Malkin: 'I want everybody to see I can play next year'

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin hopes his current form shows that he's not ready to retire.

"I try to do my best because I knew I want to play, like I want one more year," Malkin told reporters after Thursday's 6-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. "I want to show I'm still a good player. I want everybody to see I can play next year. It's my goal right now."

Malkin notched one goal and two points for the second straight game Thursday. The 39-year-old is up to 12 goals and 39 points in 35 contests, which is his highest scoring rate since the 2019-20 campaign.

"I never say I wanna retire," Malkin said. "It's all (the media). I feel great."

Malkin is in the final season of a four-year, $24.4-million contract he signed just before free agency began in 2022. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent in July.

The Russian reportedly isn't interested in playing anywhere other than Pittsburgh and is willing to take a pay cut from his $6.1-million cap hit.

Malkin has played his entire 20-year career with the Penguins. He has 526 goals and 1,385 points in 1,248 games, both of which rank third in franchise history behind Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby.

Pittsburgh is second in the Metropolitan Division with a 25-14-11 record.