The Pittsburgh Penguins are entering a season where they are going to need to make some difficult decisions. There are rumors swirling about the potential of them trading their captain Sidney Crosby. And now, to add insult to injury, Evgeni Malkin has voiced his opinion on a potential deadline deal that would send him to a contender.
It is no secret that this is his last season in the NHL. Penguins reporter Rob Rossi of The Athletic broke that news last season. In that report, he shared that Malkin is planning on playing out his contract and then stepping away from the NHL. Well, this is the last year of his contract. Which means he has one more season left, but he still wants to win. Malkin shared that during his preseason media availability, which has the internet wondering, could he finally be traded this season?
Evgeni Malkin Appears Willing to Move
Players like Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby are quite rare in today’s NHL. They have committed to the franchise that drafted them for 20 years. However, now it appears that Malkin is willing to waive his trade clause to join a Stanley Cup contender.
During a media availability, Malkin brought up Brad Marchand and how, despite being the captain of the Boston Bruins, he still got traded. He also noted that the trade worked out for him. He was dealt to the Florida Panthers and they went on to win the Cup. Which had fans speculating, is he wondering the same thing? Why else would he bring it up? He is more than aware of the current state of the Penguins and likely knows that he will be asked to waive eventually. If he is, it does seem like he may finally say yes and be playing for a new organization by the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
Which Teams Have Interest in Malkin?
In a report from James Murphy of RG.org, he suggested that there are numerous teams that have checked in on his availability. Of note, he mentioned the aforementioned Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and the up-and-coming Montreal Canadiens. It’s quite interesting that he mentioned Marchand’s trade to the Panthers. It was then reported that they have checked in on him, isn’t it? Could he have been foreshadowing?
Well, ultimately, the decision is up to him. He has a full no-movement clause, so the Penguins can’t just trade him anywhere. Because of that, the trade will likely come closer to the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline. That also gives the Penguins a chance to compete, but if they fall out of the race for a playoff spot early, they can pivot. It also allows Malkin to look over his options and decide where he wants to go. This often limits the return for a player like him. But that is what happens when a player has trade protection and can choose his own destiny.
If you are a fan of Malkin, the Penguins or just a trade enthusiast, it will be very interesting to see how Malkin’s season plays out and where he ends up accepting a trade to.
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