i saw malkin and malone down at that bar room pittsburgh on friday night.they didnt seem to depressed that they lost
i guess malkin has to stay here for the summer… russian mafia will kill him if he goes back home lol
Here is that article on Orpik.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_571469.html
Brooks Orpik knows it’s no secret that he and coach Michel Therrien don’t exactly see eye-to-eye, but the defenseman said Friday that it won’t prevent him from returning next season.
One of a dozen Penguins entering free agency July 1, Orpik discredited talk that a rocky relationship with Therrien would play a role in whether he re-signs with the organization that drafted him in the first round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.“My whole career I’ve never been best friends with the coach,” Orpik said, responding to a Winnipeg Sun story suggesting he would not return to the Penguins if Therrien did. "I’m here to play. I’ve always had a good working relationship with my coaches. It’s nothing personal.
“Would it prohibit me from coming back? No, not at all. I’m not here to have someone pat me on the back every day. That’s obviously not something he does. He tries to get the best out of you. Those rumors, I don’t know where they started. I don’t see any quotes in those articles from me. That’s mostly speculation, as far as I’m concerned.”
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Although Therrien didn’t address Orpik directly, the Penguins coach expressed an interest in retaining the core of a young team that was on the cusp of winning the Stanley Cup.
“I wish we were going to keep the same team,” Therrien said. “But some guys will be free agents, and will they accept the offer some team gives them? I don’t know. I’m not in position to answer that question. But there’s no doubt I want to keep that same team. The chemistry of that group is pretty special.”Orpik agreed with that assessment, especially after withstanding the rigors of losing seasons to enjoy the spirited playoff run. He said that he doesn’t “need a lot to be happy,” and as long as he’s treated “fairly,” there shouldn’t be too many negotiation hurdles.
Orpik also warned that money doesn’t solve all problems.
“You’re really rolling the dice when you go other places,” he said. “I don’t care how much money they give you. It’s not going to make you happy in certain situations. It’s something that’s been in the back of a lot of guys’ minds the last couple weeks.”
Extending Evgeni Malkin and retaining restricted free agent goalie Marc-Andre Fleury figure to be the top priorities, along with signing right wings Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone and Orpik.
“I don’t think I’m the biggest domino to be knocked off right away,” Orpik said. “We’ll see what happens.”
it will be interesting to see who sticks around and who splits. it will come down to how much (less) money people are willing to take to be on a winning team. i’ve heard before that hossa has also stated he is willing to take less money to be a winning team.
I hope he stays at least another year with us!!
i heard crosby is willing to take a pay cut just to keep hossa around
He’s already taken a significant pay cut when he signed his extension last year. He took about 2.5 to 3 million below the max.
our first draft pick is 120th… i forgot we traded the first three rounds… maybe we will trade whitney for a 2 rd pick…
I heard trade rumors with Columbus…Malone and/or Orpik for either picks or a player. Hope it’s not true.
Just saw that on thefourthperiod.com. Pretty Weak.
rick nash ftw
Nash makes 5.4 mil/yr…plus I doubt they would give him up…would be nice though
Malkin says a deal will be done soon this year…and he is easy to deal with…and he isn’t seeking to make more than Sid…sounds good so far!!
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_572532.html
Pens’ Malkin says extension coming
By Rob Rossi
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, June 13, 2008Buzz up!
TORONTO – Evgeni Malkin did not leave the NHL Awards Show at Elgin Theatre on Thursday night with either the Hart Trophy or the Lester B. Pearson Award.
But he said the prize he really covets – a long-term contract extension with the Penguins – is on its way.“I’m thinking maybe five or six years,” said Malkin, set to enter the final season of his three-year entry-level deal. “I’m an easy guy to deal with. I’d love to stay in Pittsburgh.”
The NHL’s collective bargaining agreement forbids the Penguins from signing Malkin to an extension until July 1. Malkin said he expects the extension will be signed “soon” after that date.
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Malkin added that his annual salary did not need to top the $8.7 million teammate and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will average each of the next five seasons. Crosby signed a five-year extension worth $43.5 million last summer that picks up this season.
Neither Penguins general manager Ray Shero nor Malkin’s agent, J.P. Barry, could be reached for comment.Malkin denied various reports he is seeking a deal in the range of the 13-year/$124 million contract signed by Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin in January.
He also shrugged off speculation the Penguins will trade him this summer to create salary-cap space necessary to sign several impending free agents, including forwards Marian Hossa and Ryan Malone and defenseman Brooks Orpik.
“Those are just rumors,” Malkin said, through an interpreter. “I don’t even pay attention to those.”
Malkin said that he also tried to avoid criticism cast his way during the Stanley Cup final – the initial four games of which he was held without a point.
Malkin finished the Stanley Cup playoffs with 22 points in 20 games – fifth among all players. But he recorded only five points over his final 10 postseason contests, including just three in the Cup final, which the Penguins lost in six games to Detroit.
Illness, Malkin said, was partially to blame for his decline in production.
“I didn’t have an injury or anything; I just had a little fever,” Malkin said. “I wasn’t ready for the final. It was probably just me. I lost my game. At the end of the final I thought I found my touch again, but it was too late.”
Malone is probably going to want $5mil/yr. I think he’s grittier than Nash but Nash has more of a scoring touch as a power forward.
i thought it was interesting that article doesnt mention Malkin once
Its over,new year!