Kyle Dubas wants to re-sign Evgeni Malkin with Penguins
kyle dubas said the Pittsburgh Penguins would love to re-sign Evgeni Malkin, and the talks are already moving with J.P. Barry. Malkin could become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 if he does not sign before then, setting up a decision that touches a 20-season run in Pittsburgh.
Dubas and Malkin talk continues
“So, we would love to have him back. We'll just continue to work with J.P. on it. That's as clear as I can be,” Dubas said Tuesday in Cranberry, Pa. He also said, “Obviously, had a great exit interview with Evgeni, directly,” a sign that the Penguins are still managing this as a live contract issue, not a finished one.
Dubas said he does not view the younger Penguins players as blocking Malkin. That matters because it keeps the roster conversation centered on fit and contract terms rather than a simple age-versus-youth tradeoff, and it leaves Pittsburgh weighing a veteran center against a future that already includes younger pieces.
Malkin's place in Pittsburgh
Malkin will turn 40 on July 31 and is finishing the final season of a four-year, $24.4 million contract with a $6.1 million average annual value. He has played 1,269 games for the Penguins since being selected No. 2 in the 2004 NHL Draft and ranks third in franchise history with 1,407 points.
His season gave Pittsburgh production even in a difficult year. Malkin finished with 61 points in 56 games, including 19 goals and 42 assists, and he added two goals and one assist in the playoffs before Pittsburgh was eliminated by Philadelphia in Game 6 on April 29.
Malkin's comments on May 1
Malkin made his own stance clear on May 1. “I mean, I want to play (in the) NHL, for sure,” he said, and he added that he is not looking to return to the KHL or play in Russia.
He also said, “But again, I know it's not easy for Kyle. Maybe he wants new blood here. I understand it's business, and I understand he wants maybe (a) new team, see new faces here. But for me, I want to play one more year in the NHL. I'm not looking (to go) back to KHL (Kontinental Hockey League), play in Russia. But if not Pittsburgh, I hope some team.”
That leaves the Penguins with a clear choice before July 1: keep one of the most accomplished players in team history or let the market open. Malkin, Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang have guided Pittsburgh to 17 postseason appearances in 20 seasons together, and Dubas now has to decide whether that core gets another year in black and gold.
