Hockey

Evgeni Malkin file: the Canadiens have asked about his availability
Mathis Therrien
Evgeni Malkin file: the Canadiens have asked about his availability
Credit: Getty Images

We all know that the Montreal Canadiens have a strong interest in Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, and we'd all like to see him come to Montreal and play second center alongside Ivan Demidov for a few seasons. It's the dream option, but let's just say that recently, there hasn't been much to make us believe it, despite the fact that several rumors have suggested this possibility.

Still, it's not impossible to see a deal being completed between the Habs and the Penguins, as Kent Hughes and Kyle Dubas have clearly already had discussions. However, it should be noted that this potential transaction could involve a player other than Crosby.

Indeed, we've just learned in the last few minutes that the Montreal Canadiens have also already inquired about the availability of Evgeni Malkin.

As James Murphy reports in his recent article for RG Media, the Habs have contacted the Penguins about Malkin, to find out if there would be a possibility of him being traded.

The other two teams mentioned in the article as having contacted the Penguins about Malkin are the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning, so the two Florida teams are once again interested in a Russian, and we know how much the Russians like to spend time in Florida. It's nice to see the Canadiens in the same file as the Florida teams, considering that these are two teams aspiring to big honors.

Unfortunately, it's a deal that didn't come to fruition, as according to Murphy, Dubas was quick to close the door, given that neither Crosby nor Malkin asked to be traded. However, there's no guarantee that one or both of these players will ask to be traded this season.

At 39, Malkin has just one season left on his contract, and with his recent comments suggesting he'd love to win another Stanley Cup, it's safe to assume he'll want to be traded at some point. Seeing Brad Marchand leave the Bruins and win the Cup with the Panthers really got Malkin thinking.

Note that if Malkin asks to be traded, he would cost less in a trade than Crosby given that he's a year older, will be out of contract next season, and his performance has plummeted.

The Penguins' performance will clearly dictate what happens next for Pittsburgh's two stars, and if Crosby really isn't a possibility, Malkin would be a great consolation for the Canadiens, who would be an excellent mentor for young Russian prodigy Ivan Demidov.

Having Malkin as a second center to back up Demidov would be really great for a season or two, so it's something to keep an eye on. spacer title='En Rafale'] – Who do you think it is?

– What a nice surprise!

– An unusual top-3.

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