Business as Usual for the Big Three

When Kris Letang tried to picture himself playing with anyone other than Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin… it was nearly impossible.

"We know each other so well," Letang said. "We're all different in our way. We kind of complete each other. Geno is a funny guy; I'm maybe more the intense guy that wants to do everything; and Sid is the guy that's kind of laid back, wants to be part of every group thing, and kind of gets everybody together. We're different in that way in the room. I'm quiet, Geno is loud, and Sid is the one that drives the ship."
The thought of potentially breaking that bond was incredibly hard, filling the first two months of this past offseason with stress and uncertainty. But once Malkin and Letang signed long-term contracts to remain in Pittsburgh with Crosby, the last two months were filled with excitement and motivation as they enter their 17th season together, the most-ever among a trio in this league.
"For the team, for the organization, it's good that all three of us stayed together," Malkin said. "Because I think it's like the first time in NHL history. We are still hungry. We want to win. We want to play together. They text me, we text each other like every day the last couple months. We support each other, we try to stay positive, and it's worked. They are probably my best two friends on the team the last 16 years. They're great guys, too. Any time there is any problem, they always support."
I got the chance to spend some time with all three members of the core leading into the start of Penguins Training Camp, presented by UPMC. Here's what I took away from my conversations with Crosby, Malkin and Letang about this past summer, and the upcoming season.
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When last year ended and everyone went their separate ways, Crosby wanted to be respectful of what his friends were dealing with, even though it was a bit excruciating not really knowing what was going to happen. Whenever he talked with Malkin or Letang, especially early on, he tried not to bring it up. If anything, he'd say something along the lines of, 'hopefully things are going well and getting sorted.'
"Or not even that," he continued from behind the wheel of his SUV on the way to deliver season tickets. "Sometimes it's just, how are things going? If they want to talk about that, they talk about that. If they don't, then they don't, you know? You're just catching up. I talked to Tanger in the summer, and there were times where he didn't talk about his contract. We were just talking."
Later that day, after picking the defenseman up from the beautiful home that he and his wife Catherine had built to visit more fans, we talked about the plot of land and the neighborhood and the different areas that Kris has lived during his time in Pittsburgh.
Apart from thinking about the logistical elements of moving away from that house and this city that has become so dear to their family, with the feeling more than mutual as evidenced by how many season ticket holders asked about Letang's 9-year-old Alex, the emotional aspect of leaving the team weighed even heavier on him.
"I'll be honest, it's not a fun process," he said. "Because you kind of look back at everything you went through with these guys, and think about maybe not having the chance to do it again."
For Malkin, who spent much of the summer in his Miami home, the process felt long. His situation went pretty much down to the wire, which worried Crosby a bit, because "definitely the closer it gets to free agency, just based on the history of guys that have been involved in those negotiations, typically it's a better chance that's going to happen."
And although reports came out saying that he had decided to test the market for the first time in his career, Malkin said he always knew he would re-sign here, joking that he was just trying to add some intrigue to the situation.
Only those actually involved in the negotiations know what really went down back in July. But finally, within days of each other, both players agreed to extensions - four years for Malkin, six years for Letang, each with an average annual value of $6 million - to remain right here, together.
"We just felt relief, you know?" Letang said.
There wasn't any sort of, say, 'Big Three' group chat that went off once Malkin inked his deal, though of course they all spoke and exchanged congratulations. And he did say that both Crosby and Letang brought up taking the boys out for a nice dinner, which is par for the course in these situations. "You need to start spending money, lots of money, they say," he grinned, adding in typical Geno fashion, "Crosby wants steak. Tanger wants sushi. I want McDonald's."
Malkin has always been a guy who loves to laugh and loves to joke, and that's part of what makes him such a unique superstar. But following him around on

, he was remarkably good-humored and jovial, cracking everybody up while being even more amiable than usual. You can just tell there's been a weight lifted off his shoulders; that he's right where he belongs.
"Back to Pittsburgh, I always say it's my second hometown," Malkin said. "We are all happy, and we are all happy to stay here forever."
But it isn't just about being reunited with his teammates. Malkin has

with AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh's Dan Potash, and like always, their interactions were hilarious, with the two of them laughingly chirping each other (and Letang joining in the fun at one point as well). "You happy I'm back?" he asked Potash. "You're still my favorite, Potash!"

Malkin was also thrilled to see his great friend and countryman George Birman, immediately lapsing into Russian with the longtime Penguins employee, and reflecting on how Birman would translate for him back when he was a rookie. Seeing Malkin's comfortability with people like Birman, senior vice president of communications Jen Bullano Ridgley, and head equipment manager Jon Taglianetti embodied something Letang told me earlier in the week.
"Pittsburgh, it comes with so many good things. The people, the fans, the organization… everything that surrounds the team, we have the best," he said. "I've had the chance to talk with so many guys in the summer, and I tell them how it works for us, and they're like, what? I'm like, yeah, that's our life. So, that's another thing that's important for hockey players, to feel like you're at home at the rink and the people that work there, they treat you well and they do everything that you need to be successful. That's what makes it special in Pittsburgh."
That relief Letang mentioned has certainly been palpable upon the trio's return, from both him and Malkin. The franchise defenseman has also been in a great mood, with a pretty free and easy disposition these past few days. I think it meant a lot to him hearing season ticket holders express their appreciation for him following an offseason filled with sentimentality thinking about how the core trio might be separated; then, thinking about how they'll likely all finish their careers as Penguins.
But now that everything is settled, ultimately, it's back to work and business as usual for the Big Three for the 17th year in a row and counting. The focus isn't on retiring together, it's about winning together.
"It would be cool if in six years, we say, 'we're done,' and we walk out of the building all three together," Letang said with a smile. "But that's not how it usually happens. We can't control that. But to have a chance to win and try to win and accomplish something big, I think that's what drives us."
Everything feels pretty normal to them, except now, they don't have to deal with the rumors surrounding their futures that followed them these past few seasons. Though Crosby has already had to deal with a lot of questions about how it all came to a head this summer, going through the gauntlet during the annual Player Media Tour in Las Vegas, and knows he's going to get even more throughout the course of training camp. He understands why people think it's a storyline, but to him, it's really not.
"The only thing that matters right now is this year. That's what our focus is," Crosby said. "Whatever led up to it, the playoffs last year, all that stuff doesn't really matter. What matters is this year and playing well and get back to having the opportunity to try to win the Stanley Cup."
Crosby is particularly motivated after his own unique experience this past summer. He's very close with fellow Cole Harbour native Nathan MacKinnon, drafted first overall by Colorado 10 years after Crosby was taken in that same spot by Pittsburgh.
Nate attended all of Sid's Cup festivities in 2016 and '17, and when he led the Avalanche to a championship in June, he joked that he had been the drunkest guy at both of Crosby's parties - so the Penguins captain needed to return the favor.
He might not have succeeded in that respect, as there's debate about whether Sid ranked in the top-10 or top-5, but he had a nice time … though it hurt to see the Cup in that capacity without being the person to have won it. Because of that, he wouldn't touch it.
"I think it just brings back memories, to the parties and the experiences and everything that you go through when you win," Crosby said. "You think of winning and accomplishing that and being on the ice and all that, but I think it's a good reminder of just how much it brings people together.
"You see his family and friends, and I think the people that are a part of it feel like they win it too when you see that up close, when you're on the other side of the party. That was cool to see, and that's something that makes you more motivated to want to do it again."
For a fourth time, with his two brothers.
"They're like family to me," Crosby said. "That's the best way I can describe it."