If I had to guess what is actually going to happen the Pens will sign Letang to a raise and Malkin to a contract with an 8 at the beginning. Rust and Rakell sign elsewhere. Pens stuck scrambling for wingers for both Sid and Malkin.
- Grinder47

This is exactly what I see happening. Everyone on this page blows their load over keeping the gang back together then get pissed that poor Malkin doesnt get the stud wingers Sid gets. The rest of the roster is filled with Brock McGinns. PPL cry over how we should have traded Zucker when hes on LTIR again for a bag of Richards so we could free up cap and could have signed Forsberg. Because teams want a guy thats broken all the time. Dumo regresses even further. The entire D is dependent on Letang playing 58 mins/game but when he has a turnover we should have traded him 27 years ago.

You really think they resign 71 and 58 at the same cap hit? Letang just had a career year and will get a raise. Is Malkin really going to take a cut to stay on a team that cant get out of the first round? Sure he probably wants to stay in Pitt but hes not gonna leave millions on the table just to stay.
- sammy87

Malkin isnt coming close to his $9.5M current cap hit. He knows that. He reportedly asked for $6.8M/year for 3 years. Realistically, I think Letang is worth $8.5-9.5M. The high end of Letang's value and Malkin's $6.8M gets you right near their current combined cap hits.

Malkin isnt coming close to his $9.5M current cap hit. He knows that. He reportedly asked for $6.8M/year for 3 years. Realistically, I think Letang is worth $8.5-9.5M. The high end of Letang's value and Malkin's $6.8M gets you right near their current combined cap hits.
- SuperHenderson13

Dont get me wrong, if Malkin accepted 6.8 then great. However, I cant see him taking about 30% cut. I think he easily can get $8 here or just about anywhere.

Also, most of these rumors come from poopbags like Rossi or DK.

My take is he needs to be on a speed and skill 3rd line and that isn’t happening in PIT.
- Feds91Stammer

Sully coaches a puck possession type system and imo that’s why he curls back vs going I’m for a Dupuis type shot in the crest that I couldn’t stand.

I’d love to see Kap on a line with vrana in Detroit. See what he can do with a partner flying down the ice with him.

I think he gets 3-4m though somewhere.

This is exactly what I see happening. Everyone on this page blows their load over keeping the gang back together then get pissed that poor Malkin doesnt get the stud wingers Sid gets. The rest of the roster is filled with Brock McGinns. PPL cry over how we should have traded Zucker when hes on LTIR again for a bag of Richards so we could free up cap and could have signed Forsberg. Because teams want a guy thats broken all the time. Dumo regresses even further. The entire D is dependent on Letang playing 58 mins/game but when he has a turnover we should have traded him 27 years ago.
- sammy87

No one gets pissed.

The vast majority of this board is completely fine with seeing 3 of their favorite players ride off into the sunset on the same team to retire together.

This is exactly what I see happening. Everyone on this page blows their load over keeping the gang back together then get pissed that poor Malkin doesnt get the stud wingers Sid gets. The rest of the roster is filled with Brock McGinns. PPL cry over how we should have traded Zucker when hes on LTIR again for a bag of Richards so we could free up cap and could have signed Forsberg. Because teams want a guy thats broken all the time. Dumo regresses even further. The entire D is dependent on Letang playing 58 mins/game but when he has a turnover we should have traded him 27 years ago.
- sammy87

As a pens fan yes I want to see them retire here. Without wearing black and gold glasses I see no replacements. Klingberg is going to stay in Dallas. Who is the next best Dman available? Someone will have to carry the entire D core. Letang’s transition game is what made Crosby and malkin injuries palatable. His skill set is arguably as important as crosbys. Only reasonable way out I could think is you sign and trade Letang.. if he grants you that favour to get something in return. But that’s not gonna happen.

Same with geno. Who will replace him. Trochek? Not a chance. He could replace carter imo but tops out there. Centre market is pretty thin. I’ve briefly looked at ufa lists and wasn’t impressed with it. Offer sheet Dubois maybe?

This is exactly what I see happening. Everyone on this page blows their load over keeping the gang back together then get pissed that poor Malkin doesnt get the stud wingers Sid gets. The rest of the roster is filled with Brock McGinns. PPL cry over how we should have traded Zucker when hes on LTIR again for a bag of Richards so we could free up cap and could have signed Forsberg. Because teams want a guy thats broken all the time. Dumo regresses even further. The entire D is dependent on Letang playing 58 mins/game but when he has a turnover we should have traded him 27 years ago.
- sammy87

I dont think anyone here is pissed off. I think we all just recognize that our window is likely closed pending some crazy development.

We dont have stud young players waiting in the wings. We have thrown away every young asset and pick weve had for a decade. It led to multiple Cups and some really enjoyable moments.

When our Big 3 walk away, the ride is over. Maybe something crazy happens, maybe we draft another generational talent, but that's unlikely. So for me, Id rather keep the Big 3 together and try to build around them for one more run. Letang easily pulls his weight and Id argue Malkin does too. So this isnt a scenario where Big Ben is standing back there getting killed when he cant throw the ball 20 yards.

The Penguins are where they are at because they've used every first round pick or drafted poorly when they had them. They're where they are at because they havent spent their salary cap reasonably well on certain players. Rutherford built a Cup winner and then gutted it. It is what it is.

I wonder if Kapanen picks up women the same way he plays hockey…

Sees a girl at the bar, starts walking over then peels away at the last second.
- Rinosaur

That’s absolutely a dead on analogy!

I dont think anyone here is pissed off. I think we all just recognize that our window is likely closed pending some crazy development.

We dont have stud young players waiting in the wings. We have thrown away every young asset and pick weve had for a decade. It led to multiple Cups and some really enjoyable moments.

When our Big 3 walk away, the ride is over. Maybe something crazy happens, maybe we draft another generational talent, but that's unlikely. So for me, Id rather keep the Big 3 together and try to build around them for one more run. Letang easily pulls his weight and Id argue Malkin does too. So this isnt a scenario where Big Ben is standing back there getting killed when he cant throw the ball 20 yards.

The Penguins are where they are at because they've used every first round pick or drafted poorly when they had them. They're where they are at because they havent spent their salary cap reasonably well on certain players. Rutherford built a Cup winner and then gutted it. It is what it is.
- SuperHenderson13

Spending futures on current players was the right idea. GMJR just screwed up the execution.

DK did a piece the other day on the D... Pens are #1 in the league in spending on D. Does anybody think that they're getting a good ROI? Especially when you consider Letang has been a bargain for nearly his entire tenure.

Spending futures on current players was the right idea. GMJR just screwed up the execution.

DK did a piece the other day on the D... Pens are #1 in the league in spending on D. Does anybody think that they're getting a good ROI? Especially when you consider Letang has been a bargain for nearly his entire tenure.
- madmike71

Absolutely not. Dumos cliff dive has made it much worse though.

Absolutely not. Dumos cliff dive has made it much worse though.
- Thorny87

For all the flack we gave him, and rightfully so, in regular season with his slower foot speed and not as quick decisions, I do believe his absence greatly impaired the PK this postseason. He doesn't need to transition or rush on PK haha. This isn't me saying I think he should be kept but I do think he was missed in ways.

No one gets pissed.

The vast majority of this board is completely fine with seeing 3 of their favorite players ride off into the sunset on the same team to retire together.
- j.boyd919

I highly doubt FSG bought the Pens to watch that. It’s not like they are all going to retire at the exact same time anyway. That’s just dumb bullpoop and totally against everything you guys preach all the time.

I highly doubt FSG bought the Pens to watch that. It’s not like they are all going to retire at the exact same time anyway. That’s just dumb bullpoop and totally against everything you guys preach all the time.
- Grinder47

How is it against what everyone says here when everyone says it all the time when everyone here preaches that exact sentiment regarding the big 3 save for like you and Sammy and maybe one other person.


Not to mention you can’t even put together a decent option to replace Geno. Your goal is to put one of the best LWs in the league at 2C. So now you got a hole at 2LW and you gotta sign wingers to replace Rust/Rakell.

Build a roster instead of half assing your opinions.

Canes look like dogpoop

If the Penguins go into Day 1 of FA with Letang and Malkin signed for less than their current $16.75M cap hits plus Rakell at around $4.5-5M... that's a huge win.

If the Penguins get Letang/Malkin signed at any price, I'll take it. I think Rakell at $4.5M is smarter than Rust at $6M.
- SuperHenderson13

I’m with you here. I’d try to sign Rakell quick tbh.

I’d probably move on from one of Dumoulin or Pettersson and bring PO Joseph up.

Kapanen I’d keep under 1M only. Heinen under 2M.

Rodrigues might be a goner. Rust I wouldn’t give more than 6M.

Malkin, Letang are musts.

Spending futures on current players was the right idea. GMJR just screwed up the execution.

DK did a piece the other day on the D... Pens are #1 in the league in spending on D. Does anybody think that they're getting a good ROI? Especially when you consider Letang has been a bargain for nearly his entire tenure.
- madmike71

I am happy to admit when Im wrong, and I was wrong about Matheson. He's grown on me this year. I still worry a bit about Matheson-Letang, Id be interested to see what the advanced stats say about how they do. Id guess a lot of high risk/high reward hockey. That is okay because I really like what Pettersson-Marino have turned into. I think if your top four going into next year is:

Matheson-Letang
Pettersson-Marino

I'm okay with that. No way you need Matheson-Dumo-Pettersson, you need 2 of them. Sucker someone into a Dumo trade and invest that $4.1M into the bottom 6. Give POJ a shot.