"Pittsburgh is Crosby. Crosby is Pittsburgh. No one in Pittsburgh would understand if he changed teams," Malkin said in an exclusive interview with RG.org. "Although anything can happen, sometimes things happen that have a one percent chance of happening. But before signing my current contract, we talked. And he told me that the Penguins are us: me, him, [Kris] Letang. I signed my contract. He will probably make the same decision."
Malkin, who turns 38 on July 31, signed a four-year, $24.4 million contract with the Penguins on July 12, 2022. Crosby, who turns 37 on August 7, has one season remaining on a 12-year, $104.4 million contract he signed on July 1, 2012.
"Now I can't imagine myself on another team, although two years ago when I signed my current contract, I had different thoughts," Malkin admitted. "We had tough negotiations. Many players changed teams—even Wayne Gretzky. Steven Stamkos recently did it. There aren't many players who've spent their entire careers with one team. Now, I can't imagine going anywhere, but there was such a chance two years ago."
Malkin said that he would only be ready to play until he's 45 in one case: if Crosby signs an eight-year contract with the Penguins.
I want to play for another two years. As for another one, we'll see after that.
"It will be hard, of course, but I have to," Malkin said to RG.org. "I hope I won't play until I'm 45, actually. I want to play for another two years. As for another one, we'll see after that. I still want to spend time with my family. Family is a very important part of life. Many say they want to return to hockey soon after they retire. But I think my body will tell me when to stop. Maybe it will be expressed in a loss of desire to play. Or I'll start wondering if it's time to retire. Probably, it will happen like this: I'll wake up one morning and realize that I don't want to play hockey anymore."
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