As of right now, the 2025-26 season looks to be Pittsburgh Penguins' veteran center Evgeni Malkin's last.

There is a lot of talk about the Penguins acquiring a second line center for next season in order to help transition the team into a future without Malkin and to give him the opportunity to shift to the wing.

While this may seem like a logical move in theory, it is not necessarily one in practice.

Malkin, 38, is coming off of a down year production-wise, as he registered just 16 goals and 50 points in 68 games and ended the season a minus-24. On the surface, all of that points to Malkin finally declining in a big way and suggests that he may not be able to handle top-six center duties anymore.

It's important to acknowledge that, yes, Malkin is declining, and it's not exactly a secret. Although his goal production drastically declined starting in 2024-25, his point production has been declining for the past two seasons, as he went from over point-per-game in 2022-23 to consecutive seasons of 67 points in 82 games and 50 points in 68 games.

Sure, acquiring a good top-six center should be a top priority for the Penguins, especially given the uncertainty of Malkin's future and his obvious decline. But it's also worth noting that Malkin has been dealing with a carousel of wingers the past couple of years, and that hasn't helped his production in the slightest.

Even GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has emphasized the need to give Malkin talent on his wings.

"It was a rotating cast of characters for Geno, and I think that's hard," Dubas said. "I know he's had that a lot in his time here, and he's a different player than Sid... where Sid seems to get locked in, they roll and maintain an elite level of performance. Geno seems to, even before I got here, it was always different guys could come and go, and it really wouldn't faze him. I think that's a real testament to Geno and what's he's about. He's able to find a way to make it work.

"I think as he continues to age, we have to do a better job of making the support more consistent."

So, even if the Penguins land a second-line center, there is still a plausible reality where the second-line center plays on his wing until he retires. When Malkin last had a consistent, capable winger in 2022-23 - which was Jason Zucker, who recorded 27 goals and 48 points - he put up 27 goals and 83 points. 

'We Have To Stick To A Very Concise Plan And Then Execute Our Butts Off': Dubas Clarifies Penguins' Summer Plans To close out the 2024-25 season, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas spoke with the Pittsburgh media on Monday.

Malkin isn't even the player he was in 2022-23, but there is still more for him to offer with a better supporting cast. Youngster Ville Koivunen looked pretty good alongside Malkin at the end of the season, so if he can get another capable guy on his line, he should, conceivably, be able to increase his production a bit.

However, if the Penguins do decide to shift Malkin to the wing, the only way it makes sense is to put him with Sidney Crosby.

Malkin has done so much for the Penguins, and he's still a capable top-six player. He doesn't deserve to end his career playing outside of his natural position with linemates he doesn't really know. But pairing him with Crosby may just be the sendoff he deserves, especially if the Penguins find Malkin's successor this offseason.

But if he's not with Crosby, moving him from center simply isn't worth it. So, it's where he should remain through the end of his career.

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