The Pittsburgh Penguins entered this season expected by most observers to miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year. That generated trade speculation about several of their players, including center Evgeni Malkin, who was 10th on our October NHL Trade Block Big Board.
The 39-year-old is in the final season of his contract and eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He could also retire at season’s end. He didn’t rule out staying in Pittsburgh, but indicated he didn’t know how he’d react if management approached him with a trade offer.
A month later, the Penguins are off to a better-than-expected start, jockeying for first place in the Eastern Conference. Nevertheless, Sportsnet’s Luke Fox questioned their ability to maintain that pace. If they slide out of contention, Fox believes Malkin would be a high-interest trade target by the March deadline.
However, Fox’s colleague, Nick Kypreos, noted the Penguins’ strong start has silenced much of the trade speculation that has dogged the club since earlier in the season. He thinks Malkin could be out of the trade market if the Penguins remain in the playoff hunt throughout the season.
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As long as the Penguins remain in the postseason hunt, they aren’t moving Malkin, or fellow veterans Bryan Rust, Erik Karlsson, or Rickard Rakell. Management has been replacing older veterans with younger players over the past three years, but they also want to be competitive this season.
Stats and standings (as of Nov. 10, 2025) via NHL.com. Contract info via PuckPedia.