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.

For his career, Malkin has 514 goals and 832 assists, so he has been a constant staple of the Penguins offense during his career. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs back in 2009 and won the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP in 2011-12, so there is no question that he is going in the Penguins’ Hall of Fame when he retires.

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.