PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Penguins rookie Evgeni Malkin, re-examined by doctors on Monday, will not need surgery on his dislocated left shoulder but still could be sidelined for as long as six weeks, team officials said.

Malkin, expected to team with Sidney Crosby to give the Penguins one of the NHL's top center combinations, was injured during his first exhibition game Wednesday. Malkin collided with teammate John LeClair behind the net.

The team did not set a timetable Monday for Malkin's return, saying only that he will continue to rehabilitate. A common recovery time for an injury of Malkin's nature is four to six weeks, though athletes have returned earlier from less severe separations.