According to a report from TSN’s Darren Dreger, Evgeni Malkin will hit the open free agent market on July 13, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.
Malkin, 35, has played his entire 981-game career with the Penguins, recording 20 goals and 42 points in 41 games this past year. Malkin has played in 70 games just once since 2011-12, and hasn’t played a complete season since 2008-09.
Still, Malkin has played more than enough great hockey to warrant significant attention on Wednesday. Malkin has 444 goals and 1,146 points over his career, and has been a point-per-game player all but once over the past decade.
The Penguins have $15.3 million in cap space with Kasperi Kapanen being the lone RFA. The question, though, is whether the Penguins are willing to pay a high price for an aging forward with significant injury issues over his career, and whether Malkin is focused on winning another Stanley Cup in the near future elsewhere.
Either way, buckle up. Things are about to get interesting for No. 71.
