Mark Madden Hot Take: Given Penguins' erroneous quest, Letang's contract length doesn't matter

NHL free agency starts July 13. The Pittsburgh Penguins haven’t re-signed Kris Letang or Evgeni Malkin. Malkin is of secondary concern, so let’s consider Letang.

The word is that GM Ron Hextall doesn’t want to give anyone a contract longer than three years. That matches the remaining years of Sidney Crosby’s pact.

But if giving Letang five seasons is what’s required to keep him, do it. (As long as it’s at a rate of $9 million per year or less.)

The Penguins are operating under the idea that another Stanley Cup can be won before Crosby’s deal expires.

They’re wrong. It can’t. But that’s what they think.

Given that objective, who cares what happens after Crosby’s gone? The Penguins are going to fall off a cliff. That’s non-negotiable. Does it really matter if that coincides with Letang being paid for two more years? (Given that objective, the Penguins should keep Malkin, too.)

If Crosby re-ups with the Penguins after his contract expires, that’s different. Then Crosby gets to fall off the cliff, too.

In fact, the Penguins may fall off the cliff before that. Sooner than you think.

But given the club’s quest, however erroneous it may be, it doesn’t matter how many years Letang gets.

Is there a better way to do it?

Sure. But the Penguins aren’t going to.

Liverpool FC is also owned by Fenway Sports Group.

As a longtime Liverpool FC fan, I’ve been impressed with those put in charge of the club by FSG and by the surgical, merciless precision that marks the way LFC is run.

FSG has applied none of that to the Penguins. FSG must not know very much about hockey.