Evgeni Malkin extension talks take a turn as Pittsburgh Penguins push playoff spot

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Daniel Lucente
March 2, 2026 (9:05)

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Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Friedman floated on TNT that Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins are circling talks again, but nothing's signed yet.

The public line, though, is simple: wait until after the season.

Malkin basically said his agent told him to hold off and see where things land.

That's a big change from the "Olympic break clarity" vibe that was out there earlier.

And it hits differently because Pittsburgh is not playing out the string.

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The Penguins are sitting 31-15-13, second in the Metro, with real points pressure every night now.

So if you're Kyle Dubas, you don't want an emotional extension to become a deadline distraction.

But you also don't want a franchise legend walking into July with hurt feelings and options.

You can feel the fanbase mood here: nobody wants a messy goodbye, but nobody trusts "we'll talk later" either.

On the ice, Malkin has earned the conversation again, 13-34-47 in 2025-26.

That's not nostalgia production, that's real top-six offense and real man-advantage juice.

The cap hit question is the whole game, because his deal is up after this season and he's been at $6M AAV.

If Pittsburgh wants flexibility, a short extension keeps the door open while still respecting the room.

If they wait too long, they risk turning a straightforward one-year fit into a loud storyline the second the season ends.

For a team trying to hang onto a playoff spot, the cleanest path is simple: keep it quiet now, then act fast when the games stop.

Previously on HockeyUnplugged

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MARS 2\|182 ANSWERS Evgeni Malkin extension talks take a turn as Pittsburgh Penguins push playoff spot Should the Pittsburgh Penguins extend Evgeni Malkin after the 2025-26 season?
Yes	159	87.4 %
No	23	12.6 %
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