I was never a huge fan of Ron Cook, but here we go again with all the Malkin trade in the offseason nonsense. Even a thought that it may happen is beyond stupid. I sometimes swear he does this as click-bate. So to save you all from clicking, here is the full article:
There’s a chance the Penguins will beat the New York Islanders in Game 4 Tuesday night at PPG Paints Arena. They could win Game 5 on Long Island Thursday night and Game 6 back here Saturday. They might even climb all the way out of their 0-3 hole and win the darned series. I wouldn’t put anything past a Sidney Crosby-led team. Four teams in NHL history have survived that 0-3 thing. Why not the Penguins?
Sorry, I was dreaming there for a bit.
There are a lot of reasons to think the Islanders will take out the Penguins, the primary one being they are the better team even if they don’t have better top-end talent.
That’s why my advice to you this morning is simple and to the point: Enjoy watching the boys in Game 4. Chances are it will be the final time to see them together on home ice. There’s no way Jim Rutherford keeps this group together if it goes out in the first round a season after being eliminated in the second round by the Washington Capitals. At least one of the stars will be with another team next season. I’m guessing more than one.
Crosby and Jake Guentzel are the only untouchables on the roster.
Matt Murray, Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin, Justin Schultz and Marcus Petterson likely will be back.
But the others?
I won’t be surprised if any are moved.
That includes Evgeni Malkin. I still think the Penguins will keep him, but I’m not convinced that’s the right thing. Malkin turns 33 on July 31. By his admission, he’s coming off a disappointing regular season. He’s still good enough to get a hat trick Tuesday night, but he no longer dominates games the way he once did.
Phil Kessel is the most likely star to be traded. The Penguins have tried to move him after each of the past two seasons but couldn’t swing a deal. They will during this offseason. It’s time to move on.
And Patric Hornqvist? I love his compete level and toughness, but he was relegated to third-line duty for much of the season. I’m thinking the Penguins are paying him $5.3 million a year for more.
Hornqvist’s deal through the 2022-23 season isn’t the only one that no longer looks like a bargain for the Penguins. Malkin is signed through 2022 at $9.5 million per season. Kessel at $6.8 million through 2022, although Toronto is paying $1.2 million per season. Letang at $7.25 million through 2022. Jack Johnson at $3.25 million through 2023; he was a healthy scratch for Game 1 against the Islanders. Nick Bjugstad at $4.1 million through 2021. Bryan Rust at $3.5 million through 2022. Olli Maatta at $4.08 million through 2022; he was a healthy scratch for Games 2 and 3 against the Islanders.
Good luck to Rutherford sorting through that mess and coming up with a way to make the Penguins more of a Stanley Cup threat.
Good luck to Mike Sullivan trying to win with a new group. There is no way his job is in jeopardy — he is a terrific coach — but pressure on him will build if the team gets off to a slow start next season. No sport treats its coaches with less respect than hockey.
No matter what happens against the Islanders, the Penguins have had a terrific run during the Crosby-Malkin era. They have made the playoffs 13 consecutive years, the
longest active streak in the NHL. They have won three Cups, one more than they did during the Lemieux era. They always will be remembered fondly. They always will have a prominent place in Pittsburgh sports history.
Every city should be so lucky to have a hockey club with that extraordinary success.
But, sadly, all good things must come to an end. I hate to think it, but we could be at that point with these Penguins.