Could Evgeni Malkin unite with fellow countryman Alex Ovechkin in Washington this summer?

Malkin has played his entire 16-year career in Pittsburgh. The second overall draft pick of the 2004 NHL entry draft, behind Alex Ovechkin, has 1,146 career regular season points (444 goals & 702 assists) in 981 regular season games. He is currently tied for third in career goals, assists and points as a Penguin, behind only Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby. He has also shown an ability to elevate his game come playoff time as he currently sits 14th all time in career playoff scoring, producing a career 180 points (67 goals & 113 assists) in 177 playoff games.

Malkin has already won three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016 & 2017) all with the Penguins. In 2009 he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs. He has won two Art Ross Trophies (2009 & 2012) as the player with the most points in that season, and one Hart Trophy (2012) for the leagues most valuable player as voted by the Professional Writers Association. He also won the Calder Trophy in 2007 as the Rookie of the year that season.

Despite all the past success, the Penguins have an aging core that has not won a playoff round since 2018. With Malkin hitting free agency this off-season at 35-years-old it is possible the Penguins decide to start a new era in Pittsburgh.

If Malkin does hit the open market, a team like the Capitals could make sense, especially considering the fact that Washington's #1C, Nicklas Backstrom, recently underwent a procedure that could spell the end of his NHL career. They do have an aging core as well who are looking for something to put them over the top again. Perhaps uniting a couple of fellow countrymen and future hall of famers (Ovechkin and Malkin), they could do just that. The two have played together on the international stage multiple times, dating as far back as their junior days when the two played together at the 2004 & 2005 World Junior Tournaments.

Malkin has made an estimated $118,720,892 in his playing career to date. Perhaps he decides he wants to play with an old friend and try to win one more Stanley Cup at a discount.

Ultimately what seems most likely is that he stays in Pittsburgh with Sidney Crosby, but if the Penguins do decide to move on, Malkin will certainly have options, Washington among them.