Evgeni Malkin broke a personal protocol by talking to the media on the day of a game. He had good reason to, coming on the heels of his peer Alex Ovechkin’s announcement that he will be retiring from the NHL at the conclusion of the 2026-27 season.
Malkin and Ovechkin have had an evolving relationship over the years. As young players, they came out of Russia at the same time. Ovechkin was drafted first by Washington in 2004 (a pick that the Penguins, who finished last in the NHL in 2003-04 easily could have had..) and then Pittsburgh took Malkin with the second pick.
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Since then, the two have been among the prolific players in the world. Ovechkin has scored 929 goals, Malkin has 1,411 points, both in the top-three in scoring along with Sidney Crosby. The two have battled in the playoffs several times and have multitudes of championships, scoring titles, MVP awards and other achievements between each other.
The two have had their ups and downs personally as well, highlighted by a fight involving Ovechkin and Malkin’s agent. Their relationship has ranged between being competitive rivals to that personal frostiness to now a détente of mutual respect. Malkin and Sidney Crosby gifted Ovechkin with a Rolex in 2025 in recognition of breaking the all-time goal record. Often times when the Penguins and Capitals play, Malkin and Ovechkin will spend time together at one another’s house the night before the game – including last April when images of Malkin playing hallway hockey with Ovechkin’s boys at their house hit social media.
Crosby also spoke this morning about Ovechkin’s announcement.
Malkin’s playing future remains more uncertain. At the beginning of camp he didn’t rule out the desire to play beyond 2026-27, depending on how his health and performance during this upcoming year. So far it’s been so good on that front, Malkin joined Gordie Howe as the only players to start a 40+ year old season with four point in the first two games of a season.
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The Penguins and Capitals have four games this season, starting Wednesday night in DC. The other games will be January 18 and March 13 in Pittsburgh, followed by one more meeting back in Washington on April 4th for the final times that Malkin and Ovechkin will share the ice in the NHL.
