FAREWELL TOUR FOR MALKIN AS PENGUINS REBUILD?

TORONTO, ON — The Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to take the next steps in their retool and veer towards a rebuild starting this off-season.

As GM Kyle Dubas gets the opportunity to properly reshape the organization without having to equally focus on icing a playoff-competitive roster – a mandate from ownership that clearly hasn’t worked – the Penguins will be entering a new phase in their development.

Chatter over Erik Karlsson’s future with the club began almost as soon as the final whistle blew on their season, which aligns with the likely direction of the team.

Karlsson, who turns 35 on May 31, has two more years left on his contract and the Penguins are expected to explore the trade market, though a $5 million signing bonus may prevent a move from happening ahead of July 1.

But Karlsson’s future with the Penguins won’t be the main headline in Pittsburgh this summer. That title belongs to Evgeni Malkin.

Word is starting to circulate that the 2025-26 season will be Malkin’s last in the NHL.

The 38-year-old is entering the final year of his contract, and the future Hall-of-Famer may hang up his skates at the conclusion of Pittsburgh’s campaign a year from now.

Drafted second-overall in 2004, Malkin has played in 1,213 career regular-season games and has accumulated 514 goals and 832 assists for 1,346 points, along with 1,202 penalty minutes. The three-time Stanley Cup champ is a two-time Art Ross Trophy winner, the 2007 Calder Trophy winner, the 2009 Conn Smythe winner, and the 2012 Hart winner and Ted Lindsay winner. First ballot, all day.

If next season truly is Malkin’s last, it adds emphasis to Pittsburgh’s need to enter a proper rebuild.

Dubas started to add some younger pieces to the organization, bringing in the likes of Philip Tomasino, Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen and Melvin Fernstrom over the last two seasons, while also stockpiling extra draft picks. They’ll likely add more youth when/if they move the likes of Karlsson and potentially others this summer.

The Penguins also own the 11th overall pick in this summer’s draft and could pick up the 12th overall selection if the New York Rangers opt to give the Penguins that pick, which was acquired via Vancouver. If the Rangers keep the No.12 pick, they’ll send Pittsburgh their unprotected 2026 first-round draft pick.

The tide is finally turning in Pittsburgh. It has been a heck of a run for both the club and Malkin, and a proper farewell tour is well deserved if 2025-26 is his final ride.

COACHING CAROUSEL

In addition to the six current head coach positions across the NHL, there are several teams looking to add to their benches after making changes to their staffs.

As I reported on Saturday, the Anaheim Ducks formally announced they have parted ways with assistants Rich Clune and Brent Thompson.

EDIT: I was originally told Tim Army’s future is currently up in the air. That is not the case. He is indeed returning to Anaheim’s bench next season.

The Penguins are also making additional changes to their coaching staff, with an announcement expected in the near future.

Todd Reirden and Bob Boughner are among those who have put their hats in the ring for some of the openings out there, including assistant roles.

On the HC vacancies, Rick Tocchet sits atop the list of a few teams. Marco Sturm has caught the attention of the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks; Tampa Bay Lightning assistants Jeff Blashill and Jeff Halpern have generated attention; and former Edmonton Oilers bench boss Jay Woodcroft is interviewing for gigs, as are Penguins assistant David Quinn and former New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette.

Some teams are curious about Washington Capitals assistants Mitch Love and Kirk Muller for their HC role. Obviously, they’re both busy at the moment, but they may enter the fold for some openings once their season comes to a close.

Additionally, as TFP’s Dennis Bernstein reported this morning, Kings assistant D.J. Smith has interviewed for at least two HC roles.

Most teams are hoping to get solidify their benches by the end of the month, and the next couple of weeks should result in more hirings.

HERE AND THERE

• Mathieu Darche isn’t the only current Assistant GM on the New York Islanders’ radar, as I first reported over a week ago. The club is expected to interview several other current AGMs for their vacant GM position. There is also some chatter that Patrick Burke, the NHL’s Vice President of Player Safety, is also being considered for a managerial position.

• Whoever is hired as Islanders GM may have to address a couple contractual items right off the hop. There is a strong belief veteran forward Kyle Palmieri (a pending UFA) and young blueliner Adam Boqvist (a pending RFA) had handshake agreements on extensions before the Isles moved on from Lou Lamoriello. My guess is the final call will now be up to the new GM.

• With the Ducks taking the next steps in their rebuild, I’m curious as to the future of goalie John Gibson, whom they were willing to trade this season. We will likely hear his name pop up again around the NHL Draft.

• Speaking of the Draft, I wouldn’t be surprised if this summer’s decentralized draft is a one-and-done.

• CBA negotiations continue, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said on Friday “I don’t envision it taking a year to get done.” The goal, behind-the-scenes, is to get something ironed out this summer. Could we see an announcement at the Draft? What about July 1?

• Ken Holland is very much in the running for the GM role in Los Angeles.

• As the Buffalo Sabres look to add a veteran to their management staff, both Lamoriello and Holland are believed to have declined Senior Advisor roles, as I reported last week. There was some chatter at the early part of the season that Kyle Okposo may join the team’s management brass, but he’s since joined the NHLPA.

• Also on Buffalo, there’s an expectation we hear more Bowen Byram trade chatter this off-season.

• The NHL is still trying to figure out what to do with All-Star Weekend on Long Island in 2026 (or whatever it’s going to be called). While that will have some sort of international flare to it, ahead of the Winter Olympics, don’t expect an international themed event in 2027. If anything, an actual All-Star Weekend is expected in the 2026-27 season.