Evgeni Malkin Wants to Stay in Pittsburgh - But the Penguins Might Be Ready to Move On
Evgeni Malkin isn’t ready to say goodbye to Pittsburgh - not yet. And based on the way he’s playing this season, you can understand why he’s pushing to stick around. The 39-year-old center is outperforming expectations, producing at a pace that’s hard to ignore, even as the franchise seems poised to turn the page.
Malkin has made it clear: he wants to finish his career where it started. He’s not looking for a blockbuster extension or a long-term deal - just one more year in black and gold.
According to reports, his camp and Penguins GM Kyle Dubas are scheduled to meet during the Olympic break to discuss his future. But here’s the catch: while Malkin is hoping for an extension, Dubas is reportedly focused on exploring trade options.
Still, Malkin’s not making this easy. He holds a no-move clause, and unless something drastic changes, he’s not waiving it.
He doesn’t want to chase a Cup elsewhere. He wants to retire a Penguin - plain and simple.
And he’s even willing to take a pay cut from his current $6.1 million salary to make that happen.
That’s not something you hear every day from a future Hall of Famer.
But the Penguins, for now, aren’t biting. Despite Malkin’s 10 goals and 35 points through 33 games - production that would be solid for any top-six forward, let alone a 39-year-old - the front office seems set on moving in a new direction. The organization has been reluctant to engage in serious extension talks, signaling that they may prefer to get value for Malkin now rather than hold onto a veteran who, in their eyes, doesn’t fit the long-term plan.
It’s a tough position for both sides. Malkin is still producing, still competing, and still showing flashes of the elite playmaking that helped define Pittsburgh’s golden era. But he’s also turning 40 this summer, and the Penguins - a team trying to thread the needle between retooling and staying competitive - have to weigh sentimentality against strategy.
The longer they keep their core intact, the harder it becomes to reset. And while Sidney Crosby remains the face of the franchise, the front office seems to believe that holding onto Malkin for another year might delay the inevitable.
This isn’t about disrespect - it’s about direction. And right now, the Penguins appear to be choosing the future, even if one of their greatest players is still doing everything he can to prove he belongs in their present.
Malkin’s legacy in Pittsburgh is secure. The question now is whether he’ll get the farewell he wants - or if the business side of hockey will write the final chapter for him.