Evgeni Malkin is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas has made it clear that the team would welcome him back. During a press conference at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, Dubas emphasized his desire to retain the future Hall of Fame forward, noting that the development of the Penguins’ young forwards remains a key factor in the decision.
“We had an excellent exit interview with Evgeni and great discussions with him and his agent, J.P. Barry,” Dubas said. “Given the season he just had and where we’re headed as a team, I don’t see him as blocking anyone. We’d love to have him back, and we’ll continue working with J.P. on it.”
Malkin, who turns 40 in July, rebounded strongly this season, recording 19 goals, 42 assists, and 61 points in 56 games. The question of whether to bring him back has sparked intense debate among fans, which Dubas acknowledged. Earlier this month, Malkin stated that if he doesn’t receive a new contract in Pittsburgh, he would consider playing elsewhere: “I want to play one more year in the NHL. If not Pittsburgh, I hope some team.”
Dubas has long known that he would eventually face the difficult task of breaking up the Penguins’ iconic trio of Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Malkin. “I knew when I took this job that it’s a special thing for them to have played together for so long,” he said. “At some point, I’ll have to make decisions that upset someone or the fans. I understood that when I came here. We always have to do what’s best for the Penguins, whether it’s unpopular or not.”
Despite the challenges, Dubas is acutely aware of the fans’ emotional attachment to Malkin. “I knew this is a unique situation because of the nostalgia,” he said. “He’s a special player. Most of you have seen it far longer than I have.”
Dubas attributed Malkin’s strong season to his on-ice chemistry with Egor Chinakhov and Tommy Novak in the second half of the year. “After his December injury, he moved from center to wing and formed great chemistry with Tommy and Egor,” Dubas explained. “That reduced his workload. He’s one of the all-time greats, and his pride played a big part in his performance.”
When asked about potential extensions for Crosby and Erik Karlsson, who both enter the final year of their contracts in 2026-27, Dubas laughed and said those conversations haven’t started yet. “It’s not a front-burner topic right now,” he said. “Maybe we’ll discuss it later this summer. Sid is in a different category. Most players in their late 30s go year-to-year. I don’t know if that’s how they want to handle it. As for Erik, the players voted him team MVP. And Sid is Sid.”
Dubas also touched on other roster matters. He noted that the Penguins’ young forwards need more development, which works in Malkin’s favor. He praised Malkin’s bounce-back season but also pointed out that Malkin’s March suspension and December injury showed he benefits from time off. “Geno is built differently,” Dubas said. “The time off served him well.”
On other players, Dubas indicated that forward Anthony Mantha, who had a career-high 33 goals, is unlikely to return. He also expressed optimism about prospects like Ben Kindel, Harrison Brunicke, and Bill Zonnon, and confirmed that he plans to pursue trades to bring in top-tier talent. He emphasized the need for younger players to step up and said the team still has a long way to go to become a contender.
“I think it’s one of the burdens you carry with this job,” Dubas admitted. “You’re never happy until you’ve won. For some of us, it’s a quest that goes on forever.”