The 35-year-old center participated in the morning skate before Pittsburgh's game at the Calgary Flames wearing a no-contact jersey after skating on his own for two weeks. Malkin has not played this season while recovering from knee surgery on June 4.
"'Geno' obviously is at the next stage of his rehab process where our medical team thinks he's ready to get more players around him and participate in a non-contact fashion," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "That was the motivation to bring him on this trip, to get him around more players. We're excited about that step. That's certainly real encouraging."
The Penguins (10-7-5) lost the first of a five-game road trip, 2-1 in the shootout to the Flames. They will also visit the Edmonton Oilers (Dec. 1), Vancouver Canucks (Dec. 4), Seattle Kraken (Dec. 6) and Washington Capitals (Dec. 10) before returning home to play the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 11.
"I think it's real significant that he's taken this next step because it suggests that he's that much closer," Sullivan said. "The final step would be participation in a full capacity, non-contact, spontaneous play, things of that nature, not a controlled environment that we have him in right now. Certainly, the fact that he's joining the team, that he's around other players, that he's participating in a controlled circumstance, is a big step for him. We're really encouraged by the progress that he's making. I think the fact that he's on this trip just suggests that he's that much closer."
Malkin was injured against the Boston Bruins on March 16 before returning for the final four games of last season. After then missing the first two games of the Stanley Cup First Round against the New York Islanders, he returned with two assists in Game 3 and finished with five points (one goal, four assists) in the best-of-7 series, which the Penguins lost in six games.
"He looked pretty good to me," Penguins forward Brian Boyle said. "It was nice to see him out. I haven't gotten the chance to be out there with him yet, so that was fun just watching, seeing what he can do, especially while he's still rehabbing."
Malkin is in the final season of an eight-year, $76 million contract ($9.5 million average annual value) he signed June 13, 2013, and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
The three-time Stanley Cup champion (2009, 2016, 2017) is third in Penguins history in points (1,104) and assists (680), fourth in goals (424), and second in games (940). Malkin averaged an NHL career-low 0.85 points per game last season, scoring 28 (eight goals, 20 assists) in 33 games.
"He was moving pretty well," Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang said. "We're always happy to see a teammate back in practice after a long recovery like this. We know how it feels sometimes to be left alone at home and not making the trips. It's cool to have him with us and I'm pretty sure he was happy to be around a lot of guys."
Bryan Rust (lower body) continues to rehab in Pittsburgh and remains week to week, Sullivan said. The forward was injured during warmups Saturday.
NHL.com independent correspondent Aaron Vickers contributed to this report
