Two current legends hit new milestones in a game on Wednesday

On top of that, one of the league’s best goaltenders signed an eight-year deal. Moreover, a player selected in the first round was sent to the American League.

Let’s take a look at that in the latest Around the NHL!

On Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Buffalo Sabres, defeating them 6-5. More importantly, two franchise icons – Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin – hit career milestones.

Starting with Malkin, his goal in the third period to make it 4-3 for the Penguins was the 500th of his career. The 38-year-old centre became just the 48th player in NHL history to reach the 500-goal plateau and one of four active players (Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos). So far this season, Malkin has two goals and 11 points in five games.

As for Crosby, the 37-year-old recorded a three-point night, with an assist on Bryan Rust’s power play goal in the first period being the 1,600th point of his career. The first overall pick in the 2005 draft is the 10th player in history to hit that mark, behind Joe Sakick (1,641), Mario Lemieux (1,723), Steve Yzerman (1,755), Marcel Dionne (1,771), Ron Francis (1,798), Gordie Howe (1,850), Mark Messier (1,887), Jaromír Jágr (1,921), and Wayne Gretzky (2,857).

Early this season, the Penguins are off to a 3-2-0 start through their first five games. After winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, they’ve failed to make the post-season the past two seasons.

One of the best netminders in the league, Jake Oettinger, signed an eight-year extension with the Dallas Stars for $66 million with an annual cap hit of $8.25 million.

Selected near the end of the first round in 2017, Oettinger made his National Hockey League debut in 2020-21 when he posted a .911 save percentage and a 2.36 goals-against average in 29 games played. The Minnesota native became the Stars’ starting goalie the following season, posting a .914 save percentage and a 2.53 goals-against average in 48 games played.

His best season to date was in 2022-23, as he posted a .919 save percentage and a 2.35 goals-against average in 62 games played, along with a 37-11-11 record. However, Oettinger struggled in 2023-24 as he finished the season with a .905 save percentage and a 2.72 goals-against average in 54 games played.

Early in 2024-25, the 25-year-old netminder has a .948 save percentage and a 1.63 goals-against average in three games played.

Rutger McGroarty asked for a trade from the Winnipeg Jets in the summer as he wanted to play NHL hockey. Before the beginning of the season, he got his wish as the Pittsburgh Penguins traded Brayden Yager for McGroartry. However, the Penguins sent him down to the American Hockey League on Wednesday.

McGroarty was selected 14th overall in the 2022 draft and spent two seasons at the University of Michigan. In 2022-23, he scored 18 goals and 39 points in 39 games, but improved drastically in his sophomore season, scoring 16 goals and 52 points in 36 games.

The scoring hasn’t translated in the National Hockey League though, as he played three games while being held pointless. With that being said, the 20-year-old will benefit from consistent playing time on the top line in the American Hockey League.