Evgeni Malkin may be entering his final year in Pittsburgh, but perhaps not his final one in the NHL

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — Evgeni Malkin is well aware his 20th season in Pittsburgh could be his last. He doesn’t have to be told.

“I know too, trust me,” the longtime Penguins center said with a smile on Friday.

The three-time Stanley Cup winner’s current contract is up next summer, and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas is in no rush to sit down at the bargaining table. Dubas said Thursday he’ll likely wait until the Olympic break before getting a feel for what might be in store for both Malkin and the team.

That’s fine by Malkin, who turned 39 in July and is coming off a season in which he managed just 50 points, by far his lowest total during a year in which he played at least 57 games.

“I’m not happy how I play last couple of years, for sure,” Malkin said.

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