Evgeni Malkin, the Russian forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins, has expressed his desire to remain with the team for the upcoming season, while acknowledging that the final determination rests with the National Hockey League (NHL) club’s management.
The 2025/26 campaign marks the 39-year-old Russian’s twentieth year in the NHL and is slated to be the last year covered by his current contract with Pittsburgh. The Penguins originally selected Malkin in the first round of the 2004 NHL Draft, taking him second overall, and he has spent his entire professional tenure with this single franchise. During his time with the team, Malkin has secured the Stanley Cup three times (2009, 2016, 2017).
“I want to keep playing, be here, be part of the team next season, and wrap up my career in Pittsburgh. However, the final decision isn’t mine to make; it belongs to the management, perhaps the new ownership. I just want to keep playing, do everything we can in Game Four, and bring the series back to Pittsburgh. We aim to play for our fans; they absolutely deserve that,” Malkin stated in a video shared via the team’s account on the social media platform X.
Pittsburgh has secured a spot in the NHL playoffs and is currently competing against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round. Following three games, the team trails 0-3 in the series. Game Four of this matchup is scheduled for the night of April 26th, Moscow time, and will take place in Philadelphia.
“We grasp the entire situation and recognize it’s not easy, but it’s far from over. We cannot afford to be demoralized, as that could negatively impact us. We had a solid practice today; we worked hard and are prepared for the next game. We looked decent in Game Three; we truly have a chance to win this series. We’ve had a fantastic year and a wonderful team. We understand what’s unfolding. It is difficult, certainly. No one believes in us anymore, but we do. It’s not finished yet; we will keep fighting,” Malkin added.
About the Author
