4:15pm: Both Malkin and Bjugstad have been placed on injured reserve. In their place the Penguins have recalled Sam Lafferty and Andrew Agozzino under emergency conditions from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Darren Dreger of TSN reports that Malkin suffered a soft tissue injury and is expected to be out at least a month.
11:45am: The Pittsburgh Penguins have already been dealt a debilitating blow in their quest for a Metropolitan Division playoff spot. Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugstad will both be out “longer term” with injuries according to head coach Mike Sullivan, though he did confirm that Malkin’s is not expected to be a season-ending one. Even if it doesn’t put him on the shelf all year, losing Malkin for a long period of the season is a huge hit to the Penguins’ chances, as they were hoping for a strong bounce-back season from the veteran center.
Malkin was injured when he was hit by Columbus Blue Jackets defender Vladislav Gavrikov and pinned up against the boards on Saturday. He suffered a lower-body injury and will have to watch from the press box as Pittsburgh tries to stay afloat. The 33-year old center recorded just 21 goals last season, the fewest he’s ever had in a year in which he played more than 50 games. That still came with 51 assists to give him 72 points in just 68 games, but by all accounts his season wasn’t up to the standard he had set previously. After working hard to re-establish his mental state this summer, Malkin and the Penguins had big plans for this year with an eye on the playoffs. That resolve will certainly be tested now.
Without Malkin and Bjugstad in the lineup, the Penguins had Jared McCann in the second-line center role between Alex Galchenyuk and Brandon Tanev, a unit that will need to find another level of production if the team is to succeed. It certainly seemed on Saturday like McCann was ready for the challenge, recording three points including the game-winning goal in a 7-2 demolition of the Blue Jackets. The 23-year old forward had previously only ever recorded three points in a single game once in his career, but will certainly get the opportunity for more of that success if he’s moved higher in the lineup.
Weren’t making the playoffs with them let alone without them
Haha weren’t making the playoffs what’s this guy on like there’s any chance they’ll miss or get kicked outta the playoffs
Cause they have inconsistent goaltending, 0 depth with their forwards they have Guntzeil and Gally outside of Sid, who else on that team is scoring 20+ goals? Would also argue that the pens have one of the worst defence in the league and have no way to fix this team as they are still gonna be in cap hell next year. No one wants Johnson as he’s a 7th D on almost any team with his years left it’s gonna take a 1st rounder to get rid of his contract that was only given to him because of his past with the GM and his very sad family situation
I agree, I didn’t see the Pens making the playoffs, I think the Jets are in the same boat
The Pens need to offer Bjugstad and a mild sweetener to Ottawa for JG Pageau (or less likely but maybe even better, Logan Brown). Insurance can pay most of Bjugstad’s salary plus the Sens clear Pageau’s. Win-win.
Take Tierney and give up something better. He’s one of the best middle 6 forwards you could have in the league probably.
We are running out of stuff to give up, but…if Rutherford can pull it off, Tierney would be even better, yeah.
RFA after this year.
Ehhhhhh probably not though
Jack Johnson for Jean Gabriel Pageau, that way Pens rid themselves of Johnson, get a center , and Sens can bring up Logan Brown, not much difference in salary , $150,000 in Pens favor, Sens have cap space for extra money.
The years though man. Four more of Johnson would take a decent piece of value to go along with him.
Think you need to add a 1st rounder cause Ottawa has a lot of dead money already gonna have to field a real team at some point soon when all their kids need contracts.
Oh! well Pens can get in draft lottery next June now they will fall way down. The Ice is melting in Igloo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Igloo was torn down years ago, they play in PPG Paints now ;)
They’ll make the playoffs and eventually get rid of Johnson somebody will bite whenever they lose some defenseman I believe in Rutherford. Now ik they ain’t that deep if they don’t lose Crosby or Murray they should be fine again there’s absolutely no way in hell they miss the playoffs coming from somebody who literally watches all their games
The fact we have to call up these two put things into perspective relative to the lack of ready talent in the organization.
Was talking about the team as a whole , not the arena, I knew the name of new arena.
Literally I’m sorry but all these comments but a few are stupid do any of you watch hockey honestly or just hate the penguins cus the comments are so stupid?