5 free agents the Capitals should sign

#3 Evgeni Malkin

Yes this was very weird to type but it looks more and more like the Pittsburgh Penguins are ready to move on from Evgeni Malkin. That likely means it’ll be time for Alex Ovechkin and Malkin to put their differences aside if General Manager Brian MacLellan does successfully pull the trigger.

Imagine him centering a line with his fellow Russian Ovechkin. Malkin was drafted at number two after Ovechkin was selected in 2004 at number one. Penguins fans would totally lose their mind at that imagination.

With Nicklas Backstrom out for an extended period of time, it looks more and more likely the Caps will gun for a top tier center to replace Nicky. Malkin would easily fit that bill.

In 41 games last season, Malkin had 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points. Like Ovechkin, even at age 35 he’s still got it. And he turns 36 at the end of the month. In the playoffs, Malkin had six points in seven games with three goals and three assists.

Could Malkin be intrigued to play with Ovechkin or will he pull a Marc Andre Fleury due to the awkwardness that comes with coming from Pittsburgh to Washington? We’ll have to wait and find out.