Pittsburgh Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL or NHLPA
NHL Insider Reveals Whether Evgeni Malkin Could Follow Brad Marchand's Surprising Path Next Spring
Photo credit: Edit from PensBurgh
NHL insider Michael Amato revealed that there is a good chance Evgeni Malkin follows Brad Marchand's path at the trade deadline and switches teams.
Evgeni Malkin hardly looks like a player nearing the end of his career. Sitting among the league's top five scorers and tied for first in assists, the 39-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins star is playing like he's 29 again.
His resurgence has helped the Penguins to an 8-2-2 start and first place in the Metropolitan Division, a stunning turnaround for a team many thought would be rebuilding.
There was a lot of speculation this summer that this could be Malkin's last year in Pittsburgh. Whether that's true might depend on how long the Penguins can keep this up.
Their secondary scoring has been outstanding, their goaltending elite and their goal differential among the league's best, all trends that could be difficult to sustain.
Evgeni Malkin's name will really circulate if the Penguins drop out of contention
If the Penguins fade, Malkin could become one of the biggest names on the trade market, much as Brad Marchand shocked the hockey world by leaving Boston for Florida last season.
Marchand's gamble paid dividends, as he helped the Panthers to a second straight Stanley Cup and earned a contract extension.
Malkin, while older, could find that same kind of late-career spark on a contender, according to NHL insider Michael Amato.
"Ultimately, Malkin holds all the cards here. He has a full no-move clause and has earned the right to decide how he wants to close out his NHL career, but Marchand's decision a year ago may make a bold move more intriguing for a veteran player such as Malkin. Mikko Rantanen may have been the biggest name to move at last season's trade deadline, but it's hard to argue Marchand wasn't the most impactful. If all the stars align, Malkin could make a similar impact next spring."
- Michael Amato
- Michael Amato
The Florida Panthers make a lot of sense given Malkin's Miami ties and their need for centre depth with Aleksander Barkov injured. Vegas could also be a fit, given its aggressive deadline history.
North of the border, the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or Jets could all use a veteran centre of his calibre.
In the end, Malkin is in control. His no-move clause assures that whatever happens will be on his terms.
But if Marchand's jump got him going, don't rule out one final twist in the storybook career of Malkin, maybe one spring run more that proves he still is among hockey's best.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 31 | 50 ANSWERS NHL Insider Reveals Whether Evgeni Malkin Could Follow Brad Marchand's Surprising Path Next Spring Will Evgeni Malkin pull a Brad Marchand at the deadline? | ||
| Yes | 21 | 42 % |
| No | 29 | 58 % |
| List of polls | ||