The Penguins and Penguins fans around the world have been waiting for Evgeni Malkin to return from his injury as he has missed the last 15 games. The Penguins have missed his presence a lot in their lineup in general and on the powerplay.
And it was a welcome sight as Malkin officially took line rushes on Wednesday in practice and fans were thinking that he was going to stick with Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau like he was earlier in the year. But head coach Dan Muse had other ideas and stuck him with rookie Ben Kindel and newly acquired forward Yegor Chinakhov.
#LetsGoPens lines and D-pairs at today's practice:
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) January 7, 2026
Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Kindel-Malkin-Chinakhov
Mantha-Novak-Brazeau
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
(Hayes, Koivunen)
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Kulak-Letang
Shea-St. Ivany
(Clifton)
The line of Mantha-Malkin-Brazeau was really fun to watch on a nightly basis back when Malkin was healthy earlier in the year. But since his absence, Tommy Novak taking over in the center spot has been a welcome sight to see.
It definitely makes sense as to why Muse decided not to split Mantha-Novak-Brazeau, but it bodes the question of if this new line of Geno and the kids can really do well. It seems like this line is going to take the ice together tomorrow when the New Jersey Devils come to PPG PaInts Arena for a road visit.
Chinakhov playing with Malkin definitely makes sense as both are of Russian heritage. And the fact that Chinakhov has looked really good as a Penguin so far in two games. It was also made a point of emphasis that Kindel was the center and Malkin played on the wing.
Malkin is more of a natural center, but every now and then he can play on the wing if he has to. Kindel is definitely better as a center than a wing, but the fact that Muse had them lined up together in practice on the same line definitely says that he sees potential for the two there.