Evgeni Malkin set a goal before this season started of getting "one more playoffs" with Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and the Penguins.
"Now," Malkin said at locker room clean out day, "I want more."
Malkin will be 40 years old by the time next season starts, but he doesn't think he's done yet. At times, he spoke on Friday sounding like he expects to be back, like when he said he'd be OK starting on the wing again next season, thinking he fit well with Egor Chinakhov and Tommy Novak there, but that he'd be OK with wherever they put him in the lineup.
Malkin has made clear that this is where he wants to be. His memories are all in Pittsburgh. His son Nikita was born in Pittsburgh, he reminded everyone on clean out day. But really, he doesn't know what will happen. He sat down with Kyle Dubas after the Olympic break, where Malkin was told they'd discuss his future over the summer. Those talks hadn't yet happened as of clean out day, with Malkin explaining that he was set to talk to Dubas later on before he left.
"I mean, it's hard to say (what happens) right now," Malkin said. "But we have time, you know? It's a long summer, and I just do the same routine, back to Russia, stay with my family, my friends, and we'll see what's going on. I'll talk to Kyle today one more time before I leave, and we'll see what he thinks and talk to my agent after."
In all the times Malkin has spoken about his future over the last year, the possibility of going to another team didn't seriously come up. He was asked about it in training camp, but in the context of expecting the Penguins to be a bottom-feeder this season and him getting moved at the trade deadline to a contender, and he wasn't too keen on the idea. But now that the possibility exists that he could hit free agency without an offer from the Penguins, he was asked if he'd play for another team if the Penguins don't want him back.
"Yes," he said, without even a beat of hesitation.
Then a pause.
"I mean, I want to play in the NHL, for sure," Malkin said. "But again, I know it's not easy for Kyle. You know, maybe he wants new blood here. I'm understanding it's a business, and I understand he wants, maybe a new team, see new faces here. But I want to play one more year in in the NHL. I'm not looking to go back to the KHL, playing in Russia. If not Pittsburgh, I hope some team."
Signing Malkin to a one-year extension seemingly wouldn't handcuff the team in any way. He had a $6.1 million cap hit this season, and would surely return at the same value or less in order to stay in Pittsburgh. If there's any doubt about him being able to repeat what he brought to the team this season, they could structure his contract in such a way that he really has to prove himself -- only certain, limited situations have a player eligible for performance bonuses, and a player over 35 years old on a one-year deal is one of those situations eligible for performance bonuses. It'd be possible to offer Malkin a lower base salary, with incentives for certain milestones for games played or offensive production.
The uncertainty surrounding Malkin is an odd feeling for his teammates ... with the apparent exception of Rickard Rakell, who declared, "I can't see him not being back. No, he's going to be back," with certainty when asked. The alternative was hard for Bryan Rust to conceptualize too, saying "I don't know life in the NHL without him."
For those who have been around Malkin the longest, they made their feelings clear.
"I have no bearing on what's going to happen," Letang said. "But we're really close, as all us, and you just want to keep it going. You don't know anything other than that. And you get so close to these guys that you want to keep it going."
"We'll see what happens," Crosby said. "We've played together so long. I think it's clear I'd love to be playing with him for longer, so we'll see what happens. It's pretty obvious at this point, I'd love to keep playing with him."
Malkin reiterated his desire to remain with the Penguins a number of times, and cited Crosby and Letang as two of his big reasons for wanting to do so.
"These two special guys, I hope we play together one more year," Malkin said. "But if not, we have a great 20 years together and I'll never forget."
THE ASYLUM
Malkin 'I want more' seasons with Crosby, Letang
Evgeni Malkin set a goal before this season started of getting "one more playoffs" with Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and the Penguins.
"Now," Malkin said at locker room clean out day, "I want more."
Malkin will be 40 years old by the time next season starts, but he doesn't think he's done yet. At times, he spoke on Friday sounding like he expects to be back, like when he said he'd be OK starting on the wing again next season, thinking he fit well with Egor Chinakhov and Tommy Novak there, but that he'd be OK with wherever they put him in the lineup.
Malkin has made clear that this is where he wants to be. His memories are all in Pittsburgh. His son Nikita was born in Pittsburgh, he reminded everyone on clean out day. But really, he doesn't know what will happen. He sat down with Kyle Dubas after the Olympic break, where Malkin was told they'd discuss his future over the summer. Those talks hadn't yet happened as of clean out day, with Malkin explaining that he was set to talk to Dubas later on before he left.
"I mean, it's hard to say (what happens) right now," Malkin said. "But we have time, you know? It's a long summer, and I just do the same routine, back to Russia, stay with my family, my friends, and we'll see what's going on. I'll talk to Kyle today one more time before I leave, and we'll see what he thinks and talk to my agent after."
In all the times Malkin has spoken about his future over the last year, the possibility of going to another team didn't seriously come up. He was asked about it in training camp, but in the context of expecting the Penguins to be a bottom-feeder this season and him getting moved at the trade deadline to a contender, and he wasn't too keen on the idea. But now that the possibility exists that he could hit free agency without an offer from the Penguins, he was asked if he'd play for another team if the Penguins don't want him back.
"Yes," he said, without even a beat of hesitation.
Then a pause.
"I mean, I want to play in the NHL, for sure," Malkin said. "But again, I know it's not easy for Kyle. You know, maybe he wants new blood here. I'm understanding it's a business, and I understand he wants, maybe a new team, see new faces here. But I want to play one more year in in the NHL. I'm not looking to go back to the KHL, playing in Russia. If not Pittsburgh, I hope some team."
Signing Malkin to a one-year extension seemingly wouldn't handcuff the team in any way. He had a $6.1 million cap hit this season, and would surely return at the same value or less in order to stay in Pittsburgh. If there's any doubt about him being able to repeat what he brought to the team this season, they could structure his contract in such a way that he really has to prove himself -- only certain, limited situations have a player eligible for performance bonuses, and a player over 35 years old on a one-year deal is one of those situations eligible for performance bonuses. It'd be possible to offer Malkin a lower base salary, with incentives for certain milestones for games played or offensive production.
The uncertainty surrounding Malkin is an odd feeling for his teammates ... with the apparent exception of Rickard Rakell, who declared, "I can't see him not being back. No, he's going to be back," with certainty when asked. The alternative was hard for Bryan Rust to conceptualize too, saying "I don't know life in the NHL without him."
For those who have been around Malkin the longest, they made their feelings clear.
"I have no bearing on what's going to happen," Letang said. "But we're really close, as all us, and you just want to keep it going. You don't know anything other than that. And you get so close to these guys that you want to keep it going."
"We'll see what happens," Crosby said. "We've played together so long. I think it's clear I'd love to be playing with him for longer, so we'll see what happens. It's pretty obvious at this point, I'd love to keep playing with him."
Malkin reiterated his desire to remain with the Penguins a number of times, and cited Crosby and Letang as two of his big reasons for wanting to do so.
"These two special guys, I hope we play together one more year," Malkin said. "But if not, we have a great 20 years together and I'll never forget."
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