Evgeni Malkin doesn’t rule out continuing his career after a 21st season with the Penguins

Evgeni Malkin is entering his 21st NHL season and says he hasn’t yet decided on the end of his career. The 40-year-old forward says his desire to play remains strong, but the decision will depend on how he feels physically during the season: if he doesn’t feel 100% he won’t play, because he wants to be at a high level and contribute only if he can help the team win.

As nhl reports, Malkin signed on May 26 a one-year contract worth $5.5 million to stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins and avoid free-agent status on July 1. The news came just over three weeks after he had said he aimed to play one more season, and the contract was finalized 25 days after that statement.

Last season Malkin scored 61 points in 56 games (19 goals and 42 assists), returning to an average of at least one point per game for the first time since 2022-23. He helped the Penguins finish second in the Metropolitan Division and return to the Play-Offs after missing the previous three seasons, but the team was eliminated in the first round by the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. During that season Malkin also played as a winger on the right side, while missing 26 games due to injuries and suspensions; management judged that the role changes kept him fresh for the playoffs.

Malkin is a three-time Stanley Cup winner (2009, 2016, 2017) and ranks third in Penguins history in points (1,407), goals (533) and assists (874), behind Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux. Among his awards are the Hart Trophy (NHL MVP 2011-12), the Art Ross Trophy for the points leader (2008-09; 2011-12), the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP (2009), the Ted Lindsay Award (2011-12) and the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year (2006-07). The Crosby-Malkin-Letang trio will mark the start of the 21st season as teammates, a record for longevity as teammates in North America’s major sports, and the historic data for his career are also described by nhl.