I wouldn't assume CDS coming back means he's the backup.

Elliote Friedman, "Path to a deal for Letang. Pittsburgh willing to bend." "Malkin, not close."

I'm sure I'm the last person on Earth to hear this. Just in case I'm not.

Elliote Friedman, "Path to a deal for Letang. Pittsburgh willing to bend." "Malkin, not close."

I'm sure I'm the last person on Earth to hear this. Just in case I'm not.
- Thunderbolt

This is just the Pens controlling the narrative so that if he's gone its completely Malkin's fault.

The latest by insidepittsburghsports.com states resigning Letang more costly than anticipated which has eaten into what the Pens are willing to offer Malkin...

Elliote Friedman, "Path to a deal for Letang. Pittsburgh willing to bend." "Malkin, not close."

I'm sure I'm the last person on Earth to hear this. Just in case I'm not.
- Thunderbolt

I think things aren’t “close” with Malkin because, as Burke said, they’re trying to hash out Letang. If Letang gets sorted I expect things with Malkin to move quickly.

My worry is that Letang won’t get sorted and Malkin will leave in free agency while we’re waiting on Letang to shop around and get back to us with his take it or leave it number match. I am very in favor of hashing out Letang first, he’s the harder sell. But the closer we get to free agency I think we’re gonna hit a point where we either need to meet Letang more than half way on his demand just to get him done or pivot and get serious about negotiating with Malkin even though Letang remains an unknown

This is just the Pens controlling the narrative so that if he's gone its completely Malkin's fault.
- Feds91Stammer

In the Pens defence, it was Malkin that came out first and said that money wouldn't be an issue and he would take a discount. Problem right now is that we don't know if he was willing to take a discount on what he is currently earning or a discount on what he might perceive his market value to be.

Zucker came out and skated hard in the playoffs and was a real physical presence. That was it. Anyone else does that making 2 million a season and it’s an uproar. Zucker does it making 5 million and everyone loves him. Talk about controlling the narrative. I’d be looking to unload Zuckers money.

This is just the Pens controlling the narrative so that if he's gone its completely Malkin's fault.
- Feds91Stammer

If an agreement can’t be reached it’s no one’s fault. It’s business.

Here's a snapshot of the goalies available. I sorted by SV% and didn't include the top give goalies because most only plays two or three games and only one played five.

CDS is arguably the best back-up available. Yes yes, MAF, but I just don't think he's financially feasible.

Via trade when you look at who's likely available via trade they're probably going to cost more in assets than they should get or their cap is still too much, i.e. Jake Allen.


- Rinosaur

I do not believe CDS can dig deep and win a series if needed. That would be my personal criteria. He has decent numbers for a backup so I might be wrong, but I'm not really arguing that point.

I'm saying CDS hasn't been healthy when they absolutely needed him the most, and after two years of "not being available" at the most critical time there's no chance I would trust him for a third year. Two core surgeries....yikes.

Hextall seems to like him 'cause he's cheap. That's just poor management when it's bitten him in the ass two years in a row.

If going back to DeSmith and Jarry is the best option in net the Pens should just tank this year for Bedard.

I am hoping the reason they are "negotiating" with DeSmith is because they are trying to get him on a 2 way deal.

Jarry needs legit competition as we are setting ourselves up to give him the deal Ottawa gave Murray. Jarry isn't a franchise goalie.

Varlomov would be a good get. Fluery is an obvious ideal fit. The Pens were a decent goalie away from being a contender this year... I just want to go all in or all out.
- MacPatty

As long as Crosby is with the Penguins the team is never going to finish last. They will always be in the fight for a place in series even without Malkin and Letang

Zucker came out and skated hard in the playoffs and was a real physical presence. That was it. Anyone else does that making 2 million a season and it’s an uproar. Zucker does it making 5 million and everyone loves him. Talk about controlling the narrative. I’d be looking to unload Zuckers money.
- Grinder47

The guy everyone has referred to as Sucker for 2 years? Who loves him exactly?

Zucker came out and skated hard in the playoffs and was a real physical presence. That was it. Anyone else does that making 2 million a season and it’s an uproar. Zucker does it making 5 million and everyone loves him. Talk about controlling the narrative. I’d be looking to unload Zuckers money.
- Grinder47

Are you new here?

I do not believe CDS can dig deep and win a series if needed. That would be my personal criteria. He has decent numbers for a backup so I might be wrong, but I'm not really arguing that point.

I'm saying CDS hasn't been healthy when they absolutely needed him the most, and after two years of "not being available" at the most critical time there's no chance I would trust him for a third year. Two core surgeries....yikes.

Hextall seems to like him 'cause he's cheap. That's just poor management when it's bitten him in the ass two years in a row.
- madmike71

While we're seeing teams spend more money on back-ups, I think your criteria is a bit unreasonable. It's not easy to be in a position to have that level of a back-up and at least of the top of my head teams seem to luck into it with a goalie that's in their system. Yeah, there's a few options out there, but we don't know the Pens have the ability to get them. We don't know what Fleury will want. We don't know what MTL would want for someone Allen, etc...

The Pens have limited assets to use in trade and will have to be very selective in how they use them.

Andrew Fillipponi
@ThePoniExpress
Excellent NHL insider
@TheFourthPeriod
says on
@937theFan
that the Penguins have made progress on Kris Letang's contract in last 24 hours. Money will be around $7-8 million per year

Andrew Fillipponi
@ThePoniExpress
Excellent NHL insider
@TheFourthPeriod
says on
@937theFan
that the Penguins have made progress on Kris Letang's contract in last 24 hours. Money will be around $7-8 million per year
- kfinl170

That's not bad. I'm thankful it isn't in the 9 million range. So he may get a modest raise which he deserves

Are you new here?
- Rinosaur

Yes. Do you guys remember Craig Adam’s? What a warrior that guy was.

This is just the Pens controlling the narrative so that if he's gone its completely Malkin's fault.
- Feds91Stammer

Could be Malkin's agent controlling the narrative. Didn't someone already leak he was offered $5M per year. The second half of that leak had Letang being offer the same amount, although every one knew Letang was getting closer to $8M.

Could be Malkin's agent controlling the narrative. Didn't someone already leak he was offered $5M per year. The second half of that leak had Letang being offer the same amount, although every one knew Letang was getting closer to $8M.
- Thunderbolt

That leak wasn't substantiated.

The latest by insidepittsburghsports.com states resigning Letang more costly than anticipated which has eaten into what the Pens are willing to offer Malkin...
- PENS1989

They could always offer to let him go back to Russia and get drafted into the army.

They could always offer to let him go back to Russia and get drafted into the army.
- jmatchett383

Que every team trying to trade the rights to their Russian prospects....

Well if Letang signs that at least helps solidify the defense. Which would allow the possibility of a defenseman or 2 to be shopped.

That leak wasn't substantiated.
- Rinosaur

Are you new here?

They could always offer to let him go back to Russia and get drafted into the army.
- jmatchett383

https://www.usnews.com/ne...ervice-charge-ria-reports

Elliotte Friedman is reporting Hextall willing to go into "uncomfortable" territory to get a deal done with Letang. Also believes a possibility that Malkin also gets resigned closer to the beginning for FA. Also doesn't rule out Fleury coming to Pittsburgh as a Backup.

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-07-03/russian-ice-hockey-player-detained-over-military-service-charge-ria-reports
- Thunderbolt

Are you new here?