NHL Rumors: Penguins 'Forcing' Malkin Out of Pittsburgh

While the Pittsburgh Penguins didn't have much work to do to re-sign Kris Letang, it sounds like Evgeni Malkin's talks are not going as planned. It's apparently so bad, some Penguins players are getting pretty pissed off with how Malkin is being treated and Malkin himself can't believe the low-ball offers he's receiving.

The Athletic's Rob Rossi reported Malkin texted him asking "Do they want me?". Appears the two sides can't agree on the term of the deal or the annual value, meanwhile free agency begins on Wednesday.

Penguins general manager Ron Hextall has made it clear they are sticking to their guns and don't want to overpay for the veteran forward, regardless of the legacy to consider. Malkin has reportedly turned down a three-year deal at $15 million total, and even though he's 36 years old at the end of the month, the Russian center is still a point-a-game player and someone who should be making more than $5 million per season.

Malkin also mentioned to Rossi he feels management doesn't think he's good anymore and it's become so bad, Sidney Crosby even felt the need to fly into Florida to check on how his friend is doing. It's been obvious since the get-go, the Penguins core wants to remain in tact to finish out their careers. Head coach Mike Sullivan wants the same thing as he recently commented he thinks the core can still win. Hextall on the other hand has prioritized signing Casey DeSmith and a bunch of the team's lesser free agents and continues to play hard ball with one of the franchise's all-time greats.