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Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."

 

According to Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersburg Times, Mike Liut, the agent for former Penguins forward said a deal between his client and the Tampa Bay Lightning "is going to get done. ... I think we'll finish it today."

The report estimates the deal will be worth $31 million over seven years. That would be just under $4.5 million per season. If you ask us, that's way too much for a player who has had a career-high of just 51 points and did so while riding shotgun with a Hart Trophy finalist in Evgeni Malkin. When Malkin's play slipped in the Stanley Cup final, Malone's production did too. He only had one assist in the six games against Detroit.

Obviously Malone does more than just score goals. He kills penalties and is more than willing to drop the gloves. But let's not act like this is a jack of all trades type of player at the level of Henrik Zetterberg or Jarome Iginla.

He's had one good season. Judging by this earlier post by Cristodero, it sounds like Oren Koules and Len Barrie, the Lightning's new owners, have fallen in love with Malone and are willing to overpay for a player who has been inconsistent the majority of his career. This deal has "Dustin Penner" written all over it.

Additionally, Malone is 28. Assuming the speculation of a seven-year deal is correct, he'll be 35 by the time it expires. Will he still be the same physcial player he was this past season by the end of it? Power forwards aren't exactly renown for having a long shelf life. Just ask Todd Bertuzzi.

The scary thing about this deal is wondering what a franchise player like Marian Hossa is worth now.

Also according to the report, an incentive-laden deal appears to be in the works for Gary Roberts for $2 million.

Should Malone sign with Tampa Bay, the Penguins would get third-round pick in the 2009 draft instead of a fourth-rounder after dealing the negotiating rights of Malone and Roberts to the Lightning Saturday.

Update: The agent for Gary Roberts says he is very optimistic a deal could get done with the Lightning.

Update two: Both deals appear to be "as good as done."

Update three: They're apparently determined to corner the market on 50-point scorers in Tampa Bay. The Lightning just acquired the negotiating rights of forward Brian Rolston from the Minnesota Wild for a conditional draft pick. Rolston is a lot more consistent than Malone however. He has had three consecutive 30-goal seasons which is a fairly impressive accomplishment considering he played for the defensive-minded Wild during that time.

Posted Jun 29 2008, 06:33 PM by Seth Rorabaugh
Filed under: ,

Comments

2008 Offseason thread - Page 2 - Operation Sports Forums wrote 2008 Offseason thread - Page 2 - Operation Sports Forums
on Sun, Jun 29 2008 7:03 PM

Pingback from  2008 Offseason thread - Page 2 - Operation Sports Forums

kharkins wrote re: Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."
on Sun, Jun 29 2008 7:28 PM

wow.  that is a lot of coin for a lot of years.

too much coin for too many years.

i wish ryan the best, of course, but sheesh.

Malkin71 wrote re: Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."
on Sun, Jun 29 2008 7:39 PM

Assuming he is leaving Pittsburgh (and I think we can all agree that will happen) this is a best case scenario.  By signing with Tampa, Pittsburgh moves up from a 4th rounder to a 3rd rounder.  So, although this seems like a sad story, it is actually a best case scenario for the Penguins.

Fancy Pants wrote re: Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."
on Sun, Jun 29 2008 7:43 PM

I love Malone and he typifies everything that is great about Pittsburgh, but that is an insane amount of money for 30 goals a year (and really he only did that for one year with Malkin distracting the opposing defense).  I have no problem replacing Malone with two players from the list of Naslund, Huselius, Vrbata, Ryder, Nagy, etc for just a little more money than 4.2 million per.  

Tampa can have Malone for that amount of money.  

stokes wrote re: Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."
on Sun, Jun 29 2008 8:25 PM

Bingo. My thoughts exactly, Seth.  You nailed it on this post.  

Todd Bertuzzi=joke

jen88 wrote re: Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."
on Sun, Jun 29 2008 11:00 PM

"Malone, who would have drawn considerable interest from around the NHL as an unrestricted free agent, will earn between $7 and $8 million in each of the first two years of the deal."

from tsn.ca

I thought that malone was great for pittsburgh....but despite all of that, I see some problem with him getting paid about 1 million less than sidney crosby for the next couple of years!

Hockey Nut wrote re: Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."
on Mon, Jun 30 2008 5:43 AM

If Malone had signed with the Pens everybody would be singing his praises. Since he didn't, why run him down?

The fact is he got paid for what he offers. Great support to a good center, a presence in front of the net and a willingness to protect his team mates.

Whether he clicks as well with his new team remains to be seen, but I do think he improved a lot more last season than could be attributed to playing with Malkin. Malkin didn't make him skate faster or position himself better.

I hope he does well in Tampa, without managing to win against the Pens when they meet. I'm going to miss seeing him in Pens jersey.

Tony N wrote re: Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."
on Mon, Jun 30 2008 8:42 AM

Yeah, I'll miss Bugsy and his toughness as well.  His performance after getting blasted with the puck is the very definition of cojones.  But 4.5 mil a year is just "stupid money."

And you're right... if he gets 4.5, it's scary to think what Hossa will get.

RichYan33 wrote re: Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."
on Mon, Jun 30 2008 9:03 AM

Don't get me wrong. I have noting but respect for Malone. I hope he more than earns that money. But this is the problem with all sports. There's some idiot GM waiting to overpay for someone that jacks up the price for every one else. If Malone can get $31M for 7 years Malkin and Crosby should be getting $100M for 7 years.

goblue21 wrote re: Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."
on Mon, Jun 30 2008 9:27 AM

Seth, where do the Penguins go from here in replacing Malone.? Are ther internal candidates or have you heard about free agents being looked at?

lemieux67 wrote re: Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."
on Mon, Jun 30 2008 9:29 AM

Seth,  How can you say Malone "had one good season"? Umm ...what about 2004-05 where he put up 44 pts (22+22); or, 2003-04 where he put up 43 pts (22+21)? And, all this without Malkin feeding him. No, Malone has established himself as one of the better in-front-of-the-net players in the NHL. Up there with Vanek (Buffalo); Smith (Colorado); and Holmstrom (Detroit), in my opinion. And, of course, that is not all that he brings to the table.  In short, it was time for him to be paid. This was his one "big" contract.

My son and I will miss Ryan Malone - the first Pittsburgh born and raised guy to play with the "big club".  Effective immediately Tampa Bay is our new second favorite team!

RCheli wrote re: Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."
on Mon, Jun 30 2008 10:04 AM

Nobody is dissing Malone -- and I don't think anyone should be mad at him for taking this deal. I mean, that's a lot of money for a guy whose never scored 30 goals. And don't blame Malone. This was the one contract that is going to set him up for life; he's worked hard for it, and deserves to be rewarded.

Of course, 7 years for a guy who's going to be 29 in December is insane. I have no clue what the Lightning are doing. They just got out from under that terrible Brad Richards deal, they're going to sign Lecavalier to that long-term contract, St. Louis is making a ton, and now Malone.

When, in reality, that team needs goaltending, not offense.

Seth Rorabaugh wrote re: Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."
on Mon, Jun 30 2008 11:05 AM

Lemieux 67, Perhaps I was a bit strong when I said Malone only had one good season. Maybe I should've said complete season. Because prior to the latter stages of 06-07, he rarely did all the dirty things like kill penalties, that he did so well in 07-08.

I agree with you that Malone is easily among the top five in terms of in the crease type of players, but I think the point of my post here is that A.) He's been mostly inconsistent throughout his career B.) Tampa Bay paid too much for him and C.) Where's he's going ot be in three or four years physically?

Also, I want Mike LIut to be my agent.

patcartwright wrote re: Malone's agent: "It's going to get done."
on Mon, Jun 30 2008 12:29 PM

I hear Malone is from Pittsburgh.  any verification on this?