Pens Points: Malkin, Milestones and Montreal
The Penguins close out a road trip on Monday night in Montreal, Quebec.
Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning...
Evgeni Malkin recently notched his 800th career assist in the 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, and on Saturday, he hit another career milestone by earning his 1,300th career NHL point. Malkin is now tied with Jarome Iginla at 1,300 points for the 36th most in NHL history. [PensBurgh]
Malkin reflected on these accolades on Saturday night after the 3-2 loss in Toronto, saying, “For me, it’s all about partners, you know? I always have fun with anybody. We always have a great team here. I play with Sid on [the] power play, probably give him the most assists in my life. But again, it’s a great milestone for me, and like, I need more, probably.” [Penguins]
Do shutdown pairings still have a place in an NHL that prioritizes puck possession? Do the Pittsburgh Penguins have such a tandem with Ryan Graves and Jack St. Ivany? [Trib Live]
Sidney Crosby needs one point to become the 10th player in NHL history to reach 1,600, joining Wayne Gretzky (2,857), Jaromir Jagr (1,921), Mark Messier (1,887), Gordie Howe (1,850), Ron Francis (1,798), Marcel Dionne (1,771), Steve Yzerman (1,755), Mario Lemieux (1,723) and Joe Sakic (1,641). He can accomplish this legendary tonight against the team that drafted his father in 1984. [NHL]
News and notes from around the NHL...
The 2025 NHL Draft is still months and months away, but with the league moving from a centralized experience to a decentralized draft, how might that change how, good and bad, fans and players take in the unofficial start to the off-season? [The Hockey News]
Mark Messier says ‘change’ is inevitable as the NHL enters a new era with “Prime Monday Night Hockey” on Amazon. [Global News]