Malkin to Los Angeles?

Over at Puck Daddy, Greg Wyshynski is pondering the hottest rumor in hockey: Bruce Garrioch's report that the Pittsburgh Penguins are actively shopping Evgeni Malkin for salary cap reasons and that the Los Angeles Kings are first in line:

Malkin for [Mike] Cammalleri and what could be blue-chip defenseman Drew Doughty or Russian dynamo Nikita Filatov would be at best a steal for the Kings and, at worst, close to equal value once the rookies ripen.

No kidding. Greg goes on to add that a deal like this could be a real moment of truth for the Kings franchise, and I can't disagree. If this rumor is even close to being true, and when you're dealing with Garrioch you always have to wonder out loud whether or not it is, there's no reason in my mind that LA GM Dean Lombardi wouldn't be doing anything and everything in his power to get the paperwork on this signed, sealed and delivered before Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero changes his mind.

But as mind boggling as this deal might be, there's another question we ought to be asking: Whether or not Malkin wants to stay in Pittsburgh, is it really in his best interest to do so?

I can't help but think back to the just completed season and recall that Malkin didn't come into his own until Sidney Crosby was lost to injury. No matter how long Malkin might be in Pittsburgh, the Penguins will always be Crosby's team. Maybe moving 3,000 miles and lifting a team on his own shoulders might just show us what Malkin could really do?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-19-2008 @ 12:22PM

AVad said...

This is getting ridiculous. It's painful as a Pens fan to see this stuff rear it's ugly head in the more popular blogs. Why in sanity's name would we EVER trade one of the top 3 players in the league for a draft pick? and a decent second line center is beyond me! The Pens as assembled will challenge for the cup every year barring significant injuries if they just keep the core of Crosby, Malkin, and Fleury together. I've crunched the numbers...it's totally possible to keep these three AND Staal AND Hossa AND Orpik. If Shero is making this move to "free up" room for Ruutu, Roberts, Laraque types...then he's an idiot (btw he's not going to do that, because he's kind of smart) Unless Malkin has stated to him behind closed doors that he wants out (Unlikely since's he's been quoted as someone that is easy to deal with and is willing to take less than Crosby) this whole thing is prepostorous. This is bad for my health...and i'm only 27...please stop everyone.

6-19-2008 @ 1:44PM

Colonial said...

If this deal happens it will be for more than Cammilleri and a pick. For a 21 year old Hart trophy nominee with a limitless ceiling I think the conversation with LA STARTS with Kopitar, Johnson, and the #2 pick.

6-19-2008 @ 1:51PM

Agreed. However giving up the best player in the trade, is usually a horrific way to make a name for yourself as a GM.

6-19-2008 @ 4:24PM

Also, IF Malkin gets traded it would be sheer madness to do it right now. Lets say, for the sake of argument, that the Pens do want to get rid of him for cap reasons. Why wouldn't they hang on to him until next year while his contract isn't an issue?

Its arguable that the Pens would be in better shape longterm if they traded him but there is no way he goes now while he is a 100 point player with a tiny cap hit.

6-19-2008 @ 10:01PM

david lahm said...

Malkin's atrocious play in the Cup final will not soon be forgotten. I don't know from salarhy caps, but I'm not surprised to hear rumors about a departure from Pittsburgh

6-20-2008 @ 1:10AM

Its unfair to judge players based on their first few experiences in the playoffs. In their first two years:

- Henrik Zetterberg only had 6pts and was a minus 4 in his first 14 playoff games.
- Pavel Datsyuk had 6pts in his first 25 playoff games.

Would you have made the snap decision to trade these two as well? Yes, Malkin disappeared in the final but he was easily the Pens best player through the first two rounds. His play in the post season, as a whole, was very good especially when you compare it to other players his age.

6-20-2008 @ 9:50AM

Well thankfully this rumor was shot down by Lombardi and Ottawa's Murray. Thanks for nothing Bruce Garrioch.

David Lahm - it might be a little too early to panic...the guy had 10 goals in the playoffs, oh and 47 in the regular season. I say give him another chance...or 50 chances.