How Lightning's Jake Guentzel may impact Penguins' Evgeni Malkin decision

In March 2024, the Pittsburgh Penguins traded winger and dressing-room favorite Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes as part of Penguins president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas embracing a youth movement. 

Dubas is once again facing a difficult situation this spring, as the uncertain future of forward and franchise icon Evgeni Malkin will be hovering over the franchise when the executive meets with media members on Tuesday. During the latest edition of the "Madden Monday" podcast, Mark Madden of Penguins radio home 105.9 The X addressed how the franchise's past could impact whether or not Dubas brings Malkin back for a so-called "Last Dance" season.

Why Penguins may not let Evgeni Malkin leave via free agency

"When they traded Jake Guentzel, the locker room basically went on strike," Madden said about the Penguins, per Tim Benz of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "They went one win and seven losses on either side of the Guentzel trade. They missed the playoffs by just three points. You do the math. I think it’ll be 10 times worse if Malkin walks. It’ll be something that’s felt in that locker room and talked about all year." 

Malkin is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and he will turn 40 years old at the end of July. That said, he was a big reason Pittsburgh emerged as one of the top positive surprises of the 2025-26 NHL season en route to making the playoffs. 

According to ESPN stats, Malkin finished the regular season ranked fifth on the Penguins with 61 points and fifth with 19 goals that he accumulated over 56 games. Such production has caused Penguins reporters such as King Jemison of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to argue that Malkin "earned one more season in black and gold," even though Dubas seemingly would like the team to get younger and faster sooner rather than later. 

When will Penguins fans learn an Evgeni Malkin decision?

Madden is among those who believe the Penguins' new owners won't "want to be the bad guys" and let Malkin leave after team captain Sidney Crosby and fellow franchise icon Kris Letang made it clear they want Malkin back so that the club can make another run at qualifying for the playoffs. 

"I would expect we’ll hear Tuesday," Madden said about when Penguins supporters may learn about the club's intentions regarding Malkin. "...He played just well enough, and the team did just well enough that there’s no easy way to get rid of him now. There’s no easy way to let a club legend walk. The captain wants him back. The fans want him back."

Perhaps those fans won't have to wait as long as some have feared to learn whether or not the Penguins will re-sign Malkin to what could be seen as a team-friendly one-year contract.