The Pittsburgh Penguins have been without Evgeni Malkin in 10 games this season. In those games, the team has nine wins. So why will his absence from the Penguins' lineup for the rest of the season negatively impact the team?
Evgeni Malkin Out For Season; Where Do The Penguins Go From Here?
Well, it’s still Evgeni Malkin, and despite the team’s success without him so far this season, it’s hard to imagine that’s a trend that continues through the final two and a half months of the season, plus playoffs, which Malkin will miss with a severe knee injury. Perhaps the Pens’ biggest strength is their depth up the middle. Malkin is obviously a big part of that.
It's just the latest in a series of bad injuries for the Penguins. Sidney Crosby is still out indefinitely with a concussion and there's no timetable set for his return. Losing Malkin and Crosby long-term is just a devastating blow.
Then again, it’s not all bad for the Pens. With Malkin out for the year, GM Ray Shero can place him on long-term injured reserve, which gives the team a cushion to exceed the salary cap by his $8.7 million cap hit.
Expect the Penguins to be busy at the trade deadline, which is just 23 days way. One thing on the LTIR cushion, though, is that when Malkin returns next season, they lose that space. That likely limits the Penguins to trading for a contract that expires at the end of the current season.
We might not know who the Pens will target at the deadline, but one thing is certain: You can’t replace Evgeni Malkin.
One player already on the roster that will be asked to help will be Jordan Staal. Coach Dan Bylsma loves the guy and says that he kind of lurks in the shadows behind Malkin and Crosby at the center position. This injury will give him a much more prominent role as a scorer and if he blossoms, the impact of losing Malkin could shrink significantly.
For more on the injury and where it leaves the Penguins, check out Pensburgh.
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