Penguins' Malkin signs 1-year deal to return for 21st season - ESPN

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin will return for his 21st season after signing a one-year deal worth $5.5 million, the team announced Tuesday.

Malkin, who turns 40 on July 31, was slated to be an unrestricted free agent. He was days away from entering the final month in a four-year contract extension that saw him earn $6.1 million annually.

His decision to re-sign with the only franchise that he's ever known comes in the wake of what was an important campaign for both parties.

Missing the playoffs for three straight seasons created questions about what the franchise could achieve with their veteran homegrown, Stanley Cup-winning core of Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Malkin all playing in their late 30s.

Those questions were further amplified by the fact that the Penguins and head coach Mike Sullivan parted ways after 10 seasons. Sullivan, who won consecutive Stanley Cups in his first two seasons, became the head coach of the New York Rangers.

It led to the Penguins replacing Sullivan with a former Rangers assistant in Dan Muse, who became a first-time NHL head coach.

Muse took control of a team that would emerge as one of the surprises of the league by finishing second in the Metropolitan Division in a season that saw them navigate injuries and the ability to field a consistent lineup.

Malkin was among those players who had a vital role in the Penguins' success while also being part of the group that fought through injuries.

He would miss 26 regular-season games but still finished with 19 goals and 61 points in 56 games for a 1.08 points per game average that would have seen him finish with 89 points if he'd played a full, 82-game season.

Even with the injuries, it was still the first time Malkin finished a