Trading Malkin for any reason is unnecessary. If the Penguins really want to break up their core for cap reasons, Kris Letang is your guy. He's so very much more replaceable than Evgeni Malkin, who would likely flee immediately to Russia if traded. I would argue that if given the regular minutes, Letang's value to the Penguins would most certainly have been replaced by now by any of three players: Dumo, Pouliot, or Martin. I think the Penguins missed the boat in acquring the maximum value for Letang, but he should still be traded.

Does a team really need 2 franchise centers? It does if one is one check away from a front office position. If the Penguins' captain suffers another head injury, Pittsburgh would still have a #1C.

I think a few of you are starting to see what I've seen since 2012; a team that has confused 'high scoring' with 'elaborate, high-risk plays' and backs that up with 'not systemically defending' against 'other teams simply driving directly to the net'. What's worse is that the core are prone to snapping, taking awful penalties, and generally broadcasting how rattled they are to the opponent.

Pittsburgh is still squandering the careers of their franchise players by surrounding them with miscast and/or entitled garbage.

Kunitz, Dupuis, Letang, Fleury, Sutter. Rob Scuderi. This is not a championship caliber supporting cast for the two centers. They won it in 09 when Kirk Maltby and Aaron Ward were still in the league. ROR and John Tavares hadn't played in a regular season game yet. I think you get the picture.

Like I said, Pacioretty/Galchenyuk/1st for Malkin is a fair trade is value, maybe even slightly more than even for the Penguins. But with a guy like Malkin, it has to be a slam-dunk win massive overpayment if you're gonna trade him.
- jmatchett383

Agreed. Starting point would be another 1st/Gallagher

Lemieux has been credited with selling the trap strategy to the team after apparently him and Bowman worked it out, during that Caps series in '92.

But the problem with verbal leadership, is that you only hear about those rah-rah speeches when they "work". Remember, Guerin was on the team who lost in game #7 to Montreal in 2010.
- rival22

Im not saying that the Pens need a Rah-rah guy, I have no problem with Sid leading quietly by example, the problem I have is with the guy that is currently the Rah-Rah guy. He is making this team into a host for his bad attitude, pretty soon it will be so far gone that it wont matter.

Agreed. Starting point would be another 1st/Gallagher
- znagle

I think those 3 are a starting point. But honestly, you've gotta think that adding Malkin to their team, even at the cost of Pac/Galchenyuk, still makes them a better contender. So that first is probably a late 1st. If they added Fucale and one of Bealieu/Thrower, I'd be hard pressed not to pull the trigger.

Just as an aside, Detroit is going to win the Eastern Conference top seed this season. Watch what they do: trap (it's a LW lock system but, hey, it's the trap), counter, set picks, and shoot through screens. Slotting is perfect; puck management and protection is ideal. There are many flawed players on their roster but they play a great team game.

Why do people feel the need for inspired, vocal, rah-rah leadership? Frankly, how often does that actually work? If I had a co-worker who was of middling talent, yelling at me all the time about grit and determination I would try to get him fired.

I guess what I am saying is I see the value in Pascal Dupius. Some on here, however, raise him to the level of George Washington rallying the troops at Trenton.

It is a long season and this team is actually in a decent spot in the standings despite several injuries.

I think those 3 are a starting point. But honestly, you've gotta think that adding Malkin to their team, even at the cost of Pac/Galchenyuk, still makes them a better contender. So that first is probably a late 1st. If they added Fucale and one of Bealieu/Thrower, I'd be hard pressed not to pull the trigger.
- jmatchett383

Anaheim: Geno Malkin
Pittsburgh: 2 first Round Picks, Cam Fowler, John Gibson

Trading Malkin for any reason is unnecessary. If the Penguins really want to break up their core for cap reasons, Kris Letang is your guy. He's so very much more replaceable than Evgeni Malkin. I would argue that if given the regular minutes, Letang's value to the Penguins would most certainly have been replaced by now by any of three players: Dumo, Pouliot, or Martin. I think the Penguins missed the boat in acquring the maximum value for Letang, but he should still be traded.

Does a team really need 2 franchise centers? It does if one is one check away from a front office position. If the Penguins' captain suffers another head injury, Pittsburgh would still have a #1C.

I think a few of you are starting to see what I've seen since 2012; a team that has confused 'high scoring' with 'elaborate, high-risk plays' and backs that up with 'not systemically defending' against 'other teams simply driving directly to the net'. What's worse is that the core are prone to snapping, taking awful penalties, and generally broadcasting how rattled they are to the opponent.

Pittsburgh is still squandering the careers of their franchise players by surrounding them with miscast and/or entitled garbage.

Kunitz, Dupuis, Letang, Fleury, Sutter. Rob Scuderi. This is not a championship caliber supporting cast for the two centers. They won it in 09 when Kirk Maltby and Aaron Ward were still in the league. ROR and John Tavares hadn't played in a regular season game yet. I think you get the picture.
- Johnny Wrath

Very well thought out post, but I cant get on board with MAF; he has been our best player this season, besides Downie..

Im not saying that the Pens need a Rah-rah guy, I have no problem with Sid leading quietly by example, the problem I have is with the guy that is currently the Rah-Rah guy. He is making this team into a host for his bad attitude, pretty soon it will be so far gone that it wont matter.
- nbartley9

Are you implying Sidney Crosby has a bad attitude? Wow. You know it could be worse...we could be fans of the Oilers, Devils, or Senators.

Anaheim: Geno Malkin
Pittsburgh: 2 first Round Picks, Cam Fowler, John Gibson
- Johnny Wrath

Simply put, no thanks.

Anaheim: Geno Malkin
Pittsburgh: 2 first Round Picks, Cam Fowler, John Gibson
- Johnny Wrath

Again, these picks are going to be in the 22-30 range. Still valuable, but I'd rather get young roster players/top-end prospects. Also, defense and goaltending aren't the #1 problem, and you'd need forwards to replace Malkin in the present.

Are you implying Sidney Crosby has a bad attitude? Wow. You know it could be worse...we could be fans of the Oilers, Devils, or Senators.
- Tiogadog

Go read my previous posts, im not talking about Sid.

Anaheim: Geno Malkin
Pittsburgh: 2 first Round Picks, Cam Fowler, John Gibson
- Johnny Wrath

Good ole JR would be burned alive... by me.

Go read my previous posts, im not talking about Sid.
- nbartley9

If Sutter is acting entitled, then there is a problem with Sid. This is Sid's team. As soon as Sutter came in, it was his responsibility, along with whatever other "leadership group" there was to, more or less, tell him how it is. Don't discourage him or put him down, but as the captain, Sid's responsibility is to keep everyone level-headed and, if need be, reel them back in.

Not saying he's a bad captain, but if Sutter is as bad as you say, then Sid should be doing his best to rectify it, along with the rest of the team and the coaching staff.

Posted previously, but two hours and my thoughts have not changed:

I have admittedly not watched as many games this year. Here are, however, my thoughts.

1. It is the regular season. Who cares how they play as long as they qualify for the playoffs. The past five years the Pens have rolled through the regular season. What do they have to show for it. This team has and will continue to be judged on its play in April and May. Perhaps, the players also know this.

2. Sid needs to be better, but...I would rather he be fully healthy come April. He has enough regular season awards.

3. You will never get equal value back when trading Malkin. Name me one time a superstar (generational star in the case of Malkin) has been traded away and equal or greater value came back. Jagr-no, Seguin-no, Thorton-no, Gretzky- no, Hossa-no
- Tiogadog

You don't get generalizational talent back for Malkin. However, you get more than one competent piece such as Patchoretty, Galchenuyk and a pick. What's the point of having both Crosby and Malkin, but not competing for a title? We aren't a competitive team right now because we lack TALENT. We have no balance whatsoever.

Anaheim: Geno Malkin
Pittsburgh: 2 first Round Picks, Cam Fowler, John Gibson
- Johnny Wrath

You followed up a great post with this. Yikes.

I think those 3 are a starting point. But honestly, you've gotta think that adding Malkin to their team, even at the cost of Pac/Galchenyuk, still makes them a better contender. So that first is probably a late 1st. If they added Fucale and one of Bealieu/Thrower, I'd be hard pressed not to pull the trigger.
- jmatchett383

Pacioretty 49gp 40 points
Galchenyuk 49gp 34 points
Gallagher 49gp 27 points
1st
Blue chip prospect

I would pull the trigger. That is a whole line right there, a blue chip prospect and likely another good prospect with this deep draft.

Perron-Sid-Hornqvist
Pacioretty-Galchenyuk-Gallagher
Kunitz-Sutter-Comeau
Bennett-Spaling-Downie

Anaheim: Geno Malkin
Pittsburgh: 2 first Round Picks, Cam Fowler, John Gibson
- Johnny Wrath

UMMM ... no. Team is a mess at forward ... has little depth; has trouble scoring and you want to trade one of two scorers for two late round picks; another defenseman and a goalie when we have Fleury under contract for the next ??? years? What joke of an idea.

Pacioretty 49gp 40 points
Galchenyuk 49gp 34 points
Gallagher 49gp 27 points
1st
Blue chip prospect

I would pull the trigger. That is a whole line right there, a blue chip prospect and likely another good prospect with this deep draft.

Perron-Sid-Hornqvist
Pacioretty-Galchenyuk-Gallagher
Kunitz-Sutter-Comeau
Bennett-Spaling-Downie
- znagle

I don't think you're getting all 3 of them. As good as Malkin is, that leaves Montreal with too big of a gap up front and no 1st to fill it with. 2 roster player forwards is probably all you'd get.

Very well thought out post, but I cant get on board with MAF; he has been our best player this season, besides Downie..
- nbartley9

I really, really thought that Fleury would be a UFA, not get an extension. I always use the post-09 cup as the starting point to see what the core has done since then, and he's won 2 of the 4 playoff series. That's something.

How rattled he gets is another, and how well he broadcasts that he's rattled is just a perfect representation of what the huge issue with the core of the team is. I really do think an average goalie, like Ryan Miller, could win 40+ regular season games with Pittsburgh and then go into the playoffs without the trepidation of another collapse bleeding through the team. It's psychological almost as much as it is performance.

If Sutter is acting entitled, then there is a problem with Sid. This is Sid's team. As soon as Sutter came in, it was his responsibility, along with whatever other "leadership group" there was to, more or less, tell him how it is. Don't discourage him or put him down, but as the captain, Sid's responsibility is to keep everyone level-headed and, if need be, reel them back in.

Not saying he's a bad captain, but if Sutter is as bad as you say, then Sid should be doing his best to rectify it, along with the rest of the team and the coaching staff.
- jmatchett383

That's exactly the problem I think, as a person; the team likes Sutter. Sid will never be a vocal leader, and that's ok; Mario was the exact same way. Someone does however need to step in and I hope to the lord its Good Ole JR. By sending Sutturd anywhere for anyone, the return does not matter.

I don't think you're getting all 3 of them. As good as Malkin is, that leaves Montreal with too big of a gap up front and no 1st to fill it with. 2 roster player forwards is probably all you'd get.
- jmatchett383

That would leave Montreal dry. As much as I'd want all 3+ I don't see them doing that deal. Would be awesome though. If we did the trade and had that lineup and we don't win the cup... hell would freeze over

You don't get generalizational talent back for Malkin. However, you get more than one competent piece such as Patchoretty, Galchenuyk and a pick. What's the point of having both Crosby and Malkin, but not competing for a title? We aren't a competitive team right now because we lack TALENT.
- Oneonta Penguin

Second in one's division really does indicate a competitive team.

I just see very few to no scenarios where trading Malkin makes this a better team. This is especially true if as many on here like to point out Crosby is approaching the decline of his career.

Also, all of this trade talk assumes that Malkin waives his no-trade clause. (I am assuming he has one, but can not remember the specifics of his contract)

Second in one's division really does indicate a competitive team.

I just see very few to no scenarios where trading Malkin makes this a better team. This is especially true if as many on here like to point out Crosby is approaching the decline of his career.

Also, all of this trade talk assumes that Malkin waives his no-trade clause. (I am assuming he has one, but can not remember the specifics of his contract)
- Tiogadog

Yes he does have one. If I were him and got traded, I would pull a Kovalchuk and retire and get payed from the NHL, while playing in the KHL getting payed even more

Good ole JR would be burned alive... by me.
- nbartley9

Start a rebuild with a 1C, 1D, 1G, not with Max super-duper rat Pacioretty and a RW who is probably as valuable as one of the 2 picks.