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Kristen Shilton
multiple authors
pittsburgh Ahead evgeni malkin Five games have been suspended for slashing Buffalo guard Rasmus Dahlin During Thursday’s game between the Penguins and Sabres. His salary of $158,854.15 will be forfeited.
Malkin was given a five-minute major penalty and misconduct for the game, which occurred early in the second period of Thursday’s matchup. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced its decision Friday after a phone hearing with Malkin earlier in the day.
The Penguins veteran tangled with Dahlin next to the Sabres’ net after the defenseman hit a cross-check. The official signaled Dahlin to punish him, but Malkin retaliated anyway, hitting Dahlin in the head with his stick. Malkin then dropped his gloves with the intention of fighting Dahlin, but the referee intervened and took Malkin off the ice.
In explaining its decision, the Department of Player Safety cited Malkin’s clear intentions for a lengthy ban and his history of such plays.
The Department of Player Safety said, “This is not a case of an unbalanced player bringing down his stick without any control or consequence whose move was directly affected by an opposing player, nor is it a case of a careless player accidentally making contact with an opponent.” “It is a deliberate stick swing that strikes an opponent at a dangerous height and is delivered with the force required for a supplementary discipline.”
Malkin has been fined five times previously and suspended twice in his career (for roughing in 2009 and for cross-checking in 2022), and has been at risk for stick-related violations (including a fine for slashing earlier this season).
Losing Malkin is a devastating blow for Pittsburgh. captain Sidney Crosby He is out with a lower body injury, although he skated with the team on Friday. But Crosby’s return may not be in the offing, and now the Penguins will have to make do without Malkin. The veteran has had a tremendous season, with 13 goals and 47 points in 45 games.
The NHL trade deadline was Friday afternoon, which gave Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas a chance to add some forward depth. He ultimately avoided making any hasty decisions based on Malkin, completing only a small transaction moving forward. elmer soderblom From detroit A 2026 third-round pick.
Dubas also said the Penguins are calling back Ville Koivunen From the AHL in anticipation of Malkin being suspended. He admitted that he was upset after Malkin’s penalty, knowing that it could potentially have an impact on the club, but he tried to quickly shrug off those feelings.
“I think you’ll probably go through the same reaction that anyone who follows a team every day does,” Dubas said. “Meaning, first of all, you get a little emotional about how this will impact the team, and then think it’s my job to immediately step away from that and come back to, OK, what’s the plan? What do we already have? [in our organization]?”
It remains to be seen whether the suspension affects the ongoing negotiations with Malkin on a contract extension. The 39-year-old will be a restricted free agent this summer, and Dubas has repeatedly said the decision to retain Malkin will be determined by “what’s best” for the Penguins overall.
Pittsburgh currently sits in second place in the Metropolitan Division, but is in a tight race for place New York Islanders And columbus blue jackets.
Malkin is eligible to return on March 16 against the Penguins avalanche.
