Jul 2, 2008 3:46 pm US/Eastern
Evgeni Malkin Signs 5-Year Contract Extension
PITTSBURGH (AP) ―
The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed All-Star center Evgeni Malkin to a five-year contract extension.
Malkin is arguably the team's best player besides Sydney Crosby.
His signing comes the same day the team lost another superstar, Marian Hossa, to the Detroit Red Wings.
The 21-year-old Malkin scored 106 points, including 47 goals, last season. He was a finalist for the Hart Trophy, which is given to the league's most valuable player.
Keeping him in Pittsburgh was one of the team's top priorities. Malkin was originally selected by the Penguins second overall in the 2004 NHL Draft. He scored 33 goals in the 2006-07 season on his way to being named the league's rookie of the year.
Hossa signed a one-year contract with Detroit on Wednesday.
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