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Evgeni Malkin Sounds Off as Penguins' Playoff Hopes Crushed
The Penguins aren't used to struggling in the modern era, and now Evgeni Malkin has opened up after their 2024/25 campaign sees their playoff hopes crushed.
In 19 years with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Evgeni Malkin has experienced unmatched success alongside Sidney Crosby, but 2024/25 has been a different story thus far, with the team now boasting on social media about their wealth of draft picks.
While that's no doubt good for the future, it's a bitter pill to swallow for the team's veterans, with Malkin now opening up on the struggles they've faced this season and how they continue trying despite the circumstances around the team.
«We can't just lose every game, we have to keep trying. This, is so hard.
Every game right now is so tough. We start games OK. Not too bad. First period was OK. But then we make a couple of mistakes, and we just lose it. This is just a tough year. It's tough to say something new to you because these games are kind of the same.
I know Kyle is trying. I know the coaches are trying. We are trying. We are trying hard. We just have zero confidence right now. We just need to keep fighting in these last 17 games. It's not easy, but we have to fight. We have to have pride.»
Every game right now is so tough. We start games OK. Not too bad. First period was OK. But then we make a couple of mistakes, and we just lose it. This is just a tough year. It's tough to say something new to you because these games are kind of the same.
I know Kyle is trying. I know the coaches are trying. We are trying. We are trying hard. We just have zero confidence right now. We just need to keep fighting in these last 17 games. It's not easy, but we have to fight. We have to have pride.»
With the Penguins set to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a third straight season, it's easy to see why Malkin, Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby would get frustrated, and even though Kyle Dubas has told that group he'll try and put a contender around them, the immediate future looks bleak.
Whether they miss the playoffs again next year and rebound the year after or never make it again, Malkin will go down as a top-five player in franchise history, and with all that he's accomplished, it's safe to say that he'll always be known as a legend in Pittsburgh.
| POLL | ||
MARS 8 | 372 ANSWERS Evgeni Malkin Sounds Off as Penguins' Playoff Hopes Crushed Will the Penguins make the Stanley Cup Playoffs before Evgeni Malkin retires? | ||
| Yes | 141 | 37.9 % |
| No | 231 | 62.1 % |
| List of polls | ||