Penguins’ Malkin wants to play ‘one more year’
One of the stars of this generation wants to keep going, for at least another season.
When speaking to the media after the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 6-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night, forward Evgeni Malkin was asked about how well he’s been skating this season. The 39-year-old said it hasn’t been smooth sailing, but he wants to prove he can still go.
Evgeni Malkin had a lot to say after the Penguins' win in Edmonton. "I want one more year. I want to show I’m still a good player. I want everybody to see I can play next year. It’s my goal right now.”
“It’s not easy,” Malkin said postgame. “I did my best because I know I want one more year. I want to show I’m still a good player. I want everybody to see I can play next year. It’s my goal right now.”
It comes after another great performance for the Russian center. He potted a goal and an assist against Edmonton, marking the second two-point outing in a row for Malkin, marking his fifth multi-point performance since the beginning of December. Of course, he missed over a month of action due to an upper-body injury, which led to his placement on injured reserve.
In 35 appearances, Malkin has scored 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 points. Despite missing 15 games, he’s still tied for second on the team in scoring with Bryan Rust, a little behind captain Sidney Crosby’s 57 points. Malkin is on pace to have his first point-per-game season since he notched 83 points during the 2022-23 campaign.
Malkin’s importance to the Penguins franchise will never be overstated. Along with Crosby and defenseman Kris Letang, the trio has helped restore the organization to prominence, leading the team to three Stanley Cups.
The Penguins (25-14-11) sit second in the Metropolitan Division, six points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for first.