CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Everyone knows it: Evgeni Malkin is in the twilight of his career at 39 and entering the final season of his contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“And I know, too,” he said, interrupting a question before it was over. “Trust me.”

This could be the end of the road in Pittsburgh and in the NHL for Malkin, the superstar Penguins forward whose play has declined in recent years. Malkin, speaking after a morning session at Penguins’ training camp on Friday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, didn’t shy away from the conversation.

“I’m not happy with how I played the last couple of years,” said Malkin, who is entering his 20th season, all with the Penguins. “If it’s my last year here, I want to show everything.”

Penguins general manager/team president Kyle Dubas has not approached Malkin about a contract beyond this season, and The Athletic reported in June that the Penguins are not likely to offer him another deal.

Evgeni Malkin’s decline

Season

  

Age

  

Games

  

Goals

  

Assists

  

Points

  

2022-23

36

82

27

56

83

2023-24

37

82

27

40

67

2024-25

38

68

16

34

50

The goal is to get young in Pittsburgh, and, for all of Malkin’s greatness and Hall of Fame credentials, he’d be 40 at the start of a new contract. Malkin is aware. So, what’s the ideal way for this to play out in his eyes?

“It depends on how the season is going,” he said. “If we play great, and I play great, and I feel confident and show my game — why not one more year? The season is huge for me, my team, myself. I’m still hungry.”

Malkin’s contract includes a no-movement clause. He was asked Friday if he’d consider waiving the clause if another team comes calling, particularly if the Penguins are out of playoff contention at the NHL trade deadline in March. The franchise icon admitted he’s thought about it and even mentioned one of the most famous trade-deadline deals in recent NHL history.

Brad Marchand, the captain of the Boston Bruins, was traded to Florida and played an instrumental role in the Panthers’ Stanley Cup run last spring.

“It’s hard,” Malkin said. “Again, we see a story like Brad Marchand. Looking good. Team trades you, you win the Cup. It’s a little weird, too. Of course, everybody wants to make the playoffs, maybe make one more run at the Cup. Great story. But I don’t know how I would feel if the team wants to trade me.”

Malkin said that, if this is the end, he has no regrets and that playing in Pittsburgh for two decades has been a privilege.

“If this is my last year, I’ve had 20 years,” he said. “That’s not too bad, too. I’m glad to be a Penguin, win three Stanley Cups here.”

The thought of finishing his career in his hometown of Magnitogorsk, Russia, has crossed his mind.

“It’s so hard to say,” he said. “I’ve been to Russia and people start talking about me playing one more year in my hometown.”

In the end, Malkin sounds like someone who prefers to end his career where it started in 2006. Malkin remains extremely close with fellow Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang and has always preferred the idea of finishing his career with the three of them together in Pittsburgh.

“I hope I stay here,” Malkin said. “Like Sid, Tanger, Penguins forever, for sure. I hope we play great. I want to stay here, for sure.”

Malkin had a good summer and said he feels stronger than usual.

“This is the second day,” he said of a brutal training camp under new Penguins coach Dan Muse. “Really hard. But I like it. I feel fine. The league is not easy anymore. Thirty-(two) good team, young teams coming into the league. They’re flying. I’m ready every day, focused every day.”

Even if there might not be many days left.

Malkin and Dubas haven’t discussed a new contract, and it’s uncertain whether they will. Dubas said on Thursday that he’ll sit down with Malkin to discuss his future, likely during the Olympic break in February.

“We didn’t talk yet,” Malkin said. “It’s a long season. Training camp just started. We’ll see what’s going on. Huge season for Kyle, for everybody here. We missed the playoffs the last three years. It’s not great.”

(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)