Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin hasn't committed to this coming NHL season being his last, but general manager Kyle Dubas doesn't sound interested in another waiting game. "I'm not doing this day-to-day, year-to-year thing with Geno," Dubas said curtly during media availability Monday, without further elaboration on what that could mean for the franchise legend.

Malkin himself seems unsure whether another year is in the cards. "We'll see what's going on during the season," Malkin said in September. "Right now, I want to say yes [to playing for longer]. But we'll see how my body feels." He added, "I still love the game. It's why I'm here [after] 21 years."

Malkin's ability to turn back the clock earned him another contract after rebounding in 2025-26 with 19 goals and 61 points in 56 games, helping lift the Penguins to the league's third-ranked offense. He quickly signed a one-year extension in May to return for a 21st year with the only NHL franchise he has played for, remaining part of an aging core headlined by Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang.

Malkin ranks third in career points for the Penguins with 1,407, behind only Mario Lemieux and Crosby. Dubas' clipped answer adds mystery as to whether this 2026-27 season will be the forward's swan song with Pittsburgh.