Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and forward Evgeni Malkin were not present for a practice session Friday in Cranberry.
Coach Dan Muse indicated both players were dealing with unspecified ailments but did not elaborate further. A more substantive update on their statuses is expected to be provided Saturday in advance of a home game against the New York Rangers.
Per Muse, evaluations of each player were ongoing as of Friday afternoon. Muse specified each absence was not for maintenance purposes and declined to say if a roster maneuver — such as a recall from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League — would be necessary should neither player be available for Saturday’s contest.
At least one teammate suggested they should play Saturday.
“I think they’re available,” forward Anthony Mantha said. “It’s just a practice. Older guys taking care of their bodies. That’s it.”
Mantha, 31, is no stranger to the rigors of professional hockey. He missed most of the 2024-25 season because of a right ACL injury that required surgery. He noted the middle-aged Letang and Malkin are simply dealing with the realities of being older.
“I’ve had my fair share of injuries,” Mantha said. “But when you’re closer to 40, I’m sure your body aches every day and they’re still getting the job done.”
Letang and Malkin are each in the midst of their 20th NHL seasons, and both have accrued credentials worthy of enshrinement in the Hockey Hall of Fame while also playing fairly physical styles.
“That’s why they’re still in this league,” Mantha said. “That’s why they’re still superstars. That’s why they’re making the best out of it.”
It isn’t publicly known if both superstars are dealing with new ailments, but each has been impaired in some capacity in recent weeks.
Malkin, the team’s oldest player at 39, has been laboring with a suspected left shoulder injury that has limited him since early December.
After missing 15 games between Dec. 7 and Jan. 4, he has skated in the past 11 games, posting 12 points (five goals, seven assists) over that span. His shoulder doesn’t appear to be fully healed, however, as he has been spotted wearing kinetic tape over the injured appendage. And as recently as Tuesday, he did not participate in a physical battle drill along the boards with teammates and was instead segregated from the group, largely skating in the neutral zone.
During some battle drills in the corner, Evgeni Malkin is keeping his distance and skating alone in the neutral zone. pic.twitter.com/XHOF630PHk
— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) January 27, 2026
Following a morning skate Thursday, Muse was asked about Malkin’s health in regard to his lack of participation during the drill.
“I’m not sure in terms of the practice drills, but he was a full participant in practice the other day,” Muse said. “He’s going. I think he’s playing at a high level.”
Letang, another of the team’s graybeards at 38, missed two games last week because of an undisclosed injury but has skated in the past two contests.
During Thursday’s 6-2 home win against the Chicago Blackhawks, miscues by Letang played a role in each of Chicago’s scores.
On the first goal by defenseman Connor Murphy at 9 minutes, 32 seconds of the first period, Letang collided with goaltender Arturs Silovs.
— EN Videos (@ENVideos19) January 30, 2026
Then, at 14:31 of the third period, a turnover by Letang led to possession for the Blackhawks, resulting in forward Connor Bedard’s goal.
— EN Videos (@ENVideos19) January 30, 2026
Championship reunion
The Penguins will stage a reunion with some members of the 2016 Stanley Cup championship team in advance of Saturday’s game against the Rangers, now coached Mike Sullivan, who led the Penguins to that title.
Letang and Malkin, as well as forward Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust, are the only members of the current roster who were part of that squad from a decade ago. Ex-forward Nick Bonino is now an assistant coach with the Penguins, whereas former forward Matt Cullen and defenseman Trevor Daley have front office positions with the club.
Former teammates scheduled to join them Saturday include:
Forwards — Matt Cullen, Pascal Dupuis, Eric Fehr, Carl Hagelin, Patric Hornqvist, Tom Kuhnhackl, Chris Kunitz
Defenseman — Ben Lovejoy
Goaltenders — Marc-Andre Fleury, Jeff Zatkoff
Former general Jim Rutherford will also be in attendance.
“Just excited to see the guys,” Crosby said. “It’s gone by fast, to be honest with you. It’s gone by really fast. It will be great to see some familiar faces and celebrate all these years later.”
