Two Decades of the 'Big Three' Winding Down

Penguins' Crosby, Malkin, and Letang near the end of their historic run together

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:56pm

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After 20 seasons playing together, the Pittsburgh Penguins' 'big three' of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are nearing the end of their historic run. With Malkin's contract expiring and only a few home games left, Penguins fans may only have a handful of chances left to see the trio skate together.

Why it matters

Crosby, Malkin, and Letang are one of the longest-tenured trios of teammates in the history of the four major North American professional sports leagues. They have won three Stanley Cup championships together and hold numerous franchise and league records, cementing their legacy as all-time Penguins greats.

The details

The three players have been rostered together for over 1,400 regular-season games and over 850 games played, with the Penguins posting a winning percentage of over .600 in those contests. Individually, Crosby has 1,754 career points (1.24 points per game), Malkin has 1,399 points (1.11 points per game), and Letang has 803 points (0.653 points per game). In the playoffs, the trio has a combined record of 74-60 (.552 winning percentage) across 134 games played together.

  • There are less than ten regular-season games left this season.
  • Evgeni Malkin's contract is set to expire this summer.
  • The Penguins have only three home games remaining in the regular season.

The players

Sidney Crosby

The Penguins' all-time leading scorer with 1,754 points (653 goals, 1,101 assists) in 1,412 career regular-season games. He has won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP twice (2016, 2017).

Evgeni Malkin

The Penguins' all-time penalty minutes leader with 1,259 in 1,264 career regular-season games. He has 1,399 career points, the third-most in franchise history.

Kris Letang

The Penguins' all-time leader in games played with 1,264. He has 803 career points, the fifth-most in franchise history.

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What’s next

GM Kyle Dubas and Malkin's team have said they will talk about a new contract this summer, but nothing is guaranteed.

The takeaway

The Penguins' 'big three' of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang have cemented their legacy as all-time franchise greats, but their historic run together may be nearing its end, leaving Penguins fans to cherish the final moments of this legendary trio.