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NHL Rumors: Penguins' Evgeni Malkin's NHL future shrouded in uncertainty, per insider
Pittsburgh Penguins star forward Evgeni Malkin could be playing his final season in the NHL, according to insider Mark Madden.
Malkin is set to enter the third year of his four-year, $24.4 million deal with the Penguins. However, Madden believes that the Russian will not remain for the final year of his NHL deal and will go instead to play in KHL, as he wants to end his career in his home country.
“I’ve been told (Malkin) won’t be back after this year — that he’ll go to Russia and forgo the last year of his deal,” Madden said, via TribLive. “How does that impact Sid? Does Sid know? I bet he does. And I heard there were discussions about trying to get Letang to Montreal at Letang’s request, but nothing came of that. So, I don’t know where this is headed.”
If Malkin did leave Pittsburgh and go to Russia, it would be a bit of a surprise. But he wouldn't be the first Russian to go back home to finish their career out in the KHL and likely won't be the last.
Malkin is a three-time Stanley Cup champion and will go down as one of the best Penguins of all time. He has skated in 1,145 games, all with Pittsburgh recording 498 goals and 798 assists for 1,296 points.
Insider believes Penguins may trade Sidney Crosby
Not only does Madden think that Evgeni Malkin is in his final season as a Penguin, he also thinks that Pittsburgh may be forced to trade Sidney Crosby if a deal is not signed soon.
“If he’s not signed, this is something that drags on all year. It’s gonna drive him crazy, so he will sign the contract, just to avoid that,” Madden predicted. “Honestly, if he doesn’t sign the contract, they should trade him this year.”
Crosby is entering the final year of his deal and has been the face of the franchise since he was drafted first overall in the 2005 NHL draft.
However, the forward has said he wants to be a Penguin for life, as has Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas, who believes Crosby should retire a Penguin.
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