Is Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins getting set for his unofficial retirement tour? “Phrase is beginning to flow into that the 2025-26 season will probably be Malkin’s final within the NHL,” writes David Pagnotta of The Fourth Interval this week. He provides, “The 38-year-old is coming into the ultimate 12 months of his contract, and the long run Corridor-of-Famer could grasp up his skates on the conclusion of Pittsburgh’s marketing campaign a 12 months from now.”
If true, it will likely be an enormous taking place for the Penguins’ group and an enormous loss for the NHL. On the similar time, it may not come as an enormous shock seeing because the crew goes via a rebuild/retool and never essentially projected to be a Stanley Cup contender earlier than Malkin’s deal runs out and his manufacturing takes a dip.
Malkin has performed in 1,213 profession regular-season video games, scoring 514 objectives and 832 assists for 1,346 factors. This season, he performed in 68 video games and produced one in every of his lowest goal-scoring campaigns of his final a number of comparatively wholesome seasons.
The three-time Stanley Cup champ is a two-time Artwork Ross Trophy winner, the 2007 Calder Trophy winner, the 2009 Conn Smythe winner, and the 2012 Hart winner and Ted Lindsay winner. Nonetheless, he’s slowing, and it’s seemingly he’s not enthusiastic about enjoying for a crew that isn’t the Penguins.
Penguins Trying to Go Youthful, Malkin Seemingly Not A part of the Plan
Pittsburgh is a youth motion, which suggests transferring on from names like Erik Karlsson and probably Malkin. Sidney Crosby appears to be the one participant the Penguins will attempt to preserve below most circumstances. He must inform the franchise he needs out, whereas different gamers is likely to be on Dubas’ commerce to-do record. At this level, Crosby has not indicated he’s seeking to go anyplace.
Malkin holds a full no-move clause, so the more than likely state of affairs is that he performs out the final of this contract after which retires from the NHL.
Subsequent: Canadiens’ Insider Dives Into Crosby-to-Montreal Hypothesis
