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Matt Vensel's Penguins chat: 05.24.22
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Matt Vensel
11:00
Hello, Penguins fans. Looking forward to chatting with you again today. A lot to talk about after Ron Hextall's season-ending press conference on Monday. I plan to start today's chat at noon, but please be advised that I am currently at the DMV and DMV things could happen. Either way, feel free to submit questions at any time. Talk soon!
Lord of Whats left of Carson.
12:01
Matt,
Appreciate the chat.   i get the pining away for the Pens to retain Letang and Malkin.   I just do not get the sense though, this seems to be the definition of insanity.  This team was better than the Rangers but its folly to think they beat a Carolina or Colorado.  Unless the denizens want to adopt the Steelers mantra of no losing seasons, why not move on from players that will be yet another year older and likely shot by the end of the contract?
Matt Vensel
12:05
We'll start the most important offseason topic, the one that will impact everything else the Pens do. ICYMI, Ron Hextall said he hopes to re-sign both Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. And over the past 15 months, Hextall hasn't typically said things that he didn't mean. Obviously, they need to find middle ground with the money, which won't be easy. But I did take those comments at face value. As for whether keeping the band together is the right call, it's hard to look at the four early exits in a row and see a path to getting better with Malkin and Letang back and little cap space left over. It'd be quite the challenge.
Tom
12:07
If Letang or Malkin go, how will the savings be spent? New free agents, resign own players, hold for future...?
Matt Vensel
12:07
Tom, they'll spend to the salary cap ceiling either way, and if they lose Malkin or Letang they will need to look to free agency to help fill the void. They are committed to trying to win another Stanley Cup in 2022-23, so they definitely won't pinching pennies.
Stuck-in-Philly
12:09
I love the Rust deal - yes, he’ll be 36 when the deal ends, but that 1st line is money.  My question:  assuming Malkin would take a pay cut, would you rather have him at $6.5M-$7M a year for 3 years or RR and KK each for 3 years with the same cap hit?
Matt Vensel
12:11
That's apples and oranges to me. Malkin is your No. 2 center and still a power-play force. Rickard Rakell and Kasperi Kapanen are middle-six wingers, at least in theory. If you're going to spend on one position, it should be center, especially with Bryan Rust just re-signed.
Sunner in Orlando
12:12
Any goalies out there as free agents the Pens should keep an eye on?
Matt Vensel
12:12
I hear there's this Fleury guy who might be available...
Sunner in Orlando
12:13
Hi Matt thanks for your chats! Great signing of Rust IMO. I think Letang should be the next priority but hey can't pay him 10 mil per. I don't know if the Pens should emphasize getting Geno resigned though. I believe he will want more money than he is worth. I only think he should return on a 2-3 year deal not paying over 5 mil per. What are your thoughts?
Matt Vensel
12:14
If I had to pick one to keep, it'd be Letang. He logs 25-plus minutes a night and played at a high level again this season. No easy way to replace that. Plus, I feel better about his health and fitness level going forward.
Justin
12:15
Could you just give a quick summary/reminder of the available cap space following the Rust extension?  Am I reading it right that it's in the neighborhood of $30 million?
Matt Vensel
12:16
Justin, they had under $30 million in cap space before coming to terms with Rust over the weekend. They are right around $24 million now, per Capfriendly.
Roger
12:16
Do you think there is a realistic chance of re-signing Rickard Rakell?  I understand that signing Malkin and Letang are their top priority, but is that really the best course to bring them both back, at their age, alongside an aging Sidney Crosby and Jeff Carter, as opposed to focusing on having some younger stars in the post Crosby era?
Matt Vensel
12:18
Roger, after the Rust signing I have a hard time seeing it happen unless they either dump another contract or get Rakell to re-sign for below his market value.
Justin
12:19
What could you see being the backup plan for if Letang goes elsewhere?  Do they take that money and really beef up the forward crop?  Do they use that money to hunt in FA/Trades for someone who can do a decent Letang impression?
Matt Vensel
12:22
Justin, I don't really see a good backup plan honestly. I don't think John Marino is ready for a top-pair role and there are no other candidates in the organization. The FA market is not great. Beyond Letang, the top RHD is John Klingberg. With due respect to Klingberg, who is a good NHLer, he ain't no Letang. So OK, you try the trade route. Now you're giving up picks/prospects and still paying the player that you acquire a bunch of money anyway. So why not just pay Letang at that point?
Jeff
12:23
Hey Matt.  I've read a few things where it's being said that Letang is likely to leave to get the best offer whereas Malkin will take a discount to stay.  Three questions please. Are these your thoughts as well?  What % would give to each being a Penguin next year? Should we keep Malkin even at a discount?  Thanks!!
Matt Vensel
12:26
Jeff, I'm not going to put percentages on it because there are many variables in play right now and even the players and the team don't know what will happen. What I will say is that both guys sincerely want to stick around and I think will if they get fair offers with some term. And based on Hextall's comments and that the Penguins budged in their talks with Bryan Rust, the team is open to finding a compromise as well. That doesn't mean it's a lock that something gets done with both players. But I believe it really is a priority for all parties involved.
Joe
12:27
Liked your goaltending question Matt but Hextall punted. Did you think I’m doing so that he shared his doubts about Jarry going forward as the starter for this team?
Matt Vensel
12:28
Joe, I found that interesting as well. Joe is referring to a question I asked Hextall yesterday about whether Tristan Jarry is the No. 1 going forward. He dodged that question. Maybe it's nothing. But I think it was something. They may explore all their options in goal this summer.
Justin
12:30
I've lost a little touch with how individual prospects are doing so forgive me if these guys aren't relevant anymore, but does the team think that any of Poulin, Legare, or PO Joseph can be real parts of the team going into next yr?  Perhaps 2-3 of them being part of the team next yr could make them comfortable salary dumping a more expensive guy.
Matt Vensel
12:32
Hextall mentioned a few guys yesterday they hope will be in serious contention for roster spots in camp: Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Kasper Bjorkqvist and Filip Hallander. As a follow-up, I asked him if the Penguins would look to move one of their left-shot defenders to clear a path for Joseph and he said that was a possibility. Joseph is definitely ready for a third-pair role at the NHL level.
Cranston, Rhode Island
12:33
We see it in the NFL from time to time, and NHL players union and bargaining rules might prevent this, but could we see the ultimate leadership move from Crosby in restructuring his deal to lower his AAV to ensure room for 58/71?  As alluded to by 71, they are all pretty rich guys by now and there are things more important than money...71 obviously has to come down regardless to a figure starting with a 7, and 58 probably looking to see about the same or an increase over his last contract.  A big ask, but...if it's really about staying/playing together...Sid would make it happen if he could.
Matt Vensel
12:34
Not possible. Also, he's already on an extremely team-friendly deal, having willingly taken less than Malkin.
Guest
12:34
Matt, either the Pens were trying to protect D'Orio, choosing not to throw a young goalie against the Rangers unless Domingue got hurt, or Domingue is as good as it gets in WBS. Which way would you call it?
Matt Vensel
12:35
Think it's fairly obvious that Domingue was their best option. D'Orio is far from a lock to be an NHL goalie someday.
Matty
12:35
Seems like trading Pettersson and his bad contract will be difficult. What do you think of trading Dumoulin who is often hurt and has one more year on his contract. If that occurred for a draft pic or a bottom six player they would at least get something vs the nothing they get if both Malkin and Letang leave. Also they would save $4 million in cap space. I'm thinking the Belichick way, get rid of a player a year early is better than a year too late.
Matt Vensel
12:37
Hey, fellow Matt! They will probably have to incentivize a team to take Marcus Petterson's long-term contract or trade it for another not-so-great contract. Brian Dumoulin, meanwhile, should score you something in a trade. But then you've got to replace him. So if you're trying to win now and believe P.O. Joseph is ready, I think you've got to find a way to move Pettersson, a decent player on an oversized contract, to clear the logjam. Even if it means forking over a pick or a prospect.
Bill
12:38
What is with their view of O'Connor and big Z. Do they have a future with the team or have their ships sailed back to the minors?
Matt Vensel
12:39
Bill, Radim Zohorna is 26. At this point, he probably is who he is, and that's a fringe NHLer. Drew O'Connor does seemingly have untapped upside still. Big offseason upcoming for him. If he doesn't seize a regular role, it might not ever happen here.
Eddie O.
12:40
Hey Matt!  Any chance at all we could see MAF in front of the net one more time?  Doesnt seem like DeSmith is in their future plans.
Matt Vensel
12:42
Eddie, I do think the door is ajar for a return for free agent Marc-Andre Fleury. But I'm skeptical that it will happen unless they trade away Tristan Jarry. I know Marc-Andre loved his time here and would presumably welcome a chance to play with Sidney Crosby and some of these guys again. But I'm sure he also has a baseline for playing time and salary that probably can't be met in Pittsburgh if Jarry is still here. Stay tuned, though.
Matt Vensel
12:47
All right, folks. Phew. You guys were sending in questions rapid fire today. Sorry I'm unable to get to them all. We will do another chat in a couple weeks or so. In the meantime, feel free to shoot me a note at mvensel@post-gazette.com if you've got something on your mind. Have a great day!
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