Sidney Crosby says he won't need much time to adjust to playing with Evgeni Malkin again, with the Penguins set to face the Kings tonight.
The comment lands in the middle of a rough stretch for Pittsburgh and a messy week around Malkin. The Penguins have lost four straight, and the veteran center is expected to submit a three-team trade list.
Crosby was asked about lining up with the player who has been his teammate for 21 seasons. His answer was short and a little playful.
Pens Inside Scoop passed along Crosby's reaction, and he sounded completely unbothered by the idea.
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"I think we're pretty familiar with each other. Shouldn't take much time to adjust there." That's the quote as posted, and it's hard to argue with.
Crosby and Malkin were drafted one-two in consecutive years, 2004 and 2005, by the same franchise. Malkin went second overall, Crosby first. They've spent most of two decades attached to each other in Pittsburgh.
Malkin has 11 points in 14 games this season, six of them goals. Crosby has 10 points in 16 games and sits at -4.
The timing is what makes this fun to watch. Reuniting the two on a line while trade talk swirls is either a last attempt to spark a team that is 5-9-2 or a farewell tour in progress. Probably a bit of both.
What a Crosby-Malkin line means for the Penguins
The Penguins are 1-6-1 on the road, and tonight's game is in Los Angeles. A struggling team that needs offense has two of its best forwards together again.
Our earlier report on Evgeni Malkin's three-team trade list said the list is due in January. That leaves a couple of months of games where this pairing can either rebuild his value or make the Penguins' decision harder.
Malkin's contract runs through this season only, and he is listed as a pending UFA. Crosby's own deal has the same expiry. Neither has an extension in place.
Dan Muse and Kyle Dubas will have to decide how much a reunion tour is worth if the standings keep sliding. Pittsburgh is 2-7-1 in its last 10, and a 6-2 loss to Boston on Thursday did not help.
For now, Crosby and Malkin get another shot at it tonight against Los Angeles.
Quick hits
SAN JOSE SHARKS: Ryan Warsofsky is shaking up the lineup in Dallas tonight, and Filip Bystedt is coming in at 4C. Robert Tiffin has the news.
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NEW YORK RANGERS: The Rangers lost Alberts Smits late before their game against Seattle. Vince Z. has the update.
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LOS ANGELES KINGS: Alex Turcotte is officially back. The Kings activated him from injured reserve, and he's set to play tonight against the Penguins.
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FLORIDA PANTHERS: Paul Maurice gave the first update on Sandis Vilmanis' injury, and there's no diagnosis to share yet. Waiting game for Florida.
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NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Jake Allen gets the start tonight at the Islanders, the Devils confirmed. That means no Connor Hellebuyck and no David Rittich in net.
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Should the Penguins keep Crosby and Malkin together all season instead of trading Malkin?
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