Malkin unsure if 2025-26 will be last season, wants to retire with Penguins
Forward Evgeni Malkin hasn't decided whether he'll retire after the 2025-26 season, but he's sure he wants his career to end with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
"Depends how the season goes," Malkin said Friday, per SportsNet Pittsburgh's Dan Potash. "If we play great, I play great, I feel confident, I show my game, why not one more? Preseason is huge for the team and for me. I'm still hungry. I'm glad to be here this year. We have a new coach, a couple new teammates. Exciting to see what's going on here this year."
Malkin has spent his entire 19-season career with the Penguins after being drafted second overall in 2004. The future Hockey Hall of Famer has accumulated 514 goals and 1,346 points in 1,213 games, garnering numerous honors along the way, including the Hart, Conn Smythe, and Art Ross trophies.
"If it's my last year here, I had 20 years played here," Malkin said, according to NHL.com's Wes Crosby. "Not bad, too, you know? I'm glad to be with the Penguins. I'm glad to win three Stanley Cups here. But again, if I have a chance to play next year, I'm good."
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said Thursday the club would discuss Malkin's future during the Olympic break in February, according to SportsNet Pittsburgh's Josh Getzoff.
Malkin is entering the final campaign of a four-year contract signed in July 2022. The 39-year-old owns a full no-move clause, allowing him to dictate whether he's traded this season.
"I hope I stay here like (Sidney Crosby) and (Kris Letang)," Malkin said, according to DK Pittsburgh Sports' Taylor Haase. "Penguins forever. For sure. I hope we play great, everything goes perfect, (and) perfect for myself too. I want to stay here for sure."
Malkin added that franchise icons being traded only works out some of the time and requires going on to win the Stanley Cup.
"We see a story like with Brad Marchand," Malkin said, according to TribLive's Seth Rorabaugh. "It's looking good. But if (the) team trades you and you (don't) win the Cup, it's a little bit weird. We'll see what's going on (in) the future. Of course, everybody wants to try to play the playoffs and make one more run to the Cup. It's a great story when you see it on TV, but I don't know how I'd feel if the team wants to trade me."