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Malkin Returns for 21st Penguins Season, Leaves Future Unclear

Malkin will decide his future based on whether he is fully healthy or helping the team.

Overview

  • Evgeni Malkin signed a one-year deal to begin his 21st NHL season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a move announced as training camp opened Friday.
  • Malkin has not committed to playing beyond this season and said he will stop if he does not feel 100% or cannot meaningfully help the team.
  • Pittsburgh largely kept the roster that finished second in the Metropolitan Division and re-signed forward Egor Chinakhov, giving Malkin familiar linemates to work with.
  • The one-year pact extends the CrosbyMalkin‑Letang trio to 21 continuous years together, preserving a long-running core that the team expects to lean on this season.
  • Malkin starts the year with 1,407 career points, 14 short of cracking the NHL’s top 20 scorers list, a milestone that will shape both his legacy and the Penguins’ roster planning.