The Pittsburgh Penguins and Evgeni Malkin are working towards a one-year contract that will keep the 39-year-old centre with the organization for an incredible 21st season, according to TSN Hockey Insider and Athletic reporter Pierre LeBrun.
General manager Kyle Dubas has been engaged in contract talks with Malkin’s representatives with both sides already announcing publicly they would like a reunion for the 2026-27 season.
Malkin, who will turn 40 this summer, wrapped a four-year, $24.4 million contract this season, which featured an average annual value of $6.1 million.
LeBrun notes that compensation was actually $4.8 million since the contract was front-loaded, with the Penguins likely starting negotiations around that number while Malkin may ask for an amount closer to $6.1 million.
The new deal could include bonuses, but is expected to get done one way or other.
“This will eventually get done. Malkin isn’t going anywhere. But it’s not done yet,” LeBrun wrote in The Athletic.
Malkin performed well in 2025-26, helping the Penguins reach the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, scoring 19 goals and 42 assists over 56 games.
The native of Magnitogorsk, Russia had two goals and one assist over six playoff games as the Penguins were eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers in six games in the opening round.
Malkin was selected with the second-overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, scoring 533 goals and 874 assists over 1,269 career games, all in Pittsburgh.
He added 69 goals and 114 assists over 183 career playoff games, bringing Stanley Cups to Pittsburgh in 2009, 2016 and 2017.
The future Hall of Famer won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2007 before winning two Art Ross Trophies (2009 and 2012), the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2009 as well as the Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award in 2012.
Malkin scored a career-high 50 goals and 59 assists over 75 games during his MVP season in 2011-12.
