Penguins/NHL
LATEST PENS BUZZ
On Day 1 of free agency, Penguins GM Ron Hextall stated the team would likely start looking at extensions for Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang again, while also naming Bryan Rust
August has passed without extensions for any of three.
As for the Malkin and Letang talks, the sense in the organization continues to be that those situations will eventually sort themselves out with both players remaining Penguins’ past the 2021-2022 season.
Rust, though, continues to be more of a wildcard on where things eventually go this season. The 29 year old has evolved into one of the Penguins best two-way forwards, a major vocal leader in the room and has huge support in the organization from power brokers like of Sidney Crosby and head coach Mike Sullivan. While some of the fan base might try to say Rust rides the coattails of Sidney Crosby, that’s laughable to coaches and executives around the league who view Rust clearly as a $5+ million a year player that can easily command around six years in free agency. He’ll have a sizeable market if he hits free agency and the Penguins top line right winger is expected to garner consideration for TEAM USA in the 2022 Olympics.
One executive tells me Rust has the chance to be next year’s Zach Hyman on the free agent market. That’s how highly thought of he is outside of Pittsburgh.
To many around the league, the Penguins extending Rust should be an easy call this summer and should have happened by now. The Penguins, though, are slow playing contract talks to this point and it’s had some teams check in at various points this summer, namely the To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
As of last week, Hextall and Rust’ [hide] agent are said to have had just one quick conversation since Hextall’s public comments late July and the conversation between the two didn’t get into any detail at all of what either side might be thinking at this point or when talks may begin.
The vibe in team circles is not to read much into the Penguins showing little urgency in initiating serious talks to this point, but some around the league are not 100% certain the new regime is as emphatic to sign Rust to a 5-6 year contract in the $30+ million range like Jim Rutherford surely would have been if he remained in the GM chair or that Rust figures to command as a free agent.
Most sense Pittsburgh will be more in the Kyle Palmieri 4×5 range but time will tell where the Penguins eventually come in at. Hextall & Co are more likely than not going to give it a shot at extending Rust, it’s just been a slower process than some expected from Pittsburgh’s end in starting talks.
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MORE BUZZ
— Hearing Kris Letang believes he has a good four to five years left in him and his agent To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!— The Penguins have never operated this summer with the doom and gloom surrounding Evgeni Malkin’s injury that some in media or as one Penguins source said, To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
— Pittsburgh considered one goaltending move this summer prior to free agency in late July, signing To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
Montreal has no problem making a trade….???? Although a 1st and a second maybe a bit much for Dvorak. Granted he is only 25 but has yet to score 20 goals and 40 points. Maybe a change of scenery makes it work. The Penguins are set with 36 year old Brian freaking Burke…
Carolina forced Montreal into that trade and Montreal over paid but so did Carolina.
Ageed..what do you think of Adam Henrique for Jason Zucker?
Honestly, a good move that could work and is very possible because both players have been rumored heavily to be moved. To Pittsburgh– Center Adam Henrique 31, 3 more years @SID4800 $ 5.8 To Anaheim – Winger Jason Zucker 29, 2 more years @SID4800 $5.5 (Anaheim has $12.3 million in cap space to absorb some salary retention on Henrique if needed) The Penguins get a third line center in Adam Henrique who is playoff tested, good on face offs, can score 15 to 20 goals, and is a responsible two way player. Anaheim gets a speedy 6 time 20 goal… Read more »
How do you choose Brian Boyle 36, out of hockey for a year over Ryan Donato, 25 still in his prime…..????
Boyle is bigger but Donato isn’t a Jake Guentzel type he has some grit and he is 25….
What is Hextall doing ? Brian Boyle is big, but he is 36, hasn’t played in a year, and offers very little. Bartkowski used to be decent when he ws with the Bruins but he has been up and down to the minors the last few years…and he is 33. Freidman is 25 and a internal option.
I just don’t get all these moves outside of McGinn……
It’s a PTO… relax.
Yeah then why bother….. Now an article from a Pittsburgh paper says Hextall is interested in another 36 year old player Travis Zajack.. We have Carter 36, Malkin 35 (who plays like 95) Boyle on a PTO 36, and now interest in Zajack also 36….Hell lets sign Carramrod 143 to a PTO.. LOL
Boyle and Bartkowski signed to PTOs. Woooo!!!!
Where is that stumble fu****k Roehthy…
Another idea is to finish out the season with both of them, and if they chose to walk, let them. You will have almost $17 million in cap space and will have a clean slate to work with. No players coming back to eat up salary cap.
If they are that far out of a playoff spot, trade them for draft picks and AHL players. I would not take any roster players back.
That is what I said last year (totally agree ) with you. Play out this year and see what happens if they walk they walk. I think letang will stay and Malkin will walk. Although Malkin’s wife wants him to be the star elsewhere. She also said he doesn’t want to leave Pittsburgh. Geno has had it good because Sid shields him, does all the press, and takes a lot of the responsibility. Malkin is just free to play and for some reason after how many years in America can barely speak English. LOL $ 17 million is a lot… Read more »
Seriously that strategy you will find out who really wants to stay….
Pens sign Louis Domingue to a one yr, two way contract. $750,000 at the NHL level.
Seriously…. Why ?
I would offer Letang and Malkin one or two yr deals laced with bonuses. They don’t like it, see ya.
Yep I like that idea…incentives laden.
Malkin might push harder if that is the deal…
If Jarry is in net none of this matters.
I must agree with you again..
Tristan had the shaky start, then rebounded and had a decent regular season, then boom massive failure playoffs.
The Penguins do have Lindberg a goalie that they signed from UMASS maybe by mid season he can work his way to at least a back-up.
This kid can play…..
Please trade Letang. If he thinks that, the Pens should absolutely not sign him to that many years and they won’t be able to pay him market value. Get him the **** off the roster and get some futures.
Agreed….Don’t think that will happen but we can hope. If Letang would take 3 years at $ 5million or $ 6 million tops ok. If we had to lose one I would rather lose Malkin and that $ 9.5 million price tag……
I sure hope that Hextall and Burke will at least make some moves that will at help…… They have been asleep all off season.
There are still a couple of guys out there that can be useful. Ryan Donato, 25, could help us at third line center until the Russian comes back. Anyone know when that is> December ? Maybe they can put him on LTR until Xmas ?
Of course the Islanders signed 8 million more players the last couple days ..Palmeri, Parise Czikas, Jesus, John Cena…How do they afford them all? LOL
They had the $$ and now they up against the cap. They have no wiggle room now.
Any move (as you said up against the cap) would have to be a hockey trade……dollar for dollar/player for player.
Islanders are $ 4 million over….
We can put Malkin on LTR until Christmas which would help…
Going more than three years length on either Letang or Malkin is mistake,
Both should get 3 years @SID4800 $6 million..
If they can’t take a hometown discount…see ya !!
Don’t let the door hot ya on the way out.
ooopppss hit sorry…