Malkin at 39 and Still Producing at His Best: Penguins GM Won't Let Him Walk Without a Fight

Evgeni Malkin just wrapped up his 20th NHL season, all of them in black and gold, and Pittsburgh's GM Kyle Dubas isn't ready to say goodbye. After the Penguins center put up career numbers this year, Dubas came out swinging, saying he would "love" to have Malkin back next season as free agency looms. Translation: negotiations are happening, and the Penguins want to keep their veteran anchor in the middle.

The Numbers Don't Lie: Malkin Is Playing His Best Hockey in Six Years

Here's what's wild. Malkin is 39 years old, entering his third decade in the league, and he's putting up points at a rate he hasn't hit since the mid-2010s. In 56 games this season, he scored 19 goals and 42 assists for 61 total points. That works out to 1.09 points per game, his best average in six seasons. Think about that for a second. Most 39-year-olds are thinking about hanging up their skates. Malkin is playing some of his best hockey and leading a Penguins team that desperately needed a playoff run.

Pittsburgh made it back to the postseason for the first time since 2022, but their ride ended in disappointment when they lost to Philadelphia in six games. Still, getting back to the dance mattered, and Malkin was a huge reason why.

The Contract Situation and What Comes Next

Malkin just finished the final year of a 4-year deal that carried a $6.1 million cap hit. He's set to hit unrestricted free agency, which means he can shop himself around if Pittsburgh and the Penguins can't work out a new agreement. That's where things get interesting, because Malkin himself isn't totally sure what happens next.

After the Flyers knocked Pittsburgh out, Malkin made it clear he wants to keep playing. "I want to play in the NHL, for sure" in 2026-27, he said. But here's the thing: he's not certain it will be with Pittsburgh. He gets it. He knows Dubas might want to build around younger players and fresh faces. "Maybe he wants new blood here. I understand it's a business, and I understand he maybe wants [to see] new faces here," Malkin said. But he also made it crystal clear he's not interested in chasing a payday in Russia. If it's not Pittsburgh, he wants another NHL team.

Dubas Isn't Convinced That Letting Malkin Walk Makes Sense

Dubas had a detailed exit interview with Malkin directly and has been in ongoing talks with the center's representative, JP Barry. The GM's take is straightforward: bringing Malkin back for one more season doesn't have to slow down the development of Pittsburgh's younger players. In other words, experience and youth aren't mutually exclusive. You can have both.

The Penguins face a decision point over the next few weeks. Let a future Hall of Famer walk, or find a way to bring back a guy who just delivered his best season in six years and led them back to the playoffs. Dubas has made his preference clear: he'd "love" to keep Malkin around. Now it's about making the numbers work before free agency opens and other teams come calling.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.