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All signs point to Evgeni Malkin leaving Pittsburgh in 2026

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated May 12, 2025 3:41 PM ET

The Penguins have a long way to go before returning to the playoffs, in my opinion.

The Penguins’ plan must, from a very rational point of view, be the following: trade the big pieces as quickly as possible to start afresh quickly.

Erik Karlsson, for example, has to go.

But you know as well as I do that the cases of Kristopher Letang, Evgeni Malkin and (especially) Sidney Crosby are different. After all, they are Pittsburgh icons.

But when will they leave?

There’s a growing rumor going around the NHL that Evgeni Malkin will play his last NHL season in 2025-2026, on the heels of the final year of his $6.1 million-a-year contract. And there’s no indication that he’ll be playing anywhere but with the Penguins.

We don’t know if retirement or the KHL awaits him, but we do know that Elliotte Friedman and David Pagnotta are among the informants who heard about this recently.

Today’s piece hits on Pittsburgh’s direction & possibly Malkin’s final season, plus:
– Coaches (Sturm, Smith, Woodcroft, etc.)
– Eyes on #AllCaps assistants
– #Isles exec hunt
– Holland & #GoKingsGo
– #LetsGoBuffalo & Byram
– #FlyTogether & Gibson
+more https://t.co/ZFuRl5imUd

– David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) May 12, 2025

With Malkin set to leave in 2026 at the latest, and Kristopher Letang‘s health problems making us wonder more than ever how much longer he’ll be able to play, we have to wonder if such news will prompt Sidney Crosby to leave… in 2026.

I wouldn’t be completely surprised if, in just one year’s time, Crosby was thinking of leaving for a winning team to attempt, for a fourth (and final?) time, to win the Stanley Cup.

We’ll see in due course, but perhaps if his friends leave, Crosby will be more open to thinking things over.

However, it’s still very realistic to think that Sidney Crosby, renowned for his loyalty, could end his career in Pittsburgh with the Penguins.

overtime

– The former Ducks coach understood why he left when he saw who took his place.

Greg Cronin on the shock of Ducks firing and being replaced by Joel Quenneville. My latest for@TheAthletic https://t.co/ysWCkyGoB1

– Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 12, 2025