Malkin’s Penguins Future Beyond Next Season Remains … Undecided

Evgeni Malkin declined to speak to reporters following the Pittsburgh Penguins’ final regular-season game. And his immediate hockey future has remained a mystery ever since.

“Tomorrow!” he shouted as he declined to address the few of us still chasing the flightless birds from arena to arena across the North American continent. He promised to speak with the media on clean-out day the following morning, but was a customary no-show then, too.

The obvious and perhaps only question for Malkin is his future. It remains unspoken that the soon-to-be 39-year-old will retire. Of course, it could also be that it remains unspoken that he wants to keep playing.

In fact, a decision from neither the team nor player has been made, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation and recent conversations between Penguins management and Malkin’s camp.

Those conversations between the player and management were sparked by recent reports of Malkin’s impending end with the organization, regardless of whether he wanted to continue playing beyond the 2025-26 season when his contract expires.

Tuesday, Pittsburgh Hockey Now spoke with sources with direct knowledge of the situation about Malkin’s future, and specifically his future with the Penguins. There was immediate pushback on the idea that the Penguins’ stalwart could be shown the door.

One source in Malkin’s camp indicated the Penguins sought to reassure Malkin that conversations on his future beyond next season have not occurred.

Malkin’s camp declined to speculate about the future beyond this coming season, but referred to any news about Malkin’s future as “bad info.”

This season, Malkin’s offensive totals dropped to 50 points with 16 goals in 68 games. On paper, it appears to be a precipitous drop, though there were extenuating circumstances, including a rotating cast of unproductive wingers, which even Dubas sarcastically underplayed after the season as a means to prove the point.

While his appearance may be youthful, physically, he is no longer. His knee has been injured and operated on more than once. His unique galloping skating stride that alerted opposing defensemen to beware has vanished. This season, Malkin himself admitted he cannot skate like he once did, and admitted bad thoughts about his future creep in, especially when he was not scoring.

Read More: ‘You Think Bad Things.’ Malkin Talks Injury, Russia, & His Best Friend

Should Malkin wish to continue playing beyond the 2025-26 season, he would need a new contract. Given the Penguins’ desired bend toward players actually in their 20s and not just at heart, it would be no guarantee that the organization would extend such an offer.

By rule, Malkin could re-sign this summer, just as Sidney Crosby signed his current contract when he had one season left on the previous one. Yet, as the Penguins push for a revitalized younger roster, Malkin’s age and declining play surely work against him, just as his skill and place among the organization’s greats work for him. After all, the Penguins will still need to sell tickets, and at present, they have a lack of centers in the organization.

It has been a long road for Malkin, sometimes obscured by the shadows of teammate Crosby. Malkin is the second-leading Russian-born scorer in NHL history (1,346), trailing only all-time goals leader and friend Alex Ovechkin (1,623), yet was famously not included on the top 100 players of all time list.

While Malkin’s long-time partner in crime Crosby has filled out into a venerable statesman for the game of hockey, salt-and-pepper hair befitting battles won and lost, but has maintained a point-per-game pace, Malkin is the opposite. The 6-foot-3 pivot with big shoulders but small legs still looks and perhaps acts like he’s in his 20s. There is no gray hair, no white whiskers protruding from his long Russian face as he lobs hardline jokes across the locker room or welcomes his son Nikita into the room.

That decision for one of the best of the generation and in franchise history seems to be hanging in the air, unspoken if not undecided, just as it did on April 18 when Malkin avoided the question and the media as artfully as he has eluded so many defenders in his 19-year career.

Indeed, sources close to Malkin indicated he will consider his future later next season, which seems appropriate. But it would seem neither team nor player has made the call.