Evgeni Malkin to Continue with Penguins for Another Season

Evgeni Malkin is set to stay in Pittsburgh for another year. The popular Penguins player signed a one-year contract worth $5.5 million on Tuesday, marking what is likely his final season in the NHL.

This summer, Malkin will turn 40, yet he has dedicated his entire career to the Penguins. In a heartfelt video released by the team, he expressed his happiness about returning, declaring Tuesday to be “the best day of my life.” He remarked, “Great city. Great fans. I’ll stay another year.”

Additionally, his contract allows for performance bonuses up to $3.5 million and includes a no-movement clause. The Penguins could also ask Malkin for a three-team trade list after February 1, as reported.

The team acknowledged discussions with Malkin regarding his return for the 2026-27 season and his evolving role in the team’s dynamics. “As a result of that process,” they stated, “Evgeni will return to the Penguins for his 21st season with the club.”

Malkin always wanted to remain in Pittsburgh, although talks about extending his time with the team had been sparse until recently. Following the Penguins’ loss to the Flyers in Game 6 of the playoffs, he commented on the possibility of change, saying he understood if the team sought a new direction. “It’s not easy for Kyle. Maybe he wants some new blood here,” he noted. “I understand the business. I understand that he probably wants a new team. Look at the new guys here.”

Malkin’s career with the Penguins is certainly noteworthy; having won three Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016, and 2017, he ranks second in games played (1,269), third in goals scored (533), and second in game-winning goals (89) for the franchise.

He was selected second overall in the 2004 NHL Draft, right behind Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, and made his NHL debut on October 18, 2006. Only Sidney Crosby has played more seasons with the Penguins than Malkin.