Is this really, really it for Evgeni Malkin?
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27 Comments
Not that it's ever one thing, but do the lines suffer too much from shuffling players instead of a plug and play substitution? The 2nd line always seems to get cannibalized. I don't want to make it sound like the 3rd and 4th lines are waiting for someone to get hurt. That's why we have Wilks-barre.
This version of Malkin has been here for YEARS. Lazy. F’ng L A Z Y. He was one of my favorites years ago, but this decline has been going on for a long time.
No you don't trade Guentzel for picks. Not in the end anyway. Any team interested in him is going to get you late first round (read: unimportant, especially to Crosby's remaining years). You need to get something real and tangible back who can play with the team soon, so that will require a 3-way trade of some sort. I'd trade him to Edmonton, a team a lot of people are saying would be the top candidate for him, but any actual players they get back would just be salary dumps to fit Jake under their cap. What you also get from them is their 1st and next season's 2nd. Then you take that first from them and your 2nd this season, along with a prospect like Pickering or Poulin, and trade all that to the Ducks for Cutter Gauthier, a player who can be your next 2nd line or future top line center that can also be legit enough to start while Crosby is still playing meaningful hockey. That's how you keep the ball rolling instead of tanking without trading stars for high risk future picks. That's how you improve your aging center depth while current the centers are still under unmovable contracts.
If I told anyone here right after last season ended that the Penguins in 2024 would have some of the best goaltending in the league, one of the better teams defensively, have Erik Karlsson on the team and on the No. 1 PP unit, and Crosby would be on a 50 goal pace come mid-February, would anyone believe me if I also told them they'd be 9 points out of the playoffs 4 days before the trade deadline? I bet not a one of you (and this is my putting words in your mouth, assumption, Dejan style) would not suggest upon hearing that if true, that's it's probably time for Sullivan to go. Well, it's true. It's not because he's lost the team and they don't listen, it's actually to the contrary. He's dictating a system that they're not qualified to play any longer, and they do it willingly because they like like to play that way and don't know any different (the core anyway), and also don't realize it's not 2016 anymore.
Long time fan of the show, thank you for all you do DK!
I’d like to see Guentzel to the Rangers for Lindgren and Rempe. Get us some grit and players that hit!
Geno is a 3rd line level center at this point. The eye test doesn't lie anymore. Problem is he's not a 3rd line center type. That's what Eller was brought in to be. What's that mean for next season? It means they're screwed. But hey, bring Jake back anyway so the top line can again carry they team into a disappointing non-playoff season. As long as Sid's happy at this point.
Couldn't disagree more with the Jake take. This team is cooked even if Sid is still playing at an elite level. Jake can bring in some desperately needed young talent. That's what's needed now. There's no chance Sid is making the playoffs again in his career.
Geno can't be back next season – on any line.
This loyalty to players is stopping us from winning in the nfl and nhl. Now I know Gino will never be traded but even the Great One was traded. We'd still survive if gino left. We'd get over it. Loyalty should not be at the expense of winning. If another player was performing like gino… They'd be up for trading. Sid is the only untouchable player on the team.
Matt Rempe as part of a trade package for Jake, he brings toughness and pride something the Pens lack .
I agree… Trading Jake your top goal scorer makes no sense. Even if you got a good return there's no guarantee that player would fit in. Also this attitude that you have to keep the core together to win a 4th ring? Why why? It's not like they have never won before. Most players have no rings. Sure it'd be nice for Sid to get another but to let the team suffer to get 4 is not in the interest of the Team. I'd keep Sid but Gino and Kris should not be untouchable imo.
Been saying this for awhile now about Geno. The wheels have come off him. Problem is he’s to proud to retire and nobody would want him in a trade. Also no way Dubas trades anyone he brought in with term. He’s clearly as stubborn as Sullivan. Furthermore if you’re going to trade for prospects that might be nhl ready, then probably best to let Sullivan be involved because we all know he won’t play young guys he doesn’t like. This team is saddled with bad contracts and it’s going to be awhile before they can do anything.
Friendly reminder that Malkin's contract is a 35+ contract, same as Jeff Carter's contract. So even if he retires this offseason, he will still count $6.1M against the cap for the next two seasons through 2026.
Does Guentzel even want to re-sign with the Pens? I mean why would he? They are already a non-playoff team. He has a chance to go to a contender AND get paid, so why would he sign long-term to play for a lottery team? And you can't lose him for nothing, so the logical thing to do is trade him for the best package possible.
The question on Jake is what does he want. If he wants 8 years $80 million do you sign that contract?
Geno has been dead weight for three years. Time to freshen up and bring youth to the team
I think the only reason why some people think Peddersson is great is because he's on a team w. a lousy D in spite of what the metrics might indicate…Just take what happened last night as one of many examples. Dubus has essentially already blown up the team with his acquisitions and any further acquisitions by him is just going to unravel things even more. I think the Pens only needed a couple changes by him going in and we could have perhaps done well in the playoffs..Instead he has made the totally wrong acquisitions and this is where we are..First time in many years this team seems hopeless to me. Goal tending has been great, there is plenty of offensive skill…but look at where we are here???
Ok? Just continue the same "main" pieces that haven't gotten passed the first round in many years
Put Geno on Sids wing and Trade Guentzel for a pretty penny.
Malkin did take some maintenance days a month ago. Think he has an injury but he definitely has slowed down. Your eulogy for him seems a bit premature however, doesn’t it?
Trade 71 he always miss handling the puck take stupid penalties gets frustrated most of the time if the Penguins wanted to do some big changes this is what you do
Old and tired blow it all up. I have not seen a full game be played by this team all year!
When is Letang going to be called out for his bad play.
Get rid of everybody. Jake, Rakell, Smith, Jarry, Ned, and literally anybody of interest to another team that could fetch a sizeable return. Bring up anybody and everybody from the minors and see what they can do for the fun of it. Put Pusty and DOC on a line with Sid, and scap everybody else. Put them in a blender and let it work itself out for the worse. It won't be competitive but atleast it will be humorously entertaining.
All of this makes me sad. I remember Mario retiring the 1st time, then for good Sids rookie year. Jagr being traded. And now…….😢
Rutherford wanted to trade Malkin i bet anything.
Wouldn't Trochek over geno seem really nice right now