The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has suspended Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin for five games for slashing Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in a recent matchup. This decision comes after a phone hearing with Malkin, who was given a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for the incident which occurred early in the second period.
Malkin retaliated against Dahlin by slashing him in the head with his stick after the Sabres’ defenseman had hit Malkin with a cross-check. The official signaled a pending penalty to Dahlin, but Malkin persisted and even dropped his gloves as if he intended to fight Dahlin before referees stepped in and escorted Malkin from the ice.
The Department of Player Safety cited Malkin’s clear intention behind the slash, as well as his history of similar plays when explaining their decision. In addition, they noted that this was not an instance where a player accidentally made contact with an opponent or lost control over their stick.
This suspension comes at a particularly inconvenient time for the Penguins, who are already without captain Sidney Crosby due to a lower-body injury. While Crosby did participate in team practice on Friday, his return may not be immediate, making Malkin’s absence all the more difficult to manage. This season has seen Malkin score 13 goals and amass 47 points across 45 games.
Despite these challenges, Penguins’ GM Kyle Dubas decided against making any rash decisions based on Malkin’s suspension during Friday afternoon’s trade deadline. Instead of pursuing a major acquisition, Dubas only completed one transaction involving forward Elmer Soderblom from Detroit in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick.
In anticipation of Malkin’s suspension, the Penguins recalled Ville Koivunen from the AHL. While upset by Malkin’s penalty and its potential impact on the team, Dubas quickly shifted his focus to devising a plan moving forward. He emphasized that the decision to retain Malkin will be determined by what is best for the Penguins overall.
As of now, the suspension does not appear to have any effect on ongoing discussions about a contract extension with Malkin. The 39-year-old Russian player will become a restricted free agent this summer. Despite the setback, Pittsburgh currently ranks second in the Metropolitan Division but remains in a tight race for positioning with the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Malkin is eligible to return for the Penguins on March 16 against the Avalanche, following his five-game suspension.
One-Ry Out.