While Evgeni Malkin ultimately decided to sign a new one-year deal to return to the Penguins back in May, he had another option on the table. KHL Metallurg Director Alexei Zhloba told Championnat’s Vladimir Lavesky that they were hoping to get the 40-year-old to return there for the upcoming season.
Malkin played in Magnitogorsk’s program growing up while also spending part of the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games with Pittsburgh last season, earning himself a one-year deal worth $5.5MM in guaranteed money plus another $3.5MM in performance bonuses.
Zhloba noted that he remains in contact with Malkin, meaning it’s quite likely they’ll be trying to coax him back home for the 2027-28 campaign as well. More from the Metropolitan: Rangers prospect center Cole Beaudoin is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury sustained in yesterday’s rookie tournament game, notes Vince Z.
Mercogliano of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 20-year-old was a first-round pick by Utah two years ago and was one of the key pieces that New York received in the Vincent Trocheck deal this summer.
Beaudoin may have an outside chance to push for a roster spot with the Rangers in training camp but any sort of missed time would hinder those hopes. If he doesn’t make the big club, Beaudoin projects to have a big role with AHL Hartford for his freshman professional year after putting up 88 points in 54 games with OHL Barrie last season.
While he’s participating in rookie camp, Islanders prospect winger Quinn Finley has yet to be cleared for contact as he works his way back from shoulder surgery, relays Newsday’s Andrew Gross (Twitter link). The 22-year-old was a third-round pick back in 2022 and is entering his first professional campaign after three strong years at the University of Wisconsin.
Finley had 17 goals and 16 assists in 37 games for the Badgers last season and is expected to start with AHL Hamilton in the fall.