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Kristen ShiltonSep 20, 2025, 03:37 AM<\/p>\n
Close<\/a>Kristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.<\/p>\n Evgeni Malkin<\/a> isn’t sure if this 20th NHL season will be his last — either with the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> or the league at large. All the veteran can say is he’s not prepared to hang up his skates.<\/p>\n “I’m still hungry. I’m glad to be here this year,” said Malkin to reporters on Friday. “[But] it depends how the season is going [whether I stay in Pittsburgh]. If we play great, I play great, I feel confidence, and I show my game, why not one more? The preseason is huge for the team, and for myself. We have [a] new coach, a couple new teammates. It’s exciting to see what’s going on this year.”<\/p>\n That enthusiasm remains intact for Malkin despite Pittsburgh’s recent troubles. The Penguins have gone three consecutive years without a postseason appearance and, under GM Kyle Dubas and first-year NHL coach Dan Muse, are aiming to get younger, not older. That’s not great news for the 39-year-old Malkin, who has seen his play steadily decline over the last two years. He recorded just 16 goals and 50 points in 68 games in 2024-25 — the lowest output of his career in a nearly-full season — and Pittsburgh’s priority will continue to be on highlighting its up and coming skaters.<\/p>\n Editor’s Picks<\/p>\n 2 Related<\/p>\n Still, Malkin wants to see his commitment through with the Penguins. He’s won three Stanley Cups there alongside Sidney Crosby<\/a> and Kris Letang<\/a> and it’s those teammates he’s most attached to staying close to.<\/p>\n “I hope I stay here like Sid and Tanger, and be Penguins forever, for sure,” said Malkin when asked if he’d want to play elsewhere. “I hope we play great, and I hope everything goes perfect. Perfect myself, too. I want to stay here, for sure.”<\/p>\n Malkin may not get clarity on his situation in Pittsburgh for months, though. Dubas said earlier this week he would engage with Malkin on a potential extension around the NHL’s Olympic break in February. There have been no other discussions on the matter to this point, and Malkin is willing to wait things out for now.<\/p>\n “I think we have time,” said Malkin. “It’s a long season and training camp just started. We will see what’s going on. Huge season for Kyle, for everybody here. We missed playoffs the last three years; it’s not great. But again, now mentally, my focus is on being better every day. Stay here with the team and do my best. And we’ll see.”<\/p>\n