Tommy Novak has struggled over the last few weeks, and the Pittsburgh Penguins need more out of him.
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Speaking of Mantha, let’s talk about him because, you know, there’s a lot of discourse and discussion.
Speaking of Mantha, let’s talk about him because, you know, there’s a lot of discourse and discussion.
Obviously, when he was signed, over the off-season, one year, 4.5 million, this was kind of Jim Rutherford’s, you know, “Here you go.
Obviously, when he was signed, over the off-season, one year, 4.5 million, this was kind of Jim Rutherford’s, you know, “Here you go.
Have at it.
Have at it.
Have yourself a year.”
Have yourself a year.”
And at the time, I’m sure when they signed him, the plan was never to keep him.
And at the time, I’m sure when they signed him, the plan was never to keep him.
this was somebody who was clearly, I think, probably gonna be a flip candidate at the deadline, with the expectation that the Penguins probably weren’t going to be where they are right now.
this was somebody who was clearly, I think, probably gonna be a flip candidate at the deadline, with the expectation that the Penguins probably weren’t going to be where they are right now.
But here we are.
But here we are.
Penguins are sitting second in the Metro.
Penguins are sitting second in the Metro.
Anthony Mantha has the team lead in goals.
Anthony Mantha has the team lead in goals.
We mentioned it already.
We mentioned it already.
He’s already had well past career highs in terms of goals and points this season.
He’s already had well past career highs in terms of goals and points this season.
You know, he’s 32 years old, but he’s kind of having a resurgence this year.
You know, he’s 32 years old, but he’s kind of having a resurgence this year.
I mean, he’s showing a lot of value.
I mean, he’s showing a lot of value.
He’s showing a lot of legitimate goal-scoring prowess.
He’s showing a lot of legitimate goal-scoring prowess.
He’s been a legitimately valuable player for this team.
He’s been a legitimately valuable player for this team.
You know, if you would’ve asked me about a month ago, month and a half ago, two months ago, it would’ve been a no-brainer that, you know, you let this skywalk.
You know, if you would’ve asked me about a month ago, month and a half ago, two months ago, it would’ve been a no-brainer that, you know, you let this skywalk.
It’s not a huge deal.
It’s not a huge deal.
had they been out of it at the deadline, I would’ve wanted to, to see them deal him.
had they been out of it at the deadline, I would’ve wanted to, to see them deal him.
But now, you I think there’s legitimate reason to consider bringing him back next season.
But now, you I think there’s legitimate reason to consider bringing him back next season.
And Hunter, I don’t know how you feel about this, if you have a certain dollar figure, if you have a certain term in mind here, but do you think this is a situation that the Penguins, he’s kind of forced their hand.
And Hunter, I don’t know how you feel about this, if you have a certain dollar figure, if you have a certain term in mind here, but do you think this is a situation that the Penguins, he’s kind of forced their hand.
Do you think they’re gonna look at resigning him this off-season?
Do you think they’re gonna look at resigning him this off-season?
I think only on their terms.
I think only on their terms.
I think you can convince me on a two-year term, maybe, you know, 5, 5.5 million per something like that because I think his cap hit for this year is only 2.5 million.
I think you can convince me on a two-year term, maybe, you know, 5, 5.5 million per something like that because I think his cap hit for this year is only 2.5 million.
I think he can earn more.
I think he can earn more.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think I misspoke.
I think I misspoke.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think up to f- I think the bonus is, is like 2 million, something like that.
I think up to f- I think the bonus is, is like 2 million, something like that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I’m pretty sure Mulkey’s gonna hit almost every bonus on that contract considering- Yeah so far.
I’m pretty sure Mulkey’s gonna hit almost every bonus on that contract considering- Yeah so far.
I’ll have to look more into the details of the bonuses, but I know he has hit at least a few already, but very cheap contract for this year.
I’ll have to look more into the details of the bonuses, but I know he has hit at least a few already, but very cheap contract for this year.
He’s going to get quite a nice raise, whether it’s from the Penguins or whether it’s from a different team.
He’s going to get quite a nice raise, whether it’s from the Penguins or whether it’s from a different team.
Again, if you wanna do two times five, two times 5.5, considering the amount of cap space they have, you can convince me on that.
Again, if you wanna do two times five, two times 5.5, considering the amount of cap space they have, you can convince me on that.
Maybe you can argue with me about a third year, but, eh, I, I’m not really too interested in a third-year term.
Maybe you can argue with me about a third year, but, eh, I, I’m not really too interested in a third-year term.
I would really m- mainly be comfortable with, you know, definitely another one-year contract, but if you wanna do a two-year term, I think that’s okay.
I would really m- mainly be comfortable with, you know, definitely another one-year contract, but if you wanna do a two-year term, I think that’s okay.
Problem is, there’s just not a lot of top free agents available.
Problem is, there’s just not a lot of top free agents available.
Shocker, all the top free agents are basically off the market.
Shocker, all the top free agents are basically off the market.
You’re telling me that, you know, players like, you know, k- J- you know, Jack Eichel and all these other guy Everyone was talking about this year is the biggest free agency class ever.
You’re telling me that, you know, players like, you know, k- J- you know, Jack Eichel and all these other guy Everyone was talking about this year is the biggest free agency class ever.
Yeah, all these guys were resigned.
Yeah, all these guys were resigned.
Like, that was always- Yeah going to be the case.
Like, that was always- Yeah going to be the case.
That happens every year.
That happens every year.
You know, Alex Tuch, you know, he’s available, but I think the Sabres are gonna try everything in their power to keep him.
You know, Alex Tuch, you know, he’s available, but I think the Sabres are gonna try everything in their power to keep him.
If you wanna say Ovi’s available, sure, but he’s only gonna go back to Washington even if he, that’s even if he returns for next year.
If you wanna say Ovi’s available, sure, but he’s only gonna go back to Washington even if he, that’s even if he returns for next year.
But Mantha’s gonna be one of the top free agents, and teams are gonna be really going after him.
But Mantha’s gonna be one of the top free agents, and teams are gonna be really going after him.
You know, it has to be on the Penguins’ terms, I think.
You know, it has to be on the Penguins’ terms, I think.
If teams are offering him, you know, even more money, even more term, I think the Penguins gotta be like, “Hey, thank you for everything, but with where we are as an organization, we don’t think we can really match this.”
If teams are offering him, you know, even more money, even more term, I think the Penguins gotta be like, “Hey, thank you for everything, but with where we are as an organization, we don’t think we can really match this.”
Well, they can match it in theory, but I think it can be like, “Hey, this doesn’t make much sense for us with where we are and where we want to go overall.”
Well, they can match it in theory, but I think it can be like, “Hey, this doesn’t make much sense for us with where we are and where we want to go overall.”
So I’m okay with a short-term, two years.
So I’m okay with a short-term, two years.
Anything more, I think it’s kinda, “Salutations.
Anything more, I think it’s kinda, “Salutations.
Thank you for everything,” because, you know, as much as I would love for him to come back, he has been a great fit.
Thank you for everything,” because, you know, as much as I would love for him to come back, he has been a great fit.
You know, teams need goal scoring.
You know, teams need goal scoring.
Like, every team is looking for that every off-season.
Like, every team is looking for that every off-season.
And I think there’s gonna be teams out there that make him, you know, decently big offers, I think, on the free agent market.
And I think there’s gonna be teams out there that make him, you know, decently big offers, I think, on the free agent market.
So-
So-