Malkin, Bjugstad Out Longer-Term

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced forwards @Evgeni Malkin and @Nick Bjugstad will both be out “longer-term” with lower-body injuries. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan added Malkin will be out longer than Bjugstad, but neither injury is considered to be “season-threatening.”

Sullivan gave little detail on either injury, but it doesn’t sound like we’ll be seeing Malkin on the ice any time soon. @Jared McCann and @Dominik Kahun are the most likely candidates to fill in for the two injured centremen. McCann was cenetering @Alex Galchenyuk and @Brandon Tanev on Pittsburgh’s second line in practice on Monday.

Monday’s news is just the latest blow to what’s been an injury-riddled career for Malkin. The 33-year-old centre has missed an average of 16 games a year dating back to the start of the 2012-13 season. Most recently, he missed 14 games last season with a lingering upper-body issue.

The injuries leave Pittsburgh with little to rely on for depth scoring, and puts even more pressure on the top line to produce. @Sidney Crosby and @Jake Guentzel have combined for zero goals and four assists through the team’s first two games. Since the start of last season, Pittsburgh is 6-12-5 in games Crosby did not register a point. Depth has always been an issue for this team, and it will be tested now more than ever.