Mark Madden: Evgeni Malkin needs a winger; here's a move the Penguins could try

Evgeni Malkin has gone six games without a point. It’s the longest slump of his career.

But he’s playing OK.

Malkin has taken on a bigger physical burden than usual. He’s trying hard to get things accomplished. He had points in seven consecutive games prior.

Malkin’s problem is his wingers.

Malkin has centered Danton Heinen on the left and a rotating cast on the right, most often Kasperi Kapanen.

Heinen has 13 goals, three off his career high. But he’s just not a top-six winger. He can’t move the puck at anything remotely resembling Malkin’s level.

Kapanen hasn’t scored a goal in 20 games. He’s a former first-round draft pick but an embarrassment to his pedigree. It’s like he’s forgotten how to play hockey.

Bryan Rust is an option, and he’s recently skated on Malkin’s right.

But that stab at creating balance breaks up the line of Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Rust. That’s arguably hockey’s best line.

But one-line teams rarely win playoff series. They’re too easy to check. That’s inarguable.

The other options aren’t good.

Evan Rodrigues has two goals in 29 games, one of those an empty-netter. He’s reached his career high of 17 goals, but he’s done scoring. Like Heinen, he’s just not a top-six winger.

Jeff Carter’s best use is at third-line center. It controls his minutes. He’s been tried at Malkin’s wing. Carter has one goal in 14 games. He was a top-six player, but now he’s 37.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. So, let’s explore the depths of the Penguins’ (and Malkin’s) desperation.

Monday is the NHL trade deadline. GM Ron Hextall doesn’t have the trade capital or salary-cap room to make anything but a small move, unless he makes a “hockey trade” — a player-for-player deal. (That’s unlikely.)

Or unless he trades Carter for Carter, then gives Carter a raise.

So, here’s a small move worth trying.

Get winger James Neal from the St. Louis Blues.

Neal currently plays for the Blues’ American Hockey League farm team in Springfield, Mass. Neal has nine goals and six assists in 11 games at Springfield. He’s hot.

Neal is 34. He played for the Penguins from 2011-14, usually skating on Malkin’s wing. He had 89 goals and 95 assists in 199 games as a Penguin.

Neal’s speed could be questioned. But Malkin’s line plays more horizontally than the Penguins’ other trios.

The history is there. Malkin liked playing with Neal. They had chemistry and were effective.

It probably wouldn’t work. Neal has only seven goals in 48 NHL games dating back through the 2020-21 season.

But do you have any better ideas? What else can the Penguins do?

Neal’s contract pays a mere $750,000 and runs through season’s end. It’s hard to imagine St. Louis asking much in return.

Acquiring Neal would be the lowest risk possible. He couldn’t be worse than Kapanen. You’re just hoping to catch lightning in a beer bottle for the rest of this campaign.

Recycling stinks. Sentimentality stinks. You can’t put the band back together.

But nothing has a stench worse than the Penguins’ current options to skate on Malkin’s wings.

Yeah, Jason Zucker returns from injury at some point. Big whoop. He’s got six goals in 31 games.

Neal may not be the answer. But it’s a deal Hextall can make.