Possible Malkin Retirement

[SteelCityCannon]

Mark Madden(I know, I know) claimed on his radio show that he has sources saying this will be Malkin's last season in the NHL and he'll go back to Russia to play.

I know people hate on double M but he's fairly connected in Pittsburgh. Are we going to see more take the Kuzy route and end their careers in the KHL?

 

[absolute garbage]

Makes sense. That last year he's got 3.8M signing bonus and only 1M base salary. Retire after collecting that bonus, easypeasy.

Wonder if this would impact on Crosby's decision at all.

With Malkin and Crosby both gone, trade Karlsson and Letang (retain 50%) and go straight into the scorched earth rebuild. That's the path for Penguins after this last hurrah next season?

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

Would make sense. If he wants to go back to Russia to play and be a respectful final tour as they say… Don’t want to do it when you are on your last leg.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Makes sense. That last year he's got 3.8M signing bonus and only 1M base salary. Retire after collecting that bonus, easypeasy.

Wonder if this would impact on Crosby's decision at all.

Don’t think he gets the bonus, that would be dirty pool if he did that, would also leave the Pens with that cap hit, (signing bonuses count against the cap.)

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Marner to the Pens now??

 

[Prairie Habs]

Not saying I believe it, but it probably makes sense for both parties. Malkin gets to play couple seasons back home while there's still some gas in the tank and the Pens get to start bottoming out earlier. Making the playoffs on its own seems like sn uphill battle, much less winning a few rounds, so might as well rip the bandaid off.

The truly painful one for Pens fans will be seeing Crosby go, but don't worry, he'll look great between demidov and dach.

 

[Malkinstheman]

Madden has been a Geno hater for like 10 years now. He also hasnt had any sources since JR was there. I dont believe for a second that he has any insight into Malkin's plans.

 

[SomeDude]

Mark Madden(I know, I know) claimed on his radio show that he has sources saying this will be Malkin's last season in the NHL and he'll go back to Russia to play.

I know people hate on double M but he's fairly connected in Pittsburgh. Are we going to see more take the Kuzy route and end their careers in the KHL?

No he’s not. Still waiting on that Hrdina for Zubrus deal he claimed was done.

Malkin said in an interview in Russia that he would like to play one more season with Metallurg before he retires but he still has the term on his NHL contract. Madden hates Malkin and is hoping he retires.

 

[Gurglesons]

Malkin literally said in a Russian interview he’s playing the next two years and maybe more if his body holds up.

 

[orby]

It's plausible. Malkin has clearly diminished as a player over the past few years, and while he's still an effective top 6 forward, one does wonder for how much longer that will be the case. One more go-round in Pittsburgh followed by a KHL farewell tour would be a reasonable way to wind it down without wearing out his welcome a la Marleau.

I wouldn't take Madden at his word, though - he's been wrong about Malkin before.

 

[GoldenSeal]

It's feasible but won't happen. Malkin is going to ride this train til there's no more train.

 

[abj]

It work.

A realign in Pittsburgh.

 

[kp61c]

malkins more american than russian now, sounds idiotic

 

[jetsforever]

Who knows but hope he stays in the NHL as long as possible

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

Mark Madden(I know, I know) claimed on his radio show that he has sources saying this will be Malkin's last season in the NHL and he'll go back to Russia to play.

I know people hate on double M but he's fairly connected in Pittsburgh. Are we going to see more take the Kuzy route and end their careers in the KHL?

Jabba the Madden's been saying "This is Malkin's final year in the NHL" since 2009, last I checked he hasnt left yet.

 

[Zbynek]

Lmao. Nope

 

[OKR]

malkins more american than russian now, sounds idiotic

No he isn’t, and he has mentioned ending his career in Russia multiple times.

He just recently stated to TASS magazine that he is gonna finnish his contract in NHL first at least.

 

[kp61c]

No he isn’t, and he has mentioned ending his career in Russia multiple times.

He just recently stated to TASS magazine that he is gonna finnish his contract in NHL first at least.

Spending a year in Russia after being discarded by Pittsburgh doesn't mean much.

 

[Riseonfire]

Not soon enough. I’ll miss Crosby oddly but can’t wait for Geno and Letang to hang ‘em up.

 

[End of Line]

It’s Mark Madden…. His sources are Little Debbie and Count Chocula

 

[RRhoads]

Malin's contract is a 35+, so if he retires, they would still be on for the cap hit.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

They're getting McKenna aren't they

 

[Super Hans]

Mark Madden(I know, I know)

 

[Rodgerwilco]

God I hate Mark Madden, he's got no business being in a main boards thread lol.

He used to be well connected and more respected in the hockey sphere of Pittsburgh, but he's old news. The guy seems so disconnected in almost everything that he says. And as others have said, he's been hating on Malkin pretty much his whole time here in Pittsburgh. There's no chance that he has any inside information here.

 

[TageGod]

Pitt should have moved the big three last offseason/deadline and rebuild. Bring them back to retire afterwards.