RUMOR: Kristopher Letang and Erik Karlsson available right now

It’s been a long time since I thought that the longer the Penguins wait to rebuild, the more time they waste.

I don’t see Kyle Dubas’ Penguins managing to build, aside from the elements in the hands of the hockey boss, a team to win a fourth ring in just over 15 years.

But it’s not me who decides.

At the moment, here’s where the Penguins stand: they would like to be able to trade a few elements this year in order to take a step back in 2025, but to continue moving forward for 2025-2026.

The club still wants to win around Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, according to what Marco D’Amico (Responsible Gambler) reports.

To achieve their goals, the Penguins would like to keep Ryan Rust, Philip Tomasino, and Owen Pickering to surround the Crosbys and Malkins of this world for what lies ahead.

D’Amico warns us: do not send Crosby to Montreal as it’s not in the plans to trade him.

But what this means is that Erik Karlsson and Kristopher Letang, according to RG’s information, are not among the untouchables in the Pennsylvania formation.

And a source from the site, aside from the salary cap that is going to increase and the escrow that players will no longer have to pay by the end of the season, mentioned a rather interesting phrase.

These contracts that you believe are too heavy for a transaction are no longer so.

Obviously, by the force of things, this will open the door to speculation with the Canadiens, who need help on the right side. But between you and me, Karlsson at $10M (the amount that’s on the Penguins’ cap) until 2027 or Letang at $6.1M until 2028 doesn’t excite me.

And that’s even if there were to be a salary retention.

In brief

– Hum…

– J.T. Miller was almost traded to the Rangers in recent days. [32T]

– Noted.

– He is often seen with Donald Trump.

– Brendan Gallagher is being teased by Tomas Plekanec because he has only been on the second All-Star team of the CH since 2000.