Malkin Gets 5 Games for Slashing Dahlin in the Head

Evgeni Malkin has never been shy about playing on the edge. But on March 5, that edge cut too deep, literally.

The Pittsburgh Penguins forward swung his stick at Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, catching him in the head during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. The result: a five-minute major, a game misconduct, and a five-game suspension handed down by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety the following day. For a Penguins team already navigating a brutal stretch without Sidney Crosby, the timing couldn’t be worse.

What Happened on March 5

The sequence started with a cross-check penalty called on Dahlin. Malkin’s response was swift and costly.

Player Safety didn’t mince words. Officials described the act as an intentional stick swing delivered at a dangerous height with requisite force. This wasn’t an off-balance stumble or an accidental stick lift. According to the league’s ruling, Malkin meant to swing, and he swung hard at head level.

That framing matters. Intent is the difference between a fine and a suspension, and in this case, it pushed the discipline firmly into the latter category.

History Made It Worse

Malkin didn’t walk into the hearing with a clean record. He was suspended one game in 2019 and four games in 2022, both stick-related incidents. He’s also collected multiple fines throughout his career for similar plays.

The NHL explicitly factored that history into the five-game ruling. Repeat offenders face steeper consequences under the league’s supplemental discipline framework, and Malkin’s track record gave Player Safety little reason to go lighter. When the pattern is there, the league follows it.

This isn’t a player who made one regrettable mistake. It’s a player who keeps finding himself in the same kind of trouble.

What This Costs Pittsburgh

At the time of the suspension, Malkin had 13 goals and 47 points in 45 games, well-paced production for a 39-year-old who still drives Pittsburgh’s offense night in and night out. Losing him for five games stings under any circumstances.

Lose him right after the trade deadline, with Crosby sidelined by a lower-body injury and the Penguins clawing to stay relevant in a tight playoff race? That’s a different kind of pain.

GM Kyle Dubas moved quickly. The Penguins recalled prospect Ville Koivunen from the AHL and made a small trade to bring in forward Elmer Soderblom, adding depth where the roster suddenly had a hole. Publicly, the organization stayed focused on solutions rather than frustration, though Dubas made clear he wasn’t thrilled with the situation.

The financial hit adds up, too. Malkin forfeits approximately $158,854 in salary over the five-game stretch.

The Bigger Picture: Contract and Reputation

Beyond the standings, this suspension carries longer-term weight. Malkin is a restricted free agent this summer, and contract negotiations between a 39-year-old veteran and a franchise in transition are already complex. Disciplinary concerns don’t help his case.

Teams weigh more than production when extending aging players. Leadership, professionalism, and on-ice conduct all factor in. A fifth disciplinary action—suspension number three—gives Pittsburgh’s front office one more variable to consider when the offseason talks begin.

What’s Next

Malkin is eligible to return on March 16 against Colorado, assuming no further discipline surfaces. The Penguins will track Dahlin’s condition in the meantime and monitor how the lineup holds up during the absence.

Pittsburgh is fighting for playoff positioning with its two best players unavailable at the same time. The margin for error is slim, and the schedule won’t wait.

The Bottom Line for the Penguins

Five games. No Malkin. No Crosby. This is the stretch that will define Pittsburgh’s season, and possibly Malkin’s future with the club.

The Penguins have the roster depth to survive it, but surviving and competing are two different things. How the team responds in the next week-plus will say plenty about where this franchise actually stands heading into the final push.