Evgeni Malkin never entertained thoughts about playing for an NHL team other than the Penguins, his agent said Tuesday.

J.P. Barry told the Tribune-Review negotiations with the Penguins for Malkin's contract were “super smooth because both sides wanted to get something done quickly.”

Malkin agreed to an eight-year, $76 million (total) contract in June — within days of the Penguins' season-ending loss to Boston in the Eastern Conference final. The deal kicks in after the upcoming season.

Negotiations with the Penguins did not include Malkin's parents, Vladimir and Natalia.

A report Monday from the Russia newspaper Sovietsky Sport quoted Vladimir Malkin saying negotiations with the Penguins were difficult and that his son had considered playing for other teams — including the Dallas Stars, New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens.

Vladimir Malkin, in the Russian report, also said Dallas made his son a more lucrative offer. The Stars issued a statement Tuesday denying they made an offer to a player under contract for another team, which would have placed them in violation of anti-tampering rules. The NHL is not looking into potential tampering by Dallas or other clubs.

Evgeni Malkin, in a text message, reiterated Tuesday a previous statement that he desired “only to play for Pittsburgh,” where he is building a home.