Evgeni Malkin, a Pittsburgh Penguins legend, is considering leaving the team as he approaches free agency but is still interested in returning to Pittsburgh.
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Penguins legend Evgeni Malkin reveals plans to leave Pittsburgh, if he has to originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The only NHL uniform Evgeni Malkin has ever worn has been the Pittsburgh Penguins.
There's at least a chance that changes this offseason as he heads toward free agency and puts off retirement.
Malkin has made it clear that he wants to keep playing hockey. He has also expressed an interest in returning to Pittsburgh.
It's not clear whether the interest is mutual from the Penguins, though, which means Malkin would have to think about what his other options might be.
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After Pittsburgh's season ended earlier this week, Malkin was asked if he would play for an NHL team besides the Penguins if he didn't get a contract offer there.
"Yes," Malkin replied.
It opens up some fascinating possibilities.
Evgeni Malkin is considering leaving due to his impending free agency and desire to continue playing hockey.
Malkin plans to explore his options as he heads toward free agency while expressing a desire to return to the Penguins.
Evgeni Malkin has played his entire NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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On the one hand, Malkin will turn 40 years old at the end of July.
On the other hand, he's coming off a season in which he had 61 points in 56 games -- 19 goals and 42 assists.
He's one of the best players of his generation, a three-time Stanley Cup winner with 533 goals and 874 assists (1,407 points).
He's spent his entire career with Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh, but that doesn't mean he couldn't try a new look out for the closing stages of his career.
It's not clear whether Malkin will want a sizable contract or if he'd take a value deal just to get the chance to play somewhere.
But it's worth watching. Malkin wants to stay in Pittsburgh, but he's not opposed to leaving, either.