Where do the Penguins pivot with Letang Contract wrapped up?

TIOPS HIGHLIGHTS

• Letang, Pens Near Finish Line
• Pens pushed for answer from Malkin Camp
• Pivoting to Rodrigues?
• Van quietly pursuing Marino Again?
• Vet RH D-man eyes Pittsburgh

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Backtrack to late April and Penguins internally were bracing to go 1-for-3 at best in resigning Bryan Rust, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin this off-season.

It’s no surprise the organization is ecstatic right now in being able to work out a new contract for Kris Letang several days before free agency.

As for Letang, the Penguins and Letang plan on putting the finishing touches on a new contract for when the two sides meet in person today in Montreal. An announcement could come as early as Thursday afternoon.

Kris I’m hoping to have done real soon here,” Penguins General Manager Ron Hextall , who is often guarded, said on Wednesday to the media.

As reported here last week, the Penguins deserve a lot of credit with bridging differences beyond money by dealing face to face with Letang. It had a major impact in breakthroughs over the last two weeks with the player as things earlier got personal between the player and team.

The question remains whether it will be a three or four year extension……

Sources say the two sides as of late last week were still discussing couple variations of a deal. A three year extension with an AAV [hide] in the high 8’s, something the Penguins preferred and a four year extension at a lesser AAV number. Executives have contended Letang was always going to push things to get at least that fourth year, although it’s also believed the Penguins in the last 7-10 days went to an uncomfortable number for themselves on a three year offer to give the player something to think about. Who knows, some league executives believe Pittsburgh should just go 5-6 years to lower the cap hit and live with the consequences later on.

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MORE BUZZ

— Now What’s Next for the Penguins?

Tuesday night Hextall and Evgeni Malkin’s agent JP Barry had their most significant discussions face to face as Hextall tried to move the needle but to no avail. There was no breakthrough in talks as the two sides remain as much as $2 million apart. Hextall, according to a source with knowledge of the talks, left the meeting with a feeling that there is not a path [hide] to a deal at this time.

The door remains open but word from both sides is the Penguins made it no secret to Barry that they plan to pivot to others this week to protect themselves and the ball is in Malkin’s court. There’s just no sense the Penguins are going to blink in these talks like they did in the Letang talks.

However, until Malkin signs with another team, you just can’t rule out a return to Pittsburgh due to the history with the team and a strong belief that Malkin will only be interested in a few places as a free agent that will limit his options. As doom and gloom each side see’s things right now, multiple NHL sources still place things at 50-50 because of the reasons mentioned above…..

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— Multiple agents say the Penguins don’t have the stomach to offer significant term to anyone in the free agent class. That said, the team did offer Brock McGinn four years last off-season……….

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— Hearing Evan Rodriguez coming off a 40 point season is eyeing a three year deal from the Penguins. Pittsburgh plans to talk with agent Peter Fish today, a source says.

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— Don’t be surprised to hear some John Marino to Vancouver rumors the next two days. Word is Jim Rutherford was preparing another run at Marino.

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— One pending free agent interested in playing in Pittsburgh due to the presence of Sidney Crosby……

Defenseman PK Subban[/hide]