Interested In Hockey Drama? Look No Further Than Pittsburgh

For a team not slated to pick until 120th in the 2008 Entry Draft this weekend (at least that's where they sit right now), the Penguins sure know how to be the talk of the National Hockey League.

Since losing to the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Penguins have dominated the league's off-season news.

First, the Penguins reportedly open up serious discussions with the agent for the right winger everyone thought was strictly a rental player who they had no chance of re-signing, Marion Hossa.

Then talk circulates that they're looking to deal left winger Ryan Malone before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1 so they can get something before him prior to him walking away for nothing, only to have Malone pour cold water on that reported effort by saying he isn't going to sign a contract with any team before that date.

Now, on the eve of the draft, the rumor is circulating that the Penguins are trying to obtain the #2 overall pick from the Los Angeles Kings and are offering Malkin in a deal which would also net Center Mike Cammalleri, an 80-point man in '06'/'07, but who's production dropped last year to 49 points in 63 games.

A few things about this rumor:

1) Although there has been increasing talk in the last week about whether the Penguins might deal (or consider trading) Malkin, this rumor is the most direct and intense one to-date;

2) The rumor originated from Bruce Garrioch at the Ottawa Sun -- a guy known for coming up with some baseless stuff. Here's his article on this:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Draft/2008/06/19/5923271-sun.html

3) If Shero makes that deal, he should be fired.

Now, that's not to say that Malkin should never be traded. In the salary cap era, almost all options are on the table, including the possibility of dealing a player some regard as the best in the NHL, whether now, in 5 years, or somewhere in between.

However, Malkin is worth a heck of a lot more than a #2 overall pick and Cammalleri, no matter how much Malkin will cost-salary wise. Especially since the #2 pick is likely to be used to take one of the four stud defensemen available this year, likely 6'3" Peterborough Petes two-way reargard Zach Bogosian.

Many observers think that if the Penguins sign Hossa, they won't be able to afford Malkin. I disagree. I think the Penguins can, and should, keep both, even if it requires spending up to the league salary cap (something ownership seems willing to do).

Having Sid and Malkin gives the Penguins a 1-2 punch at center unmatched in the game, much like the Colorado Avalanche had when Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg patrolled center ice for them for years. They were in the mix for the better part of a decade because of that.

If Shero is that intent on getting the #2 pick and making a deal with the Kings, he should probably sacrifice a defenseman to do so -- likely Ryan Whitney. Besides that, there are other players on LA he should target in any such deal. First and foremost, winger Dustin Brown. After him, he should look to center Anze Kopitar, the runner-up to Malkin for the Calder Trophy 2 years ago, then to Sidney Crosby's best junior friend, two-way defenseman Jack Johnson, who was taken #3 overall behind Crosby in the 2005 draft.

Shero has proven to be pretty astute on the job so far. I'm hoping I can still use that word to describe him after this weekend.