Pittsburgh Penguins Offseason Report: Evgeni Malkin Says Extension is on the Way

While the rest of the NHL is making out with Pierre McGuire over the trade rumors swirling around, Evgeni Malkin, Gino, and Pens fans have a very different idea on the matter.

After the NHL awards ceremony on Thursday evening, Malkin told the press: "I'm thinking maybe five or six years. I'm an easy guy to deal with; I'd love to stay in Pittsburgh."

When asked about the McGuire-rooted trade rumors, Malkin said: "Those are just rumors; I don't even pay attention to those."

He then added, "Pierre McGuire is about as important as the bubblegum I stepped in on the South Side yesterday. He does a funny twitching thing when he talks, too."

OK, so that last quote was completely fabricated, but you know Gino is thinking something along those lines about McJokeuire.

Malkin also told reporters that his new contract did not need to top the $8.7 million that teammate Sidney Crosby is set to earn in each of the next five seasons. However, you have to believe that Gino won't settle for that much less.

When asked about his lackluster performance in the Stanley Cup Finals, Malkin said, through an interpreter: "I didn't have an injury or anything; I just had a little fever. I wasn't ready for the final, it was probably just me. I lost my game. At the end of the final, I thought I found my touch again, but it was too late."

The NHL's collective bargaining agreement forbids the Penguins from signing Malkin to a contract extension before July 1. Malkin said he expects the contract will be signed "soon" after that date.

Penguins' officials are also believed to have begun contract extension negotiations with goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury's agent this week. Fleury, like Malkin, is slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1. Fleury has expressed his desire to remain in Pittsburgh, but for how long, and at what cost, is yet to be determined.

So, while Pierre McGuire cooks up another dandy trade rumor, Gino and the Penguins will quietly go about their business and have an extension ready to sign come July 1.

Pierre McGuire will likely go about his business shining his head and working on controlling that annoying twitch he does during pregame commentaries.

Let's Go Pens.

Information and quotes taken from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review web-based article, "Pens' Malkin says extension coming" by Rob Rossi.