Penguins, Malkin working on contract extension

It sounds like Sidney Crosby and the rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins are getting their wish.

After their season ended after their first-round defeat to the Philadelphia Flyers, Crosby and the rest of the Penguins went public with their thoughts on Evgeni Malkin's future. With the Russian forward's contract expiring this season, there's been plenty of speculation about Malkin's future in Pittsburgh. However, on Tuesday, Kyle Dubas released a statement and made it clear the organization would love to see the future hall-of-famer return to Pittsburgh.

“We had a great exit interview with Evgeni directly, and great conversations with him and his agent J.P. Barry,” Dubas said Tuesday. “So we would love to have him back, and we continue to work with J.P. on it.”

“I can’t see him not being back,” Rickard Rakell said. “He’ll be back. “I love Geno,” Bryan Rust added. “I don’t know life in the NHL without him.”

Dubas on Malkin: "We had a great exit interview with Evgeni directly, and great conversations with him and his agent J.P. Barry... So we would love to have him back, and we continue to work with J.P. on it."
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 12, 2026

Malkin turned back the clock this season and was almost a point-per-game player. It's obvious his previous knee troubles are behind him and there's still plenty of game left in his tank. It's likely going to be a one-year deal, as Malkin turns 40 on July 31st.

If for some reason these contract talks go south, and Dubas low-balls Malkin to the point he's not interested, look for Malkin to join forces with close friend Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on July 1st once free agency opens.

Dubas on Malkin: "He's a special player... Geno is built differently. In the end I think he's one of the great players of all-time." ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/WEaoURXwQA
— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) May 12, 2026