With the NHL trade deadline looming on March 6, the Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves in a position few expected back in October: right in the thick of the playoff race. And as the wins continue to pile up, the conversation is shifting-from whether the Pens would be sellers at the deadline to whether general manager Kyle Dubas might actually double down and keep the band together.
A Team That’s Found Its Identity
Let’s start with the obvious: Pittsburgh has been one of the more surprising stories in the Eastern Conference this season. They’ve found their stride playing no-frills, high-IQ hockey, and it’s working.
Production is coming from all four lines, all three defensive pairings, and the goaltending has held its own. This isn’t a team riding a hot streak from one superstar-they’re winning because the entire roster is pulling in the same direction.
Dubas, who took over the GM role with a long-term vision in mind, has made more good moves than bad since arriving in Pittsburgh. But now, with the deadline just over a month away, he’s facing a very different set of decisions than he likely anticipated before the season began.
Malkin’s Future: A Defining Decision
One of the biggest question marks hanging over this team is the future of Evgeni Malkin. At the start of the season, it wasn’t outlandish to think that Malkin could be dealt-either as a rental to a contender or as a way for the Penguins to begin turning the page. But the way this team has played, especially since his return from injury, has changed the equation.
Malkin missed a chunk of December, and the Penguins felt it-dropping nine games during his absence. He returned to the lineup on January 8 and wasted no time making an impact, scoring a power-play goal in his first game back and helping Pittsburgh cruise to a 4-1 win over the Devils.
Since that night, the Penguins have gone 7-2-2. Coincidence?
Probably not.
Malkin may not be the dominant force he was in his prime, but he’s still a game-changer. And with the Penguins surging, the idea of moving on from him feels more like a step backward than a strategic reset.
Dubas Tips His Hand
The Penguins’ recent decision to re-sign Blake Lizotte to a three-year extension speaks volumes. That’s not the kind of move a GM makes if he’s planning to tear things down. It’s a signal that Dubas believes this team has a shot-not just to make the playoffs, but to make some noise once they’re there.
And frankly, he’s not wrong. Pittsburgh isn’t just skating by; they’re playing with structure, depth, and purpose. The young players are starting to look like they belong, and the veterans-led by Sidney Crosby, who’s made it clear he’s not going anywhere-are still setting the standard.
The Trade Deadline Question
So what does Dubas do at the deadline? That’s the million-dollar question.
The Penguins are riding a five-game winning streak, but the margin for error in the East is razor-thin. One cold stretch could knock them out of the race.
But if they stay hot-and there’s every reason to believe they can-then standing pat or even adding a piece or two becomes a lot more appealing than selling off assets.
The case for re-signing Malkin is strong. There’s no obvious replacement for him in free agency, and his chemistry with the core-Crosby and Kris Letang included-is something you can’t manufacture.
Letang, like Crosby, is almost certain to finish his career in black and gold. Why not Malkin too?
Looking Ahead
What’s especially intriguing is what this team could look like next season. With prospects like Rutger McGroarty, Harrison Brunicke, and Tristan Broz potentially making the jump to the NHL, the Penguins could be adding fresh legs and high-end upside to an already competitive roster. Combine that with rising cap space and a healthy stash of draft picks over the next three years, and Dubas has options-lots of them.
But the biggest decision in the short term is whether to keep Malkin and make one more run with this core. Given the team’s trajectory, the answer seems clear: the Penguins are closer to contention than they are to a rebuild. And if that’s the case, then keeping Malkin isn’t just sentimental-it’s strategic.
The clock’s ticking toward March 6, and all eyes are on Dubas. Will he push his chips in and bet on this group one more time? Based on what we’ve seen lately, that gamble might just pay off.