Evgeni Malkin is entering his 21st season with the Pittsburgh Penguins with his appetite for hockey still intact, even as the question of how much longer he can play hangs over the campaign.
The veteran center remains as driven by the game as ever. What comes after this season, however, may depend less on desire than on how his body holds up through another NHL grind.
After the horn
Malkin’s future remains open beyond the season. It could be his final year in Pittsburgh, or his last season anywhere in professional hockey, but there is no indication that his passion for playing has faded.
For now, the Penguins will have their longtime star back in the middle as he begins another year in black and gold.
