While the idea of Evgeni Malkin swapping his Pittsburgh Penguins black and gold for the Florida Panthers‘ sun-drenched blue and white is a tantalizing thought, let’s pump the brakes a bit. The recent chatter linking the future Hall of Famer to the Panthers is, in my opinion, a classic case of trade-deadline-style speculation kicking off a bit early in the season.
The rumor mill started churning after some misconstrued comments from Malkin himself. When asked about a potential trade to a contender, he brought up Brad Marchand’s move to the Panthers as a “good story,” but that’s a far cry from him packing his bags for South Florida.
Why a Malkin Trade to the Panthers is Unlikely
The reality is, a move like this is a tough one to orchestrate. Sure, the Panthers could use a stopgap for the sidelined Aleksander Barkov, but is Malkin the right fit? Their playing styles are vastly different. Barkov is a two-way force, while Malkin, even in the twilight of his career, is still a dynamic, offense-first player. Beyond the on-ice fit, the trade assets are a major hurdle. The Panthers’ prospect pool isn’t exactly overflowing, and any deal for a player of Malkin’s stature would likely have to include a young, promising forward like Mackie Samoskevich. Even then, it’s a short-term fix for a team that might have other, younger targets in mind.
For now, both Malkin and the Penguins seem content to let the season play out. General Manager Kyle Dubas has a meeting scheduled with Malkin during the Olympic break in February to discuss his future. That’s when we’ll get a clearer picture of what’s next for the aging superstar. Until then, file this one under “intriguing but unlikely.”
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The post Is Evgeni Malkin’s Time with the Pittsburgh Penguins Coming to an End? The Florida Panthers Rumors Swirl appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
