Better Prime: Evgeni Malkin Or Leon Draisaitl?

[Three On Zero]

The kids don't get that 100 points seasons were pretty rare when goalies had pads.

Malkin could also take over games, Draisaitl can’t do that consistently

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Put some respect on Geno's name

 

[CanadienShark]

To me, peak is probably Malkin while prime is Draisaitl.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think Malkin's 2011-2012 beats out any year Draisaitl had but Malkin wasn't consistently at that level for his prime. Look at what he did in the 2 years before and after those seasons. I think Draisaitl has shown a consistent level of top end play that Malkin didn't really show.

I don't think Malkin ever had a 5 year run that matched Draisaitl's 5 years run from 2018-2023.

 

[Ignatius]

Malkin gets extremely overrated in the post season because of one run. The rest of his post season is far below his regular season level of play. He goes from a 93 point player to an 84 point player and that is including his one tremendous run.

Which run???

2009
2017
Something else?

 

[Perfect_Drug]

I'm a Draisaitl homer but I honestly see why Malkin is winning.

Drai won't ever be considered on Malkins level without a cup. Comparing numbers or consistency won't do it.

Try comparing Joe Thornton to #1 centers who won a cup. Joe might have better career numbers but that cup is such a massive dealbreaker.


If Drai wins a cup this gets way closer.

 

[KevinRedkey]

Peak: Malkin
Prime: Draisaitl

Prime could have been Malkin, but injuries leave us with the age old 'what if?'.

 

[Albatros]

Draisaitl has 100+ more points than Malkin at the same age.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Malkin. Didn’t have to think hard about it either.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

And again, peak playoff Malkin got 1.5 PPG in a run than people made people question whether or not he was actually better than Crosby. Draisaitl put up 2.0 PPG. Thats an absolutely MASSIVE difference

Draisaitl’s 2.0 PPG playoffs were not a complete run, it was only 16 games and he did not play in the SCF that year.

We saw how peak Draisaitl wilted in the SCF when he actually had to play there. Malkin on the other hand did very well in the 2009 SCF.

 

[22FUTON9]

Peak Malkin I think is better, but it’s worth giving credit to Draisaitl for how long his prime has been. Broke out around 6 years ago, and has been consistently producing.

Malkin on the other hand has had incredible year 2,3 and 6 seasons, but other than that, it’s nothing groundbreaking. Similar cases with Stamkos and Ovi as well (atleast when you look at points) I don’t know if it’s just how the game’s played or if the newer guys just take better care of their body, but I feel like this is sort of the trend when comparing the top guys from each era.

 

[The Nuge]

Draisaitl’s 2.0 PPG playoffs were not a complete run, it was only 16 games and he did not play in the SCF that year.

We saw how peak Draisaitl wilted in the SCF when he actually had to play there. Malkin on the other hand did very well in the 2009 SCF.

Draisaitl was playing with broken ribs last year. He shouldn’t have even been out there. That’s not exactly a fair comparison to try and cherry pick

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Draisaitl was playing with broken ribs last year. He shouldn’t have even been out there. That’s not exactly a fair comparison to try and cherry pick

Malkin played with broken wingers

 

[Regal]

Draisaitl was playing with broken ribs last year. He shouldn’t have even been out there. That’s not exactly a fair comparison to try and cherry pick

But it shows how variance can bring down small samples. Draisaitl’s 2022 run was partly inflated up by the ridiculously high scoring Calgary series where he had 17 points in 5 games. He had 15 in 11 in the other 2 series’. His points per game would have almost certainly gone down had he played another round.

It also ignores that Draisaitl’s ankle injury meant he couldn’t be trusted on his own line and was stacked with McDavid during that Calgary series and that line rode some ridiculous percentages. In fact, in 96 minutes of 5v5 ice time without McDavid during that run, Draisaitl was only on the ice for 1GF and 9GA. Obviously that’s partly due to variance, but even in terms of xGF% he was at a terrible 36%, while McDavid without Draisaitl was at 62%. So yea the point totals look great and it’s a testament to his skill that he could still produce despite being hobbled, but he couldn’t produce on his own line or drive play during that run.

Meanwhile in 2009, Malkin only played with Crosby for 40 minutes at 5v5 and in his 325 minutes without him, he was on the ice for 17 GF and 16GA. Not a great percentage mind you, but A) he did this with Fedotenko and Talbot as his most common wingers and B) this was in part due to Fleury being mediocre that run and his xGF% was 57%.

 

[EXTRAS]

Drai also in higher scoring era

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Malkin for sure. He put up incredible numbers with lumberjack Max Talbot on his wing. Lets see Draisaitl do that with Podkolzin on his wing.

 

[kp61c]

Malkin. Ainec.

 

[Staniowski]

Malkin's the better player, without a doubt.

 

[GoldenKnight]

Not surprised by the poll results. This is prime Malkin pretty clearly.

 

[Dion TheFluff]

peak: Malkin
prime: Draisaitl (health + consistently)
career: TBD

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Did you just completely miss out on the entire 2019/20 season? Because Draisaitl absolutely dominated the league, and he had a wider lead for the Art Ross than Malkin ever did, so your “scoring levels” argument (as if 2012 and 2019 are so massively different) kind of goes out the window. And that’s not even considering Malkin beat out Stamkos and Draisaitl had to beat out McDavid.

And again, peak playoff Malkin got 1.5 PPG in a run than people made people question whether or not he was actually better than Crosby. Draisaitl put up 2.0 PPG. Thats an absolutely MASSIVE difference

So you think that Draisaitl was much better than Malkin ever was in 2022. And you think McDavid was better than Crosby.

Weird how the 2022 Oilers didn't win a game past the second round, yet the 09 Penguins won the cup, and against a better team. Maybe these guys' point totals don't actually reflect their impact?

 

[Fataldogg]

Malkin for peak. Draisaitl for prime. Malkin for career.

 

[pi314]

Draisaitl was playing with broken ribs last year. He shouldn’t have even been out there. That’s not exactly a fair comparison to try and cherry pick

Everyone is playing less than 100% by the finals.

And the best defensive teams advance.

It’s why running up the points in round 1 is not the same as doing it for a complete run.

 

[Three On Zero]

Everyone is playing less than 100% by the finals.

And the best defensive teams advance.

It’s why running up the points in round 1 is not the same as doing it for a complete run.

No no no, injuries are unheard of in hockey, especially in the finals.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

Peak Malkin was the best player of his era. He could singlehandedly win games.