Photo: Joe Sargaent/Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed center Evgeni Malkin to a four-year contract that carries a $6.1 million cap hit on Tuesday night, 13 hours before the 35-year-old could have become an unrestricted free agent.

Malkin earned 20 goals and 42 points in 41 games last season after missing half of the season due to undergoing a knee procedure prior to its beginning. He added three goals and six points in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games during the Penguins’ first round exit to the New York Rangers.

Evgeni Malkin contract breakdown:

Year 1, $4M salary plus $4M signing bonus ($8M total)
Year 2, $6M salary
Year 3, $5.6M salary
Year 4, $1M salary plus $3.8M signing bonus ($4.8M total)

Plus FULL no-move clause throughout the deal @TSNHockey @TheAthletic

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 13, 2022

The second overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft has 444 goals and 1,146 points in 981 career NHL regular-season games in addition to 67 goals and 180 points in 177 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.

He has won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2006-07, the Hart Trophy (MVP) in 2011-12, Ted Lindsay Award (MVP voted by players) twice, Art Ross Trophy (top scorer) twice, and Conn Smythe Trophy (postseason MVP) in 2009. Malkin helped Pittsburgh win the Stanley Cup in 2009, 2016, and 2017.

The Penguins also re-signed defenseman Kris Letang (four years at $6.1 million per) and center Rickard Rakell (six years at $5 million against salary cap) in the past two weeks before they could become unrestricted free agents.

By Harrison Brown