Evgeni Malkin returning to Penguins on 1-year, $5.5 million deal

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced that veteran center Evgeni Malkin is returning on a one-year deal.

It is worth a guaranteed $5.5 million and includes up to $3.5 million in bonuses, as well as a no-movement clause, per The Athletic’s Chris Johnston.

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He will turn 40 years old before the start of next season. Malkin just finished the final year of a four-year deal with Pittsburgh that he signed ahead of the 2022-2023 season and was a free agent.

The veteran wasn’t mulling retirement and had been focused on getting a new deal done to remain with Pittsburgh. Now, he will be back with the Pens for at least the 2026-2027 season.

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Malkin was the second overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft by the Penguins. He made his debut with the franchise in 2006, and this new contract will take him through his 21st season in Pittsburgh.

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The Penguins posted a video of Malkin announcing his return to the team. In the video, the veteran jokes that he was going to add another zero to the deal amount and exclaims, “Best day in my life, yeah!”

Malkin has played in 1,269 career games and has 533 goals with 874 assists. Malkin won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2007, the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2012 and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2009.

He has helped the Penguins to three Stanley Cup titles. Malkin was on all three championship teams with Sidney Crosby, and fans have wanted both to be lifelong members of the Pens.

Both Malkin and Crosby are now under contract through the 2026-2027 season.