Tanev not expected back before playoffs taken at PPG Paints Arena (Penguins)

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Brandon Tanev

Ron Hextall spoke following Monday's 3 p.m. trade deadline and provided some updates and timelines on the Penguins' injured players.

The most significant update is that Brandon Tanev is not expected to be back in the Penguins' lineup during the regular season. Tanev sustained an upper-body injury against the Bruins on April 3 and has missed the past four games.

"Tans, I don't believe will be back before the playoffs," Hextall said. "That's a tough injury to judge."

Hextall said that he guesses Kasperi Kapanen is somewhere in the 10-14 day range for returning and Evgeni Malkin is "a little tougher," but is expected to return before the regular season ends.

Kapanen has missed the past nine games and Malkin the last 13, both with lower-body injuries.

Hextall said that he did not have an update yet on Freddy Gaudreau, who left Sunday's game in New Jersey with a lower-body injury.

With Tanev expected to be out for the remainder of the regular season, the Penguins' salary cap situation becomes more clear. The Penguins only have two players -- Tanev and Malkin -- on long-term injured reserve, giving them $12.68 million in salary cap relief. After acquiring Jeff Carter in the early hours of Monday morning, the Penguins are using $3.5 million of that relief, giving them $9.15 million in cap space. For Malkin to be activated off long-term injured reserve, just one player (like Juuso Riikola, who cleared waivers Sunday) would have to be assigned to the taxi squad. Since there is no salary cap in the playoffs, that won't be a factor if Tanev does return during that time.

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