NHL Rumors: Kris Letang Re-Signing With the Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to re-sign defenseman Kris Letang. There's been multiple reports stating the two were close to a three-year contract extension and on Wednesday, Penguins general manager Ron Hextall admitted he'd be shocked if the two didn't complete the deal. Sounds like most of the work has been completed on the structure of the deal and there's just some t's to cross and some i's to dot.

Ron Hextall just told media “I’d be surprised if we don’t get (Kris Letang) done.”
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 6, 2022

The veteran defenseman is coming off a career season where he posted 68 points in 78 games. Letang made $7.25 million on his last deal and it's likely we see him get a small raise on last year's salary. He'd made it loud and clear he wanted to retire a Penguin and it looks like that's in the cards for him and the organization.

Evgeni Malkin on the other hand, doesn't appear to be going as well. Hextall admitted the two sides are talking and he'd like to have Geno back in the fold but it appears Malkin may be pricing himself off the team. There's going to be a number of interested teams should the Penguins walk away from the veteran center including the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, Colorado Avalanche, and New York Rangers.

The Penguins recently re-signed backup goaltender Casey DeSmith, which has put the Marc-Andre Fleury reunion rumors to bed. Hextall and company are going to be busy over these next few days and it sounds like there could be some franchise altering moves on the way.