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PHN Blog: Penguins Draft Scenarios, Rumors Don’t Pass Smell Test

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Pittsburgh Penguins, Kris Letang

Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ron Hextall has not tipped his hand regarding the NHL Draft or the Penguins’ hopes therein. The Fort Knox approach to the Penguins’ front office dealings of hockey operations cracked slightly last week when the president of hockey operations, Brian Burke, first talked to Pittsburgh Hockey Now. Still, there was little news other than that the Penguins would not wait forever on Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin.

A few days later, a few NHL rumors popped up that did not pass the smell test but went far and wide nonetheless. In this PHN Blog, we’ll also look a the Penguins’ draft scenarios, including one scenario by which they could trade down to recoup picks.

First, the NHL trade rumors and free agency chatter.

Let’s be clear, the agents for Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are not talking. They’ve admitted hardship in negotiations, and that’s it. I’m not sure where the first chatter appeared, but the hot internet rumor has the Carolina Hurricanes going after Evgeni Malkin.

I see it all over Facebook, each rumor site repeating the other rumor sites.

So, let me get this straight — the Carolina Hurricanes cannot afford Vincent Trocheck but CAN afford Evgeni Malkin?

Also, the Carolina Hurricanes are interested in Kris Letang? The same team having trouble re-signing Anthony DeAngelo?

And the Tampa Bay Lightning are going hard after Kris Letang? The same team that just dumped Ryan McDonagh because they were over the salary cap will chase a 35-year-old defenseman who wants a much bigger payday than McDonagh’s $6 million?

Yeah, ummm, I’m going to go have to sort of … disagree with you there.

For the record, a team source told PHN on Tuesday there’s been a feeling that a Letang deal would get done. The issue has been years, not dollars. However, Hextall is not a chatty sort, and outside of the few people directly involved, specifics are not available.

My gut still says the contract will be for three years, north of $8 million, or four years at around $8 million, but that’s purely a gut feeling. If Letang would accept a three-year deal at $8 million AAV, it would have been done already, right?

Pittsburgh Penguins Draft Scenario

**Dateline: On my way to Montreal with Molinari in tow.

Later today, Dave Molinari will reveal what sources have told him about the Penguins’ draft plans, including any Penguins trade chatter or the process by which a trade might materialize.

However, let’s flip the scenario of the Penguins’ needs. We’ve been over the handful of players who generally fit the Penguins system. What if all of Frank Nazar, Isaac Howard, Brad Lambert, or other 21st overall-appropriate players are taken by the time the Penguins pick rolls around?

The Penguins could reach, or …

One player we also have eyes on is undersized Team USA defenseman Lane Hutson, who has elite skates and offensive skill but is only 5-foot-9 and less than 160 pounds. He’s generally rated in the 30s and 40s by most scouting services.

Could the Penguins trade down for a player they like, such as Hutson, to recoup a third or fourth-rounder?

It makes sense, pending how the draft board shakes out. Former Ottawa Senators executive Pierre McGuire recently told our friends at Montreal Hockey Now that he was not enamored with the talent pool in the 2022 NHL Draft. He exaggerated slightly to compare it to the barren 1999 draft, including former Penguins trade acquisition Kris Keech at seventh overall.

Let’s assume Letang gets at least $8 million. The Penguins could use an extra pick to attach to a high-priced player whose value may not meet salary for a salary dump.

While the above scenario is unlikely, we know this isn’t a typical offseason. The number of pieces and parts the Pittsburgh Penguins must add probably exceeds the money available without some unconventional measures.