ESPN Analyst Urges Panthers to Target Penguins Star After Aleksander Barkov Injury

The Florida Panthers’ injury crisis has sparked speculation about a blockbuster move.

The Panthers won’t have Aleksander Barkov for up to nine months following knee surgery, and Matthew Tkachuk is also out until December.

The situation has led ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski to come up with a solution to fix Florida problems in one fell swoop: trading for Pittsburgh Penguins veteran star Evgeni Malkin.

Speaking on Saturday’s episode of “The Sheet with Jeff Marek,” Wyshynski made it clear he sees this as the perfect scenario for the Panthers to attempt to land Malkin.

“I think the obvious answer is you trade for [Evgeni] Malkin at some point,” Wyshynski said. “[He’s] on an expiring contract and on a team that is dying to turn him into assets.”

Malkin, 39, is entering the final season of a four-year, $24.4 million contract. He has spent his entire 19-year career with Pittsburgh, winning three Stanley Cups, but has acknowledged his future is uncertain.

Speaking at the start of training camp, Malkin referenced a recent headline-grabbing deal made by the Panthers.

“Again, we see a story like Brad Marchand. Looking good. Team trades you, you win the Cup. It’s a little weird, too. Of course, everybody wants to make the playoffs, maybe make one more run at the Cup,” Malkin said.

The Marchand case looms large. The Boston Bruins icon was dealt to Florida last season and helped the Panthers capture their second consecutive title months later.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) listens to center Sidney Crosby (87).Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Fitting Malkin into Florida’s system would not be difficult. With Barkov out, the veteran center could slot directly into the top line, bringing size, playmaking and secondary scoring to a team chasing a third straight Stanley Cup.

Malkin is coming off scoring 50 points in 68 games last season, a production that would instantly boost a depleted lineup even if the Russian is already past his prime.

The challenge might be the cost, as Florida would need to make salaries fit, with the Panthers already $4.5 million over the cap.

It’s fair to assume the Penguins will place a reasonably high price on Malkin even if he’s on an expiring deal and older, potentially looking to land high draft picks or prospects in exchange for the veteran center and franchise icon.

The Panthers don’t have first-round picks until 2028, but have two 2026 second-round selections available for trade.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Sep 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the NHL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

ESPN Analyst Urges Panthers to Target Penguins Star After Aleksander Barkov Injury

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