Malkin’s deal expires at the end of the 2021-22 season. He is due $9.5 million next year, same as this year. If Malkin continues to play and produce as poorly as he has in the current season’s first 16 games, the Penguins can’t give him a new contract, let alone at his inflated rate.

Allowing Malkin to finish as a career Penguin and preserve his one-team legacy can’t be a concern for a franchise on the cusp of rebuilding. Not when Malkin has just three goals and seven assists in 16 games, is minus-4, is a defensive liability, is dragging down his wingers no matter who they are, and shows little intensity.

He isn’t in a bad patch. Malkin is just bad.

-Mark Madden of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Evgeni Malkin. Read more on Malkin.