This reads like a bad novel. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Rob Rossi provides an update on the state of the tenuous negotiations between Kris Letang and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and things have gotten...weird...

Negotiations between Penguins general manager Ray Shero and Letang's agent, Kent Hughes, continued Friday. Both sides strived to keep details quiet because of a perceived negative impact on negotiations, which were described as tense by multiple sources.

Letang is unhappy with a perceived slight by members of Penguins management and the coaching staff after the Tribune-Review reported that Paul Martin rated as the club's top defenseman last season.

The Penguins are not pleased with reports that Letang had scouted other clubs by consulting with opposing players.

Letang is under contract for next season, and there remained Friday no firm decision by Shero to trade him before the NHL Entry Draft on Sunday.

Continued (with the $ part of the equation)