At 39, Evgeni Malkin is doing everything in his power to keep the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoff conversation, racking up six goals and 26 points over 25 games played this season.
But Tyler Seguin’s ACL injury in Dallas may have quietly changed the math on his future. With Seguin likely out for the rest of the season and the Stars firmly in contender mode, there is now a prime top-six opening on a team with both cap flexibility via LTIR and a clear need for another impact forward.Â
If the Penguins slide in the standings and Malkin stays hot, it becomes harder and harder to ignore how well he fits what Dallas suddenly needs.
Why Dallas Now Looks Like A Natural Fit For Malkin
Seguin’s injury rips a proven producer out of Dallas’ top six and their power play, forcing Glen Gulutzan to lean even more on Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen.Â
The Stars are chasing a Stanley Cup and LTIR relief from Seguin’s $9.85 million cap hit gives Jim Nill unusual mid-season flexibility to chase a true difference-maker. Malkin checks every box that injury created.Â
Tyler Seguin suffered an ACL injury and will be out long-term, per the Stars pic.twitter.com/u092RaIrdW
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) December 3, 2025
He can step in as a second-line center or ride shotgun on the wing, drive a power play, and potentially help tilt a playoff series. For Dallas, this is exactly the type of high-end rental you use fresh cap room on when your window is wide open.
On Pittsburgh’s side, the organization is walking a tightrope between maximizing the final years of Sidney Crosby, Malkin and Kris Letang and preparing for a younger core that Kyle Dubas has already started to assemble.Â
Former exec Brian Burke has admitted there were moments where moving Malkin was on the table, and respected voices in the game have openly argued the Penguins should eventually convince him to accept a deadline move if they fall out of contention.Â
Add in the reporting that Dubas and Malkin plan to revisit his future around the Olympic break, and it’s all coming together for a serious conversation if the Penguins are falling behind again in late February.
Would Malkin Actually Waive To Join The Stars?
The final hurdle is Malkin’s full no-move clause and his long-stated desire to retire as a Penguin. He has publicly said he wants to finish his career in Pittsburgh, but he has also left the door cracked open to a move if management comes to him with a respectful, short-term opportunity that makes sense.Â
Evgeni Malkin is ONLY interested in playing hockey if it’s with the Pittsburgh Penguins 🫣🔥
(h/t @TheRGMedia) pic.twitter.com/wjDmxGA40u
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) November 20, 2025
A stacked contender like Dallas, hungry for a Cup and suddenly missing Seguin, might be the kind of situation that gets his attention. Malkin could chase one more ring, then circle back in the summer on a one-year deal in Pittsburgh if both sides still want the reunion.
If the Penguins stay in the mix, this all dies on the rumor vine and Malkin finishes the season in black and gold. But if they fade and Seguin’s absence forces the Stars to shop aggressively for scoring, which it undoubtedly will, it is easy to imagine Dubas and Nill at least exploring the framework of a Malkin deal.
Photo Credit:Â Jerome Miron-Imagn Images