Wanted to add as someone who said Sid and Jake had something to prove in the playoffs, they did so emphatically. Rangers defensive effort wasn't great but you can't ignore those numbers.

The Rangers defensive effort is also why I won't get to high on this Pens group based on their advanced stats this series. Would have been something if they controlled play against a team like Carolina, but that continues to be a weaker part of the Rangers game.

Elliote Friedman on his podcast on the Penguins offseason:

-Malkin and team discussed 3 year contract, couldnt get to money. Interest on both sides to tie in Malkin's time to Crosby's time.

-Letang and the Penguins arent in the same spot. He didnt specify whether it was term/dollar

-Rust and Penguins have made movements to a new contract.

He noted these talks werent recent discussions. So he isnt sure where things stand currently. He would expect talks to grow quickly. He noted the Penguins are keen on improving their salary cap situation... but he didnt mention any of the guys who we want traded lol.

He noted FSG is very analytical and they justify their moves through that viewpoint. I read that as "They arent going to resign guys, just to feel better about themselves."

Funny, he mentioned the possibility of MAF returning to Pittsburgh. He seems to think there are legs to it.

Elliote Friedman on his podcast on the Penguins offseason:

-Malkin and team discussed 3 year contract, couldnt get to money. Interest on both sides to tie in Malkin's time to Crosby's time.

-Letang and the Penguins arent in the same spot. He didnt specify whether it was term/dollar

-Rust and Penguins have made movements to a new contract.

He noted these talks werent recent discussions. So he isnt sure where things stand currently. He would expect talks to grow quickly. He noted the Penguins are keen on improving their salary cap situation... but he didnt mention any of the guys who we want traded lol.

He noted FSG is very analytical and they justify their moves through that viewpoint. I read that as "They arent going to resign guys, just to feel better about themselves."

Funny, he mentioned the possibility of MAF returning to Pittsburgh. He seems to think there are legs to it.
- SuperHenderson13

I just don’t think Letang is staying.

What surprised me about him was his willingness to go to the net and be around the net. There was a few sequences last night I thought he was going to score...and you could tell he wasnt quite right injury-wise, same for Sid.
- MattStrat

This shouldn’t of came as a surprise. 1 watch lots of Calgary games so I’ve seen him and Anaheim a lot. I feel he was misrepresented as what type of player he was. He is great in the slot area and can produce chances solo. His 30 goal days may be behind him but he’s a crafty player.

I just don’t think Letang is staying.
- Rinosaur

The only way I let Letang walk is if he says there is no contract offer that will keep him in Pittsburgh. And if that's the case, fair enough. I understand why Letang would want to go to Montreal.

I think Letang can still play at a high level for 5 years. He missed a lot of time earlier in his career and he keeps himself in great shape.

If there's a deal to be had with him, I'd want the Penguins to make it. Ideally, all 3 guys tie their contracts to Crosby's. 3 years for everyone, and then we can see then what our situation looks like.

If we dont resign Letang, I think we as an organization need to take a look in the mirror and accept the likely downturn we are going to experience. If you want to miss the playoffs next year, get a good draft pick (Imagine if we got Bedard lol), and then attack a stronger UFA class in 2023... I'm fine with that.

But yea, I agree that the vibes Im getting from everyone is that Letang aint coming back.

Can't blame the refs for 5 blown leads in 3 different games that could close a series.
- j.boyd919

Agreed.

That's the tricky part. I just see more of the same though but with obvious declining returns. Good Center with no wingers to help. It's been that way for a while.

He's gonna score on the PP (50% of his totals this year) but at 5v5 he's all alone.

If he does take a pay cut perhaps they should look to move him to wing and load up the 1st line?

Then we'd need a 2C
- Thorny87

Kapenan, Zucker, Heinen, McGinn, Dumo probably carry SOME value to other teams.

Removing Kap and Zucker from the equation should be enough to resign Rust+Rakell.

If they could dump Dumo and McGinn, might be able to take a shot at a guy like Burokovsky for 2LW.

Gives the Pens some options:

Jake-Sid-Rakell
Buro-Geno-Rust

Jake-Sid-Rust
Buro-Geno-Rakell

Is it easy? No. But we see time and time again GM's "helping" other teams keep windows open. Just gotta be persistent.

In Puustinen We Trust

Right now, CapFriendly is saying we have $28.3M in cap space. Trade Dumo and McGinn and that's $35.15M.

-$6.5M - Malkin
-$8.5M - Letang
-$7M - Trocheck
-$4.5M - Rakell
-$2M - Heinen
-$900K - Nylander
-$1.25M - Backup goalie


Jake-Crosby-Rakell
Malkin-Trocheck-Heinen
Zucker-Carter-Nylander
O'Connor-Blueger-Zohorna

Matheson-Letang
Pettersson-Marino
Friedman/POJ-Ruhwedal

Jarry
Back-up

This roster would still have $5.75M in salary cap. You could easily choose not to resign Heinen and have $7M to go after a talented second line winger. The 2023 UFA class looks a lot better. You will also be getting Zucker's money off the books, but Blueger and Jarry will need new deals.
- SuperHenderson13

Are you suggesting Malkin would accept 6.5M ?

Are you suggesting Malkin would accept 6.5M ?

- Nasty_Duck

I know you’re a clown so you are uniformed. But rumor has it 3yrs 20m will get Malkin signed.

In an ideal world

(+)SHEARY
(+)Some pittsburgh dude

(-)Carter
(-)McGinn
(-)Dumo
(-)Burke
(-)Hex

Do not touch MAF with a ten foot pole

I know you’re a clown so you are uniformed. But rumor has it 3yrs 20m will get Malkin signed.
- Feds91Stammer

oh (frank) off

rumors always come true.

You’re going to complain about missed calls? Pretty sure pens got better end of the deal there. Please game one was over before overtime..ba bye pens

I love the idea of Trochek with Malkin and Rakell. POJ has to make the leap next season.

I think Zucker played with the most energy of any player and deserved time with Malkin.

Golden Knights need to shed some salary. Might be able to snag a guy like Nicolas Roy for very cheap

Yeah but he was born in Pittsburgh
- Feds91Stammer

FACK it, bring in Saad too

I love the idea of Trochek with Malkin and Rakell. POJ has to make the leap next season.

I think Zucker played with the most energy of any player and deserved time with Malkin.

Golden Knights need to shed some salary. Might be able to snag a guy like Nicolas Roy for very cheap
- drummer829

Again. Trocheck is going to Detroit with Rust.

The Rangers game winner with under 2 mins left in game 6 is crazy. There's not one starter in the league letting that in. A lot of Rangers goals came from crazy things. Like looking back at what Erod did in game 6 that changed the momentum? I saw the highlight of it again last night on the Sportsnet intermission and it was a shove. Wasnt to the face or anything haha...thats what gets called. Pens were on the good side of some goal reviews though.

It's super ironic to me, with all the complaining we heard about Bettman, the league and refs all favoring Pens, that the Rangers won the series on a PP in OT hahaha fvck sakes.
- MattStrat

I have seen MAF give up goals like that way too many times

Cliffs notes: Basically keep the same Roster together because....dump the bad contracts because that will be easy. Give Rust a 2x raise. Expect different results. RY should be a CEO.

Seriously, why re-invent the wheel? The team was excellent throughout the series. But could not hold a lead because they were playing with ECHL level goaltending.
Why blow that up? Re-sign as many as you can and try to replace certain albatross players. And for God's Sake find better backup goaltending.

It pisses me off that an arrogant bunch like NYR especially Shesterkin gets to win by injuring Crosby. The refs and League SUCK at administering the rules. But its really hard to complain when you blow 3 straight leads in elimination games.

I hope NYR get swept right out of the post season.

Seriously, why re-invent the wheel? The team was excellent throughout the series. But could not hold a lead because they were playing with ECHL level goaltending.
Why blow that up? Re-sign as many as you can and try to replace certain albatross players. And for God's Sake find better backup goaltending.

It pisses me off that an arrogant bunch like NYR especially Shesterkin gets to win by injuring Crosby. The refs and League SUCK at administering the rules. But its really hard to complain when you blow 3 straight leads in elimination games.

I hope NYR get swept right out of the post season.
- Amanion

U guys ready to admit he didn’t have a concussion yet? Or we still going with that fake news?

U guys ready to admit he didn’t have a concussion yet? Or we still going with that fake news?
- nyrangers9479

He was injured though, right? You think Sid wouldn't play game 6, or look like he did in game 7, if he was totally alright? Do you think the Rangers win this series if he doesn't go down at all?

He was injured though, right? You think Sid wouldn't play game 6, or look like he did in game 7, if he was totally alright? Do you think the Rangers win this series if he doesn't go down at all?
- MattStrat

Was it a 2 minute penalty bc the elbow came up? Ill give u that. But the overreaction that went on in here, especially by ur blogger was insanity. Injuries happen, I said it when Rakell got injured u don’t want to see any player go down with an injury, especially the “stars”. With that said there was ZERO intention, it was a hockey play that I’ve watched over and over again. He wasn’t concussed which is what everyone in here was going wild over. It’s been pretty much confirmed whatever it was wasn’t a concussion by multiple insiders. He tweaked something on a hockey play. Would the Rangers have won if he didn’t get hurt? No one will know but I think the chances would have definitely been lower, he was playing great hockey. End of the day he got hurt on a hockey play that had zero intention. For all the hysteria about intent, I didn’t see u guys calling for Malkin to be suspended for his 2 handed cross check to Rooneys face which was 100% intentional.

U guys ready to admit he didn’t have a concussion yet? Or we still going with that fake news?
- nyrangers9479

Yes, trouba did not elbow guentzel in the back of the head, he didn't chicken wing Crosby, and didnt have a 4 min.higj stick...what an ass clown!!!

Seriously, why re-invent the wheel? The team was excellent throughout the series. But could not hold a lead because they were playing with ECHL level goaltending.
Why blow that up? Re-sign as many as you can and try to replace certain albatross players. And for God's Sake find better backup goaltending.

It pisses me off that an arrogant bunch like NYR especially Shesterkin gets to win by injuring Crosby. The refs and League SUCK at administering the rules. But its really hard to complain when you blow 3 straight leads in elimination games.

I hope NYR get swept right out of the post season.
- Amanion

Yep Jarry is an ECHL goalie I guess? Pens 1st team in NHL history to lose 3 straight elimination games where they had the lead. I know it's because of Louie and because someone had the audacity to throw a check on Cindy.

Seriously, why re-invent the wheel? The team was excellent throughout the series. But could not hold a lead because they were playing with ECHL level goaltending.
Why blow that up? Re-sign as many as you can and try to replace certain albatross players. And for God's Sake find better backup goaltending.

It pisses me off that an arrogant bunch like NYR especially Shesterkin gets to win by injuring Crosby. The refs and League SUCK at administering the rules. But its really hard to complain when you blow 3 straight leads in elimination games.

I hope NYR get swept right out of the post season.
- Amanion

This ain’t about the refs. Pens blew 5 leads to close out the series. Dunno why that’s so hard for Pens fans to comprehend. They didn’t deserve to win blowing those leads.

Was it a 2 minute penalty bc the elbow came up? Ill give u that. But the overreaction that went on in here, especially by ur blogger was insanity. Injuries happen, I said it when Rakell got injured u don’t want to see any player go down with an injury, especially the “stars”. With that said there was ZERO intention, it was a hockey play that I’ve watched over and over again. He wasn’t concussed which is what everyone in here was going wild over. It’s been pretty much confirmed whatever it was wasn’t a concussion by multiple insiders. He tweaked something on a hockey play. Would the Rangers have won if he didn’t get hurt? No one will know but I think the chances would have definitely been lower, he was playing great hockey. End of the day he got hurt on a hockey play that had zero intention. For all the hysteria about intent, I didn’t see u guys calling for Malkin to be suspended for his 2 handed cross check to Rooneys face which was 100% intentional.
- nyrangers9479

I was one of the ones that said it happened so fast that Im not sure there was intent at all..but the damning thing for Trouba that night was the he came out elbows first in opening minute on Pens players.

Not that Malkin hasn't done dirty stuff before, but Rooney totally sold that and majorly embellished. I dont think Malkin even touched his face. I watched only one angle of it around 50 times and it wasnt what you're saying it was. If there is a different angle that shows that he actually got Rooney in the face there I'd love to see it. Malkin just came off a 4 game suspension for something similar....you telling me the Rangers wouldn't be reaching out to the league about this or the league wouldnt look into that on their own if there was actually anything to it?