Evgeny Malkin Makes Stunning Admission at Penguins Exit Interview

Pittsburgh Penguins forwards of Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby

All season long, we heard speculation about whether or not Evgeni Malkin would play another year for the Pittsburgh Penguins, or decide to retire after 20 years. At the team's exit interviews for the season on Friday, the 39-year-old dropped a bombshell admission, saying he wanted to play next season—for Pittsburgh or any other team that would have him.

As Dan Kingerski noted in Pittsburgh Hockey Now, Malkin has played an evasive game with the Penguins and their fans about whether or not he'd return after the season.

"Over the course of the season, his position on his future has grown from a wait-and-see approach, to wanting to play, to waiting to speak with general manager Kyle Dubas about a new deal, to publicly needling Dubas over the lack thereof, to now stating he will play elsewhere if not signed," wrote Kingerski.

Malkin wants to play 21st NHL season — in Pittsburgh, or anywhere else

Will he be back next season?

"Yes," Malkin answered. "'If not Pittsburgh, I hope some team.'

The three-time Stanley Cup-winning forward will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 if no extension is signed before then.

But he added that he expects to speak with Dubas one more time before heading back to Russia. He wants to see where the Pittsburgh GM's head is at.

Evgeni Malkin says he has “nothing new” to share on his contract talks. He said he talked to Kyle Dubas today but doesn’t have a sense of what happens.

Asked if he’d be willing to play for another NHL team if he doesn’t get an offer here, he said “Yes.” — From Taylor Haase in…
— DK Pittsburgh Sports (@DKPghSports) May 1, 2026

"Probably, I talk to Kyle today one more time before leaving, and we see what they think, and talk to my agent after.

“I mean, I want to play (in the) NHL, for sure. But again, I know it's not easy for Kyle. Maybe he wants new blood here. I understand it's business, and I understand he wants maybe (a) new team, see new faces here. But for me, I want to play one more year in the NHL. I'm not looking (to go) back to KHL, play in Russia. But if not Pittsburgh, I hope some team.”

Malkin's 1,269 games played for the Penguins is second in franchise history to his two-decade-long teammate, Sidney Crosby (1,420 games). His 533 goals and 874 assists leaves him third all-time in the team's record books, with 1,407 points. Only Crosby and Mario Lemieux are ahead of him.

Even at 39, Malkin was still bringing it this season, with 19 goals and 61 points in 56 games.

Dubas's decision on whether to bring Geno back or not will no doubt be influenced somewhat by the fact that Crosby has made it clear where he stands on the issue:

"I'd love to keep playing with him... For as long as he's played here, he's been a part of setting the standard."

Sidney Crosby on Evgeni Malkin’s future. pic.twitter.com/AuqvFx1fr2
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 1, 2026

"We’ve played together for so long, I think it’s clear that I’d love to be playing with him for longer, so we’ll see what happens. I think it’s pretty obvious that I’d love to keep playing with him.”