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This should make Cindy Crosby happy.

When the Pens traded for Hossa all the experts posting to T&R talked about how soft he was. A lesson for me on the collective wisdom of these posts. He was outstanding in the playoffs and I am not at all surprised at this.

Now wait for the posts on how the Pens should pass on Hossa and focus on Malone, Roberts ("character guys") etc.

Sweet. Glad they have to finally pay for their top 3 pick. (I know it was traded up)

This will make Crosby happy. He clicks with Hossa. This is a good move for the Pens IMO. Now trade Malkin, for a first line defenseman, prospect, and 1rd draft pick. Sign Malone, let Roberts and Gill hit the bricks, and Fleury is going to arbitration. Should keep the core of the team together minus Orpik and Milkman Malkin.

Reality is beginning to set in for the Penguins. They sucked for so long that they were able to acquire their top players through the draft and didn't have to worry about such things as salaries and the cap.

Now, the juggling act begins. Who to keep? Who to let go? How much can we pay this player? Do we have any cap room left for that other guy?

It will be interesting to watch over the next few years.

Hossa is a good role player, Pitt needs one more good line though. Crosby reminds me of Yzerman when he first came up, although I think Stevie probably wore a bigger jock.

Cindy can't even hold Yzerman's jock.

Right now but when it is all said and done I swear to u Sidney will be better than Yzerman! Especially if he could get 5 to 7 years of Hossa riding shotgun! The Eastern Conference is **** its paints right now at the thought of Hossa and Crosby together for a year. Not to mention Sykora and Malkin on the second line!

I love Malone, but he is more expendable than Hossa is.

mhwings are u crazy...Malkin and Staal are more important to this team than Hossa!

Im waiting for a PhillyDave comment to bash this or turn it around in some manner. I'll leave that B.S. alone for now. What a lot of people are missing in this is that in the same article (on the Tribune Review's page) it says that Brooks Orpik has stated that he as well would take less than market $ to stay with the team for the next 5-7 years. Here's your 1st line: Crosby/Hossa/ various wingers such as Talbot/Dupuis/etc and the D men are Gonchar and Orpik. Have fun with that one any goalie who's name begins with Martin/Marty!
So Malkin will sign. The Arbitration on Fleury is a good move till after the cap raise is addressed. The real issue here is not just Ryan Malone (who I personally would miss greatly), but the fact that MOST of the free agents are wingers. Granted Laraque, Roberts, Ruutu are all 3rd/4th liners, but other than Orpik grit may be hard to come by. Granted all we are doing is sitting around pontificating over who stays/who goes and how much they'll make.
Another thing to remember is that the Wilksbarre/Scranton baby Penguins made it to the Calder Cup finals before losing to Chicago. There are a ton of up and coming talents there. That's just a point for all of the other fans from the Atlantic Division who are claiming the Penguins only acquire good players from lackluster years and lottery picks. A lot of these guys were late 1st round, or latter round selections. Check out an up and coming D-men from the baby Pens who I personally believe will be up playing in the Igloo for some early games in October.

Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, Staal, and Hossa will make all of the money,
while the rest of the team will earn minimum wage, like $6 an hour.

This could be a deadly team IF they can keep it all together. I think with all the big heads that are forming right now, they should keep Roberts. He would help keep the kids in-line.
Roberts sips hot lead and spits out rivets.

actually, minimum wage in Pennsylvania is over $7an hr haha.
On another note, I know of one player I'd like to see get a little better: Ryan Whitney. There's a lot of money tied up there, and he didn't have his best year. Be a little more physical, and a better puck handler and he will be a great replacement for Sergei in a few years.

Roberts is mulling coming back believe it or not. I don't know what the team thinks of that cause a veteran's minimum requirements of his age and tenure are high. Look at Recchi last year. I don't think Hossa has an ego problem actually. I was rather surprised about how humble he was to be honest. When he scored the game winner in OT of game 5 against the Rangers he admitted that he screwed up and was trying to go up top and accidentally went through the 5 hole on Henrik. Very matter of fact and whatever helps the team attitude.
Oh, if this does one thing more than give Crosby a weapon it also gives him a teacher. Hossa is one of the best 2-way players in the league. Picking up a lot of those habits from Hossa would help him to better compete against 2 way powers like Zetterberg and Datsyuk.

The Hellion. I'm not saying their are big heads yet, merely that I think it's unavoidable given the fact that these guys are constantly told how amazing they are. Its got to play on them a bit.
Roberts would be the best to keep their heads on straight.

thepatriotscheated never stops amazing me with all the pointless, unintelligent comments. right on brother, right on.

Oh I don't disagree at all. I love Gary Roberts maybe for that reason more than any other. Sure, Scary Gary brings all that intensity and tough as nails attitude. But his mental approach and grounded nature are some of the most influential contributions. If he does retire I'd love to see him as a member of the coaching staff.
I also think they need to have players like Max Talbot and (maybe next year) Colby Armstrong around too. Them being high energy guys that aren't afraid to grind it out, but also have a "don't take ourselves that friggin seriously" theme about them.

Agreed. If Roberts is going to hang them up, he would be great in some sort of coaching role. I'd love to see him in Toronto in some capacity.
Them having a "new, young team" and all.

hahaha.... They are the Dolphins of hockey sadly... and Mats Sundin is Zach Thomas.