What if the rumor came from a former Pittsburgh Penguin who happens to be my best friends neighbor?
- aecliptic

Id say great...this team needs to trade malkin...and most ppl know it deep down. Even the hockey night in canada boys..or rogers boys..whatever they r called now....brought this up. I believe it was pj who first made mention of the topic. It is time..sad to say as I love geno...but no player...not mario..sid..wayne...no one is more important than the team.

http://dkonpittsburghspor...uld-still-fly-with-wings/

Here's a solid read for the day... in case anyone was interested.

Specifically this line...

"It’s funny that folks cite Crosby being 27 and Malkin being 28 as some sort of evidence that the Penguins’ window is closing, and yet no one — not in Pittsburgh, not anywhere in the hockey world — expresses anything similar about the Ducks’ duo of Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, both of whom are about to turn 30, both of whom haven’t won a Cup since 2007 and both of whom are playing great on a team that’s currently very much in line for another championship.

Crazy what the right supporting cast can do for a window."

I'm not purposing anything. Why? Because we can't score goals and he is a 20-goal scorer with questionable talent surrounding him. You say he isn't that good, but he found a way to get 20+. He is above the average line at third line center. Look them up.

Sutter doesn't bring the type of assets back that helps much of anything in 2015-16, let alone offset the loss of him. That isn't up for debate.
- Oneonta Penguin

Unless Sutter is paired with a D prospect, nobody is buying. And that creates another hole the Pens need to fill.

Id say great...this team needs to trade malkin...and most ppl know it deep down. Even the hockey night in canada boys..or rogers boys..whatever they r called now....brought this up. I believe it was pj who first made mention of the topic. It is time..sad to say as I love geno...but no player...not mario..sid..wayne...no one is more important than the team.
- taleisyreXIII

Nope.

Think of it this way....Why would Malkin WANT to stay? They traded away Neal and JJ and gave him Comeau and hoped BB would work out. The team is further away from the cup today than it was 3-4 yrs ago. And he's arguably the most talented player in the world and will also take a back seat to 87. If it were me, I would want the team built around me and not keep playing next years plugs and be forced to carry the load with only 1 other player.
- sammy87

I think it weighed on everyones mind how long Malkin would be okay with being the other guy, the guy behind Crosby.

Think of it this way....Why would Malkin WANT to stay? They traded away Neal and JJ and gave him Comeau and hoped BB would work out. The team is further away from the cup today than it was 3-4 yrs ago. And he's arguably the most talented player in the world and will also take a back seat to 87. If it were me, I would want the team built around me and not keep playing next years plugs and be forced to carry the load with only 1 other player.
- sammy87

So malkin signed a 8 year deal in Pitt figuring the team would be built exclusively around him?

So malkin signed a 8 year deal in Pitt figuring the team would be built exclusively around him?
- willi

The contract is to protect the money and term that is all. Any player can have their career end on any shift on any given night. He also didn't expect players like Scuderi to be brought back and some of the other bad deals. He probably didn't expect Comeau to be on his line at this point either. I just wouldn't be surprised. How much was he involved in the negotiations? His agents job is to get him the most amount of protected money he can.

Not for nothing but that lazy Russian carried that team to a Cup.
- aecliptic

7 years removed when they can try again.

I think it weighed on everyones mind how long Malkin would be okay with being the other guy, the guy behind Crosby.
- aecliptic

It's been said before that he enjoys being the 2nd guy.

It's been said before that he enjoys being the 2nd guy.
- j.boyd919

Do you take everything at face value?

It's been said before that he enjoys being the 2nd guy.
- j.boyd919

I could see that as he absolutely hates talking to media cause hes embarrassed of his English, but Im not totally sold on that.

The boys gave them a hell of a fight. No way those games should have been that close with the way the Pens were banged up.

I have no idea what the offseason will bring. But with JR at the helm and the 50 assistant GMs I can't say that I'm optimistic with them doing the right thing.

Do you take everything at face value?
- sammy87

No but if it was a problem, I don't think he would have taken that 2nd contract. He could have gotten much more money on the open market but chose to resign in Pittsburgh.

No but if it was a problem, I don't think he would have taken that 2nd contract. He could have gotten much more money on the open market but chose to resign in Pittsburgh.
- j.boyd919

He did that prior to them letting people go and picking up plugs. Dont think he resigned with that in mind.

The boys gave them a hell of a fight. No way those games should have been that close with the way the Pens were banged up.

I have no idea what the offseason will bring. But with JR at the helm and the 50 assistant GMs I can't say that I'm optimistic with them doing the right thing.
- acdc1206

I do give the team props, they didnt make it easy with all the injuries they had. The series score isnt an indication at how close it was.

He did that prior to them letting people go and picking up plugs. Dont think he resigned with that in mind.
- aecliptic

I know I don't know the guy personally, but my perception of Malkin is that he's not one to quit on his team.

I know I don't know the guy personally, but my perception of Malkin is that he's not one to quit on his team.
- j.boyd919

I dont think he quit, he definitely didnt look 100% out there.

But I wouldnt call it quitting if youre not being happy with the players your GM is bringing in.

I know I don't know the guy personally, but my perception of Malkin is that he's not one to quit on his team.
- j.boyd919

How would you feel if he jets off to Prague and destroys it for Mother Russia next week?

I think the team should put all options on the table. This recipe obviously isn't working. UFA market is not good and the rest of the metro is just getting better. Outside of Kap and Sundquest there are no prospects and they are still unproven. There is no other team outside of the Hawks next year that employ 2 players at this high of a cap.

I know I don't know the guy personally, but my perception of Malkin is that he's not one to quit on his team.
- j.boyd919

I agree, he may noy like a thing or two but requesting a trade doesn't seem to suit him.

I think it weighed on everyones mind how long Malkin would be okay with being the other guy, the guy behind Crosby.
- aecliptic

See, you just proved your a fool. Malkin has said all along he doesn't want to be the face or voice of a franchise. He wants to be in the background. Didn't your hear that from your buddy?

Think of it this way....Why would Malkin WANT to stay? They traded away Neal and JJ and gave him Comeau and hoped BB would work out. The team is further away from the cup today than it was 3-4 yrs ago. And he's arguably the most talented player in the world and will also take a back seat to 87. If it were me, I would want the team built around me and not keep playing next years plugs and be forced to carry the load with only 1 other player.
- sammy87

Maybe because hes a professional who signed a contract and hes not the whiny wussy you would be in the same situation?

Nope.
- j.boyd919

+5

Not even 24 hrs after elimination. Already sick of the trade Malkin BS.

Aint gonna happen folks. Know why? Because unless its a perfect deal, our GM may be old and senile, but he isn't a complete idiot.

How would you feel if he jets off to Prague and destroys it for Mother Russia next week?

I think the team should put all options on the table. This recipe obviously isn't working. UFA market is not good and the rest of the metro is just getting better. Outside of Kap and Sundquest there are no prospects and they are still unproven. There is no other team outside of the Hawks next year that employ 2 players at this high of a cap.
- sammy87

The last 5 Stanley Cup champions had 5 players taking up 47-50% of their cap hit. The Penguins have 5 players taking 52% of their cap hit. The problem is not those 5 players. The problem is the supporting cast around those 5 players. It is not a problem created by salary cap contraints. It is a problem created by bad contracts and bad talent evaluations. Injuries also do not help. Drink more protein shakes. Maybe throw some amino acids in there. If the Penguins did their due diligence in talent evaluation, they would be fine. But when you employ players like Scuderi, Lapierre, Adams, Lovejoy, Sill, even Winnik was awful this playoffs... that is not a recipe for success.

Say you take some Kobe Beef from Japan, the highest quality meat you can get... (Malkin, Crosby, Letang, etc.) and decided to make a stir fry... in that stir fry you use some slimy ass mushrooms (Lapierre) some moldy green peppers (Scuderi) some moldy onions (Lovejoy) some.. you see where I'm going... your stir fry is going to be awful.

Again.. it's all about talent evaluation for the supporting cast... problem is not Sid/Geno/etc... the problem is everyone else.

Pittsburgh sucks. 20 million for a whiney puzzy and a lazy russian. That is why you suck.
- jtuzyk

How is Winnipeg fairing this post season? Ohhhhhh right.