The center had practiced in a white, no-contact jersey since first joining the Penguins for a morning skate in Calgary on Nov. 29. At the start of training camp, general manager Ron Hextall said Malkin would miss at least the first two months of the regular season, which started Oct. 12.
"'Geno' wasn't a full participant. He had limited contact," coach Mike Sullivan said. "Practice didn't involve a whole lot of contact. Certainly, his participation was as close to what we've gotten to 100 percent. But he's still in a limited contact fashion."
Malkin, Pittsburgh's second-line center, took rushes at left wing on that line. He filled in for Jason Zucker, who had a maintenance day.
The Penguins (16-8-5) likely won't have Malkin when they play at the New Jersey Devils on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNP, MSG+, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Pittsburgh has won six straight games, including four in a row without Malkin and forwards Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust.
Guentzel, who leads the Penguins with 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists), has been sidelined four games with an upper-body injury that has him out week to week. Rust is also out week to week with a lower-body injury sustained Nov. 24. He has missed 10 games.
When healthy, Guentzel is first-line left wing with Rust at right wing and Sidney Crosby at center. Guentzel and Rust skated before practice Saturday.
Malkin resumed skating two months ago, working with skills coach Ty Hennes before a practice Oct. 18.
The 35-year-old scored 28 points (eight goals, 20 assists) in 33 games last season before injuring his knee on a hit from Boston Bruins defenseman Jarred Tinordi on March 16. Malkin returned May 3 and played the final four regular-season games.
After missing the first two games of the Stanley Cup First Round against the New York Islanders, Malkin scored five points (one goal, four assists) in the final four games before the Penguins were eliminated with a 5-3 loss in Game 6 of the best-of-7 series.
"It's always fun to see one of those guys that has been missing a lot of time," Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said. "It gets lonely sometimes when you're injured. To have him back out there, have him part of our practice and skates, it's fun to see. Obviously, he's a really good player. He looks pretty good out there. He makes everybody look better also. It's pretty exciting."
Malkin, a three-time Stanley Cup champion (2009, 2016, 2017), has played 940 games with the Penguins, second behind Crosby (1,056). Entering his 16th NHL season, Malkin is third in Penguins history in points (1,104) and assists (680), and fourth in goals (424).
"I think the fact that Geno is participating the way he is is real exciting for the group," Sullivan said. "Anytime he's on the ice, I think he brings a certain level of enthusiasm anyway, just with his personality. But the fact that he's participating the way he does, I think is exciting for all of us.
"It's obvious to say that we're a better team when he's in our lineup. He's working his very hardest to try to get there as soon as he can. Our guys are excited about that opportunity."
