Evgeni Malkin, in 21st season, will let health decide on future

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Evgeni Malkin remains as passionate as ever about hockey as his 21st season with the Pittsburgh Penguins begins.

Whether it's his last, be it in Pittsburgh or anywhere else, only his body knows. And right now, it's not telling the 40-year-old Russian star anything.

"I mean, it's a hard question," Malkin said Friday. "We see what's going on during the season, you know. And right now I won't say yes."

He also won't say no, though he has one clear metric that will play a massive role in whatever happens beyond this season.

"If I not feel hundred percent, I'm not playing," Malkin said, adding that if he is not helping the team to win, "I'm retired."

Malkin was able to turn the clock back a bit last season, posting 19 goals to go with 42 assists despite missing time with injuries. He averaged over a point per game for the first time since 2019-20 and seemed fueled by the desire to prove to Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas that he was still worth the investment.

Dubas played his cards close to the vest until after Pittsburgh's first-round playoff exit to Philadelphia. He praised Malkin's effort, and about a month later, negotiations that appeared a little tense outwardly resulted with Malkin signing a one-year deal to remain with the club where he has won three Stanley Cups, two scoring titles and an MVP during a career that will almost certainly end in the Hall of Fame.

The deal also extended the partnership between Malkin, captain Sidney Crosby and defenseman Kris Letang to 21 years and counting, the longest three teammates have ever played together in major North American professional sports history.

Malkin believes it's production, not nostalgia, that has kept them together.

"It's not we're just here because we win three Cups, you know," he said. "I hope we're here because we still play good."

The Penguins are banking on it. Pittsburgh largely kept together the roster that finished a surprising second behind Carolina in the Metropolitan Division, including re-signing forward Egor Chinakhov, a Russian who blossomed while playing alongside Malkin after being acquired in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

There are now four Russians on the team, allowing Malkin the chance to serve as a mentor in the same way former Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar did for him two decades ago.

"Any advice, any like, 'go to dinner,' you know, we just do it," Malkin said. "I'm the old guy here, and I just have the experience."

Malkin begins the season with 1,407 career points, 14 shy of surpassing Hall of Fame center Adam Oates to climb into the top 20 on the NHL's all-time list.

He's done it while serving as the emotional 'yin' to Crosby's more reserved 'yang.' If Malkin had ended up somewhere else, maybe he would had been the face of the franchise. He's long made peace with the trade-off.

If this is his final season, it's been a great ride. But he's not quite ready to head off into the sunset just yet.

"I think last year I showed my good games, and I am excited to be here," he said. "And again, like, I'm here to win."