How Evgeni Malkin finally got a deal in Pittsburgh at the last minute:

Late on Tuesday night, hours before the opening of free agency, the Pittsburgh Penguins and star forward Evgeni Malkin came to terms on a four-year $24.4 million contract extension.

The deal will run through the 2025-26 season and carry an average-annual value of $6.1 million. He is coming off an eight-year, $76 million contract with an average annual value of $9.5 million.

Some fans had given up hope, especially when Geno himself had reportedly contacted teammates to tell them goodbye, saying that the front office thinks he’s “not good anymore.

It was no secret that tensions were high in negotiations, especially when Penguins general manager Ron Hextall signed defenseman Kris Letang first, leaving the fanbase to wonder what it meant for Evgeni.

Recent reports that emerged that a four-year deal was on the table, though some doubted it was ever presented, which added to the tension. Captain Sidney Crosby was in consistent contact with Malkin and had reportedly visited his close friend in Florida to persuade him to stay in Pittsburgh.

But on Tuesday afternoon, things looked grim. Until, the contract was settled with Malkin getting a $4 million salary and $4 million signing bonus this season; $6 million for 2023-24; $5.6 million in 2024-25; and a $1 million salary plus a $3.8 million signing bonus in 2025-26, the final year of the contract and likely his NHL career. All four years of the extension also feature a full no-move clause. It also comes in at the same AAV that Letang received on his new contract, though the defenseman did receive two additional years when he signed.

According to insider Pierre LeBrun, this is out both sides got it done:

“The last push in the Malkin negotiation got going again around 4 pm ET today and went 6 hours before the agreement got done.

A day after an emotional Malkin decided to go to market, calmer minds prevailed.

Obviously getting the fourth year plus the full no-move clause important.”

Geno is known to have a fiery temper and maybe the dust needed to settle a bit before going back to the negotiating table. It worked!

It is also believed the captain played a big part in the signing. Crosby had stated in the past how it would make him if he, Letang and Malkin all finished their respective careers with the Penguins.

His wish came true late on Tuesday.