Pittsburgh Penguins fans, get ready for some promising news about a franchise legend. General Manager Kyle Dubas held his annual end-of-season press conference on Tuesday, and the first question on everyone's mind was about the future of Evgeni Malkin.

Malkin, who becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, has been open about his desire to return to the Penguins for the 2026-27 season. However, with the team's stated goal of getting younger, there was some uncertainty about whether the soon-to-be 40-year-old center would fit into those plans.

Dubas put those concerns to rest, at least for now. "We would love to have him back," he stated confidently. The GM emphasized that he doesn't see Malkin as blocking any younger players from developing, and he described their exit interview as "great." Discussions have already begun with Malkin's agent, and the two sides will continue talking.

Part of the optimism stems from Malkin's successful transition to the wing during the second half of the season. The move paid dividends, as the veteran posted an impressive 61 points in just 56 games—proving he still has plenty of gas left in the tank.

While nothing is finalized yet, Dubas's comments suggest the final steps are just a matter of crossing the t's and dotting the i's. If all goes well, Malkin could be back in black and gold for a 21st season, much to the delight of a city that has watched him become a three-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the greatest players in franchise history.