Evgeni Malkin makes heartbreaking admission before 2024-25 season

Ahead of the 2024-25 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins are holding on to their Core Three with captain Sidney Crosby, defenseman Kris Letang and star forward Evgeni Malkin. However, the latter knows his time in the NHL is coming to and end, as he just turned 38 on Wednesday, prompting him to make a tough admission to a Russian journalist back home.

Geno appears to have plans to finish his professional hockey career in Russia when he admitted that he will not retire with the Penguins.

“It’s hard to make plans about a return,” he said. “I still have two years left on my contract with Pittsburgh. I need to play these two years and see how it goes. The main thing is no injuries, and if, as Pavel Datsyuk says, there’s a fire burning, you can’t go out and do the number without it.”

Malkin still has two years remaining on his contract with the Penguins, and the hope is that the Penguins can get one last push to the Stanley Cup before the Core 3 dismantles or retires. Crosby, Malkin, and Letang aren’t kids anymore and are nearing the end of their storied careers, however, it sounds like once Geno gets done in the NHL, he will continue playing back home in Russia, possibly in the KHL where we recently saw former NHL forward Evgeny Kuznetsov signed a four-year deal with SKA Saint Petersburg.

Back in the offseason of 2022, before inking a new contract with the Penguins, Malkin had admitted that he was aware of his decline and knew that if he was approached by management to be traded for a rebuild, he would have to accept his fate.

“I understand it’s a business. I love this city, I love these fans so much. But if the team wants young blood and new guys and says ‘you should move on’, I’m fine.

“I hope I retire here.”⁦

Malkin was convinced by Crosby to sign a discount deal two summers ago, and now his statement about retiring overseas could push the captain to get settled on a new deal with the Penguins for that last shot at a Stanley Cup with his close friend.

Despite saying that he’s getting older, Malkin suited up in all 82 games for for the second straight season, tallaying 27 goals and get 67 total points for the team in 2023-24.

Let’s see what he can do this upcoming season!