Just read Rob Rossi's
Why haven’t the Penguins signed Malkin? Inside a fraught process nearing its end on the Athletic.
MacKinnon is going to use his relationship with Crosby to ensure that in 2025/2026 we have the deepest center depth the NHL has ever seen.
Malkin sent congratulatory texts to Rust and Letang (and backup goalie Casey DeSmith) on the days their new deals became official. Each player asked him if he was next.
His response: “They think I’m not good anymore.”
...
If the Penguins offered four years, that $6 million salary could work for Malkin. However, Malkin distanced himself and prepared to move on after what he saw as a combination of low offers and being a lack of a priority for the Penguins. Things were recently so precarious that Crosby paid a visit to Malkin at his home on Fisher Island in South Florida.
“Sid didn’t go to convince Malkin to sign,” a league source said. “He wanted to check on his friend. He was worried about how hard this is on Geno with Geno not feeling wanted anymore.”
Summer of 25, Sid signs a cheap 1 year contract with the Avs. Malkin is in his 4th year of a 6x4 contract with the Avs. Center depth in 25/26 MacKinnon-Crosby-Malkin-Tavares(who signs 1 year league minimum contract to finally win a cup).