Malkin to negotiate contract this summer

Evgeni Malkin has expressed that discussions regarding his contract negotiations with the Pittsburgh Penguins will take place this summer. Following a stellar performance against the Colorado Avalanche, Malkin confirmed that he and Penguins president Kyle Dubas had a conversation about his future, indicating, "We talked probably two weeks ago... he told me we would talk this summer.

I'm okay with that... I want to just play". Malkin also mentioned his desire to continue playing next year, and perhaps even longer, saying, "Maybe two years. Who knows?" This comes as Malkin has been performing exceptionally, with 50 points in 47 games, which has led to speculation that the Penguins may consider offering him an extension despite earlier reports suggesting this season might be his last in Pittsburgh.

The Penguins currently sit in a favorable position in the Metropolitan Division, bolstered by Malkin's contributions and the potential impact of his future contract on the team's roster dynamics.