CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Sidney Crosby sat at his locker after a second consecutive lengthy practice for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team’s captain was in good spirits at the rink, his happy place.
One topic, though, made him turn serious.
“Geno,” Crosby said. “He’s been so good.”
Who could argue with that?
At 40, Evgeni Malkin wasn’t supposed to be playing for the Penguins at this stage of his life. The Penguins haven’t won a playoff series since 2018 and a championship since 2017. Their 2024 trade of Jake Guentzel unofficially started an unorthodox rebuild. Yet, Malkin keeps going. He has six goals and nine points in 11 games this season. His defense is better than usual, and he’s been intelligent, taking care of the puck and avoiding bad penalties.
Last season, Malkin defiantly and brilliantly put up 61 points in 56 games, essentially forcing Penguins president/general manager Kyle Dubas to bring him back for another season.
Maybe he’s doing it again.
These Penguins lack steadiness. Their defense has been sporadic at best and terrible at worst. Crosby has started slowly, as has Rickard Rakell. Their young players don’t seem quite ready for primetime. Their goaltending is intriguing but mysterious.
Malkin provides stability. Funny enough, for all of his talent, stability has never been his calling card. In his prime, Malkin was right there with Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. He could and would take over games in ways they couldn’t. He could also be infuriating. He’d occasionally take a night off. Other times, he didn’t focus enough. Some nights, he’d turn the puck over with such reckless abandon that coach Mike Sullivan wanted to pull his own hair out.
“You guys always thought Phil (Kessel) was the one who drove me nuts,” Sullivan told The Athletic in 2023. “Well, me and Geno have had our share of battles.”
One of their final conversations might explain Malkin’s longevity. Before the start of the 2024-25 season, Sullivan’s final campaign in Pittsburgh, the coach sat down with the future Hall of Famer for a long chat. Sullivan knew the aging superstar could no longer compensate for his mistakes by turning on his offense at will. The older you get, the more difficult it is to flip that switch. So, Sullivan asked Malkin to eliminate some bad habits from his game. To his credit, Malkin listened. And adapted.
Years from now, when we analyze Malkin’s spectacular career, we should remember the changes he made late in his career.
How many players, nearing 40, would change anything? Most all-time greats have a stubborn streak, and Malkin is no different. But in his final years in Pittsburgh, he has changed. He’s been a reliable force.
“I think his game has been so consistent,” Crosby said. “He’s still got that jump.”
We often (and accurately) credit Crosby and defenseman Kris Letang for their legendary workout routines. They’re the ultimate rink rats. Malkin, though, isn’t exactly sipping mimosas and floating around the pool all summer in Florida.
“You don’t have the success he’s having without putting the work in,” Crosby explained. “That effort? The hard work in practice? It’s all there. What he’s doing right now is not a fluke.”
Malkin’s consistency and impressive play set the tone for the younger Penguins who will follow him. Just ask them.
“What’s great for me is that I get to see him on a daily basis,” 24-year-old forward Hendrix Lapierre said. “You know he’s a great player, you know how fun it is to watch when he takes over a game. But for me, what’s great is getting to see how he prepares himself every day. It’s nice for a younger guy like me to get to see it.”
No, Malkin is not the force he once was. But his determination to remain in the NHL and with the Penguins is pushing him to this level. This final chapter will be part of his legacy and should be celebrated.
The end will come for Malkin and Crosby, but we aren’t there yet. Crosby will likely overcome his uncharacteristically slow start soon and begin filling the net at his typical rate. Until then, Malkin has his back, as always.
Throughout their careers, when Crosby has missed time with injuries, Malkin has elevated his game. When Crosby has been targeted during a game, Malkin has always been the first man into the fight. And now, when Crosby has started slow, Malkin has kept the Penguins afloat.
Malkin can’t physically overwhelm the opposition the way he once could, but he’s finding other ways to help the Penguins win. His legacy didn’t need any additions, but this season has already reminded us what Malkin’s greatness looks like.
Notes
• Avery Hayes and Chase Pietila were reassigned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday. Justin Brazeau, who hasn’t played this season after sustaining a preseason injury, will be joining them on a conditioning loan.
• Elmer Söderblom has been placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
• Ben Kindel, Egor Chinakhov, Sam Girard and Malkin, all of whom missed Saturday’s game, are expected to be in the lineup on Thursday against Utah.
