MONTREAL – Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ron Hextall said he’d “be surprised” if the team does not get a deal together soon with defenseman Kris Letang, while adding the team is still working on Evgeni Malkin.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday ahead of the NHL draft in Montreal, Hextall said “Certainly I think Kris I’m hoping to have done real soon here, but we have a few details we’re working through.”
Letang, 35, is coming off of a 68-point campaign with the Penguins, the only team he has ever played for.
As for Malkin, another pending UFA, the team is not as close just yet.
“I can not say that, I do not know that,” Hextall said. “We’re still working. I spoke to him as recently as last night, we’ll see where it goes.”
Malkin, 35, recorded 42 points in 41 games this past season, missing half the season due to injury.
NHL free agency kicks off on Wednesday, with the Penguins sitting at $ 21.4 million in cap space.
