NHL Analyst Links Three Teams to Penguins' Evgeni Malkin: 'Certainly Consider Acquiring'
Photo credit: Edit from The New York Times
NHL analyst Scott Maxwell has revealed that the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers would certainly consider acquiring Evgeni Malkin.
Evgeni Malkin is entering the final year of his contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, which is also his 20th NHL year at the ripe age of 39.
The old reliable center started the 2025-26 season off scorchingly hot with five assists over his first two games and helped the Penguins take off to a 2-0 start, prior to last night's loss.
Despite the power start, NHL analyst Scott Maxwell suggested that Pittsburgh would not re-sign Malkin after this season, positioning him with potential franchises like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, and even the Florida Panthers.
"The Pittsburgh Penguins [are] likely not looking to re-sign him [Malkin] after this season," Maxwell wrote, via Daily Faceoff.
"Whether Malkin does so with the Panthers themselves as they look to bandage the hole left by Aleksander Barkov, or with another contender looking for center depth like the Toronto Maple Leafs or Vancouver Canucks, teams will certainly consider acquiring the 39-year-old," Maxwell wrote.
"Whether Malkin does so with the Panthers themselves as they look to bandage the hole left by Aleksander Barkov, or with another contender looking for center depth like the Toronto Maple Leafs or Vancouver Canucks, teams will certainly consider acquiring the 39-year-old," Maxwell wrote.
In the end, it may be in Malkin's control whether he remains or not, as he has a no-trade clause. In over 19 fantastic seasons with the Penguins, Malkin has played in over 1,200 games and scored 514 goals while accumulating a total of 1,351 points.
"The choice is ultimately his, but I think he gives in and tries to take one last run at a Stanley Cup before retiring." Maxwell wrote.
Evgeni Malkin's Trophy Room Boasts an Incredible Amount of Hardware
He boasts three Stanley Cup titles (2009, 2016, 2017) and several awards, among them the Calder Trophy, Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, and Conn Smythe Trophy.
There has been talk about whether he would retire after this season, and Malkin spoke out about that subject in September.
"You know, it depends how season going. ...I mean, again, this season is huge for team and for me, myself. And again, I'm still hungry."
Last week, captain Sidney Crosby spoke about starting his 20th season alongside Malkin and Kris Letang, who have been his teammates since 2006.
They were characterized by Crosby as showing consistent leadership and devotion that has been able to take charge and lead a younger Penguins squad through a rebuild. For the time being, Malkin's goal is to win, and nothing else matters.
"It's pretty amazing when you think about it, to have that wide of an age gap," Crosby said. "Excited for them to get that opportunity to play their first game at MSG, ... To get the win and obviously to be sharing 20 years with Geno and Tanger and having played this long together, it's so rare."
Regardless of whether this season is his farewell in Pittsburgh or the beginning of one final surge somewhere else, his place among the franchise's greats is already secure, no matter what he chooses to do.
