[Signing] Penguins, Evgeni Malkin agree to 8-year, $76-million extension

[blankall]

Originally Posted by moon

Luongo doesn't have close to the same issues in the play-offs that Fleury does. Two years ago he had two shutouts in the finals and a .914 sv % in the play-offs. If the Canucks could score he has a Cup ring that series.

His 4 games the past 2 years haven't been close to the disaster that Fleury's have.

And Fleury doesn't have close to the disaster of a contract that Luongo has. Fleury has 2 more years on his contract....Luongo has much much more. The issue with Luongo isn't his play now or in the past, it's the upcomming 8 years on his contract. Even now, he looks slower and less agile than he was 3 years ago.

Back on topic, the Pens don't need a goalie. They still have Vokuon for one more year. The Vokuon/Fleury combo is solid. Even if Fleury falls flat, they have Vokuon who is a starter on most teams. And the issue for Pitts against Boston, like the issue for Vancouver against Boston/LA, was not defence or goalies. It was offence. Boston is a team that almost got bounced by the TML, but when they get rolling they have the ability to stiffle every offence in the NHL.

As for Iginla....if the option is leaving space to sign Iginla or making Malkin happy...is that really an option? Iginla was good but not great. He's clearly taken a step back and is a complimentary piece to Malkin/Crosby now. Some team will pay Iginla 5 mil per year on a multi year deal. The Pens, however, can pick up a complimentary winger for 3.5 mil per season on a 1-2 year deal. Unless Iginla is willing to take a heavy discount, it's not a good fit.

Iginla put up some good points in Pitts, but so did Jussi Jokinen.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

He did. He made some pretty definitive statements that there's nowhere else he can get 40 wins a year, and that Fleury is their franchise goalie.

For better or worse, Shero is keeping the core together.

He's obviously going to keep Fleury for one more year with Vokuon on contract for 2 mil. Fleury will be bought out or traded next season if his play does not return to form.

[Nsd1]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

How can Pittsburgh even sign Malkin to this extension until July 1/5?

It won't be official until July 5th. They announced crosbys extension around the same time last year too. With how the media works these days, they would never be able to keep it quiet until the fifth.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Nsd1

It won't be official until July 5th. They announced crosbys extension around the same time last year too. With how the media works these days, they would never be able to keep it quiet until the fifth.

So, announcing that they have signed Malkin to an extension is completely and utterly false then.

If they had, they would be in big trouble with the league.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

So, announcing that they have signed Malkin to an extension is completely and utterly false then.

If they had, they would be in big trouble with the league.

Why would the Pens be in trouble? As long as he does not sign on the dotted line before July 5th they can say what they want.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Why would the Pens be in trouble? As long as he does not sign on the dotted line before July 5th they can say what they want.

Sure they can say what they want, but if they are saying that they signed him to an extension than they are wrong.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Have you all checked out their capgeek page? Really interesting, as they really just have Crosby/Malkin/Neal/Martin(!?) locked in for next year. Hard to argue wanting that core, but only 30 or so million to field the rest of the team. It will be interesting to see how they handle it. With their core of up and coming defencemen, I think they will still be very solid, if they manage to get Dupuis and Kunitz at reasonable numbers.

[Stay Golden]

Malkin is pretty much the 2nd best player in the NHL but the Pens are scoffing at the sal cap with it going down to 64m.

I hope there are a few roster players that are unwilling to take discounts for the Pens management then it will be interesting to see where the Pens will trim the roster and how different the full roster will be filled in.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Malkin is pretty much the 2nd best player in the NHL but the Pens are scoffing at the sal cap with it going down to 64m.

I hope there are a few roster players that are unwilling to take discounts for the Pens management then it will be interesting to see where the Pens will trim the roster and how different the full roster will be filled in.

The cap is only going down to $64million for next year. Considering after the lockout, that was suppose to cause dammage, attendance figures rose and TV viewership rose as well. The lockout did nothing other than have a $64 million cap for one year.

Also Malkins new contract does not kick in until 2014-2015 season.

[Jebus]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

Have you all checked out their capgeek page? Really interesting, as they really just have Crosby/Malkin/Neal/Martin(!?) locked in for next year. Hard to argue wanting that core, but only 30 or so million to field the rest of the team. It will be interesting to see how they handle it. With their core of up and coming defencemen, I think they will still be very solid, if they manage to get Dupuis and Kunitz at reasonable numbers.

I assume you mean for the 2014 season? Because they have 18 players under contract for next year.

If you do mean 2014, you missed Bennet and Fleury under current contracts. Also, I would assume Kennedy and Jeffrey get at least two year deals, so you can add them. And Sutter and Depres will be RFA's, so they would have the rights to each player, likely signed and playing in PIT.

So while they will still have work to do to fill out the roster, they would really have ten of the current players under contract.
And that's withoug speculating an extension to Letang, Kunitz, etc.

Then Penguins are going to be good for a long, long time.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by mdubz

How is Luongo a "much better" goalie than Fleury? They both have the same playoff issues, but Fleury is younger and normally better in the regular season.

One time I may have agreed with you, but now....Fleury is terrible. Hot garbage.

Luongo's gaffs in the playoffs play like a highlight reel compared to Fleury's.

Contractually Pittsburgh are better with Fleury because it expires sooner and Luongo, while better now, certainly isnt going to be around to see his contract out, or if he is he wont be a starter.

But yeah...right now Luongo >> Fleury.

[Northendzone]

I am guessing if the team is out for dinner, that Sid and geno split the tab

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

I am guessing if the team is out for dinner, that Sid and geno split the tab

Malkin points at his chest, says, "Two years, Super League," and walks away from the table.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by TurdFerguson

So the 2nd best player in the world is t going to be traded? Shocking.

No, Datsyuk is safe.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Jebus

I assume you mean for the 2014 season? Because they have 18 players under contract for next year.

If you do mean 2014, you missed Bennet and Fleury under current contracts. Also, I would assume Kennedy and Jeffrey get at least two year deals, so you can add them. And Sutter and Depres will be RFA's, so they would have the rights to each player, likely signed and playing in PIT.

So while they will still have work to do to fill out the roster, they would really have ten of the current players under contract.
And that's withoug speculating an extension to Letang, Kunitz, etc.

Then Penguins are going to be good for a long, long time.

14-15 season. I did miss Fleury at the bottom of the page, but I wasn't counting RFA/UFAs just to show how much movement is possible. Speculation on those guys just shows how tight it will be for Pittsburgh. I agree they still have great building blocks, but they will have tough decisions on Letang, Kunitz, etc.

[bluloc]

In todays NHL theses huge contracts seriously will handicap teams. Yes Malkin is one of the best but with cap going down and the amount of talent in the NHL today it makes it tough to fill out a roster spot with out leaving any holes.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by bluloc

In todays NHL theses huge contracts seriously will handicap teams. Yes Malkin is one of the best but with cap going down and the amount of talent in the NHL today it makes it tough to fill out a roster spot with out leaving any holes.

The cap is going down for one year.

Malkin's contract kicks in the following year.

Based on TV ratings and other anecdotal evidence, I think it's a fair bet that the cap will be higher in the 2014/15 season than it is now (possibly by quite a bit).

Whether Malkin is worth that contract is another matter, but I don't think it's accurate to think that the cap will be lower when this contract takes effect.

[Kaine]

Good. Means the paper thin D and laughably bad goaltending will likely be around for years to come. Here's to many more embarrassing playoff exits to one of my most hated* teams!

*My opinion, before the trolls come lurking.

[GGG]

If you map out 64 million in cap space you have 6 mil on goalies. 3 million on the fourth line plus 2 spares and 4 million on your bottom 3 defensemen. Total 13 million.

That leaves 51 million for nine fowards and 4 defensemen. 18 million for Crosby and Malkin and 6 for a top defensemen leaves 27 million for 10 players. Lots of cash to spend.

The key for them is to remember who dupuis and kunitz actually are. They are completely replacable. Kunitz shouldnt get a raise, maybe even a cut. Dupuis maybe should get 2 million.

If you look at Vancouver who ever you put between the Sedins has success. Then Vancouver paid burrows based on the stas the sedins gave him on a terrible deal. The guys playing on Crosby's wing should be paid based on pre Crosby numbers not the numbers they put up with Crosby.

[HitterD]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Malkin points at his chest, says, "Two years, Super League," and walks away from the table.

Funny you bring that quote out the same day I decided to rewatch that season of 24/7. Otherwise I would have had no clue what you were talking about. Hilarious