
Leeds as good as safe? Thumping Burnley win opens nine-point gap to drop
Leeds United's 3-1 win over Burnley secures a nine-point gap from relegation.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are facing a contract dilemma regarding veteran player Evgeni Malkin after a surprisingly successful season. Malkin remains one of the team's top players despite his age.
Penguins facing Evgeni Malkin contract dilemma originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Pittsburgh Penguins had a surprisingly resurgent season.
That won't reduce their offseason questions, including with the aging Evgeni Malkin.
Malkin is clearly one of the best players the Penguins have ever had, and he was a really high-end player most of this season.
He's also at the end of his contract, and while he seems to be pushing off retirement, the Penguins will still have to decide whether they want him back.
It's a conflict between sentimentality and reality.
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Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin ranks Malkin as his No. 8 potential unrestricted free agent this offseason in the entire NHL, and he also acknowledges that this could be a tough call for the Penguins' front office.
"Malkin wants to keep playing," Larkin wrote in a new article on Friday. "He wants to keep playing for the Penguins. Heās been quite vocal about that all year, andĀ he reiterated the sentimentĀ days before Pittsburghās elimination from the playoffs. Helping Malkinās chances: his resurgent season and the fact Pittsburgh recaptured playoff-contender status. Working against him: the fact they need to get younger and havenāt won a playoff series since 2018. Can GM Kyle Dubas afford to be sentimental about this case?"
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The Penguins are expected to have both Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang back, unless they change their own tune on potential retirement.
Will the big three with Malkin stick together? That's probably more up to whether Dubas makes him a reasonable offer than anything else. Malkin seemingly doesn't want to go anywhere.
Evgeni Malkin's contract situation is uncertain as the Penguins weigh their options for his future with the team.
Evgeni Malkin had a strong performance during the last NHL season, showcasing his skills as one of the Penguins' best players.
The Penguins face challenges related to Malkin's age and contract negotiations as they consider their roster for the upcoming season.

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