Given the Sidney Crosby injury there was some anxiety heading back from the Olympic break for the Pittsburgh Penguins. They’ve had a great regular season and have an inside track to a playoff spot. Was the Sid’s injury going to derail everything? Not yet.
While the Penguins disappointingly lost to the New York Rangers via shootout on SAturday, they bounced back with fervor yesterday and trounced the Vegas Golden Knights 5-0. It was one of Pittsburgh’s better performances of the season. By doing so they have taken five out of the possible six standings points since break. Per Moneypuck, the Penguins have a 90.2% chance of making the playoffs.
The standings at the moment are beneficial for Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is two points ahead of the New York Islanders with a game in hand. Those two seem destined to be close together for the rest of the way, potentially leading to a first round matchup. The Washington Capitals are six points behind and have the misfortune of playing three more games than the Penguins to this point.
Taking five out of six points was a great start to the Crosby-less stretch of games.
What are these people watching?
Anytime we get stuck with a national broadcast with the Penguins we have to sit through really bad and false narratives. The ABC/ESPN crews are usually the biggest offenders of this and were again on Saturday.
The way they talk about the team it is like they don’t watch the league they cover. It is almost like they don’t have any idea where the Penguins are in the standings or that this team is not being driven by a 24 year old Sidney Crosby. Yes, Sidney Crosby being out, even at age 38, hurts the team. No, that doesn’t mean they are going to go in a tailspin. They have real depth and Kyle Dubas did a wonderful job infusing the roster with useful players.
This is a pretty good hockey team and if people still want to judge them based on the offseason projections (which were insanely low), then that’s on them.
Additionally, the broadcast couldn’t get enough of Evgeni Malkin trade discourse. This is honestly some of the most idiotic stuff out there. Malkin is not being traded. He never was and he never will. Geno has been crystal clear about his intentions to stay in Pittsburgh. He has a full no movement clause. He isn’t waiving it. Try another story angle, ESPN.
That said, I am upset at the Penguins about Malkin…
Sign Evgeni Malkin already
Personally, I have no idea what the hold up has been with Evgeni Malkin’s contract extension. This should be something that is already done, no excuse. Yes, he’s 39 years old, but also he is over a point per game and is a highly effective player and is a big reason why the Penguins were able to turn a corner this season.
For whatever reason Kyle Dubas seems to be slow playing this and I don’t know why
Here’s where things are
Following the Penguins’ loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday, Malkin told members of the media that no decision will be made on his future in Pittsburgh until after the season.
When I read this over the weekend on one of Josh’s tweets I can’t lie, I was upset. I truly don’t understand what the hesitation is. The Penguins have close to 50M in cap space this offseason. Malkin is not looking for term, just a one year extension based on the merit of his 2025-26 season. And oh yeah, HE IS LITERALLY ONE OF THE MT. RUSHMORE PLAYERS IN THE FRANCHISE’S HISTORY.
Just give him the extension. What are we even talking about. He said he would take a pay cut and 6.1M is already a bargain for the production he has given the team. A one-year 4.5M deal is probably more than enough. Hell, he might play for 3M or less.
It does appear that there is a follow up meeting planned with Malkin and Dubas
Spoke with Malkin privately after he met with the media on Saturday. I sense that he feels disappointed because he believes he has earned another contract. I wouldn’t say he was angry about the situation, but perhaps a bit miffed. He also offered that “maybe” things will change after he meets with Dubas.
A source close to Malkin told me over the weekend that the meeting between Malkin and Dubas is expected to be a “follow-up” to the discussion that Barry and Dubas had last week. It would be highly unusual for Malkin and Dubas to talk numbers without an agent present. Rather, this meeting is expected to be a conversation about the Penguins’ interest in bringing Malkin back next season, or what has to transpire for Malkin to remain in the team’s plans.
I am going to be livid if Evgeni Malkin is not a Penguin next year for all the reasons stated above. There’s no excuse. He’s a legend and playing well. Get it done, Kyle.
