As the Pittsburgh Penguins come to grips with a first-round exit, the team is considering changes. The New York Rangers as unlikely trading partners as they are could be in the market for aging star Evgeni Malkin according to reports.
Anytime a team that was considered a Stanley Cup contender loses early in the postseason, it raises questions. This typically results in the team’s front office considering a roster shift and changing the focus of the team. For the Pittsburgh Penguins, this takes many forms, including a possible trade of superstar center and future Hall of Famer Evgeni Malkin.
As one of the best players of this generation, Malkin is one of the rarest commodities to ever hit the open trade market. In his most recent 31 thoughts column, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet Canada wrote that the Penguins could explore moving a number of players this offseason, even Malkin.
It’s notable that Malkin has a no-movement clause and could control where Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford sends him to. Friedman lists both the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers specifically as teams that he could potentially agree on being sent to.
At 32-years-old, Malkin is on the wrong side of the aging curve and definitely declining as a talent. However, even at his age, there is no disputing that Malkin is still an immensely talented player and would instantly be the best player in the Rangers’ lineup.
This year
It sounds absurd, but there are some who consider Malkin’s 72 points this year a disappointment from a bonafide superstar. In reality, aside from Mika Zibanejad’s 74 points this season, Malkin’s year this past season would’ve been the best from any Ranger in a number of years from a purely statistical standpoint.
Going more in-depth, Malkin’s underlying numbers are above average and again would be standouts on a weak Rangers’ team. This past season, Malkin recorded a Corsi For Percentage of 50.08 and a high danger Corsi For Percentage of 52.86.
These figures both represent the percent of scoring chances that the Penguins were able to generate with Malkin on the ice at even strength. The high danger variety is scoring chances that have a better chance of resulting in a goal, so they are in theory more valuable to create.
When it comes to creating zone entries and exits as well as shot contributions, there are few players in the entire league better than Malkin. The Russian is in the 100th percentile of shot contributions and shot assists. In addition, he’s also above the 95th percentile in both zone entries and entering the puck with the zone.
So, even though Malkin didn’t have as impressive a statistical season as in year’s past, the forward still had strong underlying statistics. The regression in Malkin’s numbers could be tied to the teammates around him and the overall lesser quality of the Penguin’s roster compared to when it won consecutive Stanley Cups.
Is there a fit?
If Glen Sather were still the G.M. of the Rangers, you could pencil Malkin into the number one center spot for the opening night lineup as soon as the Penguins were willing to answer the phone. However, with the more temperate Jeff Gorton at the helm, New York may never come to the table.
Even with the age-related decline on the table, Malkin is still one of the most dynamic players in the sport. In addition, the Rangers also have a dearth at the center position of proven talent, as of the moment the number two center is tentatively penciled in as Ryan Strome for the upcoming season.
However, real life is not an iteration of EA Sport’s NHL franchise G.M. mode. Just because the Rangers could acquire Malkin this summer and there’s a lineup spot for him does not mean the organization should. do it.
From a logistical standpoint, New York could afford Malkin’s $9.5 million per season, which as far as superstar salaries go is pretty reasonable. For context, Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs will likely get north of $10 million this summer and he’s not the caliber player that Malkin is.
The Rangers have somewhere between $14 and $20 million in cap space for this upcoming summer based on what the team’s restricted free agents sign for. In addition, there is also the possibility of the team dumping some salary to free up more cap space.
What would it cost?
The main issue with a potential Malkin trade is the current direction of the Rangers’ organization. Every single move that Gorton made over the past 24 months was about getting the team younger and cheaper. Adding the Penguin to the mix would be the polar opposite of the team’s stated objectives.
But, for argument’s sake, let’s sort through the Rangers’ bundle of assets and prospects to piece together a trade. The Penguins need help throughout the team’s lineup so roster players or prospects with NHL experience would likely need to go to Western Pennslyvania.
As a starting point, the Rangers would need to give up Lias Andersson as the foundational piece. In addition to the Swede, it’d require more of the secondary assets like Ryan Lindgren, Libor Hajek and Brett Howden.
So, the Rangers trade Andersson, Howden, Lindgren and some draft capital for Malkin. New York takes on the full $9.5 million of the Russian and cannot make a play in free agency this summer without subsequent moves.
Would it be worth gutting New York’s organizational depth to add a generational talent on the wrong side of 30 to an extremely young team? That’s ultimately the decision that Rangers’ G.M. Jeff Gorton will have to make if Malkin is actually available for trade.