Report: Malkin willing to take pay cut, Letang looking for raise

Between Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, the Pittsburgh Penguins have more than their fair share of vital business to deal with this offseason.

The franchise mainstays both signed eight-year pacts in the summer of 2013 that began in the 2014-15 campaign, meaning they will become unrestricted free agents at the end of this season.

Malkin is interested in remaining in Pittsburgh, and his representatives have reportedly spoken to Penguins general manager Ron Hextall about a new contract, according to The Athletic's Josh Yohe.

The 35-year-old is also reportedly willing to take a pay cut to make it work, sources told Yohe.

That doesn't seem to be the case with Letang, with sources reportedly telling The Athletic that the blue-liner believes he has earned a raise.

Letang is having a fantastic 2021-22 season and has been a stable presence for Pittsburgh, which has been wracked by injuries all year long. The 34-year-old has 37 points in 38 games while leading all Penguins in ice time, eating up an average of 25:45 per contest.

Meanwhile, Malkin hasn't missed a beat since returning from offseason knee surgery, logging nine points in eight matchups.

Malkin would be pleased with a multi-year deal and is fine with making less money than teammate Sidney Crosby in the future, while Pittsburgh is reportedly willing to sign Letang to a short-term pact with the possibility of a pay raise, according to Yohe.

Letang has about $69 million in estimated career earnings, according to CapFriendly. Malkin has earned almost $117 million.

The Penguins signed Jeff Carter, another pending unrestricted free agent, to a two-year, $6.25-million extension on Wednesday.

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