Noah Hiles: After two decades with Evgeni Malkin, it's time for a difficult goodbye

PITTSBURGH - Pittsburghers have always been a sucker for nostalgia. We tend to romanticize things that have been around awhile - and when they go away, it can feel like a part of us is missing.

Some of us grieve the closing of an old Kennywood ride or a local dive bar similar to a loved one's passing. Heck, some people had an emotional reaction to the airport doing away with the shuttle train that transported passengers between terminals.

That same energy is visible in our world of sports.

We cherish traditions, glorify championship teams from yesteryear, refuse to accept stadium name changes and cling onto athletes that have delivered us happy memories. Because of the joy attached to these things, it can be difficult to say goodbye. But sometimes, a difficult goodbye is necessary.

Right now, that may be in order for one of the greatest hockey players this city has ever supported.

Fresh off his team's first-round exit from the postseason, Evgeni Malkin will soon be an unrestricted free agent. He's set to turn 40 this summer. And while his hockey future remains a mystery, Malkin has long made his personal desires clear.

"I want to be here," he noted during the Penguins' series against the Philadelphia Flyers. " … I want to be retired in Pittsburgh. But it's not my choice. It's Kyle [Dubas'] decision. New owners probably, too."

The last part of that sentence highlights the elephant in the room.

On Friday, Evgeni Malkin addressed local media at the Penguins' facility in Cranberry, Pa. He not only restated his wish to remain in Pittsburgh, but also reiterated that the decision is ultimately out of his hands.

"I know it's not easy for Kyle," Malkin said. "Maybe he wants new blood here. I understand it's business, and I understand he wants maybe new team, see new faces here. But for me, I want to play one more year in the NHL. I'm not looking back to KHL, play in Russia. But if not Pittsburgh, I hope some team."

The Malkin decision is, without question, the toughest call Dubas has been faced with during his tenure as Pittsburgh's president of hockey operations. Malkin himself made things a bit more complicated after improving his game this season. He's far from what he once was, but showed to be more than capable of playing another year at the game's highest level.

But would that be in the best interest of the team as a whole?

Malkin's teammates have weighed in. They, too, hope to see him back for another year.

"I mean, it's tough," captain Sidney Crosby said Friday. "We'll see what happens. We've played together for so long, I think it's clear that I'd love to be playing with him for longer, so we'll see what happens. I think it's pretty obvious that I'd love to keep playing with him."

Added veteran forward Bryan Rust: "I don't know life in the NHL without him. He's a guy who's taught me a lot over the years, just watching how he does everything and how he handles himself, and how he handles a lot of the outside pressures and a lot of the questions. But I want Geno around here as long as I'm around here."

The 2025-26 Penguins drastically exceeded the expectations of many, but they still have a ways to go in order to be considered a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

This postseason exposed their flaws. They looked old and slow. Some of their top scorers in the regular season never showed up against the Flyers. They need more firepower in the top six. Malkin wasn't their biggest issue throughout the playoffs, but he needed to be better.

"I want to be back stronger next year for sure," Malkin said. "Still want to play hockey. This is the best game in the world. And just have fun, enjoy the game. With playoffs, [they] give me so much crazy emotion, and I want to play one more year, for sure."

It's not unreasonable to believe he can replicate similar production next year. If the Penguins are able to retain Malkin while also adding another younger, more dynamic scorer, perhaps keeping him makes sense. His veteran prowess provides value, and he seems open toward embracing a lesser role.

But even still, it's worth wondering if the money required to bring Malkin back couldn't be better spent elsewhere.

Should Dubas want to drastically revamp the roster, this offseason is the time for that to happen.

The Penguins have a surplus of draft capital and plenty of money to spend in free agency. This summer is the perfect time to make a splash through either a blockbuster trade or a slew of impact signings - moves that will not only help the team win now but also years down the road.

This year showed us that Crosby, who will turn 39 in August, still has plenty left in the tank. He's still a superstar, one that deserves to play on a team in win-now mode. If done right, the Penguins, while still preparing for life after Crosby, can also surround their captain with a roster capable of competing in the playoffs.

Crosby's opinion should absolutely be considered, but even he would agree that winning should be the top priority. If Malkin is the best option available, then he should be retained. However, the current resources available to the Penguins lead me to believe that external upgrades will be attainable. And if that is indeed the case, then it's time to move on.

"In the end, we have to do what's best for the Pittsburgh Penguins," Dubas said in March when addressing the Malkin situation. "With players that get to that point in age, it's not always as simple. And at certain times, you may feel one way as a player, and then as you go through the year, you may feel differently."

Feelings are what make this Malkin decision what it is. For many, when No. 71 takes the ice they see a three-time Stanley Cup champion, a two-time Art Ross trophy winner and the 2012 Hart Memorial trophy recipient. They see one of the greatest players in NHL history. But the player responsible for that resume is nearing the end of the line.

The Penguins would be better off letting the 2025-26 season be Malkin's last in Pittsburgh. As someone who grew up in the area, who fell in love with sports when Malkin was in the thick of his prime, I'm well aware that this opinion will rub some the wrong way.

I understand the connection he holds with the fans. I myself still get goosebumps when hearing the crowd's roar as he, the last player out of the room, makes his way to the ice just before the national anthem. He's provided countless happy memories for Penguins fans, and it's not wrong to hope for more.

However, when it comes to Malkin's departure, it would be better to be a year early than a year late. The Penguins are already stuck with one franchise hero that's well past his prime. Kris Letang has become more of a liability than an asset. It's only a matter of time before Malkin's game also plummets to that level, and the Penguins can't afford to have two roster spots filled due to nostalgia.

Parting ways with No. 71 won't be easy for anyone. For fans and players alike, it will be tough to see Malkin in another uniform. Yet, when considering everything at hand, it seems like the best option. It was a remarkable run. But after 20 years, it's time to turn the page.

It's time for a difficult goodbye.

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This story was originally published May 3, 2026 at 5:39 AM.