# Why Re-Signing Evgeni Malkin Hurts the Penguins Rebuild | No Pucks Given

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/no-pucks-given-pittsburgh-penguins-podcast-7096465/why-re-signing-evgeni-malkin-hurts-the-penguins-rebuild-no-pucks-given
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/no-pucks-given-pittsburgh-penguins-podcast-7096465/why-re-signing-evgeni-malkin-hurts-the-penguins-rebuild-no-pucks-given.md
Podcast: [No Pucks Given | Pittsburgh Penguins Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/no-pucks-given-pittsburgh-penguins-podcast-7096465)
Published: 2026-05-07T13:53:36+00:00
Episode link: https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-link=https%3A%2F%2Frss.amperwave.net%2Fv2%2Fepisode%2F8363142_2026-05-07-133642
Audio file: https://pdcn.co/e/serve.castfire.com/audio/8363142/8363142_2026-05-07-133642.128.mp3?rssID=5405
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/no-pucks-given-pittsburgh-penguins-podcast-7096465/episodes/why-re-signing-evgeni-malkin-hurts-the-penguins-rebuild-no-pucks-given
Duration seconds: 3043

## Resource

Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now goes live from the historic Hershey Sports Arena — the building where Wilt Chamberlain dropped 100 — to dismantle the Evgeni Malkin re-signing debate once and for all. Dan explains why the only argument that holds water is emotional, why Malkin isn't blocking a specific player but is blocking opportunity , and what Kyle Dubas actually told Geno after the season (hint: it wasn't a contract promise). Plus: a deep dive on the Penguins' five-and-ten-year rebuild, the truth about Eric Karlsson's trade value, why Anthony Mantha's 33-goal season was a bigger Dubas win than fans realize, the Austin Matthews fantasy, prospect updates on Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Tristan Broz, Harrison Brunicke and breakout Russian winger Mikhail Ilyin, and a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton playoff check-in after Game 3 against Hershey. Live fan Q&A throughout. Subscribe for unfiltered Penguins coverage from the guy who's actually in the locker room. Chapters: 00:00 — Cold open and intro 00:19 — Dan goes live from the historic old Hershey Sports Arena, site of Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game 01:33 — Setting the table: Malkin discussion, Wilkes-Barre's Game 3 win, and pushing back on "junior media" takes 03:23 — The core argument: you can't start with the conclusion that Malkin should be re-signed and work backward 04:18 — Why 2025-26 and 2026-27 don't matter — this is a stepping stone to the next era 04:58 — The only valid argument for keeping Geno is emotional, not hockey-related 05:39 — Why "Malkin isn't blocking anybody" is wrong: he's blocking opportunity for prospects and second-chance free agents 07:21 — McGroarty and Koivunen didn't claim spots this year, and what their summers look like 10:02 — Dan didn't criticize Malkin's play, but the late-se…

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