Evgeni Malkin is leading the league in scoring at 38

[Rodgerwilco]

I could see him coming close to top 10 in points still in a full season. Who are Crosby’s wingers this season? And do you believe he is better than Crosby at this point.

Crosby is playing with Anthony Beauvillier and Bryan Rust right now.

I definitely don't think Malkin is better than Crosby at this point. Crosby still pulls off the craziest plays and is much more of a consistent impact in all 3 zones of the ice. Crosby could have had multiple Sportscenter Top 10 plays last night alone if his teammates finished on the insane passes he was making.

 

[habdynasty]

It’s October.

 

[HF007]

Malkin is that guy who can win the scoring race any year and it wouldn’t be surprising, he just can’t stay healthy

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Malkin is that guy who can win the scoring race any year and it wouldn’t be surprising, he just can’t stay healthy

 

[Video Nasty]

Wonder how this ranks among his best opening five game starts.

 

[benfranklin]

Love to see it, but also 10 seconds in.

Makar, MacKinnon, and Rantanen are all in the top 10 and they havent won a game or even lost in OT so FML.

View attachment 917745

4 of 18 seasons he played 80+ games
7 of 18 seasons he played 75+ games
12 of 18 seasons he played 60+ games

Malkin I could argue for my lifetime is the woulda coulda didnt because he was injured all time great. Dude could have Jagr type potential if he stayed healthy and who knows how much more success the Pens would have had.

 

[MayonnaiseOreo]

I've hated the way that guy says "call" for 26 years now.

 

[benfranklin]

Wonder how this ranks among his best opening five game starts.

Makar is on pace for 164 points and zero wins. So thats cool.

 

[Video Nasty]

Makar is on pace for 164 points and zero wins. So thats cool.

I’m one of the last people on this site to care about pace, nor do I think Malkin will finish anywhere near the top of the scoring race.

But it is pretty cool to see him briefly regain his old powers at age 38.

Why watch at all, if we can’t have fun with the opening handful of games after no hockey for four months (six months for Pittsburgh fans)?

 

[TooManyHumans]

View attachment 917745

He gutted through it last year but was not healthy.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I’m one of the last people on this site to care about pace, nor do I think Malkin will finish anywhere near the top of the scoring race.

But it is pretty cool to see him briefly regain his old powers at age 38.

Why watch at all, if we can’t have fun with the opening handful of games after no hockey for four months (six months for Pittsburgh fans)?

Yeah I mean... we don't have much these days. Give us our like 5-10 games of vintage Geno in peace before the rest of the season and reality sets in lol

 

[kerrabria]

This is nothing that Pens fans haven't also thought about for years.

I've gotten over the failures that the core had. Back to back cups will do that.

Look at this way: If the Pens are a well managed team from 2010-2014, maybe they win a cup or two then. But they probably don't then have everything click at exactly the right time to win the back to back cups in the Sullivan/JR era. So maybe they're more successful earlier in Sid and Geno's careers but maybe they don't win those other cups.

At the end of the day, three cups is an exceptional legacy for this core. No Pens fan or anybody should be disappointed with that.

This is a good way to look at it. Similarly, I view Bobrovsky's terrible first two years in Florida as a blessing that was necessary to ensure Dale Tallon was fired, which allowed Mike Zito to step in at exactly the right time.

However, the bolded text should be revised. It wasn't the core's failure. Bylsma, Shero, Johnston, Hextall, and Burke are the biggest culprits.

For comparison, the Thornton era Sharks never won a cup because of the players' shortcomings--not poor coaching or poor roster construction. Ovechkin/Backstrom only got past the second round once because they and their teammates couldn't finish the job--not because they were held back by the coach or front office.

 

[Lomez]

Malkin is that guy who can win the scoring race any year and it wouldn’t be surprising, he just can’t stay healthy

I love the guy and have so since he broke into the league. But, no, that isn't even close to being true. Dude: he's 38.

 

[Fataldogg]

He really wants to get into that top-100.

 

[Phil68]

View attachment 917745

The reason why Malkin has not been able to win scoring titles or be top 10. The last 3 years he had no half way decent linemates. Like Zero. This year he has half way decent wingers, boom. Results. In all the years Malkin played as a pen, he had two wingers. One Kessel, one James Neil. That's it.

 

[SenzZen]

And me 281 330-8004.
Ask for Mike Jones.

Who?!?

 

[authentic]

Crosby is playing with Anthony Beauvillier and Bryan Rust right now.

I definitely don't think Malkin is better than Crosby at this point. Crosby still pulls off the craziest plays and is much more of a consistent impact in all 3 zones of the ice. Crosby could have had multiple Sportscenter Top 10 plays last night alone if his teammates finished on the insane passes he was making.

Yeah I’ll have to tune into more pens games for sure, especially while both are still healthy and before they decline for good.

 

[User9992]

Can't wait to see the day Malkin's number & surname hanging on Penguins rafters!

 

[authentic]

He really wants to get into that top-100.

Unfortunately there’s one man who won’t allow that to happen.

 

[BallardEra]

He's gunning for the record:

38-Year Old NHL Players - Regular Season Stats

38-year old NHL player stats. NHL player statistics segmented by age group.

www.quanthockey.com

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Let the 38 year old who scored his 500 goals have the light on him.

We know it's October.

 

[MessierII]

He looks healthier this year. I remember watching him last year and he seemed barely recognizable. He looks sharper this year at least so far.

 

[End on a Hinote]

Red Borscht

I'd be scared every time I looked down at the toilet seat!

 

[Honour Over Glory]

This season is likely his last hurrah before he goes back to Russia, the contract is seemingly designed with a dummy year on the end to be voided after he gets paid his bonus. One of the greats of his generation, overshadowed by Crosby.

What a ridiculously stupid statement to make with absolutely zero proof to back it up. Malkin has never once stated he wanted to leave before the end of his contract and has never once made it even appear as though he would.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

What a ridiculously stupid statement to make with absolutely zero proof to back it up. Malkin has never once stated he wanted to leave before the end of his contract and has never once made it even appear as though he would.

Well the claim is based on the rumor/report that this was his last year in the NHL (which I assumed most reading the thread had heard so I didn't cite it):

Possible Malkin retirement?

Mark Madden(I know, I know) claimed on his radio show that he has sources saying this will be Malkin's last season in the NHL and he'll go back to Russia to play. I know people hate on double M but he's fairly connected in Pittsburgh. Are we going to see more take the Kuzy route and end their...

forums.hfboards.com

which he apparently denied fwiw:

Evgeni Malkin comes clean on rumors surrounding his Penguins future

NHL insider Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive reported that this would be Evgeni Malkin's final season in the NHL.

www.sportskeeda.com

The contract is certainly structured in such a way that he could void his deal at minimal financial penalty if he does it after getting his 3.8m signing bonus, cause he then forfeits only a 1m salary:

Evgeni Malkin | 4yrs x 6.100M (PIT)

Evgeni Malkin signed a 4 year, $24,400,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jul. 12, 2022. The contract has a cap hit of $6,100,000.

capwages.com

Yes it's true Malkin never explicitly said this is the plan but the dots connect given he wants to return to Russia and the structure of the deal.

Penguins' Evgeni Malkin Reveals Post-NHL Plans

So that's the evidence at least the evidence I'm aware of, to be determined if it was all just baseless rumor mongering.