Time For The Pittsburgh Penguins To Make Some Hard Decisions
from Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
It’s time the team moves on from Malkin and Letang after 16 tremendous seasons, including three Stanley Cups. No other three teammates have been together that long in NHL history. But it’s time to end the streak.
I believed that going into these playoffs. The Penguins’ fourth consecutive first-round exit eliminated the last of any lingering doubts I might have had. It seems crazy to bring the same core back for another season. What do they say about those who don’t learn from history? Beyond the postseason failures, Malkin and Letang aren’t getting younger. Malkin will be 36 on July 31. Letang is 35. Each becomes a free agent on July 13.
I’m not sure the Penguins can bring Letang back even if they make re-signing him a priority. He should be coveted on the open market. He made $7.25 million this season and should get a big raise. His long-time agent, Kent Hughes, is the new general manager of the Montreal Canadiens. Letang is French-Canadian. Montreal just seems like the perfect fit for him.
Malkin’s age and injury history bother me. I’m not really interested in bringing him back even if he takes a pay cut from the $9.5 million he made this season.
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