Evgeni Malkin has made his decision

This just in, the Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Evgeni Malkin to a one year contract with a base salary of $5.5 million.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reports that Malkin's salary could be as high as $9 million if he hits all of his contract bonuses.

A message from Malkin himself:

There had been rumors that Malkin would return to Russia to conclude his pro career but today's news obviously delays that suspicion for at least another year.

Malkin has built a career that easily meets the standard of a Hockey Hall of Fame player. Since entering the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006, Malkin has been one of the most dominant and skilled centers of his generation. Standing out even while playing alongside Sidney Crosby, Malkin established himself as a superstar through elite scoring, playoff success, and individual awards.

Malkin won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 2007 and quickly became one of hockey’s premier offensive players. He captured two Art Ross Trophies as the league’s leading scorer and won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2012. During the Penguins’ 2009 Stanley Cup run, Malkin was sensational, leading the playoffs in scoring and earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP.

He's one of the greatest Penguins players in franchise history and is no doubt destined for the Hockey Hall of Fame when he does eventually decide to hang up the skates for good.