Penguins' Evgeni Malkin won't need elbow surgery

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will not require surgery for his injured left elbow and will rehabilitate the injury this summer, general manager Jim Rutherford announced on Thursday.

Malkin, 29, is not expected to miss time next season.

Malkin said after the Penguins won the Stanley Cup that the injury had been bothering him for some time. He had been out from March 11 until Game 2 of the Penguins' first-round series against the New York Rangers with what the team described as an upper-body injury.

Malkin also missed time with a lower-body injury last season, playing in only 57 games but registering 58 points. He had 18 points in the playoffs, good for third on the team behind Phil Kessel (22) and Sidney Crosby (19).

On Wednesday, Rutherford shot down rumors that Malkin might be available in trade.