Penguins Plan To Retain Hossa
Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jun 13, 11:31 PM | Hype this story!
Late Friday evening, KDKA News reported that Ray Shero and the Pittsburgh Penguins have determined that retaining winger Marian Hossa is the team’s top priority.
This morning, Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review confirms this news.
He writes: “All other offseason moves will be determined by the Penguins’ success or failure in this pursuit of Hossa, who scored 12 goals and recorded 26 points in 20 Stanley Cup playoff games skating alongside star center Sidney Crosby.”
Hossa was quoted as saying he would accept a contract below market value to play for a Stanley Cup contending team, which the Penguins clearly are.
According to Ross, the Penguins’ offer …“is likely to be worth nearly $50 million over seven years – a marginal raise on his 2007-08 salary of $7 million.”
He adds that it is likely the Penguins will impose a deadline to accept the offer that would be roughly two weeks from now.
Rossi added several other interesting pieces of information:
- “Hossa is the Penguins’ prime target, followed by Orpik…”
- “Orpik…told the Penguins he would accept less than market value for a deal of at least five seasons.”
- “Malone and the Penguins are believed to be far apart on a new contract.”
- “Indications are that talks of Staal’s potential extension could last into the upcoming season.”
Comments
Eric
Jun 13, 11:57 PM
Interesting..
Should make for an interesting month as to how it all pans out.
Would love nothing more than to wake up one morning to find that the Penguins re-sign Hossa. Early X-Mas gift!
I think that the Penguins are making a smart choice in FINALLY getting a linemate for their other franchise center.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 14, 12:08 AM
Eric, it’s also worth noting that, after next season, Sykora is a free agent. Would it be worth it to the Penguins (and Malkin) to reach out and extend his contract by an additional two years at the same price? I think so. He’s proven he has chemistry with Malkin, and, while he had a great season in retrospect, there were some very rough times prior to Crosby’s injury. All of that should combine to keep his salary at it’s current level or at a very minimal increase.
Eric
Jun 14, 12:17 AM
That has crossed my mind, but I think Sykora he is slight a bargain at that price. But, you never know. Dating back to the lockout, he’s played well with Malkin. Both of them have made each other better.
If Sykora was willing, I’d jump at that price.
TIM
Jun 14, 12:37 AM
I am some what surprised at the size of the Hossa deal. I thought they would try to sign him for 3-4 years Max. 7 is an awful lot. I understand that Hossa should be the big priority, but I feel that low balling Malone is a bad move no?
Beav
Jun 14, 01:33 AM
as much as I hate seeing Bugsy leave… it may be the best thing for the team right now. I wish him the best of success (other than against us of course) and I hope he enjoys his larger salary. But he had an opportunity to stay with the Pens and not make that much (see Malone fan boys and girls I know it’s a crappy deal for him) but he could have been on a perennial cup contender. As someone who plays IM floor hockey goalie because they have no chance at ever making it in the pros, I would rather win a championship than all the money in the world. I had hoped Ryan was in line with my thinking but best wishes in Colombus, you will get spanked when the Pens visit
Pens1967
Jun 14, 06:13 AM
Matt, I don’t think the Pens would have very much trouble resigning Sykora. Remember his quote from last year that it took him “two minutes” to accept the Pens’ offer. Petr’s 31 now and I felt from his post-game 6 comments he knows and understands he’s in a very good place.
And isn’t ironic that the player most linked with the alledged “hate Therrien crowd” is willing to take a discounted long term contract?
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 14, 09:18 AM
I’ll start with Eric and work my way down:
Sykora is a slight bargain at his price, I’ll agree, but he also is a one-trick pony so-to-speak. He’s not defensive in the least, and he tends to need help from a linemate to get most of his scoring opportunities due to his average skating. Add in that he isn’t getting younger, and I think a continuum of his $2.5 million contract — or a slight raise to maybe $2.75 million — would be sufficient to keep him around, and should be done by, say, the All Star break, in my opinion.
Beav, I hate to see Bugsy go as well, but keep in mind it isn’t yet a foregone conclusion. The media has said a lot in recent months, much of which is being proven wrong. Winning a championship is important to players, no doubt, but when the Penguins are supposedly offering $3 million per year to a player who likely will command $4.5 million or more on the open market, I can’t say I blame him. And keep in mind, Columbus is the rumored trade partner for the Penguins. That means absolutely nothing with regards to where he will play, as he isn’t allowed to talk to or mention any teams at this point. So leaving Pittsburgh isn’t exactly putting an end to his championship dreams, especially if he goes to a perennial playoff team.
Pens1967, I agree with you. He’s the type of guy who has floated around the league and never really found a comfort zone. At this point in his career, I think that’s what he is looking for. And, as for your Therrien/Orpik comment, it just adds to Talbot’s column, which said he knew nothing of the much-discussed hatred the media so loves to talk about.
Tom
Jun 14, 10:19 AM
Matt, it looks so far that the numbers that I estimated will hold true and that Hossa, Fleury and Orpik will remain. That leaves Malone of the core players. If the other free agents take slight increases or accept the same pay, it leaves the Pens a choice between Malone on one hand and Whitney and Sydor on the other as I pointed out previously. I should keep Malone at $4,000,000 to $4,500,000 but not more. Should the Pens be unable to agree with Malone, Perhaps Caputo, CPZ or Jeffrey can replace him and supply Crosby with a crease crashing left wing. If not, one will have to be sought in free agency, Cory Perry? The result would be the same, Whitney and Sydor or Cory Perry. The numbers do not lie and the more my estimates which I shall attach again, are realized, the more the choices are narrowed.
Player….2008-2009….....2009-2010
Crosby….$8,700,000…....$8,700,000
Malkin…..3,834,000….....8,700,000
Hossa…...7,500,000….....7,500,000
Fleury…..4,500,000….....4,500,000
Malone…..4,000,000….....4,500,000
Staal…...2,200,000….....3,500,000
Sykora…..2,500,000…........?
Orpik…...4,000,000….....4,000,000
Gonchar….5,000,000…........?
Letang…....835,000….......835,000
Gill…....2,100,000…........?
Scuderi….....725,000…........?
Goligowski…984,000….......984,000
Laraque….1,300,000….....1,300,000
Talbot…....700,000…........?
The Pens’ core costs $48,878,000 in 2008-2009 with some $7,422,000 left for others (Spector estimates the cap at $56,300,000). This list presumes a($550,000) and Sydor ($2,500,000)(if he waives his no trade clause) to a low level team(s) for a good prospect and a high draft choice (e.g. Atlanta for Esposito and a high draft pick to draft Schenn or Bogosian, both right shooting, physical defensemen). Surely given their 2007-2008 salaries) Kennedy ($550,000), Hall ($525,000), Ruutu ($1,150,000), DuPuis ($880,000), Eaton ($1,600,000) and Curry($500,000) a total of $5,205,000 last year cannot cost that much more. The problem arises in 2009-2010 when Malkin and Staal receive big money; however, considering that Gonchar, Gill, Sykora and Scuderi all become free agents, some financial/personnel decisions may need to be made although there is no salary cap for 2009-2010. A good idea is to be conservative about handing out no-trade clauses.
Regardless of the course taken, It appears that the Pens’ changes will be minimal.
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Message: Matt, It looks so far that the numbers that I estimated will hold true and that Hossa, Fleury and Orpik will remain. That leaves Malone of the core players. If the other free agents take slight increases or accept the same pay, it leaves the Pens a choice between Malone on one hand and Whitney and Sydor on the other as I pointed out previously. I should keep Malone at $4,000,000 to $4,500,000 but not more. Should the Pens be unable to agree with Malone, perhaps Caputo, CPZ or Jeffrey can replace him and supply Crosby with a crease crashing left wing as well. If not, one will have to be sought in free agency, Cory Perry? The result would be the same, Whitney and Sydor or Cory Perry. The numbers do not lie and the more my estimates which I shall attach again, are realized, the more the choices are narrowed.
Player….2008-2009….....2009-2010
Crosby….$8,700,000…....$8,700,000
Malkin…..3,834,000….....8,700,000
Hossa…...7,500,000….....7,500,000
Fleury…..4,500,000….....4,500,000
Malone…..4,000,000….....4,500,000
Staal…...2,200,000….....3,500,000
Sykora…..2,500,000…........?
Orpik…...4,000,000….....4,000,000
Gonchar….5,000,000…........?
Letang…....835,000….......835,000
Gill…....2,100,000…........?
Scuderi….....725,000…........?
Goligowski…984,000….......984,000
Laraque….1,300,000….....1,300,000
Talbot…....700,000…........?
The Pens’ core costs $48,878,000 in 2008-2009 with some $7,422,000 left for others (Spector estimates the cap at $56,300,000). This list presumes a($550,000) and Sydor ($2,500,000)(if he waives his no trade clause) to a low level team(s) for a good prospect and a high draft choice (e.g. Atlanta for Esposito and a high draft pick to draft Schenn or Bogosian, both right shooting, physical defensemen). Surely given their 2007-2008 salaries) Kennedy ($550,000), Hall ($525,000), Ruutu ($1,150,000), DuPuis ($880,000), Eaton ($1,600,000) and Curry($500,000) a total of $5,205,000 last year cannot cost that much more. The problem arises in 2009-2010 when Malkin and Staal receive big money; however, considering that Gonchar, Gill, Sykora and Scuderi all become free agents, some financial/personnel decisions may need to be made although there is no salary cap for 2009-2010. A good idea is to be conservative about handing out no-trade clauses.
Regardless of the course taken, It appears that the Pens’ changes will be minimal.
Pens1967
Jun 14, 10:25 AM
Matt, I disagree about Sykora not being a good two-way player. He spent a lot of years with the Devils where a player had to be defensively responsible. There’s no doubt he’s a goal-scorer first and foremost, though.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 14, 11:12 AM
Pens1967, I suppose I worded that wrong. He is capable in his own end, but he’s not someone you would confuse with a penalty killer. In other words, the only thing he really “stand out” at is sniping, and even that is most common when he has someone to feed him the puck. This is to take nothing away from him, as he is one of the players I really want to stay. I just think it serves to illustrate that he likely won’t get much of a payraise.
Tom, your numbers definitely are coming to fruition, though that never really was in question. I truly think Malone walks, not just because there isn’t room for him under the cap, but because he thinks he’s being lowballed. From what I have heard, the Pens have no interest in paying him more than $3 million, which is exactly what he was seeking at the All Star break. And, to be honest, I can’t blame them. He’s been a consistent player throughout his career, but his numbers aren’t those of a superstar. He is a budding power forward, but I truly question how much of his 2007-08 surge had to do with being a free agent. You’ll note that his first half wasn’t all that great, then he turned it on in the second half. He’s a very good hockey player, but I’m not sure he’s worth even close to what he could get on the open market.
As for your trade proposal of Sydor for Esposito (again) AND a high draft pick. You’ve got to be kidding me. Sydor MIGHT fetch a fourth or fifth rounder from a team in desperate need of a veteran defender. And, if, by chance, he was good enough to fetch the return you suggest, I would recommend keeping him, because that would mean he is a bargain at $2.5 million. Esposito — or any high-end prospect — is not coming to Pittsburgh. Neither is a high draft pick. At the best, the Penguins MIGHT squeeze something as high as the 10th overall pick from a team really interested in Malone. Bogosian or Schenn would be amazing to nab, but getting them is so far fetched it’s not even worth discussing.
Also, Gonchar has two years left on his contract, which was signed as a five year deal. So he won’t come off the books until the year after Malkin and Staal are eligible for RFA status.
Andrew R
Jun 14, 01:16 PM
Good that the Pens have made Hossa their priority. Three players in their prime with 100 point seasons of their resumes is a great foundation to build a roster around. Throw in Fleury, a goalie with a 40-win season and a solid, at times spectacular, playoffs this year, and you have a some huge chunks of the puzzle in place.
The only way the Pens even come close to sneaking into the top 8-10 picks through a trade would be talks with Hossa fall through and the Pens trade his exclusive negotiating rights before the draft. That being said, speculation from Rob Rossi at the Trib is that the Pens’ deadline for Hossa accepting their offer could fall after the draft.
Malone’s exclusive negotiating rights probably could not get the Pens high enough to draft either of those elite D-men mentioned, but rumors are that he is headed to Columbus, possibly for the 6th or 19th pick. I think the 6th pick would be a reach unless the Pens’ include more of their end of the deal. The 19th pick though would be a great coup for a player they are believed to far apart with in contract talks. I agree with Matt here, thoughts of the Pens jumping high into the first round are daydreaming. That being said, it would be nice to have a few decent picks in the first few rounds in one of the deepest drafts on record.
I have said it before and I will say it again. If the Pens range up above the $3-2.25 million for Orpick, they will be making a huge mistake based on what we know now. His heroic playoffs aside, he has never displayed a consistently sound performace over a full season. His overall resume parted from the hype from his playoffs does not merit a salary higher than mentioned. To be fair, he did perform at an extraordinary level in the most important games. His future contract should reflect that as well, but not to the tune of $4 million annually. If Orpick goes, I say we try to meet Malone in the middle, somewhere around $3.5-3.75 million annually.
One thing the Pens will have to constantly keep in mind when they’re payroll approaches the cap: When the Pens’ core players are come into their big contract years, every 500k and 750k will matter a great deal in rounding out the roster (4th line wingers/6th D-men). It would behoove the Penguins not to sacrifice that essential space by overpaying players now.
Tom
Jun 15, 06:59 PM
Matt, I was suggesting Whitney, Sydor, early rights to Conklin, Scuderi and Sabourin for two early draft picks or a prospect and an early draft pick. I merely used Esposito as an example. I would take a bag of chips for Sydor alone to be rid of his cap hit.
If the Pens cut Eaton ($1,600,000), Sydor ($2,500,000) and Ruutu ($1,150,000) they can afford to offer Malone $5,000,000. I do not think an offer that high for Malone is justified at this time. Perhaps Malone would accept a short term contract for $4,000,000 and see if he can maintain his level of play. I believe that he is valuable to the Pens, but would suffer away from Malkin and Sykora, the only linemates with whom he has been successful. I believe other GMs are aware of this as well. I should be somewhat surprised to see him get a higher longterm contract.
In evaluating free-agent offers, one must always see the big picture and the cap amount. Keeping one’s eye on the realities always permits one to closely estimate possible offers or combinations. If I were Shero, I should trade Whitney while his value is high and his full salary is not due. I am not sanguine about him being able to replace Gonchar.
By the way I did not put a pay amount for Gonchar because he becomes a free-agent after 2009-2010. If the Pens wish to keep him thereafter, they can negotiate with him for an extension; however, if they wish to replace him, they will have to do so with at least a year to run on his contract if they want any value for him. He is now 34 years old. I do not believe his value to be $5,000,000 when he is 36. Our offensively gifted defensemen at this time are Whitney, Goligoski and Letang in addition to Gonchar. Letang is clearly the one with the most upside if only for his speed, quickness, shot, passing ability, vision and physicality. His development and Goligoski’s are key to the Pens’ blueline future. They could make you forget all about Gonchar and Whitney.
By the way, I read one of the most absurd articles today (Sunday) in the Trib by Sharkey. He needs a clear grasp of the business end of team development under the cap rather than wild speculations about who is “the man.” “The man” in any team sport is the person about whom the offense or defense is designed. When Crosby has a line on the ice, he is “the man.” When Malkin has a line on the ice, he is “the man.” This is so because the scheme or game plan is designed around their special skills. Each team has a few players capable of being “the man.” The Pens have several players who are or have been “the man.” Certainly Crosby and Malkin have been “the man” with the Pens. Gonchar has been “the man” on defense for one reason or another. Letang was certainly “the man” at Val d’Or. Hossa has been “the man” for the Czech team. Staal certainly is “the man” on the PK and trap. This multiple assignment of the role is what makes Sharkey’s argument pure fancy and of no value. For instance, I don’t see Lidstrom contesting for recognition with Zetterberg. Mr. Sharkey fails to recognize that Hockey is a team sport. The success of the team derives from the players’ ability to play as a team, utilizing their individual skills to the maximum. Players are paid because of their efforts and abilities rather than some imagined favoritism. Keep your eye on the cap, not imagined petty conflicts.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 15, 07:29 PM
Tom, we agree that a bag of chips would be sufficient compensation for Sydor in a trade. Shedding his salary would be nice, and is likely, assuming there is a taker. I still am of the firm belief, based on Shero’s comments, that Whitney is going nowhere, and the more I hear about Malone, the more I am fine with that.
As you indicate, Malone is not worth $5 million. That’s just way too much for a 50 point guy. He’s a valuable player, but not THAT valuable. Even if he would take a short-term contract for more money (which is kind of an oxy moron, and I’ll explain why in a bit), trading Whitney, who has numerous years left for a guy who would be here for two years max is shortsighted. Now, as for the oxy moron part. The shorter the contract, generally the more a team has to pay. Why? Well, because Malone has earned his payday right now, and he’s not willing to risk losing it if he doesn’t have a few more solid seasons. If he gets hurt, if Malkin gets hurt, or if he just doesn’t produce, he’s out of luck. So for a short term deal, you’d be looking at more like $6 million — and that’s just ridiculous.
As for Starkey, consider his column in today’s paper a way for him to boost ratings on his weekend radio show. I’ve been noticing more and more that the Trib is sensationalizing things a bit, and I think it’s because they are desperate to get some hockey readership.
Tom
Jun 15, 07:41 PM
Matt, I consider $4,000,000 an overpayment for Malone. I really believe that his career year is largely a product of playing with Malkin and Sykora, particularly when Crosby was injured. I do not believe anyone will pay him $5,000,000 longterm. If they do then they are being foolish.
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