NHL Trade Rumors: 'Growing Narrative' That Evgeni Malkin Will Be A Florida Panther

Thursday, October 09, 2025 ,

Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins center

The Florida Panthers have not indicated as of yet whether they expect their injured captain Aleksander Barkov to return this season. But with his future in doubt for the rest of this season, buzz continues to grow around the league that Pittsburgh Penguins longtime star center Evgeni Malkin will make his way to South Florida sooner than later. 

According to insider Greg Wyshynski, speaking on Sportsnet's Halford & Brough show, it seems like a certain match.

The growing narrative in the league right now is, with Barkov going down, and with Malkin having a house in Miami, that they'll probably find a way for him to be the 1C in Florida before too long. That's a place he'd probably be willing to go with Bobrovsky there.

Bobrovsky, the Panthers' star goaltender, is Malkin's countryman from Russia.

Malkin is entering the final year of his contract with the Penguins, and while his slightly more famous longtime teammate, Sidney Crosby, has indicated over and over that he does not want to leave Pittsburgh, Malkin has made no such definitive declarations.

In fact, the 39-year-old Malkin made some shocking comments on the first day of training camp last month, talking about how "good" he thought the situation was for Brad Marchand last year. The lifetime Boston Bruin gave the OK for the team to trade him to the Panthers at the deadline, and the rest is history (a Stanley Cup triumph, a shiny new contract, and a lot of good times and celebrations). Malkin seemed a little jealous.

For now, the Panthers have Barkov on regular LTIR, and so can only free up $3.8 million of cap space under the new rules this season. But if they decide to put him on Season-Ending LTIR, they will get Barkov's full $10 million cap hit to work with to bring in new recruits. Malkin has a $6.1 million cap hit.

The Russian superstar is now in his 20th NHL season with the Penguins, and has 514 goals and 1,348 points in 1,214 career games. He also has a loaded trophy shelf, with the Calder, the Hart, and two Art Rosses, not to mention three Stanley Cups.

As for Barkov, based on the last time we saw him, three days ago, he may not be finished for the year. He ditched his crutches to go up and get his second Cup ring, just 10 days after his knee surgery.

Photo: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

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