Evgeni Malkin is not done in Pittsburgh just yet. The longtime center has agreed to a one-year contract that keeps him with the Penguins for the 2026-27 campaign, giving the franchise at least one more ride with its core of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang as the team tries to build on this season’s playoff appearance.
Contract Details
According to NHL.com, Malkin signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal on May 26, 2026, after a 61-point regular season. The outlet notes he added three points in six playoff games and will return for his 21st NHL season, all of them spent in a Penguins sweater.
Where He Ranks In Penguins History
As reported by CBS Pittsburgh, Malkin’s career numbers with the Penguins now sit at 533 goals, 874 assists, and 1,407 points in 1,269 games. That production cements him among the franchise’s all-time leaders and helps explain why the organization was motivated to lock him in for at least one more season.
What Geno Said
In a short team video, Malkin kept the message simple for the city and its supporters, saying, "Best city, best fans, I stay one more year," according to NHL.com. He framed the choice as both a family decision and a professional one, tying his desire to stay in Pittsburgh to his legacy and his life off the ice.
Why Pittsburgh Did It
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas had already tipped his hand. He publicly said the club "would love" to bring Malkin back and confirmed that talks were underway, according to an Associated Press report carried by CBS Pittsburgh. The new contract gives Pittsburgh a proven producer up the middle while the front office sorts through offseason roster decisions and a tight salary-cap picture.
Roster Implications
Short-term deals for aging stars are nothing new in Pittsburgh, and this one fits the pattern. Analysts had pegged a one-year bridge as the likeliest outcome, with money and milestone bonuses highlighted as key sticking points in negotiations, per Pro Hockey Rumors. By keeping Malkin in the fold, the Penguins maintain veteran scoring while preserving the flexibility to prioritize younger forwards this summer for 2026-27 and beyond.
Legacy And Next Steps
Malkin’s place in Penguins history is already secure. A three-time Stanley Cup champion with a stack of individual honors, he enters next season as one of the franchise’s all-time greats, according to local coverage from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The one-year deal gives the Penguins another season of elite-level production down the middle and gives fans one more chance to watch a future Hall of Famer wearing black and gold.
