Pens Points: Fallout from the Malkin comments

Finally....the Pens Points....have come back...to Pensburgh. Let’s jump into the best links from around the interwebs:

This looks like a good starting note:

Hey, don’t break it kid.

Evgeni Malkin’s comments reported yesterday in The Athletic have made some shockwaves around the web. Some of the biggest might be Malkin already talking about wanting to sign a three year contract extension to stay in Pittsburgh. His current contract ends in summer 2022 and he wouldn’t be eligible to sign that extension until summer 2021, so we’ll see if he still feels the same in about two years from now..[NHL.com]

Elliotte Friedman dropped a 31 Thoughts, the Pens nuggets: [Sportsnet]

19. Sidney Crosby, on the Evgeni Malkin trade rumours: “My reaction to that, honestly, was that I’ve been through this before,” he said. “And I didn’t like it, because it brought back those memories of so many times in that window between 2009 and 2016 where we fell short. And the next few days, it was like, ‘This trade’s going to happen.’ That’s the consequence and the result of losing. I understand. I’ve been through it but I also know that’s the way it is. You wait for the dust to settle to really evaluate things…. Usually when you do that, everything gets a little more clear and you figure out what it is you have to do…. The whole Geno thing, that’s part of losing. You understand there’s always different possibilities, different outcomes that come with that, but I’m happy to know that he’s back.”

Does Crosby ever ask to speak to GM Jim Rutherford about these things?

“I don’t really talk to Jim that often. He’s great at getting a pulse on the group and guys individually. I just try to focus on playing. I haven’t really been one to ever call a GM and say, ‘I need this or I think we need to do that.’ They’re there for a reason, that’s their job. If they [ask for] an opinion [I will give it], but I’m not one to be knocking on the door.”

(Last part to file away the next time a certain 2018 free agent signings past connections to Crosby are mentioned..)

Kris Letang is taking it a year at a time now and focused on the next upcoming chance. [Penguins.com]

Recently retired Stanley Cup hero Max Talbot adds another title to his list, officially joining the media as a member of RDS, the French outlet in Canada. [RDS - link in, well, French]

Dom says stay away from betting on the Penguins at -205, not good enough payout. [The Athletic]

A bridge deal for Mitch Marner might be likely, and if so the AAV in that final year will be key, since that what the next qualifying offer will be. [Pension Plan Puppets]

Sticking with RFAs, Zach Werenski’s new $5 million cap hit is a natural comparison for two key defenders in Boston, Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo. [Stanley Cup of Chowder]

The Anaheim Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes reportedly have agreed to a trade to send Justin Faulk west for forward Ondrej Kase, but the deal is in limbo and dependent on Faulk waiving his no trade clause to complete it so....Stay tuned. [Anaheim Calling]

40-year old defenseman Andrei Markov wanted to make an NHL return with Montreal in large part to play his 1,000th career game all with the Habs, but the Canadiens have said they won’t be signing him. [NHL.com]

2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes is looking forward to the start of his first NHL season. [NHL.com]

Sticking with the Devils, they intend to sit down with UFA-to-be Taylor Hall during training camp. It’ll be interesting to see if they can re-sign him after an exciting off-season where they added Hughes, P.K. Subban and Wayne Simmonds. [NHL.com]

Finally to wrap up NJ news, they have agreed to terms with RFA Pavel Zacha on a three year deal worth $2.25 million against the cap. [All About the Jersey]