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Let me preface this by saying that Evgeni Malkin is my favorite player and I am glad he is with the Penguins.

So back to the end of last season and early this summer, rumors were swirling that Malkin could/should/would be traded. At the very least the idea of it was entertained by the fans, namely on this website. One such proposal that I heard that was actually offered about a year ago (who knows if in any seriousness that it actually was) was from the LA Kings. It was Malkin for Kopitar, Brown, first round pick, or soemthing near it. That would make the current offense something like this:

Brown - Crosby - Kopitar
Dupuis(or Satan?) - Staal - Sykora
Fedotenko - Talbot - Cooke

That first line immediately becomes the best in the NHL.

That trade would have also put Doughty or Bogosian in the Pens' system. And either one could earn a roster spot this year with injuries to Whitney, Gonchar, Scuderi.

Another one was Malkin for Kopitar, J Johnson, and a first.

I'm not saying they should or should not have traded him. I happen to like Malkin and am glad he remains in black and gold. But with the new era of the salary cap and all, what would you have done?
Filed Under:   Malkin   Penguins   Kings   Kopitar   Dustin Brown  
September 24, 2008 9:59 AM ET | Delete
If the trade was Malkin for Kopitar, Brown and Doughty you have to do it. Kopitar isn't that far behind Malkin and you get a nice young winger and a possible franchise defenseman.
September 24, 2008 10:59 AM ET | Delete
you should have moved him
September 24, 2008 11:55 AM ET | Delete
kopitar is definitely far behind malkin there apollo678
September 24, 2008 12:01 PM ET | Delete
I would not write something to say that this line would've become the best in teh NHL.
September 24, 2008 12:07 PM ET | Delete
First off, if the trade was Malkin straight up for Kopitar, Brown, and the number 1 (Doughty), than the Penguins were dumb not to go for it. Malkin's value was massive at the time, and those three players combined do a lot more for a team than Malkin. Before I get railed on for this, I love Malkin, and I think he is even more talented than Crosby, however, sometimes trades need to be made. As for your post, Kopitar is a center, not a winger, therefore the line-up would look something like this:Brown - Crosby - SatanDupuis - Kopitar - SykoraFedotenko - Staal - TalbotCooke - Ruutu - GodardThat would be a more accurate reflection of opening day roster for the Penguins, also including Doughty probably as their number 5-6 defenseman.
September 24, 2008 12:09 PM ET | Delete
First off, if the trade was Malkin straight up for Kopitar, Brown, and the number 1 (Doughty), than the Penguins were dumb not to go for it. Malkin's value was massive at the time, and those three players combined do a lot more for a team than Malkin. Before I get railed on for this, I love Malkin, and I think he is even more talented than Crosby, however, sometimes trades need to be made. As for your post, Kopitar is a center, not a winger, therefore the line-up would look something like this: Brown - Crosby - Satan.....Dupuis - Kopitar - Sykora.....Fedotenko - Staal - Talbot.....Cooke - Ruutu - Godard .......That would be a more accurate reflection of opening day roster for the Penguins, also including Doughty probably as their number 5-6 defenseman.
September 24, 2008 12:22 PM ET | Delete
I would have taken Brown and Kopitar for Malkin in a second even without the #1 pick.
September 24, 2008 1:17 PM ET | Delete
Actually, correction on my post, Ruutu is now in Ottawa. You could move Cooke to the center position, where he has been used in the past, and put Tyler Kennedy on the 4th line wing. Obviously this is a "what if" post, considering this trade never happened, but could still have potential to happen in the future.
September 25, 2008 3:23 AM ET | Delete
Cooke would never last in the center position. I don't know where you got that from. Same with Jarkko Ruutu. Not a centerman.
October 1, 2008 12:28 AM ET | Delete
Wow.. That made my brain cramp from all the nonsense being posted on this. Unless you talked to the GM I don't believe a word of that. Crosby is a world class player, I truly believe that. He could put up 100 points a year easy in any league, West or East. Malkin on the other hand is a product of playing in a weak conference. Put him in the West with the players and travel schedule we have and you would see how "great" of a player he is. I believe he is very good, but far from great. Dean Lombardi would never make that daring a trade. The compliment of the Penguins great team make Malkin look far better than he his.
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