Malkin talks about rumored offer from KHL and moving on from the Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins' 2021-22 season came to a dramatic close this past weekend when Artemi Panarin and the New York Rangers managed to complete their three game comeback with a Game 7 OT goal to take the opening round series.

Today, the Penguins' players gathered at PPG Paints Arena one last time this season to meet with reporters for a season-ending media availability. There were plenty of questions from the players, coaches and management alike as there are some SERIOUS things for this team to address this offseason. Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, Evan Rodrigues and Casey DeSmith are all slated to hit the open market as free agents unless locked up to a new deal before the opening of free agency. But... certainly the Penguins aren't going to walk away from Malkin and Letang, right? They're franchise legends... they'll do whatever it takes to ensure that they retire with the organization, right? Think again.

According to Penguins insider Rob Rossi, the Penguins offered matching three year deals to both Malkin and Letang worth just $5 million per season. Understandably so, both players see those as lowball offers and Rossi reports that Crosby was not happy with his teammates being lowballed by management.

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Malkin himself addressed his future with the team today and even shot down rumors that he has received an offer from his hometown Magnitogorsk Metallurg of the KHL.

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"I read today, it’s a Russian newspaper, they say my hometown offered (a contract) to me. it’s not true. I want to stay here, I want to play in the NHL. Lots of news around right now, but I hope I stay here. I hope I retire here."

“It’s hard for me to say right now. We just lost a couple days ago. ... I understand it’s a business. I love this city, I love these, fans so much. ... But I know the team they want new blood. “If they say to me they want to move on, I’m fine.”

“If I stay (with the Penguins I’ll be so much happy. But if I don’t I will move my family to another city and hopefully play good hockey.”

- Evgeni Malkin

For the record, Malkin is coming off a deal that paid him $9.5 million annually and Letang is coming off a deal that paid him $7.25 million annually. Now... both Malkin and Letang are 35 years old. They won't be around for much longer, but to cut their salaries nearly in half (in Malkin's case, at least) is insulting. These are players who have been around for three Stanley Cup championships and have been the backbone of this organization for a decade and a half. Obviously Crosby isn't going anywhere anytime soon, but with the way that the team has lowballed Malkin and Letang, you have to think that change could be coming in Pittsburgh this offseason.