According to EK Vancouver may land Malkin...(e4)
- iworkatinitech

No way we trade Geno. This would be an epic F up.

According to EK Vancouver may land Malkin...(e4)
- iworkatinitech

Ek has said that for the last 10 years. Dude is clueless.

Ek has said that for the last 10 years. Dude is clueless.
- j.boyd919

Actually says that its so that Malkin (the good soldier) can be the man there.

No way we trade Geno. This would be an epic F up.
- Barnaby36

Completely agree! I don't want them to move Kessel unless it's for an outrageous package coming back, but don't want to ever see Malkin/Crosby/Letang in any NHL jersey other than the Pens ever.

Completely agree! I don't want them to move Kessel unless it's for an outrageous package coming back, but don't want to ever see Malkin/Crosby/Letang in any NHL jersey other than the Pens ever.
- iworkatinitech

Why Letang? You did see his playoff performance the last two years?

Why Letang? You did see his playoff performance the last two years?
- stevens87

If you can show me how trading him will result in a better 1D with similar or better salary I'm all ears...I just don't see it happening.

Why Letang? You did see his playoff performance the last two years?
- stevens87

I think the 3 of them (Crosby, Malkin, and Letang) deserve the "good soldier" treatment to only move on if they want to. They've earned it.

I think the 3 of them (Crosby, Malkin, and Letang) deserve the "good soldier" treatment to only move on if they want to. They've earned it.
- jmatchett383

Crosby - YES
Malkin - PROBABLY

But Letang is no generational player, first ballet HOFers, like those two.

If the Pens don't consider trading guys like Letang than they will turn into the Steelers' and Islanders' dynasties of the past. Hold on to players because you feel loyal to them instead of trading them when they still have value.

Crosby - YES
Malkin - PROBABLY

But Letang is no generational player, first ballet HOFers, like those two.

If the Pens don't consider trading guys like Letang than they will turn into the Steelers' and Islanders' dynasties of the past. Hold on to players because you feel loyal to them instead of trading them when they still have value.
- stevens87

Letang is still a top 10-15 Dman in the league. Trading him is a mistake.

Why Letang? You did see his playoff performance the last two years?
- stevens87

Not only that his 2017 playoff performance left a lot to be desired

Crosby - YES
Malkin - PROBABLY

But Letang is no generational player, first ballet HOFers, like those two.

If the Pens don't consider trading guys like Letang than they will turn into the Steelers' and Islanders' dynasties of the past. Hold on to players because you feel loyal to them instead of trading them when they still have value.
- stevens87

3 Stanley Cups with those core 3 guys in 9 years. You can deal with a 3-4 year down period and honor those guys' wishes.

Buy anyway, please tell me how you're trading him and making the team better for the rest of the Crosby era (likely 3-4 years).

Letang is still a top 10-15 Dman in the league. Trading him is a mistake.
- j.boyd919

Malkin+Letang+JJ for Kopitar and Doughty

Malkin+Letang+JJ for Kopitar and Doughty
- WSCTeton17

Makes sense for the Pens, not sure about LA though.

Letang is still a top 10-15 Dman in the league. Trading him is a mistake.
- j.boyd919

After he told Jason Mackey in an interview during locker clean out day:"I will not change my style of play", even against a team like NYI where it was apparent the players had to, this tells me he is a selfish player who cares about his numbers and not the team winning.

After he told Jason Mackey in an interview during locker clean out day:"I will not change my style of play", even against a team like NYI where it was apparent the players had to, this tells me he is a selfish player who cares about his numbers and not the team winning.
- stevens87

Did you read/hear the whole context of that interview wrt that snippet you posted?

Because if that's how you took that comment, I don't really know what else to say on the matter.

Did you read/hear the whole context of that interview wrt that snippet you posted?

Because if that's how you took that comment, I don't really know what else to say on the matter.
- jmatchett383

Please explain to me then.

After he told Jason Mackey in an interview during locker clean out day:"I will not change my style of play", even against a team like NYI where it was apparent the players had to, this tells me he is a selfish player who cares about his numbers and not the team winning.
- stevens87

It wasn’t Letang’s style of play that did him in that series. When turned over that one on the far blue line I’m sure he wasn’t expecting to be held back without a call on the backcheck. He had some just blatantly bad passes that lead to some fat chances against. I’m perfectly fine with his style of play (other than the slashes and the crosschecks and his temper at times..) but really it’s his mental lapses that concern me. I know he isn’t trying to directly pass the puck to the other team but it seems to happen more and more. He still does a lot of nice things out there and would be perceived as a valuable piece to win-now teams which really doesn’t make LA a fit. I just figured people would be outraged by my proposal

Please explain to me then.
- stevens87

No player, especially one with a track record like Letang, should ever alter their playing style based on one opponent. That's what got him there.

His job, and the reason he's had so much success, is pushing the play up ice while being reliable defensively as well. If he changes his game drastically to stop pushing the play, then he becomes a much less effective player.

Could he tweak his game where maybe he doesn't tale certain risks that he could 5 years ago? Absolutely. Could he maybe hang back an extra half step so that players get by him because he's lost a step over his career? No problem there.

Essentially, I really think it's in both his and the Penguins' best interest for him to not make any drastic changes to the way he plays, especially with the amount of minutes he plays.

If you want to blame anyone for not deviating from their norm, that should fall on MS.

Edit: Would you say that Sidney Crosby is a selfish player if he's said the same at cleanout day after his dismal playoff showing? Because I wouldn't want him to change the way he plays based on a 4-game sample.

It wasn’t Letang’s style of play that did him in that series. When turned over that one on the far blue line I’m sure he wasn’t expecting to be held back without a call on the backcheck. He had some just blatantly bad passes that lead to some fat chances against. I’m perfectly fine with his style of play (other than the slashes and the crosschecks and his temper at times..) but really it’s his mental lapses that concern me. I know he isn’t trying to directly pass the puck to the other team but it seems to happen more and more. He still does a lot of nice things out there and would be perceived as a valuable piece to win-now teams which really doesn’t make LA a fit. I just figured people would be outraged by my proposal
- WSCTeton17

This. Perfect example was Game 6 OT against Washington last year. He was playing fine physically, but he just totally failed to read the play

No player, especially one with a track record like Letang, should ever alter their playing style based on one opponent. That's what got him there.

His job, and the reason he's had so much success, is pushing the play up ice while being reliable defensively as well. If he changes his game drastically to stop pushing the play, then he becomes a much less effective player.

Could he tweak his game where maybe he doesn't tale certain risks that he could 5 years ago? Absolutely. Could he maybe hang back an extra half step so that players get by him because he's lost a step over his career? No problem there.

Essentially, I really think it's in both his and the Penguins' best interest for him to not make any drastic changes to the way he plays, especially with the amount of minutes he plays.

If you want to blame anyone for not deviating from their norm, that should fall on MS.

Edit: Would you say that Sidney Crosby is a selfish player if he's said the same at cleanout day after his dismal playoff showing? Because I wouldn't want him to change the way he plays based on a 4-game sample.
- jmatchett383

So if Sullivan tells Letang:

"Kris, if Jake Guetzel scores a goal 35 seconds into game 4, please don't make a high risk play to give them a 2 on 1 and tie the score a minute and half later."

So Letang could answer: "Sorry coach, I'm not changing my game"?

So if Sullivan tells Letang:

"Kris, if Jake Guetzel scores a goal 35 seconds into game 4, please don't make a high risk play to give them a 2 on 1 and tie the score a minute and half later."

So Letang could answer: "Sorry coach, I'm not changing my game"?
- stevens87

If Mike Sullivan told him that and he refused to do it, then yes, he should be held accountable. Is that what Sullivan told him to do?

Also, that's situational assessment, not a style of play.

Not even getting into the will they or wont they but for fun if Malkin did wanna go....
Would you do Malkin and Johnson for Horvat and Hughes!?

If Mike Sullivan told him that and he refused to do it, then yes, he should be held accountable. Is that what Sullivan told him to do?

Also, that's situational assessment, not a style of play.
- jmatchett383

I've said he has a Million dollar talent and a 10 cent hockey IQ, is that fair to say?

Not even getting into the will they or wont they but for fun if Malkin did wanna go....
Would you do Malkin and Johnson for Horvat and Hughes!?
- pens4life-66

Not even getting into the will they or wont they but for fun if Malkin did wanna go....
Would you do Malkin and Johnson for Horvat and Hughes!?
- pens4life-66

Poster one: "Man, Malkin needs to go, can't stand him."

Poster two: "Okay, how about these 2 really good player and a first round pick?"

Poster one: "Anything less than McDavid isn't a decent return."