Pens sign defenseman Kris Letang to four year extension

I think all signals may be pointing that way.

Hopefully soon the numbers will leak on how much Letang’s deal is. If it’s at or around $3 million I’ll be estatic.

Yeah, almost surely, unless Gonch decides to take a $3M pay cut. Or bigger.

As I updated, Letang’s raise is $2.665 million, if Leopold can/wants to come back for around $2.3 million, that will effectively replace Gonchar’s cap hit.

That’d put your top 4 defensemen next season as:

Orpik-Letang
Goligoski-Leopold

Then you’d have Mark Eaton (or his $2 million) to sign someone and maybe give Lovejoy a shot as the 6th guy?

Next year’s D corps seems to be rounding into shape, and it’s hard to see Gonchar in it.

I think it is up to Gonch to decide what is important to him at this point in his career. Take a lot less money than you may be worth to stay with a team that is likely to be a Cup contender for the rest of your career, or go elsewhere and get the dollars that you have earned? Honestly, I don’t judge the guy either way. It’s easy for me to say he should stay, a few million bills a year is worth trading for a chance to go out as a key guy on a team that won multiple titles. He obviously has to do the right thing for himself and his family, but as so many have said here, it doesn’t seem possible that he’ll be a Penguin at the price he probably wants.

I knew that was coming.

Fourth among team defensemen in GVT as well.

Malkin and Orpik’s contracts don’t end until 2015.

Crosby, Staal and Letang expire 2014.

If anything, I can’t wait until 2013 — Crosby’s next deal will doubtlessly be a long-term less money value deal that will free up cap space.

Where do they say that?

Bob McKenzie reported that it’s an average of $3.5 million a season, and his word is almost always Gospel on these type of things. We’ll amend if something else comes out, but for now I’d say it’s right

Get rid of gogo? We all know this is his first full year in the NHL right? He’ll come around just have to give him some time.

I agree that Tanger should be on the PP not just because of talent, but so that the Pens can have a one timer option on the left point.

I agree that he is no longer a top 4 defenseman (maybe never was a top 4 for that matter), but if they can sign him for under 2 million I have no issues with him being a 5th, 6th, or 7th defenseman on this team.

The Pens have some defenseman in the system (Strait, Sneep, Despres, and Englland) but none are ready for the majors just yet.

So let me see if I get this strait. Because he doesn’t have a lot of hits he can’t play defense? Right…Perhaps it is you who doesn’t know what you are talking about. Defensive responsibility is about positioning, not about how many hits you have. He plays solid D game in and game out. And by that I mean that more often than not he puts himself between the puck and net. He doesn’t chase forwards around the back of the cage. He doesn’t pinch too far into the offensive zone and get caught. He rarely carelessly leaves his position to make a hit or grab a puck thereby leaving an opening for the offense. He makes good decisions with the puck. He plays textbook defense and plays it well. He wont show up on the highlight reels with a big hit or a goal but he will play effective defense all night long.

doesn’t accumulate many hits.

And Orpik takes more penalties, too.

can’t we all just get along? we’re all pens fans here.

there is no player on this team out of position than ME

Except for Gogo and Letang and probably Gonch too. I agree that he is hesitant to make a hit. But if he is a minus more times than not why is he a plus four. The only defenseman signifigantly better than him in that category is Orpik. But hey why let facts get in the way of your argument when you can use insults to show us all how smart you are. If you are so right back it up with more than the lame comments about IQ and not knowing what we are talking about.

BTW I don’t take part in the game threads. I’m, you know, watching the games.

Hey, let’s avoid the personal insults. We’re all about vigorous debate, but no need to get like that.

For those of us who don’t have cable and can’t watch the games, or prefer listening to Mike Lange and the radio broadcasts, the game threads help fill any voids that we miss while listening, and we can always ask for an explanation or recap of a play from those watching.

I wonder what gem of narcissism you’ll throw out because of this post.

we won’t tell anyone. just for you.

Nah … Letang just has to start practicing with chairs, and actually take the shot more often.

And Shero.
Couldn’t resist.

We will have to agree to disagree on this one. GO PENS

Rec’d.