Confirmed Signing with Link: [PIT] Penguins re-sign F Evgeni Malkin (4 years, $6.1M AAV)

[Zbynek]

I think the Penguins will make a run at one of Copp or Burakovsky, or possibly even Kadri and move Geno to W. Or they may target a mid tier guy like Vatrano or Marchment.

I also wouldn't rule out putting all their chips in and making a pitch for a guy like JT Miller or someone else via trade if they can't get someone via the UFA route. I'm skeptical they have the assets, but they will try.

I think they will wait to see if they can get one of those top 6 guys before shipping out Zucker or one of Dumo/Pettersson to open up more cap space, And that is the prudent thing to do, rather than ship them out before knowing the cap space is needed.

But yes, another top 6 forward is certainly needed for them to be even better than they were last year.

Not sure how Kadri is possible with just over $4mil in cap space and Kap to sign. Unless we can ship out both Zucker and one of Dumo/Pettersson.

And for the money these guys will command, I'd much rather land a Palat than a Copp/Burakovsky. Palat is the exact top-6 guy we need for the playoffs.

Vatrano and Marchment, and to a lesser degree Lindholm or Kubalik would be fine, but still think they don't address our true need which is impact player in the top-6 who can deliver in the postseason. That screams Palat to me. If Hextall does in fact have deals on the table to shed Pettersson or Zucker, he's my first choice.

Again, I'd be okay with trying them, just feel Vatrano/Marchment/Lindholm/Kubalik would blend into our group of middle-6 tweeners, of which we don't have a shortage of currently, rather than be drivers of impact.

 

[jmelm]

Not sure how Kadri is possible with just over $4mil in cap space and Kap to sign. Unless we can ship out both Zucker and one of Dumo/Pettersson.

And for the money these guys will command, I'd much rather land a Palat than a Copp/Burakovsky. Palat is the exact top-6 guy we need for the playoffs.

Vatrano and Marchment, and to a lesser degree Lindholm or Kubalik would be fine, but still think they don't address our true need which is impact player in the top-6 who can deliver in the postseason. That screams Palat to me. If Hextall does in fact have deals on the table to shed Pettersson or Zucker, he's my first choice.

Again, I'd be okay with trying them, just feel Vatrano/Marchment/Lindholm/Kubalik would blend into to our group of middle-6 tweeners, of which we don't have a shortage of currently, rather than be drivers of impact.

I'm not convinced Kapanen will be signed. He could be traded. McGinn is also another candidate to be moved. Even Bluger could be moved if it was a C coming in like Kadri or JT Miller.

I think Kapanen was their Plan B if they didn't sign anyone else, and either he wants to stay and they have a cheap contract in place that will be announced shortly; or perhaps even more likely, they have a couple of teams interested in Kapanen so that's why they qualified him.

 

[Zbynek]

I'm not convinced Kapanen will be signed. He could be traded. McGinn is also another candidate to be moved. Even Bluger could be moved if it was a C coming in like Kadri or JT Miller.

I hope you're right, but if Hextall indeed has plans to move these guys, the clock is ticking.
I love the Palat route because I think we'd only need to make one move to clear up space to do so.
Kap could be handled after the one key UFA signing.

 

[grentthealien]

As unsexy as it is for neutral fans who want as exciting of a free agency as possible I am still glad to see a deal get done. Crosby and Malkin have been so joined at the hip that it would have been weird to see them finish their careers without each other.

 

[Lomez]

This is a beautiful thing. He's fussy and dramatic, but he was also PPG on one leg last season. Can't even imagine Geno at 39 given his health issues, but it even more difficult to imagine him not in a Pens sweater. Bravo!

 

[jmelm]

I hope you're right, but if Hextall indeed has plans to move these guys, the clock is ticking.
I love the Palat route because I think we'd only need to make one move to clear up space to do so.
Kap could be handled after the one key UFA signing.

The clock isn't ticking at all.

You know that teams are allowed to be 10% over the cap in the summer, right?

So it doesn't make sense to trade quality depth pieces or pay an asset for a cap dump (like a 2nd rounder for Zucker) if the cap space for next year isn't required.

 

[Zbynek]

The clock isn't ticking at all.

You know that teams are allowed to be 10% over the cap in the summer, right?

So it doesn't make sense to trade quality depth pieces or pay an asset for a cap dump (like a 2nd rounder for Zucker) if the cap space for next year isn't required.

I didn't know that.

Hope that means we will indeed be playing today in FA.

Still, like you said Hextall would have to have a deal in place to move a guy for cap before committing to a new contract.

 

[NewtJorden]

Not surprised as i never believed he would hit free agency. Good for him for wanting to spend his career with one team, doesnt happen enough now.

 

[Foppberg]

I would've loved him in Denver, but it's not right to see him anywhere else but Pittsburgh.

 

[mighty Stanley Duck]

Pretty good contract, ok, one year to much for some, but who cares, he deserves that.

 

[ElLeetch]

Holy shit was that ever cheap

 

[Extra Texture]

Pittsburgh has just over 4 mil in cap with Kapanen as the only RFA left to sign with the Pens.

Pittsburgh may also try to resign Rodrigues if he comes cheap.

I really hope the Pens stay away from ERod. Let him make his money somewhere, but not here.

If there’s someone who wants to take Kapanen that would be great. Perpetually in the coach’s doghouse, often unfairly. He was a waste of a first rounder (just like Zucker) but it’s not too late for him to have a career revival. Maybe there is some team who sees the potential still there, and he isn’t completely ruined.

 

[LeafsandSharksfan]

BOOOOOOOO let us have some fun.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Not a joke, you must be a little misinformed. Wait until you see what some of these players go for tomorrow and you will see what Letang and Malkin could have got on the open market.

The cap savings is a work of art

They are old injury prone players now, not players in their primes…

 

[Extra Texture]

Honestly i wouldn't be shocked to see them go after Trocheck anyway so they can try Malkin as a winger.

That would be incredible. But I think that would sap a lot of our remaining cap. I feel like we need to dip into the RFA pool to get some more depth scoring.

But Pettersson AND Zucker can somehow be moved, then all bets are off, and all the chips should be in. Go after Trochek, move 71 to wing, and make the same move with Carter by getting Strome on L3. And see if Max Domi wants a short term deal.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

The tone he takes, I believe he thinks his problems are in the rear view mirror. If he hasn’t realized that he’s got lifetime issues to manage yet, I see major stumbles.

Does Canadian law offer some protection against American creditors? because yeah there’s that too. He owes a lot of dough to a lot of people.

 

[TooManyHumans]

The tone he takes, I believe he thinks his problems are in the rear view mirror. If he hasn’t realized that he’s got lifetime issues to manage yet, I see major stumbles.

Does Canadian law offer some protection against American creditors? because yeah there’s that too. He owes a lot of dough to a lot of people.

Ummm... What are you talking about?

 

[CanadienShark]

All that bluster and then signs for this? Boring.

 

[3ladesof5teel]

They are old injury prone players now, not players in their primes…

Letang just put up his best point season total all time. Please tell me how injury prone he really is.
Geno just came back from a major knee injury and still put up a point per game.

These aren't your regular NHLers

I'll gladly take "old" players that are still producing at high levels and favorable cap hits

 

[Mulletman]

That's a shame. Would've been nice to see if Malkin could've carried his own team...

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Letang just put up his best point season total all time. Please tell me how injury prone he really is.
Geno just came back from a major knee injury and still put up a point per game.

These aren't your regular NHLers

I'll gladly take "old" players that are still producing at high levels and favorable cap hits

Lol, dont worry, all us in the Atlantic are loving these signings by the Pens. Team has been going nowhere for yeara and they are signed on to do the same for the next 4 years

 

[Djp]

He could have gotten close to that for 2-3 yrs on the open market.

 

[Bouboumaster]

f*** Malkin would have looked good in Montreal, especially at this salary

 

[HandshakeLine]

Lol, dont worry, all us in the Atlantic are loving these signings by the Pens. Team has been going nowhere for yeara and they are signed on to do the same for the next 4 years

Lol Crypto.

 

[orby]

Lol, dont worry, all us in the Atlantic are loving these signings by the Pens. Team has been going nowhere for yeara and they are signed on to do the same for the next 4 years

They just reduced Malkin and Letang's combined cap hit by like $4.5 million. This is precisely the kind of move the Pens needed to make to improve the team over the next couple of seasons. And even if it doesn't work out, who cares? They won 3 cups with this core already and will be rebuilding in 3 or 4 years regardless.

Now 87, 71, and 58 will likely all play their entire NHL careers as Penguins, which is a rare distinction in itself.