Not any more convinced about this team than last season but yea this is probably what will end up happening minus Geno imo

What makes you think geno doesn’t come back? Besides some reports. I mean like what do you think they do instead

Malkin might take a bit of a pay cut, but probably not that much, I also doubt that Kapanen declines his qualifying offer to take a 53% pay cut.

The other thing is, I don’t think the team has to change too drastically. I think if it weren’t for the rangers head hunting and Jarry being hobbled, this team was poised to go on a run

At the end of the day, I think Malkin will take whatever Hextalls best offer is. I think he wants to retire a penguin and a couple million extra won’t change that. That may be an unpopular opinion though.

Kapanen is a one year prove it deal. To non-penguins fans who watch a few games and look at stats, they may not realize how horrendous Kapanen was last year. The scenario here would be Kapanen gets to choose between being non tendered or taking a 1 year prove it deal, and that he wants to stay in Pitt so he chooses to bet on himself.

There is enough cap left to give both a bit more tho

Feel like he ends up wanting too much and with his age and the way our team is heading, Trocheck could really open up an element of versatility to our top 6 both offensively and defensively thst we simple just don’t have in Geno. Geno is an absolute liability on defense and is relied on heavily for his offense. His even strength play has taken a plummet, and all people bring up is the 42 in 41 and forget everything else.

It’s just my gut feeling, but I think both Malkin and Letang get deals done and retire penguins.

Say what you want about Malkin defensively, but that has never been his strength. The fact that he just scored at a 40+ goal, 80+ point pace with Danton Heinen as his most common linemate means he still has more in the tank offensively. This is a pretty conservative option for a team, and it gives him some decent linemates. If he has a full season of zucker and rakell i expect a point per game. And if Hextall is aggressive and acquires jt miller (or a player of his caliber), then I could even see higher point totals than that for geno

One of the Pens beat writers(can't recall which one, but NOT MADDEN lol) said that Geno's ask was 3 years/20 million(Pens discount only). Pretty much exactly what is here. Also been reported multiple places that Letang is first priority. I think once Letang is settled one way or the other, Geno signs pretty quick. Plus, he has always been more comfortable not being "the man" as far as the media which is why he has spent his entire career happily in Sid's shadow, so places like Montreal, Toronto, NY etc. are out. Probably the only 2 teams he would ever go to are 2 that have zero money for him, the 2 Florida teams, which is where he has a home and where his family lives when not in Russia.

Detroit accepts Marcus for slightly less than PIT wants.

I definitely see what you are saying and agree on the Rangers point, but my issue is that although we could beat the Rangers with this team I don't think we'd come close to beating the Avs or Lightning. Even the Oilers I think would have given us issues. The other thing is if we sign Malkin and Letang to these deals then this is the team for the next 3 years with little flexibility. The older the team gets the harder of a time we will have winning. I am fine bringing back Malkin (at the right price around 6 mil) and Letang as long as we surround them with more youth and retool a little. I think the team would get a little stale part way through the season being an older team, but I think 1-2 trades or great signings could fix that. A guy like Marchment I could see adding an edge and making a huge difference.

I agree with what you said. Marchment should 1000% be a target. I thought that maybe he wouldn’t reach UFA with Duclair injury (LTIR), but now it seems that duclair will be back mid season

He could be a potential breakout player I think. Someone like him or Vatrano just to add a boost to the bottom 6 and potentially top 6 would be huge. I'm honestly coming back around to the idea of bringing Kapanen back as well, but only on a 1 year prove it sort of deal. He's just so talented it's hard to walk away, but that being said I'm also completely fine trading him. Just want to see some sort of creativity from Hextall.

So in this scenario you are describing, where you bring in Marchment and/or vatrano, then bring Kapanen back on a 1 year prove it deal, what is Jason Zucker doing?

I would try to trade him and if we can't see how the cap looks. If the money is in the way of doing what we really need or want to do can buy him out, if not he could play 3rd line. I made another ACGM with him included plus Marchment and Kapanen.