'Having a House' There: NHL Insider Connects Evgeni Malkin to Surprising Eastern Conference Team
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NHL insider Greg Wyshynski revealed that, seeing as Evgeni Malkin has a house in Miami, and the Panthers are full of injuries, he could end up there before long.
The Florida Panthers began their pursuit of a third consecutive Stanley Cup in challenging fashion.
Captain and leading center Aleksander Barkov is out for seven to nine months following knee surgery, and Matthew Tkachuk is also out for the long term.
Losing both star forwards simultaneously has created a huge void in the lineup and the locker room, so Florida needs to try every potential remedy in order to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference.
Amid the uncertainty, NHL insider Greg Wyshynski added fuel to an intriguing discussion that's gaining traction around the league.
He noted that with Barkov out and Evgeni Malkin already owning a home in Miami, there's a growing belief that the Panthers could somehow find a way to make him their top center before long.
Greg Wyshynski: "The growing narrative in the league right now with Barkov going out and Malkin having a house in Miami, that they'll probably find a way for him to be the 1C in Florida before too long."
The idea has quickly become one of the more fascinating narratives of the young season.
Evgeni Malkin Will Be a UFA at the End of the Season and may Even Retire
Malkin, 39, has one season remaining on his four-year, $24.4 million deal with Pittsburgh. The Penguins seem destined for a transition year, and dealing an aging superstar might be a way of opening the door to replenishing future assets.
Even at his advanced age, Malkin is still a dynamic offensive player who put up 50 points last season and demonstrated he can still inject a team's top six with juice, and has been open to the idea of a possible move.
"It's hard, you know? But again, we see a story, like, with Brad Marchand. Looking good, you know? Again, if the team trades you and you [don't] win the Cup, it's like a little bit weird, too, you know? But we'll see what's going on [with] my future. But of course everybody wants to try to play in the playoffs and have maybe one more run to the Cup. Again, it's a great story when you see it on TV. But I don't know how I [would] feel if the team wants to trade me," Malkin said.
For Florida, the fit is intriguingly practical. Malkin would be able to step in and fill the offense and leadership hole Barkov's injury has left, and his ties to the area make a trade all the more plausible.
As the Panthers try to find their way without their captain at the beginning of their season, this emerging Malkin-to-Miami narrative is one that has become worth monitoring closely, and one that would alter the Stanley Cup landscape should it ever materialize.
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