Geno is back: Penguins re-sign Evgeni Malkin for his 21st season

King Jemison, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on May 26, 2026

Published in Hockey

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PITTSBURGH — The Evgeni Malkin era in Pittsburgh isn’t over yet.

The Penguins announced Tuesday they have re-signed the 39-year-old to a one-year contract extension that has an annual average value of $5.5 million. Malkin was slated to hit unrestricted free agency on July 1 after 20 seasons in Pittsburgh.

It had not been totally clear whether he would get a 21st.

Malkin said a few times in recent months that he hoped to play another year in black and gold. Meanwhile, Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas played coy about a potential reunion.

But at his end-of-season press conference on May 12, Dubas said the Penguins “would love” to have Malkin back. The two sides still needed to come to an agreement. They have two weeks later.

“Best day in my life,” Malkin said in a video posted by the team.

Malkin’s contract includes the potential for $3.5 million in performance bonuses, a source confirmed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

He would get $250,000 for reaching 42 games played and another $250,000 at 63 games. Malkin would also receive a $1 million bonus if the Penguins make the playoffs, plus an additional $500,000 for each round they win.

The contract includes a no-movement clause, according to PuckPedia.

“Over the last several weeks, myself and Dan Muse have had very open discussions with Evgeni and his camp about him returning for the 2026-27 season, how his role will evolve and what all of our expectations are at this stage of Evgeni’s career and the current stage in the evolution of the Penguins,” Dubas said in a statement.

“The result of that process is Evgeni returning to the Penguins for his 21st season with the club.”

After a few years of declining play, Malkin had a resurgent 2025-26 season. He averaged more points per game than he had since 2019-20, finishing with 61 in 56 games. The Penguins outscored opponents 56-37 in Malkin’s even-strength ice time, the best differential of any Pittsburgh forward.

Upon returning from injury in January, Malkin moved to the wing and largely played well there for the rest of the season after spending his career as a center. Malkin tied for the team high with two goals in the Penguins’ first-round playoff loss against the Philadelphia Flyers.

“Last season, Evgeni’s on-ice performance continually showed that he is able to produce at a great level and help the Penguins take strides,” Dubas said. “Off the ice, he showed tremendous leadership in helping our young Russian and Russian-speaking players adapt to our program and our city.”

He showed his age at times. Malkin missed more than a month with a lingering upper-body injury and was a big reason why Pittsburgh surrendered the second-most shorthanded goals in the league.

But based on Dubas’ comments after the season, the organization did not feel its young forwards had done enough to where Malkin was blocking them from a prominent role in Pittsburgh. Now, Penguins fans will have another season to celebrate one of the most beloved figures in franchise history.

Malkin ranks second in team history in games played and third in points. He helped the team win three Stanley Cup titles. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2009, the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2012 and two scoring titles.

Tuesday’s news means another year for the Penguins’ “Big Three” of Malkin, Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang — who have played together longer than any trio in North American professional sports history. Crosby was already signed for the 2026-27 season. Letang has two more years on his contract.

If Dubas wanted to pivot to a new era, letting Malkin walk was the easiest path. Instead, the Penguins’ longtime trio will get the chance to build on an exciting 2025-26 season for Pittsburgh.

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