Pittsburgh PenguinsLatest Pens Buzz
The Penguins signing Jeff Carter to an extension Wednesday should not have surprised anyone. Despite Carter’s age, GM Ron Hextall since the summer has viewed Carter as a big part of this core, on and off the ice.
Hextall has a close relationship with Carter’s agent Rich Curran and the two sides broached the possibility back in the summer as the Penguins have firmly believed since last season that Carter had impact years left in him.
Carter, 37, has 12 goals and 14 points in 36.
Is paying Carter top-9 money through age 39 going to be a great investment after this season?
Most likely not.
But, Carter was the easiest piece of business to deal with first for the Penguins brass as the organization’s thinking on how to build around this group has shifted over the last month.
On the job for about a year now, 6-9 months ago, most in the Hextall/Burke inner circle believed the summer of 2022 was going to be more about the need for a re-tool than lets keep this thing going which is what the Hextall/Burke regime has decided on.
They believe the window is still open to compete for a Stanley Cup for the next 2-3 years with the level Sidney Crosby is playing at and the coach/structure of the team that’s in place.
But, are they 100% on board that keeping the gang completely together is the right move moving forward after being on the fence about it for several months?
Time will tell, but a Jeff Carter decision is a lot different than the financial commitment it will take to resign Kris Letang, Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin.
However, one thing that hasn’t changed is Hextall/Burke are not going to rip everything up of wanting to build the prospect base and draft capital up for a playoff run.
The thinking continues to be drastically different than what it would be under Jim Rutherford who was always wired to do what you have to do to win another Stanley Cup, regardless of the negative impact it will have on the future.
Despite the Penguins looking everything of a Cup contender, Hextall/Burke continue to preach internally that the right move is remaining cautious and smart on building around Sidney Crosby’s final elite couple seasons.
With a bottom-5 prospect system, the belief in the organization continues to be that with the new ownership in place that is more willing to dip their pockets into the signing bonus game, the best route To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
If the pace continues this will be the 4th straight game where all the offence is coming from the top 6 names.
The Caps are tied and not one top 6 forward has a goal. Long season, lots of games but if we are curious why the Ws have disappeared, the lack of contributions from the bottom six are why.
One or 2 goals from that group in the past 4 games and we would have at least 1 more, likely 2 more wins. Let’s see how this one plays out
They can’t move Kapanen fast enough…
Dude bobbles it basically untouched and they spend the rest of the game in their own end.
He is high on the list of bottom six guys that have gone dry.
Agreed 100 % Zero..
Kapanen 25 $ 3.2 million to Columbus for Jack Roslovic 24 $2.5 million (actual cap hit $1.85 million)
Change of scenery for both players and Jack Roslovic extremely talented and has some grit to his game…
ZeroTool suckss
So does his Idol Justin
What a joke that cuntt has been to Canada and the rest of the world
ZeroTool came in his pants Sheary has an assist
It’s funny how every time he plays against the Pens he’s on the scoresheet hey
Yea eh just to make you happy then is a ghost for the rest of the games
Washington is Pittsburgh east/south
Sprong Sheary Schultz Hagelin Orpik at one time
No Caps ever go to Pittsburgh except I think Eric Fehr…LOL
Letang will fit right in with the Habs with plays like that…
Geno bails him out nicely
What a play at the blueline to keep that alive!
Sheary haunting the old squad again.
Letang has had a solid season this year but he wants at least $ 8 million per year on a 4 year deal. He wants to stay near the Makar’s the Hedman’s and the Jossi’s of the world. Good Luck
I think Kapanen will be moved for a another player. He is young, skilled, but too inconsistent for Sullivan. He is in the doghouse a lot and I hope will benefit from a change of scenery. I would trade him straight up for center Jack Roslovic ,also 24, on the Columbus Blue Jackets. We need a third line center with Blueger out longer term and Carter can stay on Malkin’s wing. Roslovic is at $2.5 but only $1.885 actual cap hit.. Kapanen makes $ 3.2 million. This move saves us a little over a million and I think both players… Read more »
Nope.
Feels like a wash move based on how they both look. Granted Kapanen can’t get much less interested most games.
Yeah, but I do think at least Roslovic plays harder and is more engaged. Maybe being in a championship locker room with players like Crosby, Malkin, Rust, Guentzel it makes him better,
Penguins are a tired group 8 games in 11 days and Washington tomorrow makes 9 in 12 days..the break will help.
Are those guys really out in Free Agency as needle movers to keep this club where it wants to be? I am skeptical and if there are, wouldnt other teams be in the mix for the same ones driving up the cost? Best avenue would be an off-season move of somekind.
Yes, all three are available. Motte is the physical, grinder, responsible 3rd center we need. Then Carter can play wing with Malkin.
Jack Roslovic is available, and Rutherford went hard after the 24-year-old when he was dealt from Winnipeg to Columbus…this kid is fast, skilled and will fit our system. Crouse is available but many teams are in on him…maybe too costly.
Kapanen to Columbus for Roslovic to Pittsburgh exchange of 24year old’s…. both are UFA’s
RFAs… big difference.
Who is a RFA?
Sam….My bad you are correct Roslovic is an RFA !! Still a good young player..
Max Domi $5.3 Jason Zucker $5.5 nice swap. Zucker has one year left (they have the cap space) and he can give them some more skill in middle six / line up. Max Domi is talented and maybe being in a Penguins uniform spurs him on ala Jeff Carter ???
Finally, a new article it has been since November….I hate to say it missed you slugs…LOL Malkin says he is a rich man he would accept less we will see. And Letang wants a raise said he can play to 40 ??? I would go Letang 4 years @SID9701 $6 million & Malkin 3 years @SID9701 $7 million and see how that goes in the off season. Sid looks terrific and is getting stronger 37 points 31 games.!! We need a third pairing defenseman who ever that may be because Rudwhedel is awful the last 5 games. We need a… Read more »
Malkin’s not coming back. Neither is Biden.
What about npl and his hot dog cart
I used to think it would be Malkin of the two that won’t come back now I think it might be Letang given he wants a raise and wants to play to 40….
Tough call, Letang is playing, arguably, his best hockey of his career. They could look at a retirement extension where the amount really trails off in the later years.
He will sign at 34 too so it won’t be one of those leaving them on the hook. Malkin sounds like he’s good to take a pay cut so he probably stays. Not sure how I’d feel about a deal for Letang more than 2-3 years and if he’s demanding more, could be hard to keep.
I wonder if Trudeau took zeroTool with him to his secret hiding place.
After all he needs someone to change his socks
Sleepy Joe vows to fix crumbling infrastructure at scene of bridge collapse in Pittsburgh.
move the russian and letang. sick of seeing those two. bring in new blood i’m begging
Root for another team. You’ll get a bunch of “new blood”. I’d rather have Hall of Famers.
Guess apologies to DeSmith may be in order? Win or lose this one… can’t blame him. In fact he’s a big reason why this is OT.
True Zero but it is only one game. Sullivan has said it is a confidence thing with DeSmith that’s not good.
Build around Crosby? Wow
He’s clearly been off too long. The team either moves on altogether or does what it takes to remain as competitive as possible for the next 3-4 years taking advantage of whatever Sid has left. I don’t know where I stand on this… everyone is older… I don’t know what can be added on the UFA market to help. Letang has been Norris caliber playing some of his best hockey the last couple years… Either give the big names retirement deals with low back end money to save on the cap. You can throw another couple million at Rust and… Read more »
D is back from his annual vacation
I dont know who all are FAs after this season from other teams but i doubt there are many better than Rust Malkin and Letang
I’d love to keep Rust, but I wonder what he would get on the open market. Blake Coleman just got a 6 year 30m contract last off-season. I guess it will depend in large part on how he finishes this season. I’m hoping they can keep 71 and 58 for slightly less than they’re making now. You’d have to think they’d move a mid-tier contract like Petts or Zuck in order to facilitate whatever they’re going to do.