Was his contract an over-35 deal?
- jmatchett383

Yes, but they'll pretend he's trying to recover from his condition and resume his pro career until 2017 for LTIR purposes.

You can't trade either. Sid for political and marketing reasons, Malkin because he'll retire from the NHL and go play in the K. Malkin is also totally necessary because of how vulnerable Sid's health has been.

I have always thought that in the grand scheme of things that as good as they are, neither of the two have been developed very well. We shouldn't cringe if it is suggested that those two take an even strength shift together.

Malkin should be able to play scoring center, PK center, scoring wing, power play point man. As needed depending on match up, injuries, &c. Zetterberg with a bomb and size. I think it's ironic that Malkin has had a better NHL career considering Sid always received first consideration.
- Johnny Wrath

You can't trade Crosby, you're right. He is not moveable, at all. The fanbase would feel absolutely betrayed.

But SOMETHING is wrong with this team the past few years Now, 2 of them can be blamed largely on MAF, to be totally honest. But if they don't at least make it deep into the ECF this year, the Penguins management may have to take a really deep look at this roster and make some tough choices.

Yes, but they'll pretend he's trying to recover from his condition and resume his pro career until 2017 for LTIR purposes.
- Johnny Wrath

Which is fine. Still counts in the summer as they're assembling their roster.

Of course you're referring to Marc Savard and the Bruins, right?

Yes, but they'll pretend he's trying to recover from his condition and resume his pro career until 2017 for LTIR purposes.
- Johnny Wrath

You don't have to pretend if you're actually injured. Not sure where people keep getting this "have to pretend you're recovering" thing.

Yes, but they'll pretend he's trying to recover from his condition and resume his pro career until 2017 for LTIR purposes.
- Johnny Wrath

It was not an over 35 contract. He was 34 when he signed the deal. Same with Kunitz, his is not an over 35 contract either.

Was his contract an over-35 deal?
- jmatchett383

No was under 35 when the deal started

No was under 35 when the deal started
- willi

Okay, wasn't sure.

You can't trade Crosby, you're right. He is not moveable, at all. The fanbase would feel absolutely betrayed.

But SOMETHING is wrong with this team the past few years Now, 2 of them can be blamed largely on MAF, to be totally honest. But if they don't at least make it deep into the ECF this year, the Penguins management may have to take a really deep look at this roster and make some tough choices.
- jmatchett383

They're not going to make it to the ECF, man. They have a coach from Juniors who probably buys Arrow shirts from Sears and have been too injured to make sense of what their team looks like.

The hard choices were Letang, Kunitz, Fleury, Dupuis, and Brooks Orpik.

You can't trade Crosby, you're right. He is not moveable, at all. The fanbase would feel absolutely betrayed.

But SOMETHING is wrong with this team the past few years Now, 2 of them can be blamed largely on MAF, to be totally honest. But if they don't at least make it deep into the ECF this year, the Penguins management may have to take a really deep look at this roster and make some tough choices.
- jmatchett383

I've said it a 1000x here, Pens wont win another cup with the 2 of them. If they have a bad playoff series this yr where the team doesnt show up and gets shut down, I think Malkin moves at the draft.

Here is a wild hypothetical, based on Ek's blog of us being intereste in Sekera...

Sutter + for Sekera then Martin/Ehrhoff to LA for Trevor Lewis and Dwight King or to Anaheim for Smith-pelly +

New regime in Car so maybe interest there

What do think about a Roman Polak deal for Pittsburgh (with some salary retained). He has 1 year left on his $2.75 mil contract. Not a lot of offence but solid defensively and he hits like a truck

They're not going to make it to the ECF, man. They have a coach from Juniors who probably buys Arrow shirts from Sears and have been too injured to make sense of what their team looks like.

The hard choices were Letang, Kunitz, Fleury, Dupuis, and Brooks Orpik.
- Johnny Wrath

So the choices were retain, retain, retain, and let walk...those were the HARD choices?

The hard choice is this: can a team led primarily by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin win another Stanley Cup in the future?

Here is a wild hypothetical, based on Ek's blog of us being intereste in Sekera...

Sutter + for Sekera then Martin/Ehrhoff to LA for Trevor Lewis and Dwight King or to Anaheim for Smith-pelly +

New regime in Car so maybe interest there
- kfinl170

Yikes.

The reason why they'd be interested in Sekera is because they wouldn't have to send a big salary back. So it would be a prospect + pick kind of deal that wouldn't hurt the existing depth.

It makes no sense to trade for Sekera and then turn around and trade Martin or Ehrhoff. That would just keep the same depth issue (perceived) while getting a guy in Sekera who is not as good as Martin or Ehrhoff.

And then for a bunch of third/fourth line tweeners? Nope.

You can't trade either. Sid for political and marketing reasons, Malkin because he'll retire from the NHL and go play in the K. Malkin is also totally necessary because of how vulnerable Sid's health has been.

I have always thought that in the grand scheme of things that as good as they are, neither of the two have been developed very well. We shouldn't cringe if it is suggested that those two take an even strength shift together.

Malkin should be able to play scoring center, PK center, scoring wing, power play point man. As needed depending on match up, injuries, &c. Zetterberg with a bomb and size. I think it's ironic that Malkin has had a better NHL career considering Sid always received first consideration.
- Johnny Wrath

i love malkin. but i will be the first to tell you that he is not as good of a player as he should be. the physical talent he has been given is unmatched in the league.

So the choices were retain, retain, retain, and let walk...those were the HARD choices?

The hard choice is this: can a team led primarily by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin win another Stanley Cup in the future?
- jmatchett383

I threw this out after the Kane deal. What would Malkin alone bring back and with who?

MTL? for Gallagher, Emelin, prospect, 1st round pick??

i love malkin. but i will be the first to tell you that he is not as good of a player as he should be. the physical talent he has been given is unmatched in the league.
- stayinthefnnet

His natural and physical tools should make him Mario Lemieux. Instead, he's some sort of Teemu Selanne/Adam Oates hybrid.

Ana has no top 4 D.
1st, prospect and etem for martin

I threw this out after the Kane deal. What would Malkin alone bring back and with who?

MTL? for Gallagher, Emelin, prospect, 1st round pick??
- stowerkraut

I know, we've been over that.

People keep harping that Malkin would bolt for the KHL if he were anywhere other than Pittsburgh. I'm gonna call total BS on that, even if he came out and said it directly (what else is he gonna say? "Yeah, I'd love to play on another NHL team!")

Ana has no top 4 D.
1st, prospect and etem for martin
- nh4442

Hello, first-round playoff exit/

So the choices were retain, retain, retain, and let walk...those were the HARD choices?

The hard choice is this: can a team led primarily by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin win another Stanley Cup in the future?
- jmatchett383

One thing's for sure, the winger excuse won't be present this year if they Penguins healthy in the playoffs. That was management's first question to try to answer - will better wingers help 87 and 71's playoff production.

I threw this out after the Kane deal. What would Malkin alone bring back and with who?

MTL? for Gallagher, Emelin, prospect, 1st round pick??
- stowerkraut

IF Malkin ever does get moved ( which I doubt) a top center will be coming back the other way

Yikes.

The reason why they'd be interested in Sekera is because they wouldn't have to send a big salary back. So it would be a prospect + pick kind of deal that wouldn't hurt the existing depth.

It makes no sense to trade for Sekera and then turn around and trade Martin or Ehrhoff. That would just keep the same depth issue (perceived) while getting a guy in Sekera who is not as good as Martin or Ehrhoff.

And then for a bunch of third/fourth line tweeners? Nope.
- hardnosed

My thinking was based off the idea that of we added a top 4 then we would rekindle Martin talks with LA... And the 3/4 line tweeners out there are enter than who we have plus the LA guys have had a cup run under their belt, plus I think 3/4 line depth is what we lack

My thinking was based off the idea that of we added a top 4 then we would rekindle Martin talks with LA... And the 3/4 line tweeners out there are enter than who we have plus the LA guys have had a cup run under their belt, plus I think 3/4 line depth is what we lack
- kfinl170

So you'd like to weaken your blue line top-4 to slightly upgrade your bottom-6 forwards?

His natural and physical tools should make him Mario Lemieux. Instead, he's some sort of Teemu Selanne/Adam Oates hybrid.
- jmatchett383

not that the second option you mentioned is anything to sneeze at, but yes. malkin should be the be up there with mario.

limiting this to purely physical tools, he as everything. size that crosby was not blessed with. seldom used, but one of the best shots in the league. speed. hands, wingspan. vision/creativity (im sure im blurring the line here on what is physical, and what is mental, but by mental i am referring primarily to things such as discipline, tenacity, and drive).

His natural and physical tools should make him Mario Lemieux. Instead, he's some sort of Teemu Selanne/Adam Oates hybrid.
- jmatchett383

I think that is a little too much expectation there. I know I am in the minority here, and I know that it would never happen in a million years, but if it ever came down to keeping Malkin or Crosby, I would keep Malkin. Personally, I don't see the need to ever make that decision. But it seems like a lot of people are starting to lean that way if the Pens don't win a cup in the next year or two.