by Spector

Updated: March 21, 2008, 6:13 PM EST 15 comments

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This has led some pundits to express concern over how the club can possibly afford to keep both players on the roster. Crosby re-signed a long-term contract with the Pens last summer worth an average of $8.7 million per season beginning in 2008-09.

Meanwhile, Malkin will be entering the final year of his entry-level contract, and if Penguins management tries to re-sign him this summer, he could seek as much — if not more — than Crosby.

It's a legitimate concern, one that has some folks suggesting the Pens should trade either Crosby or Malkin rather than saddle themselves with two superstars with contracts that could not only potentially eat up over $17 million in cap space, but also bite into the team's depth.

Critics cite the Tampa Bay Lightning, who committed too much money to Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards. Their spending led to that team's decline just four years after winning the Stanley Cup, not to mention the cost-cutting trade of Richards to Dallas at this year's trade deadline.

Re-signing Malkin will unquestionably be expensive, but it is possible for the Penguins to retain both Malkin and Crosby and still have enough money to retain other key players and ice a competitive team.

Malkin could re-sign a deal comparable to Crosby's or possibly higher. Given the latter's temperament, it likely won't ruffle his feathers, since he took less to help the Penguins stay competitive. Malkin could also follow Crosby's example and do the same.

Even if it cost the Penguins over $17 million to retain these two, they'll still have more than enough to ice a strong team. Re-signing other key players like UFAs Marc-Andre Fleury, Ryan Malone, Ty Conklin, Jarkko Ruutu and Georges Laraque combined won't cost nearly as much.

Malkin's new contract also wouldn't kick in until after next season, so it will have no impact on the team's 2008-09 payroll. But it would have a long-term impact, which would be dependent on the Penguins' ability to spend more to keep their club together beyond next season.

The Lightning could've iced a competitive club had their current ownership kept pace with the cap, but they kept payroll well below the league cap. If the Penguins do the same, they risk suffering the same fate.

Malkin wouldn't be the only young talent to re-sign this summer, as Jordan Staal will also be a restricted free agent next summer. Given Staal's struggles during his sophomore season, however, re-signing him this summer would be a more affordable proposition.

As things stand right now, don't expect the Penguins to shop Crosby or Malkin anytime soon, as the front office has obviously considered its options and will do what it can to keep these two superstars in Pittsburgh for a long time.

The Columbus Dispatch recently reported Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson could be in the market for two skilled centers during the off-season.

Howson could have between $15-20 million in available cap space this summer to address his top priority of finding a first-line center for Rick Nash's line.

The paper suggests Howson could not only make a pitch for San Jose Sharks captain Patrick Marleau, but might also look into the availability of New Jersey's Patrik Elias, Philadelphia's Daniel Briere and the Rangers' Scott Gomez, suggesting those teams could seek roster and salary cap flexibility.

Regarding Marleau, if the Sharks do try to trade him — and there's been nothing to suggest they are, despite almost a year of speculation — it'll have to be before July 1, when his new two-year, $12.6 million contract (with a no-trade clause) goes into effect.

Indeed, that new contract combined with his declining production could keep Marleau with the Sharks beyond this season.

As for Elias, Brier and Gomez, they all possess no-trade clauses. While Gomez has the most flexible one of the three, his value to the Rangers this season indicates they won't be entertaining any offers for him this summer.

More likely, UFA options for Howson could be Calgary's Daymond Langkow, Philadelphia's Vaclav Prospal and Vancouver's Brendan Morrison.

Failing that, he could try to tempt potential restricted free-agent centers like Anaheim's Corey Perry, Philadelphia's Jeff Carter or Minnesota's Pierre-Marc Bouchard with expensive offer sheets.