Evgeni Malkin inches closer to Penguins return after full-contact practice

Malkin, 39, is in the final season of his four-year contract with a $6.1 million AAV, and Pittsburgh already knows a bigger decision is waiting after the season.

That's why this practice note matters beyond one skate. When Malkin got back into full-contact work earlier this season, NHL.com reported he was pushing toward a return, and a black practice jersey again points in that same direction.

This is where the fit piece is simple. Pittsburgh still needs Malkin's touch through the middle because he was sitting at 15 goals and 52 points in 50 games, which is still real top-six production on a team that has leaned on its core for offense.

The next-game angle is the real hook. If Dan Muse gets Malkin back at full speed, the Penguins can settle their center depth, take pressure off matchup assignments, and bring more poise back to the power play.

There's also a roster-construction layer here. A pending UFA on a $6.1 million ticket is never just an injury update in late March; it affects usage, evaluation, and how Kyle Dubas frames the final stretch.

A black jersey at practice is less about nostalgia and more about whether Pittsburgh can still run a dangerous one-two punch down the middle for the next puck drop.

If Malkin is close, Muse gets options back. He can spread skill across two lines, protect younger wingers a bit more, and avoid forcing every key offensive sequence through one unit.

And if Malkin isn't fully cleared yet, the tweet still tells you something. He's trending toward a return, and Pittsburgh is getting a live look at how much of his game is still there before the season-ending contract talks really heat up.