Source: Penguins haven’t closed door on Paul Martin, may get creative to keep blueliner around with 6 year offer

UNDER 35 CONTRACT: SOURCE: TEAM PONDERING POSSIBILITY OF MAKING SIX YEAR OFFER

34 year old Paul Martin has been expected to move on with a mutual understanding but neither side is ready to close the door on the possibility just yet.

The Penguins have met with Martin’s agent Ben Hankinson twice in Florida this week and while it was anticipated to just be a courtesy meeting, the Penguins and even Martin are changing their tune on a return.

According to a team source, the Penguins have had significant internal discussions about getting creative to resign Martin.

Discussions have centered around a front loaded six year offer that would lessen the cap hit to around the $4.5 million per season or less neighborhood.

Teams, though, can’t front load deals like you could in the past but you still can a bit. Now the year to year variance can’t be greater than 35 percent, while year 1 and the final year of the deal can’t have a difference of more than 50%.

Since Martin is 34 years old, the team would escape the 35+ or over penalty, meaning if Martin retired in let’s say after four seasons, his cap hit and salary would immediately come off the books.

The downfall would be Martin not retiring and playing when he’s 40 years old.

However, It’s a scenario the Penguins are giving a long thought to and mulling the possibility.

The coaching staff has strongly pushed to resign Martin.