Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas spoke at length about his team, its future and what’s next for its stars Tuesday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

Details are scarce, but Dubas seemed to leave the door open for future Hall of Fame forward Evgeni Malkin, whose contract expires this summer, to re-sign with the team. The main factor in Malkin’s favor is that the Penguins’ top young forwards need more development.

Dubas was asked directly if he anticipated Malkin returning next season.

“We had a great exit interview with Evgeni directly, and great conversations with him and his agent, J.P. Barry,” Dubas said. “With the season he had, where we’re going, I don’t look at it like he’s blocking anybody out. We would love to have him back. We’ll continue to work with J.P. on it.”

Malkin, who turns 40 in July, enjoyed a bounce-back season with 19 goals, 42 assists and 61 points in 56 games. The decision whether to bring him back has been a hot-button topic among fans, which Dubas acknowledged on Tuesday. Earlier this month, Malkin said if he doesn’t get a new contract in Pittsburgh, he will consider playing elsewhere: “I want to play one more year in the NHL. If not Pittsburgh, I hope some team.”

Dubas has always known he’d eventually be responsible for breaking up the Penguins’ so-called Big Three of Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Malkin.

“I knew when taking this job that it’s obviously a special thing that the three of them have played together for such a long time,” Dubas said. “At some point, it’s me that’s going to have to make somebody or the fans unhappy with certain decisions that come. I knew that when I decided to come here. We always have to do what’s best for the Pittsburgh Penguins, whether it’s unpopular or makes people unhappy. That’s how we have to operate, regardless of who they are or how long they’ve been here.”

Still, Dubas is keenly aware of fans’ attachment to Malkin: “I knew this is a special situation because of the nostalgia of it,” he said.

“He’s a special player,” Dubas added. “Most people in this room have seen it for far longer than me.”

Dubas noted some of the reasons for Malkin’s success in his 20th season in Pittsburgh, including a strong on-ice relationship with Egor Chinakhov and Tommy Novak in the second half of the season.

“He (Malkin) shifted away from center after the (December) injury,” Dubas said. “Played on the wing. He and Tommy and Egor had great chemistry. That helped reduce the load on him. He’s one of the great players of all time. He’s very proud. All of that played into the season he had.”

Dubas mentioned Letang only in reference to his legendary conditioning. Crosby and Erik Karlsson, the Penguins’ two biggest names and best players last season, will be entering the final season of their contracts in 2026-27. Dubas chuckled when he was asked about potential contract extensions. Clearly, those conversations haven’t taken place yet.

“It’s not been a front-burner topic for us,” Dubas said. “Maybe it’s something we talk about later in the summer. Sid is in a different category. When most players get into their late 30s, it tends to become a year-to-year thing. I don’t know if that’s how they’ll want to handle it. As for Erik, the players voted him team MVP. And Sid is Sid.”

Additional observations

• As you can see, the headline from Dubas’ news conference is that he’d love to have Malkin back — but there was still a strange tone to the subject overall.

In analyzing his team’s season, Dubas made two separate references to Malkin’s March suspension, which kept him out of the lineup for five games. Dubas also noted Malkin’s December injury and said that Malkin played better after sitting out those two stretches. On one level, it was a compliment to Malkin. On another, it came across as if Dubas doubts whether Malkin is capable of playing effectively for an entire season.

Dubas specifically mentioned Crosby and Letang’s genetics that allow them to log a lot of games as they age.

“Geno is built differently,” Dubas said. “The time off served him well.”

• Does this mean Malkin is coming back?

Without a doubt, that wasn’t Dubas’ plan last summer. However, three things have since happened: Malkin exceeded expectations this season, young forwards such as Ville Koivunen failed to meet expectations, and fans are clamoring for Malkin to return.

Tuesday seemed like a welcome turn of events for fans wishing for Malkin’s return, though I also find it curious that no deal has been reached yet.

• Crosby noted at the conclusion of the season that he was in the “year-to-year” phase in terms of how much longer he will play.

I wouldn’t be shocked if he enters next season without a new contract, and I don’t think there’s any reason to panic if that’s the case. That wouldn’t be an indication that the franchise doesn’t want him or that he doesn’t want to play for the Penguins. I think he just meant what he said. He’s going to be 39 in August, and he knows full well that performance can drop rapidly at that age. Of course, he’ll do everything in his power to fight that. As Dubas said, “Sid is Sid.”

I’m guessing Crosby will play for two or three more years, but I believe him when he says he’s taking things year to year.

That said, he had a very good season and was noticeably cheerful throughout the campaign. He enjoyed himself.

• One of the most compelling moments of Dubas’ news conference came when he talked about watching a couple of playoff games that didn’t involve his team. The Sunday after the Penguins were eliminated, Dubas watched Montreal beat Tampa Bay in Game 7 of its first-round series and Colorado beat Minnesota in Game 1 of its second-round series.

Montreal won 2-1. Colorado won 9-6.

“I questioned if our team could contend in that environment defensively,” Dubas said of the Tampa Bay-Montreal game. “Then, I flipped over and questioned if we could contend offensively (in the Colorado-Minnesota game). We have a long way to go. I don’t kid myself. We have a long way to return to being a contender.’

• Dubas mentioned that the 30-somethings on his roster can still play. He also noted how thrilled he is with 19-year-old Ben Kindel’s development.

The Penguins, though, need help from younger talent. Dubas understands that reality.

“What we were lacking was players in their late 20s, mid-20s, that were real difference makers,” he said.

He then made a pitch to those players who could be searching for a new team.

“You can look at us and see very clearly that you’re going to be supported by a great coaching staff,” he said. “I think Pittsburgh is great place to play, a great place to grow and have a family. I think it should be one of the most appealing places to any player that has a choice in this matter.”

• I hope you haven’t purchased too many Anthony Mantha jerseys. It sure doesn’t sound like the 31-year-old forward is returning to Pittsburgh.

Dubas praised Mantha and his 33-goal season, a career high. However, he said that a meeting with Mantha about his future indicated that the unrestricted free agent was “clear with his plans” — and that it would remain private.

To me, that sounds like Mantha is looking to capitalize on his big season this summer, which, of course, is his right. I don’t foresee that happening in Pittsburgh.

• Dubas remains optimistic about Harrison Brunicke’s future and backed up how the organization handled the prized 19-year-old defenseman prospect this season. He was a healthy scratch for much of the season before returning to Team Canada for the World Junior championships and later to his junior team.

“It started to get wobbly for him,” Dubas said of Brunicke’s handful of NHL games.

Dubas, though, believes Brunicke’s time in Pittsburgh will serve him well down the road. The Penguins are thrilled with how Bruncike is currently performing with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which is in the third round of the Calder Cup playoffs.

• Dubas told an impressive story about Bill Zonnon, one of Pittsburgh’s three first-round draft picks last June.

When Zonnon’s junior season concluded and he was about to sign with Wilkes-Barre for the postseason, he was set to sit down with Amanda Kessel and the Penguins. The meeting’s objective was to detail the specifics of the Penguins’ system, which is different from what Zonnon had played all year.

It wasn’t necessary. Independently, Zonnon had been watching Wilkes-Barre from afar and training himself on the system. He’s already good to go, and he’ll make his AHL debut on Tuesday night.

• Don’t expect Dubas to do anything foolish in unrestricted free agency.

He said that those signings, which might look good in July or August, could leave him kicking himself by the end of next season. Dubas has been burned before on July 1, and he doesn’t sound eager to let it happen again.

• Dubas said the organization isn’t down on Koivunen and fellow forward prospect Rutger McGroarty.

He mentioned that while McGroarty’s skating has “always been the thing with him,” he sees it improving and expects him to compete for a job at the start of training camp in September.

Dubas also saw improvement in Koivunen’s game, even though the early stages of his season were disappointing.

• Dubas said the decisions to bring back Connor Dewar and Ilya Solovyov were pretty easy.

Dewar, in Dubas’ eyes, is similar to Blake Lizotte, and he wants to keep those two together on the fourth line. Solovyov told Dubas he’s going to stay in Pittsburgh to work on his conditioning all season, which impressed Dubas and made it an even easier decision to sign Solovyov to an NHL-minimum contract.

• Dubas didn’t make it sound likely that 27-year-old veteran goaltender Stuart Skinner, a pending unrestricted free agent, will return. He praised Artūrs Šilovs for solidifying the Penguins’ net in the postseason. He also made it clear that he’s excited about 22-year-old Sergei Murashov and 24-year-old Joel Blomqvist.

“My full expectation is that Sergei and Joel will be competing for a roster spot (in September),” Dubas said.

• Dubas said building next season’s team will require young players in the system to take big steps. He also said he intends to pursue players via trade, as he has done in recent months with Chinakhov and Elmer Söderblom.

Dubas said he’s continuing to figure out ways to bring top-tier talent to Pittsburgh by any means necessary.

• In a vulnerable moment, Dubas admitted his work is far from over.

“I think it’s one of the burdens you carry with this job,” he said. “You’re never happy until you’ve won. For some of us, it’s a quest that goes on forever.”

Dubas made it clear he loves coach Dan Muse and his staff and that the team is moving in the right direction. But he’s still hungry.

“Have we made progress? Yes, we have,” he said. “Have we aspired to where we want to be? Not even close.”

Fans will be allowed to bring empty, reusable water bottles into 2026 World Cup games, but a wide array of other items, including most bags, will be barred from stadiums throughout the tournament, which will be held from June 11 to July 19 at locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

FIFA, which runs the World Cup, spells out the semi-specific rules in a “Stadium Code of Conduct” that was published months ago and recently finalized, a FIFA spokesman confirmed to The Athletic.

The 35-page document, which is written in three languages, includes an extended list of prohibited items and behavior.

Among the banned items are obvious ones, such as weapons, but also items such as balloons and “devices that produce noise or other excessively loud sounds, such as vuvuzelas, whistles, air horns, loudspeakers, etc.”

Some of the rules are specific. Others are vague and leave subjective enforcement in the hands of several different entities. The code of conduct states that it can be enforced by FIFA, by any of its U.S., Mexican or Canadian subsidiaries, and by stadium management, “including their officers, employees, representatives, volunteers, security personnel, stewards and administrators, or any third parties contracted to provide services to the stadium.”

The requirement for water bottles to be emptied may come into particular focus during games played in high summer temperatures.

The following is a look at what will and won’t be allowed in stadiums during the World Cup.

Bag policy

FIFA, as is common for organizers of major sports events these days, will tightly restrict the type of bags fans can bring into stadiums due to security concerns.

The “approved bags,” according to the code of conduct, “must be clear and made of plastic, vinyl, or PVC material” so as “to allow security personnel to easily see the contents inside without having to open them.” The bags “must not exceed 12 inches x 6 inches x 12 inches (30 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm).”

This essentially equates to a small, clear pouch. “Additionally, small clutch purses or wallets approximately the size of a hand are allowed, even if not clear and no larger than 4.5 inches x 6.5 inches (or 11cm x 16.5cm),” the document adds.

It later confirms, for the avoidance of doubt: “Non-transparent bags, backpacks, large purses, camera bags, seat cushions with pockets, zippers, compartments or covers, and other similar items are generally prohibited.”

If a fan arrives at the stadium with such a bag, they may be able to deposit it at a nearby locker-type storage facility and then pick it up after the match, as was possible at some Club World Cup matches last summer.

In general, the 2026 World Cup code of conduct is similar to the 2025 Club World Cup version. At matches last year, the basic rules were posted at stadium entrances. Similar signage is likely to be installed this summer, and the policies will be communicated to fans in each of the 16 host markets.

Organizers posted signs listing prohibited items at the entrance to games at the 2025 Club World Cup. (Henry Bushnell / The Athletic)

Prohibited items

The broader list of prohibited items covers all sorts of potential threats, including “any other object which could be used as a weapon, to cut, or to stab, or as a projectile, or any object which could in the opinion of the Event Organisers endanger the safety of others, including golf umbrellas or beach umbrellas, motorcycle helmets, hard hats and other similar objects.”

It also covers seemingly innocuous items, such as “significant quantities of paper or any rolls of paper.” Selfie sticks, tripods and video cameras are also prohibited.

The most relevant articles address items that are frequent features at soccer matches in some parts of the world, such as drums or flares.

The latter is strictly banned. The lengthy list of prohibited pyrotechnic paraphernalia includes: “Any materials, articles or objects (including self-made items), the use of which can result in the generation of smoke, heat and/or flames including lighters, matches, fireworks, flares, smoke bombs and other smoke-emitting articles, compressed and liquefied gases, combustible solids, poisonous or noxious or pungent substances, oxidising substances and organic peroxides.”

Musical instruments, on the other hand, may be allowed but will often need to be approved by FIFA and stadium authorities on a case-by-case basis.

“Any musical instruments (mechanical or manual) that cannot be fully visualized by security or that are larger than 12 cm x 12 cm x 12 cm (4.7 inches x 4.7 inches x 4.7 inches)” will be “subject to preapproval of the Event Organisers and security screening,” the document states.

It also adds that organizers “may require” attendees “to stop using musical instruments if the sound emitting from the respective device interferes with event operations or the enjoyment of other [attendees].”

Similarly, large banners, such as tifos, will need to be coordinated with FIFA in advance. Among the prohibited items are “flags, banners and posters except those that do not exceed 2 meters x 1.5 meters (78 inches x 60 inches) or unless approved in advance by the Event Organisers in writing.”

The code of conduct adds: “All such items must be presented at the stadium entrance for inspection by the event organisers.”

FIFA has not yet opened the formal process for fans to submit instruments or banners for pre-approval. A spokesman said that will happen over the coming weeks.

Banners and flags will also be subject to a lengthy, open-to-interpretation policy that prohibits “any materials, including but not limited to banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature, containing wording, symbols or any other attributes aimed at discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group on account of race, skin colour, ethnicity, national or social origin, gender identity and expression, disability, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, birth, wealth or any other status, sexual orientation or on any other grounds.”

Additionally, a fan can, of course, wear a team jersey or scarf, or another clothing item that doubles as sports memorabilia, but “sports equipment items such as inflatable balls, regardless of size, darts, and frisbees” are not permitted.

What you can bring to World Cup games

In theory, anything not covered by the lengthy code of conduct could be permitted, although the document also states that “event organizers reserve the ultimate right to make a final decision on whether any item brought to or into the stadium is prohibited and any decision must be respected.”

One of the few items it explicitly permits is an empty bottle, the type that can be refilled at a water fountain or dispenser. “For the avoidance of doubt,” the document states, “empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles, up to [1 liter in] capacity, may be brought into the Stadium.”

But water itself — and “any other liquids exceeding 100ml/3.38 oz.” — cannot be brought in, with the exception of “baby milk and sterilised water in containers” or liquids that a fan requires for medical reasons.

The same goes for “food items of any kind.”

Additionally, any “bottles, cups, jars, cans or any other form of closed or capped receptacle that may be thrown or cause injury” are banned. So are “other objects made of glass or any other breakable material or especially hard packages or hard thermal boxes.”

One part of the code notes that “cigarettes and electronic smoking devices” can be carried into a stadium and “may be possessed,” but cannot be used. The code states that fans must not “smoke, vape or use any tobacco products as well as any electronic smoking device anywhere other than within outdoor designated smoking areas if they have been made available at the stadium.”

Among the other permitted items are smartphones, watches and eyeglasses.

The document also specifies that cultural or religious headwear and medical masks are permitted.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Kendal Daniels didn’t feel like an NFL player during his first week on an NFL field. Living in the apartments behind the Atlanta Falcons’ practice facility and rooming with fellow linebacker Harold Perkins during rookie minicamp, he felt like a college freshman again.

“I talked to my wife and told her it reminded me of when I first went to college, being away from her and being in my own dorm room and going in there watching film by myself,” he said. “It’s been fun to go back to feeling like a kid again and being a student of the game.”

At the moment, Daniels is stuck between worlds, a 6-foot-5, 242-pound man with a wife and child but still wide-eyed at the idea that A.J. Terrell and Jalon Walker now follow him on Instagram.

“It’s just crazy that I’m in the NFL now and in the same locker room as those guys,” he said. “It’s been a lot, but I’m taking it in well.”

He’ll continue to do that, David Shannon predicts. Shannon is the head coach at Beggs High School in northeastern Oklahoma. He was the secondary coach when Daniels, the Falcons’ fourth-round draft pick last month, was a safety at the school.

“He was the type of player, type of athlete, type of young man you want as a coach,” Shannon, who was also Daniels’ science teacher, said. “Good student, did all his work, got everything turned in. Just extremely respectful. He was always extremely coachable: ‘Yes, sir. No, sir.’ And that had a lot to do with his parents.”

Daniels wasn’t always a football player, though.

“He was a little, scrawny, tall kid in junior high,” Shannon said. “As a freshman, he came out and went through spring ball with us, but he decided not to play football his freshman year. He thought he was going to be a basketball superstar like a lot of kids do, not understanding that even if you’re 6-5, those guys are a dime a dozen in basketball.”

Daniels gave it another shot as a sophomore but was projected to be a backup on a team that would play in the state championship game that year. Then the player in front of him missed a preseason scrimmage due to strep throat.

“The first play was a jet sweep that went away from him, and he ends up making the tackle for a 4-yard loss on the other side of the field,” Shannon said. “I was like, ‘OK, he might be my starter now.’ Then it just grew from there. He just gained a lot of confidence in himself. Obviously, his God-given physical attributes helped.”

Those physical attributes are what first drew the attention of Falcons scout Dante Fargnoli, who was watching tape of other Big 12 prospects when he spotted Daniels playing safety at Oklahoma State.

“You couldn’t help but notice him,” Fargnoli told the team’s website.

By the time the Falcons’ scouting staff turned its attention fully to Daniels later in his college career, he was nearly 50 pounds heavier.

“Now he’s 240 (pounds), playing linebacker with really the same range, skill set,” Fargnoli said. “He kept all that and put on the weight.”

The Falcons were intrigued enough to go to the next scouting phase, gathering all the information they could from Oklahoma, where Daniels finished his collegiate career.

“We already knew the athletic profile was really intriguing, going into the school, talking about the kid, we learned that he’s a great kid, great teammate, he’s about what we’re about,” Atlanta’s director of scouting Tokunbo Abanikanda told the team’s website. “He checked all the boxes.”

Daniels projects as a linebacker for the Falcons, where defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich prizes lanky athletes. Daniels’ 79 1/4-inch wingspan was the fourth-longest at the NFL Scouting Combine this year.

“He’s definitely a Brich guy,” Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said. “Fits those measurables and what he looks for and what we look for. You see him play all over the field. He’s a rare athlete. When you watch the tape, the movement, the length, the fluidity, he can do a lot of things for you on defense. I know (linebackers coach Barrett Ruud) and Brich, the whole coaching staff, were all excited that we were able to get him where we did.”

Daniels had 10.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and seven passes defended as a linebacker in his final year at Oklahoma State. Playing the “Cheetah” position at Oklahoma in 2025, he had another nine tackles for loss. He has tried to model some things in his game after 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, but he admits that sheepishly because he knows every linebacker says the same thing. He also watches film of Browns safety Grant Delpit. There may be no better model, though, than the player he’ll share a position room with this season. Falcons starter Divine Deablo is 6-3, 225 pounds and a converted safety — just like Daniels.

“I’ve watched a lot of Divine’s film, and to see how he transitioned and played in the defense really helped me,” Daniels said. “I’m just a rookie, so I don’t know what I’ll be best at. Wherever they want me to play this season, I’ll play it. If they want me to go hold the kick, I’ll go do it. Whatever they want me to do, I’ll do it to the best of my ability.”