The Pittsburgh Penguins and their fans have had it real good for the last 20 years.
Two all-time great superstars, providing them with three Stanley Cup Championships, countless playoff appearances, and the privilege of watching world-class talent go to work every night.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have done all of that and more for the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins. However, all good things eventually come to an end, and with the team in the midst of a rebuild, the hockey world is constantly wondering when they'll leave to chase another cup somewhere else.
You could understand them for wanting to do it, and absolutely nobody would fault them for one second if they chose that route. But through it all, Crosby and Malkin continue to stay loyal to the core, further endearing themselves to the city and organization that they've already done everything for.
And according to team insider Josh Yohe, as long as they have the final say, expect both Sid and Geno to be in a Penguins sweater all year long in 2025-26. Here was Yohe's response to a question about their futures in a recent article for The Athletic.
"I do. Crosby, in my opinion, isn't going anywhere, despite the recent comments from Brisson. I’d also be surprised if Evgeni Malkin were to be dealt. It’s possible. Malkin’s comments last week were very interesting. He was pretty vulnerable in discussing the reality that he isn’t quite sure what he’ll do if another team comes calling," Yohe said.
"But remember: Malkin said his preference is to play for only one NHL team. The possibility always exists that the Penguins will be better than expected this season, which would make the idea of trading Malkin moot. Malkin owns a no-movement clause, and, even if he were willing to go elsewhere, I’d imagine the list of teams he’d be willing to play for would be quite small," Yohe added.
Good morning. Here’s my latest mailbag on a number of Penguins topics: https://t.co/k9dyJ1YL7Z
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) September 25, 2025
The 38-year-old Crosby is set to begin the first season of the two-year, $17.4 million extension he signed with the Penguins last September, while the 39-year-old Malkin is entering the final season of the four-year, $24.4 million extension he signed to stay in Pittsburgh back in 2022.
Crosby and Malkin have told us what they want
While outside noise and speculation will always be there, especially if the Penguins lose a lot of games in 2025-26, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin continue to tell us that they aren't going anywhere.
That noise got very loud on several occasions this summer, particularly around Crosby. However, all he's done is reiterate his love for Pittsburgh and desire to stay a Penguin for his entire career, and Malkin the same.
Will that stop people from linking Crosby to Colorado or Malkin to Florida? Evidently not. But for those who pay close enough attention, it's quite clear that the two future Hall of Famers are not the ones pushing those agendas.