Ryan Wilson: Malkin Have Desire To Follow Kovalchuk Back Home? + Prospect Camp Roster Evgeni Malkin unlikely to join Kovalchuk in Russia. Full prospect camp roster.

Am I an idiot for not noticing that Gunner took over the Pens blogs. Man I've been gone for a while. Congrats dude! Always good to see a Rochester blogger on the site.

I hope he stays same with Ovie I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I just hope you guys don't beat us to bad next season haha

Malkin Have Desire To Follow Kovalchuk Back Home?

Don't you ever say that again, Mr.Wilson

On other notes:

The Penguins reached an agreement with restricted free agent Harry Zolnierczyk. It is a two way deal that will pay ‘Alphabet Soup’ 550k at the NHL level.

That is pretty good. $0.55M can't do no wrong (on a two-way deal)

I hope he stays same with Ovie I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I just hope you guys don't beat us to bad next season haha
- blizzzard

You guys should definitely get Grabovski now. He should help this team. Brunner would be nice too. Jagr would love to play there with Elias, just saying

From a fans perspective Kovalchuk leaving sucks. If you're looking at it from the franchises stand point I think it is a blessing. They are struggling financially and this gets 77 mil off the books. It also gets it off the books in a way which will endear the franchise to the fans. I'm not even sure NJ struggles this year from this. On to Malkin I have never been a fan of European players Russians in particular but his desire and commitment to the NHL have changed my view a bit. We are lucky to have his talent and even luckier to have his dedication to the franchise. Let's Go Pens

And update from capgeek shows us with 126k in cap space. And we still have Jeffrey and Borts sitting out there as RFA's.

Am I an idiot for not noticing that Gunner took over the Pens blogs. Man I've been gone for a while. Congrats dude! Always good to see a Rochester blogger on the site.
- Tsyolin

From Rochester as well, had no idea gunner was from Roch

And update from capgeek shows us with 126k in cap space. And we still have Jeffrey and Borts sitting out there as RFA's.
- dbell646

Please Mr Shero, trade him, trade Niskanen. Please??

From Rochester as well, had no idea gunner was from Roch
- gdsmack267

What's up with all you guys coming from NY and cheering for the Penguins? You had so many good options to cheer for in your own state....Buffalo comes to mind

Please Mr Shero, trade him, trade Niskanen. Please??
- cygnus41

Something has to give

Something has to give
- dbell646

I'd be really pissed if they traded Orpik instead of Niskanen. On the other hand I wouldn't be pissed if Fleury was unloaded. Hard to miss him after so many playoffs meltdowns..

You guys should definitely get Grabovski now. He should help this team. Brunner would be nice too. Jagr would love to play there with Elias, just saying
- Orpik44

Jagr still working on his quest to play for every Atlantic division team.

I'd be really pissed if they traded Orpik instead of Niskanen. On the other hand I wouldn't be pissed if Fleury was unloaded. Hard to miss him after so many playoffs meltdowns..
- Orpik44

Fleury won't go simply because they have nothing else after Vokoun. Orpik is a true top 4 guy for now so I think he stays. I'm excited about having a very legit top 4 who will eat big minutes. Borts and Engelland don't make enough to help by trading so Nisk is the logical choice IMO.

Hope it doesn't happen. I think Malkin wants to be here, but I could be wrong.

I think Ovie is a bigger risk though. Didn't he threaten not to come back after the lock-out?

Fleury won't go simply because they have nothing else after Vokoun. Orpik is a true top 4 guy for now so I think he stays. I'm excited about having a very legit top 4 who will eat big minutes. Borts and Engelland don't make enough to help by trading so Nisk is the logical choice IMO.
- dbell646

Engelland AND Nisk need to be traded. Absolutely no need for either when Despres, Dumoulin, bortuzzo, and even Samuelson can take bottom pairing duties.

I can't say enough about how good Jussi Jokinen is for what we gave up for him. I know he doesn't get much love around here but he's got great hockey sense and can flat out play. Why the Canes would let him go so easy and for nothing? I guarantee if he got top 6 minutes with us, he'd delivery.

I was looking for comparable players for him and found Radim Vrbata. Jussi still beats him on PPG average.

Hope it doesn't happen. I think Malkin wants to be here, but I could be wrong.

I think Ovie is a bigger risk though. Didn't he threaten not to come back after the lock-out?
- Boom.

I could see him going back to the khl because he's not the hot shot he used to be. Sure he won the rocket Richard and hart, but at look at his crappy first half of the season and terrible playoff performance. Seems like ovi wants the spotlight and he's slowly coming out of it here

I could see him going back to the khl because he's not the hot shot he used to be. Sure he won the rocket Richard and hart, but at look at his crappy first half of the season and terrible playoff performance. Seems like ovi wants the spotlight and he's slowly coming out of it here
- drummer829

Plus, he knows he won't get a Stanley Cup in Washington, ever. I'm sorry to say this but that's the truth. He's got to be disappointed. They blew a few chances with Bruce Boudreau + he'll marry Maria Kirilenko (a hot russian)

Plus, he knows he won't get a Stanley Cup in Washington, ever. I'm sorry to say this but that's the truth. He's got to be disappointed. They blew a few chances with Bruce Boudreau + he'll marry Maria Kirilenko (a hot russian)
- Orpik44

It was painful to watch him play early last season - I'm glad he turned it around. I hope having him and crosby in the same division will keep it going. That 2009 playoff series was epic.

Three lock outs with Bettman . Kovy gets a raise and no tax. Not a hard decision to make. Don't be surprised to see an exodus . A couple of more big signings and soon they will be gone.

Don't be surprised if OV is not the next one saying adios.

If Shero is going to do nothing but draft Dmen, at one point he has to start using them. No need to keep Nisk and England if he allegedly has so many top prospects.

Doubt Malkin would bolt, but I also dont trust Ruskies either.

If Shero is going to do nothing but draft Dmen, at one point he has to start using them. No need to keep Nisk and England if he allegedly has so many top prospects.

Doubt Malkin would bolt, but I also dont trust Ruskies either.
- sammy87

They are just prospects right now the only one nhl ready is dumoulin, but that should be enough to trade niskanen anyway. That should have been done at the beginning of free agency.

We have to abandon the Salary Cap. It's the only way for the NHL to retain it's position as the premier hockey league of the world. This trend will continue until there is no talent difference between NHL and KHL.

We have to abandon the Salary Cap. It's the only way for the NHL to retain it's position as the premier hockey league of the world. This trend will continue until there is no talent difference between NHL and KHL.
- flamminghead

If you take the salary cap away the nhl will e like the mlb or NBA where there is only 5 teams that realistically have a chance to win it all, really only one team in the NBA.