- Kyle Dubas told reporters Tuesday Pittsburgh “would love” Evgeni Malkin back next season
- Malkin hits unrestricted free agency July 1 and turns 40 this summer
- Read below for full details on the Penguins GM’s end-of-season comments
Evgeni Malkin might be sticking around in Pittsburgh after all.
Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas told reporters Tuesday that the club wants the 39-year-old back for a 21st season, even with Malkin headed toward unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career.
Dubas was asked at his end-of-season media availability where things stand with the future Hall of Famer:
“He’s a special player. I don’t think he’s blocking anybody. We would love to have him back.”
Watch the full presser:
Malkin had already laid out his side after Pittsburgh’s first-round playoff loss to Philadelphia, saying he wants to play one more year and would prefer to do it in black and gold. We covered those comments here.
The Russian center put up 19 goals and 42 assists in 56 games this past season despite missing 20 contests with injury and another five to suspension. Dubas pointed to that bounce-back as proof Malkin can still carry a top-six role, describing how he returned from each setback with “renewed energy.”
Take a look at Dubas on Malkin’s future and where the team is at:
The bigger picture matters here. Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Kris Letang have shared a locker room for two decades. That’s the longest run any three teammates have had together in major North American pro sports history.
Letang is signed through 2027-28. Crosby becomes extension-eligible in July.
There’s no sugar-coating from the GM either. He admitted Pittsburgh is “well short” of where it wants to be, and said watching teams still alive in the second round only confirmed how wide the gap is to the top contenders.
Free agency opens July 1. Malkin turns 40 not long after, and at least one team has already told him they want him back.
