Bylsma comments on Malkin’s accelerated rehab process

Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin had surgery on a torn ACL on February 10th and Malkin’s rehab process is going faster than first expected.

“It was his first day on the ice, ” Bylsma said. He is doing very well,” Penguin head coach Dan Bylsma said today, following the Penguins optional skate and team photo.

Malkin was around today for the team photo in full gear and skating around.

According to Bylsma, Malkin believes he can still return this season.

“You’ll get different opinions depending on who you ask, ” Bylsma said…. Geno is coming back yesterday, according to Geno, ” Bylsma said with chuckle. “The doctor will say something different, ” Bylsma added.

What has led to an accelerated rehab process is that doctors didn’t have to repair Malkin’s MCL, Bylsma said on a serious note.

“He is doing very well and he’s working extremely hard, ” Bylsma said. “The fact that they didn’t have to repair his MCL, has allowed him to accelerate what he can do in terms of rehab and strengthening. He’s working every day he can to prove himself right and that he can come back yesterday.”

Malkin expected rehab period was 6 months at the time of the surgery. No one at this time can say it will be less but things have progressed much faster than expected for Malkin.

He should have at least a few months of skating under his belt before training camp in September.