A day after announcing a two-year extension for coach Dan Bylsma, the Penguins signed Evgeni Malkin to an eight-year extension worth a reported $76 million. The 27-year old former league MVP and Conn Smythe winner was set to enter the final year of his contract. He was making an average of $8.7 million. He’s due $7.5 million in ’13-14.
The new deal will pay him a cap hit of $9.5 million. Malkin will also receive $10 million in bonuses. It includes a no-trade clause. Sidney Crosby signed his extension last summer. He’ll be making an average of $10.6 million once his new contract kicks in this Fall. Mission accomplished for GM Ray Shero, who decided to retain Bylsma following the disappointment against Boston in a lopsided Conference Final.
“He made it very clear that this is where he wanted to play,” Shero said.“I like the city, is good for hockey,” Malkin said. “I like fans. I have house here and all my friends here. It’s good for me.“
Malkin took responsibility for not scoring against the Bruins. He praised Bylsma and was enthusiastic about staying with the team that drafted him second overall in the ’04 Draft behind fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin. The Pens will continue to have arguably the world’s two best players through 2022. A scary prospect for their competition.
“We’re still young and can stay here a long time,” Malkin said. “We’re a group that we’ve won Stanley Cup before and I believe we will again.“
By keeping Malkin in Pittsburgh, Shero can now focus on getting defenseman Kris Letang signed to an extension. The Norris candidate is set to enter the final year of his contract in which he’ll earn $3.5 million. A bargain for one of the game’s best. With the cap set to decrease an estimated six million, Shero will be hard pressed to re-sign unrestricted’s Pascal Dupuis, Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow and Doug Murray. Matt Cooke is also a UFA and should be a good bet to stay. Dupuis might cash in elsewhere. Unless they’re willing to take discounts, it looks like the Pens will have a different look.
With the Pens doing their job, it’s time for Rangers President and GM Glen Sather to do his. The firing of John Tortorella has served as a distraction for re-signing Henrik Lundqvist long term. Lundqvist will make $5.125 million in the final season of a deal that pays him an average cap hit of $6.875 million. The 31-year old Swede’s disappointment following the Rangers’ second round ouster to the Bruins set in motion Tortorella’s dismissal. The coaching process is playing out leaving our fans in the dark. Alain Vigneault and Lindy Ruff remain the top candidates as I noted in yesterday’s coaching carousel post.
The Blueshirts must have a new coach in place by the Draft. They don’t have many picks in what’s a deep draft. That’s the risk Sather took by acquiring pending UFA Ryane Clowe and acquiring Rick Nash. While Nash is here for the long haul, Clowe’s situation remains in limbo. A rumored three concussions doesn’t help. It’s an important off season for Slats, who must re-sign Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan to new deals while also getting Carl Hagelin, Mats Zuccarello and John Moore re-upped.
Injured defenseman Mike Sauer turns restricted. He hasn’t played since Dion Phaneuf concussed him in December 2011. Including playoffs, he’s missed the last 138 games. The 25-year old Sauer is a former second round pick the Rangers selected in ’05. His size (6-3 213) is severely missed. He was a strong player who took the body and cleared the front of the crease. An area that’s plagued the Rangers D. He also was tough standing up for teammates. There’s no doubt they’ve missed that edge. Such a shame if he can’t resume his career. It remains to be seen if he’ll be kept.
Much is up in the air with our team. Sather must get a step on it. Lundqvist should have a new contract soon. Enough dilly dallying. He’s our franchise.
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