Evgeni Malkin is a legend for the Pittsburgh Penguins but what does their GM have to say about their star player as contract negotiations take heed in his final year for the Penguins.
Evgeni Malkin and his legacy in the NHL is one that pits him in contention for the NHL Hall of Fame. He was the no.2 pick in the 2004 NHL Draft. After the Penguins claimed him, Malkin went on to claim the Calder Trophy in 2007 as the Rookie of the Year.
He has been leading the charge for the Penguins as the centre for a long time. By 2009, Malkin won his and the Penguins’ first Stanley Cup. He also became a playoff MVP, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy. Evgeni is holding the fort for the Penguins as their top-six at the age of 39. The head coach of the team is not ready to let him go.
Malkin also reciprocates the same intentions with the Penguins. He previously stated that he would end his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He doesn’t plan on retiring with another team. Similarly, the Penguins are still reliant on his performance as they look forward to their fourth Stanley Cup victory.
Malkin’s and his decision are the two biggest unknowns in the upcoming season of NHL 2025-2026. He is at the end of the four-year contract he signed with the Penguins for $24.4 million. While there is no confirmation about his retirement plans, one thing is for sure, he does look forward to staying with the Penguins.
The biggest factor that might affect Malkin’s stay at Pittsburgh is the likelihood of the team retaining key players. Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Evgeni Malkin have been the leading players for the Penguins, winning three Stanley Cups together. The trio is also the longest tenured in the history of American pro-sports with a 20-season-long partnership.
Talking about Malkin, GM Kyle Dubas says-
“Our major focus is on treating him right. Pushing him to continue to be at his best this year and do right by him by continuing to communicate with him on where he stands and handle it the right way as an organization.”
Penguins’ new head coach, Dan Muse, shares these sentiments.
“We’re going to put together a plan and we’re going to be talking with every single player that’s here. So, you do have players that have been in this league a long time and have done great things in this league for a long time. Working with those players to help them continue to take steps.”
The Penguins have young talents in their roster. However, the management is not ready to simply hand over the team to the younger players.
Are the Penguins set to make a mark and train the fresh talents with the help of their experienced roster, or are they leaning too much on old players instead of making a fresh start? Only time will tell. And Evgeni Malkin’s decisions will also be a major influence for the same.
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