Penguins center Evgeni Malkin skated Saturday morning for the first time in training camp. He did pre-practice work with strength and conditioning coach Mike Kadar.

Malkin, who has worked out the past two days, has been held off the ice for the first two-plus weeks of camp due to an undisclosed injury.

Head coach Mike Johnston hopes that Malkin can work with a skills coach, who worked with the team's skilled forwards this morning, in addition to skating again on Sunday.

“We’ll take it day-by-day and see how he progresses,” Johnston said. “At the beginning of training camp we weren’t sure how long he’d be out. It did progress longer than we thought. It’s exciting to get him working out.

“The steps are in motion. That’s very positive.”

The obvious question on everyone’s mind is when can Malkin return to the lineup.

“We’re moving in that direction,” Johnston said. “We’ll see how everything progresses and when he can get with the team.”