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The Penguins suddenly have no choice with Evgeni Malkin and here's why
Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Evgeni Malkin didn't just talk about a contract extension, he played his way into one, and the Pittsburgh Penguins owe him the finish.
This season was the ask. Prove you still drive play, still tilt a power play, still scare teams off the half wall.
Malkin answered it with points and pace, not nostalgia.
He's sitting on 10-25-35 in 34 games, the kind of line that screams top-six, not "farewell tour."
That production matters because Pittsburgh isn't rebuilding. The Penguins are 25-14-11, and you don't post that record by throwing legends a pity shift.
What hits hardest is how he's done it after the noise, after the "maybe this is the last year" stuff.
That post nails the vibe, Geno wanted to earn it, and he did.
Now the pressure flips to Kyle Dubas and the front office.
If you let him walk, you're not replacing that second-line gravity with a bargain signing.
You're also sending a message to the room that "franchise" has an expiry date.
Evgeni Malkin keeps the Pittsburgh Penguins dangerous
Honestly, Penguins fans would riot if this turns into a cold business decision after he's carried his end of the bargain.
Tactically, his value is simple. He still forces defenders to sag, and that opens seams for wingers and the weak-side defenseman.
On the man advantage, he still makes the puck move faster than the coverage.
Keep the term short if you want. Keep the dollars smart if you need.
But you keep the player.
Because when the next tight game hits, and the next playoff push gets real, you'll want No. 71 on the ice, not on a tribute video.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Evgeni Malkin's postgame quote about his future changes everything for the Penguins
Evgeni Malkin's postgame quote about his future changes everything for the Penguins
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 23|204 ANSWERS The Penguins suddenly have no choice with Evgeni Malkin and here's why Should the Pittsburgh Penguins give Evgeni Malkin a contract extension? | ||
| Yes | 184 | 90.2 % |
| No | 20 | 9.8 % |
| List of polls | ||