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ALL PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES PLEASE TAKE NOTE!!!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps Crosby doing the same thing last year is opening some eyes? Good on you, Malkin....if it's true.

Good for you, Evgeny! It's either that or go back to eating borscht and cabbage rolls in good ol' mother Russia!

This is why I disagreed with the Pens making Hossa a priority in the first place. Malkin is a franchise-type player, Hossa is not even close. When a franchise player says he will take less to win, you sign him. Crosby did last year, and now Malkin. Let Hossa fly and sign another winger to play with Sid the Kid. I would concentrate on bringing Malone back, but he may be miffed that the club all but forgot about him while they were attempting to sign Hosebag.

The Pens have needs in a few areas. More depth on defence. A complimentary winger for Sid. Hossa will take the money elsewhere, some sucker will pay him 8-9 million to float and disappear when he is counted on like he did in Ottawa and Atlanta.

A reduced salary at $8.5 million? Won't that still make him the highest payed hockeyplayer in the world, or is Sid and AO ahead of him by $500,000? Geez... had he said $7 million I would've understand, but $8,5? Yeah right, what a cut!

Anyone hear if Sykora is staying? On "Savran on Sports" last night they seem to think he is gone. That would be a shame. Especially if Hossa and Malone are gone (which the panelists last night seem to think is going to happen).

Hossa wont sign for the same reason Malone is leaving his home town and a team that made the cup...they dont like Crosby. Malkin is an idiot, we all know that and that explains why he's willing to make less money than Crosby when he is a better player and can make more cash somewhere else.

joec - i agree with you
davep - your an idiot

i agree with beam team so i'm not even posting anything.

Beam Team, do you mean "you're" an idiot? If so, Im really not. Pens wanted to keep Hossa over Malkin, everyone knows that. Keeping Hossa gives them a player that isnt better than their franchise player. Hossa could have stayed, he turned down $7million from Pitts which is far more than he's worth. Why wouldnt he stay there and possibly win a cup? Now he's going to play in Boston or Chicago and probably never make another cup. Also, tell me why Malone is leaving? He was raised in Pitts and is loved by the city, but wants to go elsewhere. Facts are hard to dispute, especially for someone who isn't bright enough to use the word "you're" correctly I guess.

Its a no-brainer, they have to sign Malkin. It worked out pretty well for the Aves having two #1 centers and a french goalie as cornerstones of their franchise, why wouldn't you copy that mold... Sykora is good but old. The Pens need to give these guys younger wingers they can evolve with. If there's a learning curve so be it, they've got time if Malkin signs for 7-8 years.

I think a combination of davep and joec is the down and dirty truth.

Hossa is merely a spare part (by the way I love Hosebag...). Many could feast with a set up man like he is willing to leave. Malkin carried the team on his own while Crosby was out this past year, ipso fatso franchise player.

Pens surely have shortfalls on defense. Address that issue.

Instead they seem willling to let a player like Malone go, they chase Hossa and neglect Malkin.

Classic snafu in my opinion. Shero is obviously in way over his head.

the stories about malkin are too vague.. for all we know shero told malkin "we'll resign you" at the end of the season and has concentrated on other signings... most people would agree thats its a no brainer to resign malkin.. maybe shero does to and has already addressed it just not finalized it.

As for malone shero handled it poorly... most would agree its alot easier to replace a player like malone than a player like hossa or sykora... and for less then malone probly wants.... he should have kept malone in the loop in case one of the others took off.. he already sent away a fan favorite in armstrong and is pushing away another in malone.... gotta have some grit around.....

davep....where did you get THAT information? The Toronto Star? National Enquirer?

sensfan....Colby was a fan favorite and was Crosby's best bud (which shoots the "if Crosby doesn't like them they're gone" theorists out of the water) but he wasn't putting up any numbers at all. He did sign for 2 years so after next season....or a trade.

davep....sorry, hit the button before I was done. I have not even heard an inkling of Hossa and Malone not signing because of Crosby. That seems rather absurd.

I keep forgetting that Armstrong was given up for Hossa. Armstrong would have been a great thing to have against Detroit. I still remember the hit he put on Koivu on Super Bowl Sunday and the one he put on McAmmond in the playoffs 2 years ago. Armstrong takes no prisoners.

I dont think armstrong was ever meant to put up big numbers... hes was on pace for 40 points... which would be a good number for him, unless he plays with a guy like malkin or crosby... its the other things he does that makes him valuable... especially at 1.25 mil.... im not saying it was a bad trade.... it was a great trade... almost got a cup in pittsburg... im just saying you cant let go of all your "team" orientated players... you have to have those dirty gritty players like malone....

sensfan....I am in agreement with you. I liked Colby's grittiness 'cause he did put some major hits and people which makes you keep one eye on him. I think it was his lack of numbers at the time that assisted in the trade. Who knows. He could be back, who knows. he was chatting in the stands with Shero prior to one of the play-off games. Hmmmm, a deal in the works? I would like to see that!

Heard on the Pittsburgh news that Gary Roberts wants to play another year but it probably won't be in The Burgh. I think he is a $2 mil/year man. You definitely knew what you would get when he stepped on the ice....110%.