Commentary: Evgeni Malkin deserves to stay in Pittsburgh

When Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas spoke with local media earlier this month, one statement he made stood out far more than the others. The question pertained to Evgeni Malkin. Dubas was asked for the team's plan as the franchise icon was set to hit free agency. "We would love to have him back," Dubas said. "We just continue to work with (agent) J.P. (Barry) on it. That's as clear as I can be." Dubas wasn't kidding, evidenced by the Penguins and Malkin agreeing to a one-year contract extension worth $5.5 million. The topic of Malkin's return has been rather polarizing. Earlier this month, I took a side many in this town disagreed with. I said it was time the Penguins and he parted ways. I guess Mr. Dubas chose to skip reading that column. Perhaps that was for the best. My stance on Malkin wasn't out of malice. I recognize he's still a competent hockey player. More than anything, I wanted to see him end his time here on a high note, and I thought last year was the perfect goodbye. Malkin entered the 2025-26 season on shaky ground. He hadn't looked like his old self consistently for quite some time, but he came out of the gates hot and — save for a few extended absences due to injury or suspension — never looked back. "Geno is built differently, and I thought the different times off during the year really served him well," Dubas said in early May. "I think we were fortunate in that regard and I don't think you ever feel that during the year at the time. "You think, 'Jeez, he's out. That stinks.' But every time he came back from being out, he played his best hockey, we felt." Malkin tallied 61 points in 56 games, his best average in years. The Penguins were a better team whenever he took the ice. As my colleague King Jemison noted, Pittsburgh outscored the opposition 56-37 during Malkin's even-strength time. Also, Malkin selflessly moved to the wing midseason. It's not easy for aging players to check their ego, to accept what some could deem a lesser role. That's especially the case with players with a resume similar to the one Malkin has compiled. But he did it. Malkin made others better, too. His presence in the dressing room likely played a factor into the team's decision to retain him for year No. 21. Dubas noted as much after the transaction was complete. "Off the ice, he showed tremendous leadership in helping our young Russian and Russian-speaking players adapt to our program and our city," Dubas stated in the team's press release. Again, it felt like last year was the perfect goodbye. The beloved, playful but stubborn superstar had checked so many boxes. He improved his game, he adjusted to his age and he helped usher in the new wave. Malkin battled alongside his veteran teammates in the postseason for the 17th time. They fought hard against a bitter rival. They nearly completed an improbable comeback. Their effort fell short, but it was left all on the ice. When Cam York's shot found the back of the net in overtime of Game 6, ultimately ending the Penguins' season, all of the traveling Pittsburgh media wanted to talk to one man following the loss. He was nowhere to be found. Instead, his teammates were tasked with talking about Malkin's future. And their messages couldn't have been more aligned. "I mean, it's tough," captain Sidney Crosby said. "We'll see what happens. 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." Added Bryan Rust: "I don't know life in the NHL without him. He's a guy who's taught me a lot over the years, just watching how he does everything and how he handles himself and how he handles a lot of the outside pressures and a lot of the questions. But I want Geno around here as long as I'm around here." Other veterans including Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson echoed similar sentiments. As did Penguins fans on social media. The detractors mainly highlighted Malkin's age. While he was good enough in 2025-26, it was worth questioning if that level of play would drop off come next year. Eventually it will, and the Penguins aren't in a position to employ another elderly star who struggles to provide value. I, again, was in that camp. I felt the Penguins needed to get younger, needed to add another star to their top six. Despite Malkin's return, that can still happen. There's still plenty of cap space, plenty of draft capital to trade. Malkin earned the right to show he can still do it. He, like many, many others, voiced his desire to stick around another year. He went out and made it happen. "Best day in my life," Malkin said in a video posted by the team. It wasn't the move I suggested, but it's hard to be upset with that reality.