Crosby or Malkin?

[leopards40]

I was reading an article today on the penguins website today, and it was saying how the penguins are going to have choose between Crosby or malkin in 2013/2014 season. So, in your opinion who would you choose? I know two years ago I would pick Crosby, but now with his injury problem I'm for malkin. What do you guys think?

[pghin08]

I actually think they'll keep both. The sacrificial one will unfortunately be Staal. He's due a huge raise, his contract is up after next year, and he's just too good to get 3rd line center minutes. It's depressing, as he does things on defense that nobody else does.

[leopards40]

I actually think they'll keep both. The sacrificial one will unfortunately be Staal. He's due a huge raise, his contract is up after next year, and he's just too good to get 3rd line center minutes. It's depressing, as he does things on defense that nobody else does.

I rather loose Staal than either of those two, I wish I could find the article now.

[Estovia]

Agreed, Staal will probably be traded for a hefty sum at next year's trade deadline. There's always a possibility he's happy in Pittsburgh and will want to continue to play there even for much less than free agency would pay him, but odds are he'll want to get his payday and get out from under the immense shadows cast by Crosby and Malkin.

I don't think there will be a big deal for Pittsburgh here. If they were up at the same time.... maybe. But Malkin's contract is good for a year beyond Crosby's, and their cap numbers are already 8.7 out of a possible 12.86, and I think both players understand that if they eat up much more cap space, the team will suffer as a whole.

As for Crosby and Malkin, I doubt either of them will want to move on. I doubt the team will want to move either of them (unless something amazing and unforseen happens) and I doubt they will want any kind of major increase in pay. Their contracts are the kind of contracts that everyone else in the league strives to earn, and larger paydays don't really come unless a major talent like theirs wants out of town (i.e. Brad Richards)

[ncm7772]

They'll keep both and let Staal go.

[xelloss1012]

Crosby and Malkin I think was once referred to by a hockey analyst as the two-headed monster of the Penguins, if one doesn't get you, the other will.

Unfortunately for Jordan Staal, salaries are more based on point production than two-way play. The other question is possibly Fleury's stability in net long-term as I feel he wins many of his games due to the Penguins offense at times.

I just had a look on capgeek, where both Crosby and Staal are UFAs at the end of the 2012-13 season (just a year away). Malkin's does not become a UFA until another season after that (end of 2013-14). Both Crosby and Malkin have a no movement clause in the last year of their contracts, and Staal does not have any clauses. Also, the Penguins apparently already signed James Neal to a six-year extension (30.0M) that starts next season.

[JD4short]

Keep Malkin, Crosby to Monteal. Yes It Will Happened.. I say within 4-6 years...I willing to bet on it

[maradona]

Two things:
- Malkin's performance dips whenever Crosby is healthy
- Crosby's PR value is too high to move him

Therefore it's Malkin who'll go, barring more injuries to Crosby. Staal is an extremely valuable two-way center and the Pens should not even think about moving him.

[borcky90]

Crosby makes everyone else better on the team by his amazing hockey sense, Mallon is a powerhouse that knows how to produce. Right now I would have to say Malkin

Staal will be moved but he wasn't even in the original question?

[30ranfordfan]

If there's a way to keep both, Pittsburgh will find it. Since day 1 - there has been talk that Pittsburgh will have to make a choice between these two guys, the truth is they don't.

The formula going forward in Pittsbrugh is simple:

Let 3 centers, a goalie, and a dmen eat up about half the cap.

Round the roster out with a mix of "semi-stars", guys still on their first contract, cheap role players, and vets who want to play on a contender.

You don't trade away a top 5 player and win that deal.