Today was another day where the Penguins organization hates being in, locker clean-out day, marking the end of another unsuccessful season for these Penguins.
Evgeni Malkin spoke to the media today following the team's series loss to Philadelphia just two days ago and said a lot of interesting things that opened up some eyes of NHL media and fans.
Malkin is now a pending UFA with the end of the Penguins 2025-26 campaign and is looking for a new contract preferably in the NHL. Malkin spoke when he came into this league about playing in Russian Super League near the end of his career so that could always be in the cards for him as well.
Kyle Dubas currently holds to his motto of wanting to make this team younger and faster as the team is still full of old, aging veterans that are only on the decline with the exception of Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson. Getting the sense of the way Geno spoke today, really seems as if he knows he's played his last game in a Pittsburgh Penguin uniform.
Malkin will be turning 40 during the 2026-27 season and that right now doesn't fit in the cards of where the Penguins are, they could get very younger in terms of being back in the contending picture.
Something we all knew - but don’t want to face. Evgeni Malkin talks playing for different team next year if Penguins do not give him 1 more year.
— Ken Craig (@Ken_PittDSEN) May 1, 2026
I want to play 1 more year. #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/p282w3EkCT
Geno has made it adiment he wants to remain a Penguin for life, but today went back a little bit on that and said he would also be open to playing for another NHL team if it's not with Penguins who very well may not offer him a new contract.
Teams Malkin could end up signing with:
Florida Panthers: It would make sense for Malkin to go sign in Florida for many reasons. Firstly he has a home already in the state and spends his summers there. Secondly, he would be re-united with Russian friend Sergei Bobrovsky and could insulate the Florida depth.
Washington Capitals: This would be the team you should bet on Malkin to sign with, if the Penguins let him go. If Alex Ovechkin does comeback for one final season, it's a no-brainier for Geno to sign a one year ticket and play alongside his longtime friend.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Once again the aspect of playing with Nikita Kucherov could very well make Malkin have a desire to sign with the Bolts if they are looking for a pure veteran for a playoff run.
Minnesota Wild: There are so many connections in Minny that makes sense as the best Western Conference team to land Malkin. Bill Guerin would be connection number one, Kirill Kaprizov would be connection two along with Vlad Tarasenko. It makes full sense
Kris Letang seemed to talk today in the past tense in reference to Geno and what he thinks will come this summer with himself and 71.
We will see what comes with talks between Dubas and Malkin's party but there's a real possibility it's 60/40. 60 being Geno walks and 40 being he gets extended.
Add us as a preferred source on Google