Reports suggest the Penguins core is likely to break up this offseason.
- Nothing lasts forever. With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason under new management, there's a very real chance that one or both of Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang will be wearing a different jersey come fall.
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- Early indications are that extension talks have been unproductive with both players.
- Malkin is believed to have been offered a three year deal that would expire at the same time as Sidney Crosby's in 2025. Unfortunately, the two sides are reportedly very far apart in dollars. Never say never, but it looks like Malkin could be leaning towards heading to market. The oft-injured pivot has slowed in recent years but should nonetheless draw plenty of interest.
- Letang's negotiations have also hit a snag, with the same insurmountable term and/or dollar gaps as Malkin. A high end defenseman of Letang's calibre is likely to fetch a big ticket on the market, with Seattle and Montreal among the teams to watch.
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- Malkin is believed to have been offered a three year deal that would expire at the same time as Sidney Crosby's in 2025. Unfortunately, the two sides are reportedly very far apart in dollars. Never say never, but it looks like Malkin could be leaning towards heading to market. The oft-injured pivot has slowed in recent years but should nonetheless draw plenty of interest.
- Letang's negotiations have also hit a snag, with the same insurmountable term and/or dollar gaps as Malkin. A high end defenseman of Letang's calibre is likely to fetch a big ticket on the market, with Seattle and Montreal among the teams to watch.
- There has been a bit more optimism with Bryan Rust, but there may also be a fairly sizeable gap. Rust has openly expressed his desire to cash in after years of being relatively underpaid, be it in Pittsburgh or elsewhere.
- This could all change before free agency opens in July, but the vibe around the team suggests this is indeed the end of an era for the Penguins. The question will be, what does the team want to do with all of that cap space?
- And do they plan on taking another couple of cracks at a Cup with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel (and whoever else sticks around) still at the height of their powers? Plenty of questions left unanswered, but with new management in town expect the organization to be ruthless and unsentimental in their decision making.
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