elsewhere AND make say $1-1.5mil more PER YEAR ($8-12mil over 8 years difference!).

That's assuming he cares that much to win cups with PITT. Think about it, the PENS have had a great team for a few years now and won only 1 cup. Letang has his ring. There are a number of other teams who are more or less as competitive as the PENS, and 8 years is a long time. I'm willing to bet EDM takes a few runs at the cup starting in a couple of years, Letang would be an enormous part of that. If he's added to VAN, that hugely increases their odds. Same for any other team really. So, the point of winning more cups is mute.

The decision Letang has is whether he wants to win cups in PITT, or whether he would like to win cups elsewhere AND make say $1-1.5mil more PER YEAR ($8-12mil over 8 years difference!).
- mventres

Which is why trying to think of contracts in the players' minds is pointless. We don't know what drives these guys or what they are looking for in a deal. Some want money, some want a location, some want a certain role, etc etc etc

Plus, it all feels like monopoly money to us anyway... "Why would he leave for only $1 mil more and pass up the chance to play with 87/71?" That $500k or $1 million per year doesn't sound like much when it's not your money. Like mventres said, that could end up being $8-$10 million left on the table.

All we as fans can really do is speculate on what we think that our team should offer based on what we think is fair value for he player or what we think that the team can afford capwise and still be built to the level that we'd like.

That's assuming he cares that much to win cups with PITT. Think about it, the PENS have had a great team for a few years now and won only 1 cup. Letang has his ring. There are a number of other teams who are more or less as competitive as the PENS, and 8 years is a long time. I'm willing to bet EDM takes a few runs at the cup starting in a couple of years, Letang would be an enormous part of that. If he's added to VAN, that hugely increases their odds. Same for any other team really. So, the point of winning more cups is mute.

The decision Letang has is whether he wants to win cups in PITT, or whether he would like to win cups elsewhere AND make say $1-1.5mil more PER YEAR ($8-12mil over 8 years difference!).
- mventres

Vancouver is a long way away from winning a Cup. Do you think Letang would love playing for Torts? I don't. They are up against the cap and have made some poor decisions.

I will believe Edmonton makes a run when I see it.

Which is why trying to think of contracts in the players' minds is pointless. We don't know what drives these guys or what they are looking for in a deal. Some want money, some want a location, some want a certain role, etc etc etc

Plus, it all feels like monopoly money to us anyway... "Why would he leave for only $1 mil more and pass up the chance to play with 87/71?" That $500k or $1 million per year doesn't sound like much when it's not your money. Like mventres said, that could end up being $8-$10 million left on the table.

All we as fans can really do is speculate on what we think that our team should offer based on what we think is fair value for he player or what we think that the team can afford capwise and still be built to the level that we'd like.
- rival22

Exactly.

Side note, just heard on the radio (not sure of how true it is though, but thought it was interesting).

ANA is apparently willing to trade Ryan + 26th for Letang, UNSIGNED, with 1st round picks in 2014 and 2015 IF he is signed or traded. PITT apparently isn't very high on Ryan though...

VAN is apparently prepared to offer Edler + Jenssen + 24 ++ for a SIGNED Letang

SJ apparently very interested, but unsure what the return could be. They speculated
Vlasic + 20 + Hertl ++ conditional on him signing, but who knows...

In any event, the bidding will truly be insane. You know at least 2-3 GMs will believe Letang can (and probably will) make them an immediate threat at the cup and as a result will overpay for him, especially if it's giving up picks.

Exactly.

Side note, just heard on the radio (not sure of how true it is though, but thought it was interesting).

ANA is apparently willing to trade Ryan + 26th for Letang, UNSIGNED, with 1st round picks in 2014 and 2015 IF he is signed or traded. PITT apparently isn't very high on Ryan though...

VAN is apparently prepared to offer Edler + Jenssen + 24 ++ for a SIGNED Letang

SJ apparently very interested, but unsure what the return could be. They speculated
Vlasic + 20 + Hertl ++ conditional on him signing, but who knows...

In any event, the bidding will truly be insane. You know at least 2-3 GMs will believe Letang can (and probably will) make them an immediate threat at the cup and as a result will overpay for him, especially if it's giving up picks.
- mventres

I don't know why Pittsburgh doesn't like Ryan. That would put a stake in the hearts of Flyers fans seeing Ryan as a Penguin. I would rather have Gibson, Sbisa and two first rounders.

Vancouver's offer would be very intriguing. Have no idea what to make of Jensen down the road. 24 pick opens some doors on getting something good (hello Ryan Hartman) and the + + is interesting. I can't see Letang playing for Torts. No chance.

I like Pickels, but pass on SJ.