'The Most Underrated to Ever Play': Kyle Dubas Praises Evgeni Malkin as He Enters His Final NHL Season
Photo credit: Edit from Yahoo Sports
Penguins GM Kyle Dubas praised Pittsburgh forward Evgeni Malkin on the Cam & Strick podcast, saying he is the most underrated player to ever play in the NHL.
Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas referred to Evgeni Malkin as the most underrated NHL player of all time on Tuesday when appearing on The Cam & Strick Podcast.
"I think everyone focuses on the fact that he's probably the most underrated player, maybe to ever play, just because he has always kind of been a little bit in the shadow of Sid," Dubas said. "At his best, one of, if not the best players in the league. And he's won everything you can win. Way more competitive, even at his age, than most people would ever give him credit for."
"He gets talked about the least and probably prefers it that way, but he's been special to be around," Dubas added.
"He gets talked about the least and probably prefers it that way, but he's been special to be around," Dubas added.
Kyle Dubas also complimented Evgeni Malkin's IQ and thinking process regarding the game itself, and also stated that it's something he has grown to admire in the two years that he has been the GM of the team.
Dubas was brought aboard in 2023 from the previous GM job he had with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He's had the fortune of watching Malkin, who's now 39 years old, play at an elite level ever since coming over.
The veteran centre netted 16 goals and added 34 assists for a total of 50 points in 68 games last season, although it was a third consecutive year that Pittsburgh missed the playoffs, with no guarantee he'll ever see playoff action again in his career, as the Penguins are in a rebuild.
Malkin is a UFA at the end of Next Season and Will Likely Retire
Malkin signed a four-year, $24.4 million contract in July of 2022 and starts the fourth and final year of that contract, while fans and insiders wait to hear about an extension or possibly retirement.
The question surrounding Malkin's future follows speculation about the direction that the team is headed.
Since the Penguins are in a rebuilding period and top-of-the-line contracts are expiring, the organization has an uncertain future before them, which means Malkin may need to be traded elsewhere if he wants to taste playoff action again.
During his tenure, Malkin has suited up for more than 1,200 NHL games and compiled a total of 1,346 points.
Despite all his accolades, three Stanley Cups included, Dubas insists that Malkin's true worth is still undervalued during all the time he's spent in the league.
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