Let the chaos begin

So today at noon all the chaos of free agency begins. It should be interesting to see what happens all around the NHL, but we'll obviously be keeping up with the Penguins. It seems like all we've heard is bad news so far, and hopefully that changes today and the Penguins are able to keep SOMEONE and possibly pick up a nice deal on the free agent market. Only time will tell and we'll be here as best as possible to keep you updated.

First off, the Post-Gazette has a little news to offer on the Penguins' free agents. Keeping Hossa is not out of the question and it is believed the Pens have a five-year offer worth $7 million a year on the table for him, and as of last night he had not rejected it. The Pens may not close the door on re-signing Hossa even if he hasn't committed to them by midday, essentially Ray Shero could formulate a contract proposal for a free agent to replace Hossa but not submit it to that player until he gives Hossa one final opportunity to accept his offer. News on Orpik isn't any better. He could command $4 million or more on the open market, and that is more than the Pens are believed to be willing to pay. Shero is also believed to have laid groudwork for keeping some of the Pens' other free agents like Jarkko Ruutu, Pascal Dupuis, and Adam Hall. Dupuis' agent says they're talking about a contract but did not elaborate, and Hall's agent says he is interested in remaining a Penguin but he will be testing free agency. Georges Laraque does not appear to be close to an agreement on a contract and will be listening to any offers from other teams.

Some good news is that Malkin should have a new deal very soon that should pay him around $8.5 million per season over five years. You all probably remember that Sidney signed a deal last July worth an average of $8.7 million per season. Jordan Staal is also expected to get a new deal this summer, but Marc-Andre Fleury's deal should come before that.

You can read the entire article from the Post-Gazette with that info here.

At least the Malkin news is good news. What a deal for the Pens in having possibly the best two players in the world locked in at that money when they could easily command $10 million or more.

You can read a story from the Trib about the Pens aiming to keep their young core here. And some stuff from Rob Rossi here.

And over at Puck Daddy blog they have a Hossa rumor here.

And for your random YouTube of the day we have Rex Gildo's Fiesta Mexicana for Marian Hossa. It might be the last time we want to listen to that song. :'-(

And what the heck, the Sign Hossa video too, why not?