NHL.com reporter Wes Crosby announced today that Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will miss two months with an injury.
Hextall: Malkin will miss at least the first two months. #Pens
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) September 23, 2021
Evgeny Malkin Injured
Malkin underwent surgery in June to repair a torn ligament in his right knee. The centre scored only 28 points in 33 games last season, playing in and out of the lineup with injuries. The future Hall-of-Fame forward will return to the Penguins by the end of November. Malkin was originally selected with the second overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 15 seasons, Malkin has scored at an outstanding rate, putting up 1,104 points in just 940 games.
Malkin has built a sizeable trophy case in his career. In his time in the NHL, he’s obtained three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe trophy, two Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Memorial Trophy, the Ted Lindsay Award, and the Calder Trophy.
What This Means for the Team
Evgeni Malkin is one of the key components to Pittsburgh’s roster. With Sidney Crosby set to miss training camp with an injury and Malkin out for the first two months, the team’s offense is bound to suffer. In a division as competitive as the Metropolitan, Malkin will need to make an immediate impact upon his return. Even one or two mediocre months could push the Penguins out of playoff contention. They’ll need all the help they can get from the Russian on his return.
Additionally, this is Malkin’s last season before hitting unrestricted free agent status. Contract talks with Penguins general manager Ron Hextall have currently stalled, but they will likely pick up as the season concludes. How quickly Malkin recovers — and how significant his impact is on the lineup — will define what may be the last contract in his NHL career.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
