Pittsburgh Penguins sign veteran Evgeni Malkin to one-year extension
by Darryl Coote · UPIMay 26 (UPI) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday signed veteran forward Evgeni Malkin to a one-year, $5.5 million contract extension, the team said.
"We look forward to Geno continuing to provide great moments for the city of Pittsburgh, while helping us return the Penguins to Stanley Cup contention through his play on the ice and his leadership off the ice," Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas said in a statement.
Malkin, a seven-time NHL All-Star and a lock to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, has played all 20 years of his NHL career with the black and gold.
During the two decades, Malkin has won an assortment of hardware, including three Stanley Cups, two Art Ross Trophies for leading the regular season in points, a Calder Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year, the Conn Smythe Trophy for being the most valuable player in the playoffs and the Hart Memorial award for being the most valuable player to his team.
At 39 years old, Malkin is among the oldest players in the NHL, and there was much uncertainty surrounding the future of the aging Russian's playing career, with rumors circulating that he might retire -- rumors that were dispelled on Tuesday.
"Best city. Best fans. I say one more year," Malkin said in a video statement published by the Penguins showing the veteran signing the contract.
The signing follows the Penguins' first-round playoff exit, losing the best-of-seven series in six games to the Buffalo Sabres following a season that many projected that Pittsburgh wouldn't manage a playoff berth. Malkin had two goals and an assist in the six games.
Malkin only played 56 games during an injury-plagued season but continued to score at above a point-per-game pace, notching 19 goals and 42 assists for 61 points.
In his 1,269 games played, Malkin has scored 533 goals and 874 assists for 1,407 points, the 23rd most in NHL history.