The Florida Panthers rocked the trade deadline market this past season by landing top defenseman Seth Jones from the Chicago Blackhawks and former Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand.
Both vets were instrumental in helping the Cats hoist their second Stanley Cup in a row. But there was a chance that Marchand would not have ever landed in Florida. In fact, a report published in RG Media on September 20 claims that the Panthers kicked the tires on Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin.
In the report, James Murphy cited an anonymous NHL executive who revealed that the Panthers had looked into landing Malkin. However, the Penguins shut down the possibility of a trade happening.
Murphy wrote: “On Friday night, an NHL executive source told Research Ground that three teams: the Montreal Canadiens (who have already been linked to Crosby), the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Florida Panthers, have all looked into Malkin’s availability at some point since the 2024 offseason.”
The Panthers’ search culminated with the team adding Marchand. The 37-year-old was an instant hit. He looked rejuvenated and pushed himself into the Conn Smythe conversation.
It’s worth pointing out that just because the Panthers couldn’t land Malkin last season doesn’t mean they might not push again this season. Malkin is in the final year of his contract and could be willing to waive his no-trade clause for the right team.
Malkin cited Marchand’s move to Panthers as possibility for him
Malkin’s comments about his willingness to do what Marchand did last season have fueled speculation about the 39-year-old agreeing to a trade this season.
As Murphy noted, the Penguins are in the midst of a full rebuild. While the official narrative is that the Penguins are trying to compete while they still have Sidney Crosby, the fact is that the downward trend is virtually inevitable.
The Penguins, as much as they’d like to hold on to Crosby and Malkin, know that it’s not their decision to make. If Malkin or Crosby asks for a trade, the Penguins will have little choice. Moreover, both stars can steer a trade in any direction they wish. That situation means a team like the Panthers could land Malkin, or Crosby, for that matter, for a relatively underwhelming package.
It seems like the Penguins are in a catch-22, while the Panthers can boast they hold the higher ground in trade negotiations. While it may be unlikely that such a deal ever materializes, it’s a tantalizing idea.