Evgeni Malkin isn’t done yet-not with the Penguins, and certainly not with the game.
As the veteran center enters the final stretch of his four-year, $6.1 million-per-season contract, there’s a clear message coming from his camp: he wants to stay in Pittsburgh, and he’s willing to take less money to make that happen. That’s not just loyalty-it’s a sign that Malkin still sees unfinished business in black and gold.
Now in his 20th season with the Penguins, Malkin was once seen as a likely trade chip heading into 2025-26. Pittsburgh was supposed to be in rebuild mode, after all.
But here we are in late January, and the Pens are very much in the playoff mix, sitting third in the Metropolitan Division with 57 points. That’s not a fluke-it’s a team that’s found new life, and Malkin’s resurgence is a big reason why.
Despite battling injuries, Malkin has put up 35 points in 33 games this season. That’s vintage production from a player who’s been a cornerstone of the franchise for two decades. He’s now sitting third on the Penguins’ all-time scoring list with 1,381 points, behind only Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux-elite company that tells you everything you need to know about his legacy.
What’s more impressive is that this season’s bounce-back wasn’t necessarily expected. Last year, Malkin managed 50 points in 68 games, and the Penguins missed the playoffs.
It looked like the end of an era. But instead of fading out, Malkin has responded with the kind of play that’s forcing Pittsburgh’s front office to reconsider its long-term plans.
According to reports, the team wasn’t seriously entertaining a new contract offer for Malkin after last season. That calculus may be changing.
Malkin’s camp is expected to sit down with general manager Kyle Dubas during the Olympic break to discuss what a new deal could look like. And with the big man open to a pay cut, the path to keeping him in Pittsburgh suddenly looks a lot smoother.
This isn’t just about nostalgia or sentimentality. Malkin is proving he can still be a difference-maker on a team that’s defying expectations. If the Penguins are going to keep pushing for a playoff spot-and maybe more-it’s hard to imagine doing it without No. 71 in the lineup.
For a franchise that’s built its modern identity around Crosby, Malkin, and Letang, the idea of letting one of its pillars walk feels wrong. And if Malkin has his way, it won’t come to that.
He wants to retire a Penguin. The only question now is whether the front office agrees.