Entering the final year of a four-year, $24.4 million contract, Evgeni Malkin told reporters on Friday that he ultimately wants to retire with the Pittsburgh Penguins and is happy about his current situation.
“If it’s my last year here, I had 20 years played here,” Malkin said. “Not bad, you know? I’m glad to be with the Penguins. I’m glad to win three Stanley Cups here. But again, if I have a chance to play next year, I’m good.”
Asked about the potential of waiving his no-trade clause at this year’s deadline, Malkin was non-committal.
“It’s hard, you know,” said Malkin. “But again, we see a story, like, with Brad Marchand. Looking good, you know? But again, if the team trades you and you [don’t] win the Cup, it’s like a little bit weird, too, you know?”
Brad Marchand was an icon with the Boston Bruins, spending his first 16 seasons with the team and helping Boston win a Stanley Cup in 2011. But Marchand was traded to the Florida Panthers in March at the age of 36, and helped Florida win a Stanley Cup just four months later. For his strong performance with the Panthers, he was awarded a six-year contract.
The 39-year-old Malkin has spent his entire 19-year career with the Penguins since being selected with the second-overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Malkin helped the Penguins win three Stanley Cups alongside Sidney Crosby, won the Hart Trophy following the 2012 season and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy after the Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2009.
The towering 6-foot-5 centre is putting the finishing touches on a career that will earn him a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He scored 16 goals and totaled 50 points last season.
Malkin has 514 goals and 1,346 pointsin 1,213 career NHL games.
