Going into his 18th season, Evgeni Malkin has seen all kinds of linemates over the years. Some have been better than others, some worked and some weren’t with Malkin or in Pittsburgh all that long altogether. Sometimes he’s found fits by accident via injury, and another time famously with the “HBK line”, he found his wingers poached away due to an injury of his own.
The next chapter for Malkin’s linemates will have a lot to do with Reilly Smith. It’s only been three practices in camp but the initial reports have been encouraging for seeing some instant chemistry with one another.