NHL: The Penguins want to agree with Christopher Letang

The priority for the Pittsburgh Penguins will be to agree the terms of a new multi-season contract with the Quebec defender Christopher Letang during the off season. This was mentioned by Rob Rossi from Athletic.

Last month, Penguins General Manager Ron Hextall said he wanted to see Letang and Yevgeny Malkin – who will also become an unrestricted free agent – retires dressed as the Penguins. The reporter added, however, that the organization is currently focusing on the amount of money to maintain Litang before intensifying talks with the Malkin clan.

The 35-year-old Letang scored 10 goals last season, while he scored a career high of 68 points in 78 matches. The 2021-22 season was the last of his eight-year contract that earned him $58 million.

Letang added one goal and four points in seven playoff games against the New York Rangers.

A third-round pick for the Penguins in 2005, Letang made his NHL debut in the 2006-07 season. In 941 matches, he scored 144 goals and 650 points.

For his part, Malkin has scored 20 goals and 42 points in 41 games this season, having undergone knee surgery last summer.

The 35-year-old was the second overall pick in the 2004 draft. His eight-year, $76 million contract expired at the end of the last campaign.

The penguins are currently priced at $23.2 million under the cap, according to CapFri Friendly, which recently signed a six-year contract worth $30.75 million. Brian Rust.

promotions

Separately, Penguins promoted Chris Pryor to assistant general manager on Tuesday as part of a series of decisions made by general manager Ron Hextall that affect the organization’s structure.

The 61-year-old Pryor spent last season as a player manager with the Penguins. In this role, Pryor oversaw, among other things, the organization’s recruitment efforts in North America and Europe.

As part of his new responsibilities, Pryor will support Hextall in hockey operations while remaining involved in team personnel decisions.

The Penguins have also hired Andy Saussure as a Hockey Operations Analyst/Professional Personnel Analyst.

This position, created specifically for Saucier, will make him the link between the team’s technical staff and the club’s analysis department.