Evgeni Malkin is one of the best players of his generation, a future Hall of Famer, three-time Stanley Cup winner, seven-time All-Star, Con Smythe trophy winner, Hart Memorial trophy winner, and Ted Lindsay Award winner.

Malkin is third in franchise history in career points (1,346), goals (514), assists (832), and is second behind only teammate Sidney Crosby in games played (1,213). Malkin is unanimously considered to be on the Penguins' Mount Rushmore of great players, a fraternity that also includes Malkin and Hall of Famers Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr.

Evgeni Malkin declined to speak to reporters following the Pittsburgh Penguins’ final regular-season game. And his immediate hockey future has remained a mystery. “Tomorrow!” he shouted as he declined to address the few of us still chasing the flightless birds from arena to arena across the North American continent.