Penguins legend drops unexpected statement about NHL future before elimination game vs. Flyers
Evgeni Malkin and Dan Muse still have one game left to keep Pittsburgh's season alive - and maybe keep one era from ending.
The Pittsburgh Penguins hit Saturday staring at a 3-0 hole against the Philadelphia Flyers, but Malkin didn't sound like a player ready to drift into the offseason.
He sounded like a player trying to hold the room together.
That matters because this isn't just about Game 4. Malkin is 39, his contract is expiring, and the next loss could close the book on a 20-season run in Pittsburgh.
“But it's not my choice. You know, it’s Kyle’s decision and it’s the new owners probably, too.”
Malkin wants to stay, wants to play next season, and wants his career to finish with the Penguins. The part he can't control is what Kyle Dubas and ownership decide once the playoffs are over.
Imagine a Penguins team with Sidney Crosby but no Malkin? This could ultimately force Crosby to make a career-altering decision out of Pittsburgh, as Malkin and #87 are life-long friends.
That's why this story lands harder than a standard playoff deficit.
Pittsburgh isn't only trying to extend a series. It's trying to buy time for a core piece whose future suddenly feels tied to every shift.
Evgeni Malkin opens up on NHL future before elimination game Saturday
Sidney Crosby wasn't interested in turning Friday into a farewell discussion.
His read was simple: the Penguins have enough on their plate without spending energy on what a loss might mean for Malkin.
Crosby's focus stayed on the ice and on the approach.
The Penguins haven't put together a full game in this series, even if their first period in Game 3 looked closer to their identity.
That's where the small bit of belief still comes from. Pittsburgh lost 5-2 in Game 3, but it grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first and finally got its power play moving with 2 goals after an ugly start to the series.
Malkin has done his part even with the series tilting the wrong way.
He has 3 points through the first 3 games, yet he wasn't selling personal production as any kind of comfort. For him, the only stat that matters now is the series score.
That's what gives this one some edge. Malkin isn't pitching sentiment. He's still talking like a player who thinks there's another punch left in this group.
For the Penguins, that's the season. For Malkin, it may be something even bigger.
|
LIVE
APRIL 26, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Josh Doan | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Zach Benson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Peyton Krebs | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Bowen Byram | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ryan McLeod | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Alex Tuch | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Viktor Arvidsson | - | - | - | |
| Jonathan Aspirot | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Dahlin | - | - | - | |
| Morgan Geekie | - | - | - | |
| Jordan Greenway | - | - | - | |
| Jordan Harris | - | - | - | |
| Tanner Jeannot | - | - | - | |
| Mark Kastelic | - | - | - | |
| Marat Khusnutdinov | - | - | - | |
| Tyson Kozak | - | - | - | |
| Sean Kuraly | - | - | - | |
| Elias Lindholm | - | - | - | |
| Hampus Lindholm | - | - | - | |
| Alex Lyon | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||