NHL Analyst Reveals Whether Evgeni Malkin's Resurgence Could Force the Penguins Into a Trade

The Pittsburgh Penguins were expected to be one of the worst teams in the NHL in 2025/26, but after a month of action, they sit tied for first place in the Metropolitan Division with an 8-3-2 record.

There are many reasons behind the Penguins success, but perhaps the most surprising is the line of Justin Brazeau-Evgeni Malkin-Anthony Mantha, who have arguably been the best line in hockey.

The driver of that line remains Malkin, who has tallied an incredibly impressive 3 goals and 18 points in 13 games this season at 39-years of age, and in his final season of his current contract, there were plenty of trade rumours surrounding him heading into the 2025/26 season.

Analysts have now begun talking about Malkin's situation, and while this team is buzzing right now, their long-term outlook needs to remain the priority, meaning that a trade for Malkin is still the most likely outcome.

On paper, trading Malkin makes the most sense for GM Kyle Dubas, as he could net a major return for a contending team looking for a 2C, and given his red-hot start, he's shown that he's still capable of dominating a game in the NHL.

Ultimately, if the Penguins want to keep their youth movement going, getting a pick or even a prospect in return for Malkin is the best way to go about things, but if the team are still contending, there's always a chance that Kyle Dubas wants to keep the band together.