Pittsburgh's ownership has given GM Ray Shero the green light to do just about anything it takes to lock up Evgeni Malkin. Malkin could end up earning about $10 million annually once a new deal is finalized. Shero and Malkin's agent, J.P. Barry, held a face-to-face meeting Monday and Barry called it productive. He will understandably be the team's top priority this off-season and the team wants to get him to agree in principle to a new deal before free agency, so they can work on re-signing potential UFA winger Pascal Dupuis.