Where is Malkin? "Earth to Malkin, Come in Malkin......"

[offsides]

No denying, Geno is definitely a very good player, just can't see giving him more money than Sid come contract time. Hopefully he would sign for the same money as Sid, if not, I'd say thanks and goodbye.

people still don't get this?

THE CBA IS NOT THE SAME. SO EVEN IF HE WANTED THE EXACT SAME CONTRACT AS SID HE WOULD HAVE A HIGHER CAP HIT BY 1.2 MILLION

Ok, I don't get it, but I still wouldn't pay him more than Sid.

[tfrizz]

No denying, Geno is definitely a very good player, just can't see giving him more money than Sid come contract time. Hopefully he would sign for the same money as Sid, if not, I'd say thanks and goodbye.

people still don't get this?

THE CBA IS NOT THE SAME. SO EVEN IF HE WANTED THE EXACT SAME CONTRACT AS SID HE WOULD HAVE A HIGHER CAP HIT BY 1.2 MILLION

Ok, I don't get it, but I still wouldn't pay him more than Sid.

A 12-year deal like Crosby signed is prohibited by the new CBA. The best Malkin can do is 8 years by re-signing with the Pens, and if he follows the same salary/structure of the first 8 years on Crosby's contract then it works out to about a $10.8-million cap hit.

[headh]

Then the Pens are at the end of their run with both 87 and 71

[Buccobruce]

Then the Pens are at the end of their run with both 87 and 71

Unlikely...Pens will pay whatever Geno wants. Someone else will be on chopping block likely one of the defenseman.

[penmyst]

Maybe I wasn't clear enough?

It's OK to say that Malkin is playing poorly at this moment. He is nowhere near his own high standards.


Until, and ONLY until, he or the team actually comes out and discloses an injury----- it is absurd to twist yourself into pretzels trying to explain away his awful play (at this moment) by hanging it on an injury. There has been no disclosure of such an injury. Therefore, it is more silly to assume there IS an injury, than it is to assume there is NOT an injury.

The guy is a disaster right now. No need to psychoanalyze it. Sometimes, guys just stink. Hopefully, he gets off his slump and starts helping this team.

[taz71]

I think playing in Russia hurt him. Probably picked up some bad habits and with injuries hasn't gotten his timing down. As well between injuries and changing linemates he just hasn't got into any kind of rhythm. He is definitely one of those players that responds poorly to criticism. Maybe he isn't in great shape in comparison to how he was last year after aggressively recovering from his ACL.

If Iggy and Malkin get some chemistry its game on. Only positive in having Neal out for malkin is a big adjustment in his play style that could benefit them both when Neal returns.

[Idoit40fans]

I think that since he has once played at a 110+ point pace, he is currently at a 110+ point pace. You're really only ever as bad as your best season.

[headh]

Then the Pens are at the end of their run with both 87 and 71

Unlikely...Pens will pay whatever Geno wants. Someone else will be on chopping block likely one of the defenseman.

I'm certainly no expert on the topic of the NHL salary cap. My understanding is that the cap is going down next season. It can't be easy for the Penguins to justify tying up $10.8 million on one player in a decreasing cap environment. Can it?

[Idoit40fans]

For the best player in the history of athletics, I think they can afford it.

[Malkamaniac]

You don't let generational talents walk away from your team. You pay him what he wants.

[Pitts]

Plus, from what I understand, the cap is only going down for one season for adjustment purposes. It is expected to rise again after that. How much, we don't know, but the NHL is flying high right now, so I expect a decent increase going forward.

[Pitts]

You don't let generational talents walk away from your team. You pay him what he wants.

Or trade them for a treasure chest.

[Malkamaniac]

You don't let generational talents walk away from your team. You pay him what he wants.

Or trade them for a treasure chest.

Fine with that as well. Only after you've explored every option and look at it as a nuclear deal to change the team.

[Digitalgypsy66]

He would still have the same 8.7 cap hit next season, for the low $64+ cap hit "reset" season, right? The new deal (and there will be a new deal) would kick in 2014-15?

[headh]

For the best player in the history of athletics, I think they can afford it.

I don't think the question is "Can you afford it?"

I think the question is "Can you win a championship while paying one player that much?"

I don't claim to know that answer but Sid is taking a discount for a reason.

[Malkamaniac]

For the best player in the history of athletics, I think they can afford it.

I don't think the question is "Can you afford it?"

I think the question is "Can you win a championship while paying one player that much?"

I don't claim to know that answer but Sid is taking a discount for a reason.

Technically they've already answered that question. In 2009 when they won it with $56 million

[headh]

For the best player in the history of athletics, I think they can afford it.

I don't think the question is "Can you afford it?"

I think the question is "Can you win a championship while paying one player that much?"

I don't claim to know that answer but Sid is taking a discount for a reason.

Technically they've already answered that question. In 2009 when they won it with $56 million

Which one of their players was counting 10+ mil against the cap?

The question I am posing is can you win a cup with one player chewing up that much in cap space?

[Malkamaniac]

Crosby was making 9 million that year. Cap hit 8.7 million. Gonchar with a 5 million cap hit. I'd say that's about as close as you'll get to the answer you posed. However two people paid almost max amount? You're in new territory.

[headh]

He would still have the same 8.7 cap hit next season, for the low $64+ cap hit "reset" season, right? The new deal (and there will be a new deal) would kick in 2014-15?

And next year is also his last season under contract. So they are either extending him or trading him at a point in time when his cap hit will exceed Sid's and the cap will have contracted from 2012-2013.

So the new deal begins in 2014-2015 but we don't know how much yet and we don't know if the Pens will have extended him or traded him. This could be our last cup run with all the pieces in place.

[Malkamaniac]

I'd also have to wait and see what Malkin actually wants. People are penciling in 10million+. I think he likes Pittsburgh and I could seem him and Crosby having matching caps again.

If they also care about winning cups, they simple understand that they can't ask for max and play here.

[tfrizz]

For the best player in the history of athletics, I think they can afford it.

I don't think the question is "Can you afford it?"

I think the question is "Can you win a championship while paying one player that much?"

I don't claim to know that answer but Sid is taking a discount for a reason.

Technically they've already answered that question. In 2009 when they won it with $56 million

Which one of their players was counting 10+ mil against the cap?

The question I am posing is can you win a cup with one player chewing up that much in cap space?

Answer: None

When they won the cup in 2009, Malkin, Letang, and Kennedy were still on their ELCs with a combined cap hit of $2,195,867 ($5,210,867 - $3,015,000 bonus cushion).

Crosby's $8.7-million cap hit accounted for 15.3% of their $56.7-million salary cap.

[TrueNorth]

Maybe I wasn't clear enough?

It's OK to say that Malkin is playing poorly at this moment. He is nowhere near his own high standards.


Until, and ONLY until, he or the team actually comes out and discloses an injury----- it is absurd to twist yourself into pretzels trying to explain away his awful play (at this moment) by hanging it on an injury. There has been no disclosure of such an injury. Therefore, it is more silly to assume there IS an injury, than it is to assume there is NOT an injury.

The guy is a disaster right now. No need to psychoanalyze it. Sometimes, guys just stink. Hopefully, he gets off his slump and starts helping this team.

I’m not trying to start anything here, but you’ve pushed one of my hot buttons. I’m tempted to say, get off your high horse, but I’m not sure it was your intention to insult those who have speculated that Malkin may be dealing with an underlying injury or may have tweaked something that is affecting his play. I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that your choice of words (absurd, silly) was just unfortunate. I hope that’s the case.

[HomerPenguin]

Maybe I wasn't clear enough?

It's OK to say that Malkin is playing poorly at this moment. He is nowhere near his own high standards.


Until, and ONLY until, he or the team actually comes out and discloses an injury----- it is absurd to twist yourself into pretzels trying to explain away his awful play (at this moment) by hanging it on an injury. There has been no disclosure of such an injury. Therefore, it is more silly to assume there IS an injury, than it is to assume there is NOT an injury.

The guy is a disaster right now. No need to psychoanalyze it. Sometimes, guys just stink. Hopefully, he gets off his slump and starts helping this team.

I’m not trying to start anything here, but you’ve pushed one of my hot buttons. I’m tempted to say, get off your high horse, but I’m not sure it was your intention to insult those who have speculated that Malkin may be dealing with an underlying injury or may have tweaked something that is affecting his play. I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that your choice of words (absurd, silly) was just unfortunate. I hope that’s the case.

[headh]

Scoring a GWG

[pcm]

To put it in perspective, other than Neal, the winger Malkin has played the most games with is Zach Boychuk. And that was something like 8 games. It's been a rotating door on Malkin's wing. He can't do everything on the ice on his own, and it takes time to learn to play with each different player.