Saw this retweeted.. his hatred of him is bizarre:

Mark Madden ‏@MarkMaddenX 2 hours ago
@MattTheCrazyVet I don't speak Sputnik on my show. No desire to have Geno. Have never asked. Never even talked2 him. Don't care2.
- rival22

Yeah I don't understand that either.

He has been steadfast in saying, besides Mario and Sid to a lesser degree, his allegiance is to the logo and not any specific player.

The Sputnik thing was over the top IMO. But, he's a Shock Jock. Should be no surprise.

18.2 mill per year will still be a lot in 5 years. The Cap aint going up much more in coming years. See this past off season as the first example of that. Revenues are flattening. Currency values. Etc..

Final piece of evidence...they are considering expansion again. That equates to huge expansion fees.
- 87_71_11_29

Good point. But still the salaries will continue to rise disproportional to the players skill level. If we had to re-sign both 87 and 71 this season, I think they both would be over $10M.

Saw this retweeted.. his hatred of him is bizarre:

Mark Madden ‏@MarkMaddenX 2 hours ago
@MattTheCrazyVet I don't speak Sputnik on my show. No desire to have Geno. Have never asked. Never even talked2 him. Don't care2.
- rival22

I'm sure Geno doesn't speak Jabba the Hut either.

Guy is a grade A bumhole.

We would like to believe so lol Scuderi back to his Boston days?
- Barnaby36

Bartkowski will stay in the line-up on a regular basis.

Good point. But still the salaries will continue to rise disproportional to the players skill level. If we had to re-sign both 87 and 71 this season, I think they both would be over $10M.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

You could argue that Sid would have gotten that in 2012 if the new CBA was in effect. His first 8 years average $10.8 per season, but the Pens had the benefit of the 3 cheap years at the end.

Crosby has the highest cap hit to win a cup at 8.7 (malkin was at like 3.3 in 2009). The next highest player to win a cup is something like 7.5. So tell me how you fill a roster that way? I like the moves JR has made to bring balance, but with those 2 there will always be holes. You could have Kesler and Kane for the price of Malkin though.

That's a very odd tweet from MM. Love him or hate him, he usually has a better read than most on the Pens. He's usually not that wrong.

Crosby has the highest cap hit to win a cup at 8.7 (malkin was at like 3.3 in 2009). The next highest player to win a cup is something like 7.5. So tell me how you fill a roster that way? I like the moves JR has made to bring balance, but with those 2 there will always be holes. You could have Kesler and Kane for the price of Malkin though.
- sammy87

I don't think that you trade away someone like Malkin unless you have no choice, but it is a legitimate argument.

My issue with it is, that it's easy to say that you could have Kesler and Kane for that price, but swinging a deal (or combination of deals) like that would be extremely hard.

And even say that in a perfect world you could get Kesler and Kane for Malkin, it's great for the next year or two, but in a couple years you'd have an older (and UFA) Kesler to replace, and a couple of years after that, you have to resign Kane who would be getting a nice raise if he produces like we think he will (or lose him in free agency). Or you could have a top 5 player locked up until 2022.

It might help you short term, but it likely hurts the organization long term.

Crosby has the highest cap hit to win a cup at 8.7 (malkin was at like 3.3 in 2009). The next highest player to win a cup is something like 7.5. So tell me how you fill a roster that way? I like the moves JR has made to bring balance, but with those 2 there will always be holes. You could have Kesler and Kane for the price of Malkin though.
- sammy87

I'd say drafting and developing some players would be helpful. Almost zero forwards came out of the Shero regime. And the D he drafted have been stuck behind some not so great vets.

Most teams have holes, but I'd rather have two all world centers and try and get value in other areas of the roster.

I don't think that you trade away someone like Malkin unless you have no choice, but it is a legitimate argument.

My issue with it is, that it's easy to say that you could have Kesler and Kane for that price, but swinging a deal (or combination of deals) like that would be extremely hard.

And even say that in a perfect world you could get Kesler and Kane for Malkin, it's great for the next year or two, but in a couple years you'd have an older (and UFA) Kesler to replace, and a couple of years after that, you have to resign Kane who would be getting a nice raise if he produces like we think he will (or lose him in free agency). Or you could have a top 5 player locked up until 2022.

It might help you short term, but it likely hurts the organization long term.
- rival22

Wait until Stamkos signs is 12.5 per year deal in a few... I think I'd rather have Malkin at 9.5.

I don't think that you trade away someone like Malkin unless you have no choice, but it is a legitimate argument.

My issue with it is, that it's easy to say that you could have Kesler and Kane for that price, but swinging a deal (or combination of deals) like that would be extremely hard.

And even say that in a perfect world you could get Kesler and Kane for Malkin, it's great for the next year or two, but in a couple years you'd have an older (and UFA) Kesler to replace, and a couple of years after that, you have to resign Kane who would be getting a nice raise if he produces like we think he will (or lose him in free agency). Or you could have a top 5 player locked up until 2022.

It might help you short term, but it likely hurts the organization long term.
- rival22

No it would be a completely hypothetical situation to make that trade happen. But Backes and Oshie? Maybe not. But if the Pens flame out again early in the playoffs, how long do you ride this out? Everyone keeps forgetting Malkin was on an ELC when they won the cup. Now its well our bottom 6 sucks, D sucks, MAF sucks, this will never be a complete team with 2 huge contracts. I think Doughty is the highest paid King at 7, Kopitar at #2 6.8. Goc, Downie and Comeau could all have great years and want a raise or test UFA. Throw in Adams and 2/3 of the bottom 6 is now gone.

No it would be a completely hypothetical situation to make that trade happen. But Backes and Oshie? Maybe not. But if the Pens flame out again early in the playoffs, how long do you ride this out? Everyone keeps forgetting Malkin was on an ELC when they won the cup. Now its well our bottom 6 sucks, D sucks, MAF sucks, this will never be a complete team with 2 huge contracts. I think Doughty is the highest paid King at 7, Kopitar at #2 6.8. Goc, Downie and Comeau could all have great years and want a raise or test UFA. Throw in Adams and 2/3 of the bottom 6 is now gone.
- sammy87

You are over thinking this way too much. Bottom six talent is not truly difficult to retain at the right price, or replace at the right price. Goc is replaceable with Sundqvist, Downie with just about any free agent winger, Comeau as well.

Those two huge contracts are small potatoes compared to what Kane and Toews got. Kopitar will also be a 10mill per season player soon.

The complete team aspect doesn't come from two big contracts, it comes from poor assett management with the last regime.

If people truly think Geno is a problem for us you need to stop listening to a certain mouth breather. He has had an anti eastern euro trend going on ever since Jagr broke his heart and left.

That's a very odd tweet from MM. Love him or hate him, he usually has a better read than most on the Pens. He's usually not that wrong.
- sammy87

Speaking of him... One of my favorite things he's said over the last couple of years.

"The Penguins have NHL dmen playing in the minors while they have minor league forwards playing in the NHL."

That's some hard reality right there. And a good place to start to fill some holes.

I'm sure Geno doesn't speak Jabba the Hut either.

Guy is a grade A bumhole.
- acdc1206

Very very nice.

Its Hutt though, my dorkiness couldn't let that slide.



F Tatooine

Speaking of him... One of my favorite things he's said over the last couple of years.

"The Penguins have NHL dmen playing in the minors while they have minor league forwards playing in the NHL."

That's some hard reality right there. And a good place to start to fill some holes.
- madmike71

That's hilarious! When I remember he's on at 1pm my time I try to listen to him. Today will be entertaining.

No it would be a completely hypothetical situation to make that trade happen. But Backes and Oshie? Maybe not. But if the Pens flame out again early in the playoffs, how long do you ride this out? Everyone keeps forgetting Malkin was on an ELC when they won the cup. Now its well our bottom 6 sucks, D sucks, MAF sucks, this will never be a complete team with 2 huge contracts. I think Doughty is the highest paid King at 7, Kopitar at #2 6.8. Goc, Downie and Comeau could all have great years and want a raise or test UFA. Throw in Adams and 2/3 of the bottom 6 is now gone.
- sammy87

Even with Backes and Oshie, it's still ok for the short term, but Backes is only signed for one more season after this, so you'd either have to give a healthy raise to a guy on the backside of his career, or lose him and then hunt for a great #2 center to replace him. I'd still rather have Malkin for the next 7 seasons.

I just don't think any deal with Malkin is a better gamble long term than just keeping him.

I get that it's a lot of money tied up for two players, but it can work. The problem is that we are forced to fill holes with free agents or hope we can find a player still developing in a trade. You gotta fill important roles with young guys on ELC deals. We have one in Maatta, but no forwards. Maybe we can add Kapenen and another forward next season and make it work.

Moving Martin in the off-season would have created a hole in the top 4, but if we could have had 3 of our top 6 dmen making less than $1 mil, we could have put some money towards a top 6 forward.

You have to draft well, and trust young guys in contributing roles. Neither of which were done that well the last 5+ years.

I personally wouldn't trade Malkin but I can't act like Madden is nuts for suggesting it. He thinks you are bringing back 2 top 6 assets and a top notch prospect. Fill alot of holes that way and get 2 for 1 on cap hit.

Just in case you guys missed it, the Flyers will be missing both Braydon Coburn and Andrew MacDonald for 4 weeks each. Maybe you could rape us in a Martin trade.

I personally wouldn't trade Malkin but I can't act like Madden is nuts for suggesting it. He thinks you are bringing back 2 top 6 assets and a top notch prospect. Fill alot of holes that way and get 2 for 1 on cap hit.
- dbell646

If you move Malkin you only do it for a maga deal. like Lindross deal, he is worth that. He will fill seats, sell tickets, you can build a team around him. It would be 2 solid top 6, top prospect and a 1st. I think teams would do it as well.

If the Pens flame out early again, ticket sales continue to slide, do you not start to think its still not the right direction?

Just in case you guys missed it, the Flyers will be missing both Braydon Coburn and Andrew MacDonald for 4 weeks each. Maybe you could rape us in a Martin trade.
- jmatchett383

I wouldn't say that you will be missing Andrew MacDonald...

You are over thinking this way too much. Bottom six talent is not truly difficult to retain at the right price, or replace at the right price. Goc is replaceable with Sundqvist, Downie with just about any free agent winger, Comeau as well.

Those two huge contracts are small potatoes compared to what Kane and Toews got. Kopitar will also be a 10mill per season player soon.

The complete team aspect doesn't come from two big contracts, it comes from poor assett management with the last regime.
- usethe1-2-2

You also have to keep in mind that ok so you pay Malkin that much , but at the same time he's so good that he turns the players around him into more than we're paying them, so it's not just his salary but the better play from lesser players offset some of what we pay him.

Just in case you guys missed it, the Flyers will be missing both Braydon Coburn and Andrew MacDonald for 4 weeks each. Maybe you could rape us in a Martin trade.
- jmatchett383

Ok, how about B. Schenn and Scott Laughton

BTW, there was a Pens PP last night and the top lined was pulled with like 1:20 left on the PP, Malkin was shaking his head looking pissed.

I wouldn't say that you will be missing Andrew MacDonald...
- rival22

When the options are Del Zotto, Luke Schenn, Grossman, and Nick Schultz....yeah, we will be.