In a final push for another Stanley Cup in the Sidney Crosby era, the Penguins re-signed Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang last offseason to contracts with term that will outlast their expiration dates as high-end players. And it was the right call. The alternative options on the open market were not only considerable downgrades, but just as pricey. They weren't getting better bang for their buck in the immediate term anywhere else.
In addition to improbably re-signing both of Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, Ron Hextall retooled the team's defense corps by shipping out John Marino and Mike Matheson for Jeff Petry and Ty Smith after nabbing Jan Rutta on the first day of free agency.