Huge suspension for Evgeni Malkin!

It’s probably not how the Pittsburgh Penguins imagined kicking off Trade Deadline day on Friday, but it started with a hearing for star forward Evgeni Malkin. On Thursday night, in a crucial game in the playoff race and with captain Sidney Crosby already sidelined due to injury, Malkin lost his temper and was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct after delivering a wild two-handed chop to the head of Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres.

Later on Friday evening, it was confirmed on NHL.com that Malkin has been suspended five games for his slash. The maximum number of games the phone hearing could allow.

It is true that the veteran forward is considered a repeat offender, having been suspended twice earlier in his career, and so…

General manager Kyle Dubas did not comment on the impact of the hearing and pending suspension on his deadline plans, nor did he speak about the possibility of extending Malkin after the season.

The Penguins entered the week in a strong position in the playoff race, but suddenly their outlook looks far less stable, though Crosby did skate with some teammates earlier today, but remains out. It his first time skating with the group since sustaining his injury in Canada’s quarterfinal matchup with Czechia at the Olympics on Feb. 12.

However, now the Penguins are without both Sid and Geno… Malkin is eligible to return March 16 at Colorado. He'll forfeit forfeit $158,854.15 on salary.