Malone to Test Market
Justin Maffei | Pittsburgh Penguins
Jun 17, 08:09 PM | Hype this story!
It has been rumored recently that the Pittsburgh Penguins may trade their negotiating rights with Ryan Malone. However, Malone likely put an end to that rumor.
“We will not talk to anyone until July 1,” said Malone.
This is a true blow to the Penguins who had hoped to get an early draft pick in return for Malone’s rights. Columbus had been the leading candidates for a trade. Now that Malone made that statement, it is unlikely that any team would make a trade with the Penguins for his rights. Since he has announced that he will wait until the first day of free agency, there is no reason for anyone to trade for his rights.
UPDATE
According to Aaron Portzline, Ryan Malone has given hope to Blue Jacket fans who still want him on the team. He told The Dispatch, “I don’t want any team I go to to give up a possible teammate. So we will wait till the first.”
Do not get too excited though, Columbus.
Would he consider playing for Columbus?
“Yes. Yes I would. I am considering other teams as well.”
This is quite a slap in the face of the Penguins who had hoped to get something in return for Malone. Portzline believes that it is a move of revenge on the part of Malone for the Penguins low-balling him.
UPDATE 2
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette spoke with Malone’s agent, Mike Luit about Malone’s decision. Luit said that Malone was against his rights being traded. “Ryan doesn’t want to go down that road,” Liut said. “His preference would be to go ahead and go until July 1 [and become an unrestricted free agent].”
Against all speculation, Luit suggested that there is a chance that Malone will remain in Black and Gold, but it is unlikely. “He’s looking at better than a 50-50 chance right now that he’ll be changing teams,” Liut said. “We’ll see what happens in the next week or 10 days.”
Because Malone is waiting until July 1, the “better than a 50-50 chance” that he will no longer be a Penguin looks like a gross understatement. Hitting the open market will drive Malone’s price up and the Penguins are not likely to overpay because another team is doing so. They have too many other free-agents and big name players with which to concern themselves. Salary Cap-wise, they cannot afford to overpay Malone.
Comments
Tom
Jun 17, 08:43 PM
Justin, Considering the source is Rossi, I have great questions as to the accuracy of the quote attributed to Malone.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 17, 08:52 PM
I question speculation. Not quotes.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 17, 08:58 PM
I believe this effectively puts an end to any/all possibility that Malone will wear the black and gold of the Penguins next season. He’s going to the highest bidder, and let’s hope that is a team out West!
Tomorrow I’ll have a piece outlining a few free agents who might sign for the $3 million the Penguins apparently offered Malone.
Tom
Jun 17, 09:13 PM
Matt, Malone or the team that pays him $5M longterm will be very shocked to see his production when playing with other linemates than Malkin and Sykora. I have heard many claims of Rossi’s misquotes.
Matt Bodenschatz
Jun 17, 09:24 PM
I don’t disagree that his production will go down. I certainly don’t disagree that he is worth much less than $5 million. He’s a good player who has been consistent throughout his career. He’s good for 40-45 points. If that gets him $5 million, good for him and shame on the team that signs him.
I’ve never once heard a concern about Rossi misquoting, and if he did, he’d be in line for legal troubles and would be off the beat in a minute. I have heard accusations of rumor-mongering and pandering to the crowd, essentially feeding them what they want to hear, but that is far from misquoting someone.
Trust me, take this Malone story as 100 percent fact. That’s what it is.
TIM
Jun 17, 10:07 PM
I think Matt is right, and it sucks to see. When FF wrote the story on this site about Hossa getting 7 year offer I said I thought it might be a bad move to low ball Malone. Not trying to say I told you so, but it would have been nice if they could part ways amicably and the Pens could have gotten something in return. To be fair though this might not be a revenge move, and just Malone looking out for his best interests. I just hate to see a warrior like Malone leave Pittsburgh on bad terms. He was a home grown boy. Take care Bugsy.
Justin Maffei
Jun 17, 10:26 PM
I definitely agree now Tim. The article by Aaron Portzline made it seem that Malone was quite cheesed off. However, it was speculation and the quotes in the Post Gazette make me feel otherwise.
The One and Only Surge
Jun 17, 10:36 PM
I truly hate to see Malone go but good for him. He has every right to be upset with being low balled but, I don’t think that is the case here. I think he is getting older and now with a child at home he is looking out for his future. If he can get a larger pay check by waiting till July 1 then good for him.
Michael
Jun 17, 10:55 PM
With Malone leaving .. we need Staal to move to left wing with Malkin.
This is a combination that Therrien should have kept together ever since they clicked so well in 2006-2007. As soon as the big winning streak ended in February 2007, Therrien pulled them apart .. an idiotic move .. and he’s never given them a chance to effectively re-unite.
Staal is being wasted as a third-line center. You don’t draft a guy no.2 overall and then stick him on the 3rd line. He’s not playing with scoring wingers and he’s not getting enough ice time. His scoring talent is being stifled. And he’s obviously not happy there, either .. and he shouldn’t be. He knows he’s being misused. He proved he can score a lot of goals as a left wing with Malkin .. so put him back there, damnit!
And then we need to sign a free-agent scoring-winger to go with Crosby and Hossa. Dupuis just doesn’t cut it on the top line. .. and we don’t have anyone else good enough for that spot.
Talbot should be the 3rd line center.
But with Therrien being the stubborn ass that he is, I wouldn’t be surprised to
see Staal misused at 3rd line center again this next season.
Justin Maffei
Jun 17, 11:21 PM
Staal back on Malkin’s line has the possibility of solving a lot of problems (Staal’s unhappiness, Staal regaining his offensive game, and not needing to find a second top 2 forward). I hope that that is what happens, but we shall see. As for the scoring winger for Crosby and Hossa (if he re-signs), I am looking forward to seeing Matt Bodenschatz’s take on it in his article tomorrow. I spoke with him earlier tonight and it sounds like it’s going to be a good read.
Pens1967
Jun 18, 03:08 AM
Here’s the money quote from Liut: “We’ll see what happens in the next week or 10 days.”
And here’s what we know:
- Liut spoke to Shero the day after the season for preliminary talks. Those talks didn’t go any further because of the Pens’ interest in signing Hossa. (We know Shero invoked arbitration for Fleury to buy time as well.)
Here’s what we don’t know:
- What, if any, contract offer was made to Malone.
Based on the facts and Liut’s quote, I’m not convinced Malone wants to leave the Pens at all. The timeframe he cites fits in the parameters of Hossa making up his mind. If Hossa doesn’t resign, then the odds of Malone staying go up.
I DO think based on both Liut’s and Malone’s quotes that they are preparing themselves that Malone might be the odd man out IF Hossa accepts and signs whatever offer the Pens made to him.
Hossa’s decision is the key, not anything else.
Dabich
Jun 18, 05:21 AM
Hey, it’s Surge! Glad to see you here, buddy.
I’m also glad to see someone sticking up for Bugsy as he is my fav player. I HATE to see him go. I’m holding on to slim hope that something will work out and the Pens can keep him in Pittsburgh.
Pens1967 ~ I like the way you think =D
The One and only surge
Jun 18, 07:31 AM
Dabich, I’ve been following the site every since you posted it on the Mirror but I just havn’t had a chance to add input. Great site and love refrences to other sites and writers.
Pens1967, I would definetly agree that Hossa signing or not is the key for Malone. I use to have the view he might give the Pens the home town discount but, after taking into consideration is new family, I don’t think it will happen. He is not old but is getting older and with the season he just had, this is prime time to seak a long term and high paying deal. Although I also see the fact of him making the July 1 annoucement, could be a way of him preventing the Pens from trading him and thus allowing them more time to try and sign him. If we get to July 1 he is as good as gone.
Pens1967
Jun 18, 08:04 AM
I found it interesting that Malone directly said he didn’t want to be traded. To me, the additional “don’t want to lose a potential teammate” sounded like an afterthought – something one might say after realizing one might have let their true feelings slip out.
I’m not saying this means the odds of Malone staying in Pgh are good, but I don’t think it’s a slam dunk he’ll leave either.
Also, Empty Netters reported this morning that Portzine admitted Shero had never offered a trade of Malone’s rights to the
CBJs. It sure looks like all Portzine’s blog info on Malone was like the fish that just kept getting bigger with each iteration of the story.
Finally, many posters have mentioned Malone “lives” in MN in the off-season. I
believe it was in a long profile story in the P-G that he attends a summer hockey camp in MN that he’s gone to since he was a teenager. Subsequently there was another story that the Malones rent a house in MN.
The idea that the Malones are Minnesotans living in Pgh during the season isn’t quite correct.
Phil
Jun 18, 08:06 AM
The Pens aren’t going to pay what Malone wants. Everyone is lambasting any team willing to pay $5+ million for Malone, but then if Hossa doesn’t sign, all of a sudden that ok for us? I’m not ready to accept that yet. If Malone thinks he got lowballed to be a second-line winger on a great team that has a chance at one or more cups then he should go play in Columbus for the next 5-6 years and then he’ll feel right back at home on a crappy, marginal at best team that will miss the playoffs. I don’t blame him for anything that’s happening, but just cause he’s ready to move us doesn’t mean we should start clamoring for him to come back. At this point it seems Hossa will be resigned no matter what, so let’s just look forward, not backward.
Peace Bugsy. It’s been fun.
KG
Jun 18, 08:43 AM
I just hope that Hossa comes back from his vacation and they hammer out the reported 7 years $52MM contract…If Hossa does not come back, and Malone leaves….Shero is going to be a very busy man!
Please stay Hossa!
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