Latest Injury Updates on Evgeni Malkin and Tommy Novak Emerge

The Pittsburgh Penguins last few weeks have been full of injury issues, and unfortunately Evgeni Malkin was added to those struggles in the past few days, as his season could potentially be over due to injury.

Unfortunately, it hasn't been a quick recovery for Malkin, who was reportedly absent from Penguins practice completely on Saturday, and without even a skate beforehand, things aren't looking good for the final few weeks of the season.

The same can also be said for trade deadline acquisition Tommy Novak, who was also completely absent from on-ice activities on Saturday, with many fears that after just two games played with the team, he may not see the ice again in 2024/25 after being acquired in the deal for Michael Bunting.

The Penguins got some great news ahead of their 7-1 defeat to the Buffalo Sabres, with defenseman Ryan Shea returning to the lineup, but with 8 games left in their season, time is running out for Malkin and Novak to get back on the ice.

With the Stanley Cup Playoff hopes and dreams now completely crushed after that defeat, this will give the Penguins the opportunity to bring in younger players like Rutger McGroarty, but given how much someone like Malkin means to the team, it would be hard for him to not finish the season on the ice.

Ultimately, a big update could come in the next few days that sees one or both get back onto the ice, but for now, things certainly aren't looking great, with the team set to move forward without either Novak or Malkin in their lineup, potentially for the final eight games of the year.