Letting Malone walk

From Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

According to the report the Penguins are close to a contract extension with Evgeni Malkin and they might be able to hang on to Marian Hossa. If they keep both of those players, Malone would be shown the door.

If that’s the case, we have no problem with it. Marian Hossa and Evgeni Malkin are special players. Ryan Malone isn’t. If the only price to pay to keep Hossa and Malkin is parting ways with Malone, so be it.

Don’t get us wrong. We’re not putting Malone down. He had a career year. He found his place as a power forward and did a wonderful job in front of the net on the Penguins’ power play and what was their top line for most of the season. He killed penalties and was more than willing to defend his teammates with his fists. He was a big part of the Stanley Cup run.

Read the rest of his entry from Empty Netters here.

Rorabaugh is exactly right here. Malone was certainly terrific down the stretch this season, but you don’t keep Malone if it keeps you from re-signing a Marian Hossa or Evgeni Malkin.