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Crosby and Malkin Can Still Deliver, But Is That Bad News for the Penguins?
Photo credit: The Herald Star
Longtime Pittsburgh forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin can both still play at a high level, but is that going to be bad news for the Penguins for the long term?
The NHL careers of longtime Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are unfortunately winding down, and the widespread speculation is that this year will be Malkin's last.
They've both shown that they can still play at a high level, especially Crosby - but will that have a negative effect on Pittsburgh's long-term plans?
Why strong seasons from Crosby and Malkin complicate the rebuild
Many believe that the plan for Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is to have his team finish with the poorest possible record to try and maximize their chances of winning the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery.
The consensus No. 1 overall pick is Gavin McKenna, and the Penguins could especially kickstart their rebuild if they were able to take him.
To give themselves the best chance to win the Draft Lottery, the Penguins would need to finish with as poor a record as possible. If Crosby and Malkin both produce at a high level, it could hamper those chances.
The delicate balance between celebrating legends and building for the future
The Penguins will appropriately celebrate Malkin's career if, in fact, this is his last year in the NHL.
But they also can't hinder their future plans and miss out on building for the future merely to let Malkin have his swan song in the NHL.
There is also the potential that the Penguins could even trade Malkin if they were presented with an offer they couldn't realistically turn down from another team, which would give him the chance to chase 1 more Stanley Cup before he retires.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 2 | 18 ANSWERS Crosby and Malkin Can Still Deliver, But Is That Bad News for the Penguins? Will 2025-26 be Evgeni Malkin's last year in the NHL? | ||
| Yes | 14 | 77.8 % |
| No | 4 | 22.2 % |
| List of polls | ||