If the Pittsburgh Penguins make any changes this summer, they won't include star forward Evgeni Malkin.
According to a report in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, two sources have confirmed that Malkin will not be traded during the off-season.
A playoff MVP one year removed, the 23-year-old is coming off career-low regular season totals in goals, points and games. Those numbers have fuelled conversations in Pittsburgh that general manager Ray Shero might consider trading Malkin this summer to help address franchise needs.
Malkin has four years remaining on his $8.7-million contract. Combined with top centre Sidney Crosby and No. 3 center Jordan Staal, the Penguins are committed to $21.4 million to the "Big Three" centres annually against the salary cap.
The Penguins were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs in the second round by the Montreal Canadiens, with Malkin and Crosby combining to score just two goals in the series. Malkin then flew to Germany to join Team Russia at the IIHF World Hockey Championship. In three games overseas, Malkin has four goals and two assists, including two goals in Russia's 5-2 quarterfinal win over Canada on Thursday.
