Burke: 'Completely false' that Pens didn't offer Malkin 4-year deal

Brian Burke is denying the notion that his Pittsburgh Penguins never presented Evgeni Malkin with a four-year contract offer.

“We were unable to reach a deal,” the team's president of hockey operations told the Tribune-Review's Seth Rorabaugh. “We made an offer that we were comfortable with. There are stories out there that we never offered a four-year deal. That’s completely false. But as far as the mechanics and the amounts, we never talk about that stuff.”

It was reported Monday that Malkin is expected to hit the open market Wednesday for the first time in his 16-year career. Burke confirmed as much but didn't close the door on bringing him back.

"The window is still open. But the timing is problematic,” the executive said. “Once free agency opens, we have to commit to what we need to do to improve our hockey club. So the timing may not work. But certainly, there’s no reaction on our part that, ‘Oh, we don’t want Evgeni back.’ Or, ‘This is horrible. What’s he thinking?’ None of that. It’s more, that store window is going to open and we’ve got to go to the store.”

Malkin is a pending unrestricted free agent coming off an eight-year pact that carried a $9.5-million cap hit. He said in January he'd be willing to take a pay cut, but the sticking point in talks, by all accounts, has been term rather than money. The Penguins' latest offer was apparently for three years at $6 million per season. Malkin would've reportedly taken the same average annual value over a four-year agreement.

The longtime superstar forward's negotiations with the Penguins have not gone smoothly. In late June, it was reported the two sides hadn't spoken regularly since their initial talks at season's end. Then, this past weekend, the forward apparently told teammates he believes the club doesn't think he's good anymore and also said he's wondered whether the Pens still want him.

Malkin will turn 36 on July 31, but he'll be one of the biggest names available in free agency.

The three-time Stanley Cup champion, 2012 Hart Trophy winner, and 2009 Conn Smythe Trophy recipient is coming off an injury-shortened campaign in which he produced 20 goals and 22 assists over 41 games. He missed most of the first half of the campaign while recovering from offseason knee surgery.