Report: Malkin, Penguins agree on extension

Jul 1, 2008 - 5:18 PM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Evgeni Malkin reportedly is on the verge of entering the same financial bracket as Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Sidney Crosby.

Malkin and the Penguins agreed to terms on a new contract extension Tuesday, according to a report by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Although the Post-Gazette did not include terms of the deal, the newspaper claimed that Malkin, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Penguins, will receive a contract patterned after Crosby's five-year, $43.5 million deal.

A contract of that size would be a strong financial commitment to the 21-year-old Malkin, a Hart Trophy finalist this past season.

The second overall selection in the 2004 draft, Malkin followed his Calder Trophy-winning rookie campaign by scoring 47 goals and 106 points this past season for the reigning Eastern Conference champion Penguins.

Malkin's strong play proved vital to a Penguins club that was without the 20-year-old Crosby, who missed 29 games with an ankle injury, for a large portion of their outstanding season.