Penguins Update: To Sign or Not to Sign

It seems to be a hot topic in the ‘Burgh these days, with good reason. Should Penguins GM Ron Hextall attempt to re-sign or extend franchise pillars and pending UFAs Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang? Should he try to move them at the trade deadline for assets? Or…unthinkable as it may be…should he let them walk at the end of the year?

Talk about your tough choices! I don’t envy Hextall, not in the least. After all, we’re not talking a couple of schlubs here, but arguably two of the five greatest players in Penguins history. In a bygone era, Geno and Tanger no doubt would’ve spent their entire career in black and gold and retired as Penguins, treasured and revered. But those days are long gone.

To complicate matters, the Pens have been playing really well. Prior to the holiday/Covid break, they were arguably the hottest team in the league. Winners of seven in a row and a piping hot 12-2-1 over their past 15 games. True, they’ve benefited to a degree from playing softies like Buffalo and New Jersey. But make no mistake, this isn’t a case of smoke and mirrors. Our guys are playing a really solid team game from goalies Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith on out.

Add a hale and productive Malkin to the mix? Our center and forward depth would be the envy of the league. You could argue that the only ingredients lacking are a bona fide power forward (Drew O’Connor shows promise) and a strong right side d-man, although veteran Chad Ruhwedel’s done an admirable job.

While another Cup seems a distant long-shot at best, it isn’t totally beyond of the realm of possibility that this group could make some noise in the postseason. Which only serves to deepen Hextall’s dilemma.

Malkin would seem to be the key. Expected to sit out the first two months of the season while recovering from knee surgery, he’s missed three and counting. Although his return seems imminent, No. 71 was recently cleared for contact…only to have those orders rescinded.

While the Pens are right to take their time with Geno and make sure he’s fully healed, it isn’t going to leave a ton of time for him to get untracked…and for Hextall & Co. to evaluate his play before the March 21 trade deadline.

Letang’s situation is more clear. I agree with Tribune Review columnist Mark Madden on Tanger. Like a fine wine, the quicksilver defender’s improved with age. He’s playing more within himself and making better decisions. Will he ever be a paragon of rock-solid defensive play? No. Ergo, teaming him with Brian Dumoulin.

To my eye, Letang’s critical to the team’s success. How critical? When he missed three games due to Covid in October, the team’s structure seemed to collapse. We went from beating Toronto, 7-1, to losing three straight by a combined score of 13-3. Arguably our worst stretch of the season. We rebounded in his first game back to beat Philly, thanks to No. 58’s overtime winner.

Although it flies in the face of prevailing wisdom, I’d try to re-sign or extend Letang, providing the terms aren’t too egregious. Obviously, no guarantee of that.

I’m more ambivalent about Malkin. To pause for a moment, it’s not that he isn’t a wonderful player. I mean, 1140 career points in 940 regular-season games. Eighty-four points in the postseason. A Hart Trophy, two Art Ross Trophies and a Conn Smythe. Three Cups.

When he’s on, the closest I’ve seen to Mario. A sure-fire Hall-of-Famer.

According to stats unearthed by Other Rick on Natural Stat Trick, Geno’s third in the league in points per 60 minutes at 5v5 over the past three seasons. Pretty darn impressive for a player in his mid-30s. And we tend to overlook what a really good guy and teammate he is. Both driven and remarkably humble for a superstar.

Problem is, you just don’t know if he can stay healthy. Re-signing him at this stage of his career would be a lot like investing in a Faberge egg. Beautiful to look at. But let it slip through your fingers and fall on the floor and it’s liable to shatter into a million pieces. So it is with Malkin.

Okay, say we decide to deal Geno at the deadline. What can we reasonably expect to get for him?

The answer? I haven’t a clue.

Given his brittleness and age, I can’t imagine anyone ponying up a high first-round pick for the rangy Russian. Perhaps a late first-rounder with, say, a second-rounder thrown in to sweeten the pot.

Or maybe you eschew picks and try to secure some talent in return. Geno has long been linked to Florida. Indeed, he and countryman Aleksander Barkov would make an imposing pair. Following a piping-hot start, the Panthers have slipped a bit and might be looking to deal rather than wait for free agency. Would they part with, say, Sam Bennett and a top prospect?

More? Less?

Again, I really don’t know.

What I do know is this. I wouldn’t want to be in Hextall’s shoes right about now. He’s got some tough decisions ahead. Decisions that will have a profound effect on the course of the franchise.

Merry Christmas to all our faithful readers and commenters!