Latest Pens Rumblings: Stars interested in Letang; Tampa considering big play?; Canucks/Neal

LATEST ON LETANG Penguins GM Ray Shero is saying all the right things in how his focus is on resigning Kris Letang and not trading the 26 year old defenseman. That is true and the Penguins remain hopeful of working something out, but the Penguins have also begun the process of laying the groundwork to see what’s out there, holding preliminary discussions with teams interested in Letang and teams the Penguins see as attractive trade partners. Trade talks have been deemed to just be in the feeling out process to this point from the Penguins end, but could turn serious in the next 24-36 hours if there’s no traction in talks this afternoon between Shero and Kris Letang’s agent Kent

Source: Penguins have 8 year offer on the table to Letang

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made an 8 year offer to Kris Letang in the past 24 hours that team sources say would be third largest contract (in total value) given out during the Ray Shero era. The Penguins are waiting for a counter offer from Letang’s agent Kent Hughes today as the two sides are deep in talks. If there’s no breakthrough in talks in the next 48 hours, are we headed towards a trade on draft day? Many around the league believe so and the Penguins want Letang to think that, sources say, but the Penguins have yet to make Letang available for trade.

Early Chatter on Letang: Penguins to look to keep cap hit from surpassing $6 – $6.25 million range on new deal

With Evgeni Malkin now locked up to a new 8 year extenson, all eyes turn to Kris Letang. Letang, 26, will have the opportunity to become one of the highest paid defensemen in the league, but if he has his sights set on that type of money, it won’t be coming from the Penguins. General Managers around the league are certainly intrigued about Letang possibly becoming available leading up to the draft or later this year, and Penguins GM Ray Shero is already getting calls similar to Jordan Staal last off-season, where teams are making it known that they are interested were Shero to make Letang available. The first step for the Penguins will be gauging Letang’s demands and intentions.

Whether it’s in Pittsburgh or elsewhere, Letang set to become one of the games highest paid defenseman

WHAT IS LETANG’S WORTH ON A NEW DEAL? Kris Letang is not among the 50 highest paid defensemen in the National Hockey League. That is soon going to change. Letang, 26, a Norris Trophy Candidate and currently second in the NHL playoffs in points with 16, has reached the point in his career where he will get to name his own price on a new deal like Ryan Suter last summer. That’s how highly regarded Letang is around the league as GM’s will be chomping at the bit to sign Letang were he decide not to re-up with the Penguins between now and next summer. Letang is an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2014, and the Penguins are eligible

Penguins Rumors: Kris Letang, Jack Johnson

PENGUINS RUMORS Star defenseman Kris Letang is an “untouchable” going into the April 3rd trade deadline and he is going nowhere, but Letang’s situation gets interesting this summer when the Penguins plan to open up preliminary trade talks on a new mega deal. The question is what type of value you put on Letang? The view around the league is that Letang is widely regarded as a $7 to $8 million a season player. Letang is currently making $3.5 million. While I was driving into the office this morning, I caught some of Darren Dreger’s interview on The Fan Morning Show and he was raving about Letang putting him in the same category as Erik Karlsson. Dreger claimed Letang doesn’t “get

Senators – Penguins Post Game Reactions & Analysis on Special Teams & Cooke fallout

SENATORS – PENGUINS ANALYSIS Paul Martin running the power play continues to be a huge difference for the Penguins who have scored a power play goal in six straight games. Martin has become a calming presence and the Penguins puck movement from the triangle on the sides and into the slot to break down the penalty kill has been the difference in the past handful of games with Martin running the point. “{Paul’s} poised back there, finds open man,” Sidney Crosby said. He keeps it pretty simple.” James Neal’s power play goal at 13:47 of the second period from 32 ft out was text book Neal who found open space in slot and beat Anderson with time and space. Given

Game Day Buzz: Need for left handed defenseman gives Despres advantage to stay in lineup

GAME DAY BUZZ OTTAWA SENATORS (7-4-2, 16 PTS) @ PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (8-5-0, 16 PTS) The emergence of Robert Bortuzzo isn’t going to push Simon Despres out of the lineup for when Kris Letang and Matt Niskanen return to the lineup, which could happen for both tonight vs the Ottawa Senators. Letang and Niskanen who seemed to be under orders not to say whether they will be in the lineup tonight, both indicated after the morning skate that they are a “coaches decision”. “Felt pretty good,” Letang said. “Ready to go”. Expectations are Letang will be in the lineup tonight and Niskanen sounded a lot more optimistic about playing tonight than he seemed after yesterday’s practice, saying today was a “really

Post-Practice Buzz: Letang could return vs Senators; Niskanen more of a longshot?

POST-PRACTICE BUZZ Kris Letang who has missed the last three games due to a groin injury, was a full participant in Tuesday’s practice at the Consol Energy Center. Letang skated as the 4th pairing with Matt Niskanen and also saw time on the second power play unit. If his injury responds well after today’s full skate, the chances are good of Letang returning to the lineup tomorrow night against the Ottawa Senators at home, but no decision on Letang is going to be made until after the morning skate. “We’ll talk right now and tomorrow morning after morning skate,” Letang said of speaking with his doctors on whether he might play tomorrow. Head coach Dan Bylsma was pleased with how