The Pittsburgh Penguins and Evgeni Malkin will work out a new deal
Taylor Haase of DK Pittsburgh Sports joined Ryan Paton, Dennis Bernstein, and Dave Pagnotta on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio Saturday on TFP The Hotstove. She was asked about Evgeni Malkin and the likelihood that he would return to the Pittsburgh Penguins next season.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
NHL Rumors: Status Quo for Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins
Dennis Bernstein: “You think Geno (Evgeni) Malkin is going to play in Pittsburgh next year?”
Taylor Haase: “I do. Initially, they said at the start of the season, they had made a decision, they’re going to talk to him at the Olympic break. I mean, they did, but that’s not exactly the time to be hammering out details, because then you have the trade deadline right there.
And then Geno, there’s a bit of a miscommunication. I know Geno came out publicly and said they’re not going to talk until the summer. And he sounded worried about it. But then Dubas pulled him aside, talking again. And then Geno said, Dubas told him, don’t worry. And then reiterated that we’ll talk in the summer. I mean, Geno wants to be back. He’s been very clear that he does not want to go anywhere else.
I think the way he’s been playing, he’s on another level compared to maybe his last two seasons. He did have a bit of an injury issue earlier. He’s hurt right now with some different things. He took a puck to the hand. That’s not like an old age thing.
And then he’s making $6.1 million. Now, if you can get him back for that, I think Malkin would even be willing to take less. I think that’s a no-brainer. Also, because the free agent market isn’t great, or the Penguins don’t really have a top-six center in the pipeline, ready to push for that spot. I mean, maybe, maybe, Ben Kindel can move up.
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But there are just so many reasons why it makes sense to bring them back.”
NHLRumors.com Note: The Pittsburgh Penguins have been overachieving this season. Everyone thought they would be in the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes. Now there was a little tension when the Penguins returned from the Olympic Break, as Malkin wasn’t happy that contract talks would be pushed to the summer. However, after some discussions, both parties seem to be on the same page.
Malkin wasn’t sure at the beginning of the season if he wanted to come back. But now he has it in his mind to come back at least for one more season, maybe more, and retire as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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