Evgeni Malkin made it clear Friday that he wants to play in the NHL next season, even if it’s not with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Malkin told reporters during exit interviews following Wednesday’s Game 6 elimination loss to the Philadelphia Flyers he had talked to general manager Kyle Dubas but had no updates on his pending unrestricted free agency.
“It’s not easy for Kyle. Maybe he wants new blood here. I understand it,” Malkin said. “I understand he wants, maybe, new team.”
Malkin continued, “I want
one more year in NHL. I’m not moving back to KHL, play in Russia. Again, if not Pittsburgh, I hope some team.”
When asked if he would play for another NHL team other than the Penguins, Malkin had a definitive answer: “Yes.”
It sounds like whether Malkin ends up taking offers from other teams will be at least partially in the hands of Dubas. Malkin said he’s still hoping to “play together one more year” with Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang.
Malkin was a point-per-game player when available this season, posting 61 points (19 goals, 42 assists) while transitioning from center to wing.
He was a good fit with Egor Chinakhov, who is heading into the summer as a restricted free agent, and he’s likely not blocking any forward prospects from making an immediate jump to the NHL.
Malkin also won’t help the Penguins get any younger in the immediate future. He turns 40 this summer after missing a total of 26 games last season.
Crosby, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell made it clear Friday they want Malkin back.
“I think it’s clear I’d love to be playing with him for longer,” Crosby said. “So, we’ll see what happens, but I think it’s pretty obvious at this point I’d love to keep playing with him.”
Erik Karlsson, meanwhile, acknowledged Malkin could be leaving this offseason: “He’s still a capable player to be an impactful player in this league, so happy for him. No matter what happens to him, he’s going to land on his feet, and he’ll be just fine.”
The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reported last June the Penguins weren’t planning to re-sign Malkin after this season. Whether this run to the playoffs has changed Dubas’ mind is unclear, as is where Rust and Rakell (both signed through 2027-28) fit into his long-term plans.
The Penguins are heading into next season with $45.8 million in projected cap space thanks in part to expiring contracts for players including Malkin, Kevin Hayes, Anthony Mantha, Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar, Ryan Shea and Stuart Skinner, per PuckPedia.
Malkin made $6.1 million last season. Whether he returns for another run in Pittsburgh could potentially depend on his willingness to agree to a pay cut and a one year deal.
Outside of Malkin, pending UFAs Shea and Mantha both expressed a desire to return to Pittsburgh next season.
Another notable part of locker room clean-out day was some reflections from Ben Kindel, who lost the last face-off of his rookie season just before the Flyers scored in Game 6 overtime.
“Still kind of stick to my stomach when you think about that last shift and how the season ended,” Kindel told reporters Friday. “Obviously nothing I can do about it now, but just look to use in as motivation in the future, in future years, and do whatever we can to not let it end like that again.”
Also notable is that Artūrs Šilovs told reporters he played the last three to four weeks of the season, including his three playoff starts, through a knee injury.
Crosby, for what it’s worth, said he physically feels “good” after the knee injury that sidelined him for the month following the 2026 Olympics.
Šilovs, Rakell, Shea and Crosby indicated they had not yet decided about playing in the upcoming IIHF World Championships, while Karlsson said he wouldn’t be participating.
