- Pierre LeBrun reports the Penguins and Malkin are already deep in talks on a one-year deal
- Term is settled, but money is the holdup with Pittsburgh starting near $4.8M
- Read below for what LeBrun expects before free agency opens July 1
Evgeni Malkin isn’t going anywhere.
That’s the read from Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, who reported Tuesday the Penguins are already deep in contract talks with Malkin’s agent J.P. Barry on a one-year return for 2026-27.
LeBrun’s bottom line on Malkin’s future:
“This will eventually get done. Malkin isn’t going anywhere. But it’s not done yet.”
The holdup isn’t term. It’s money. Malkin’s last contract was a four-year, $24.4 million deal with a $6.1 million cap hit, but because the structure was frontloaded, his actual salary in 2025-26 was $4.8 million.
Pittsburgh is expected to open near that $4.8 million figure while Barry pushes closer to the AAV, per LeBrun, with games-played and milestone bonuses helping bridge the gap.
Malkin has made his stance clear all spring. He told reporters during the playoffs he wanted to be “retired in Pittsburgh,” and nothing he’s said since has suggested otherwise.
Kyle Dubas backed him up at his end-of-season presser, saying the team “would love” to bring No. 71 back for a 21st year.
Even at 39, the Russian center still produced like a top-six guy. He finished with 19 goals, 42 assists, and 61 points in 56 games, fifth in Penguins scoring. His 1.09 points per game was his highest rate in six seasons.
Catch one of his vintage moments from the year:
Free agency opens July 1. LeBrun expects the deal closes before then, which would let Pittsburgh head into the summer with Sidney Crosby, Malkin, and Kris Letang locked in for another run together.
