Evgeni Malkin's Future Uncertain After Hitting Big Milestone
Photo credit: Sportsnet
As Penguins fans celebrate Evgeni Malkin's 39th birthday, they know that 2025-26 could very well be the end of his NHL journey with their team.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in a major period of transition right now, having missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last 3 years and not being expected to come anywhere close to competing for a postseason spot this year.
The postseason drought is the longest in the careers of both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who will have their sweater numbers 87 and 71 retired by the team upon their retirement, whenever it is.
Currently, the prevailing thought is that the upcoming season could be Malkin's final year in the NHL, as he's only under contract through next summer and isn't expected to receive another offer from Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas.
Per PensBurgh, with today being Malkin's 39th birthday, it looks as though 2025-26 will in fact be the end of the NHL road for
him.
him.
This summer, of course, marks a special moment of reflection on this day, Malkin's 39th birthday. It is Geno's last season under contract with the Penguins. There have been disputed reports that this will be the final year Malkin plays in Pittsburgh. It doesn't look like he's going to have a formal, official retirement tour that lasts a full season, which is fitting - but realistically it looks like this could be the end of the road.
Evgeni Malkin is the 3rd highest scoring player since 2006
Only Malkin's longtime teammate Crosby and his fellow Russian Alex Ovechkin have more points than him since the start of 2006-07, which was his 1st year in the NHL.
Malkin has helped the Penguins to 3 Stanley Cups, the 1st of which in 2009, he was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as postseason MVP.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 31 | 63 ANSWERS Evgeni Malkin's Future Uncertain After Hitting Big Milestone Is 2025-26 going to be Evgeni Malkin's last year in the NHL? | ||
| Yes | 56 | 88.9 % |
| No | 7 | 11.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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