Luigi Lemieux
Registered User
- Sep 26, 2003
- 21,592
- 9,500
This is true, one on two or one on one he just skates now around and waiting for a trailer..his pass will always be there. Nothing wrong with that with age, he can still anchor a great line for 5 years but he needs now different type of players on hi wings, he needs elite player that can do somewhat of a dirty work, and a good third wheel that can skate...I said this before, his future could be a better verion of Joe Thornton, no agressive crazy plays, less shots more set ups...However one thing people have wrong here is that he does not care, or his defense, thats lazy watching, he spends most of his minutes in our zone, on the wall trying to fish the puck out, out of 20 shifts probably half of them he just goes for a change after the puck is finally won in our zone and just dumped, only half of his shifts he is really working in OZ.Honestly I think Malkin's biggest problem has always been that he isn't Sid. He goes through more slumps, he loses his composure more often, and he doesn't have the consistency. Sid is just even more of a machine, and it often gets thrown on Malkin.
As far as the here and now, first take a look at the scoring leaders. Sid, Malkin, and Phil are all about the same, and nowhere near the lead. AO and Backstrom are the only guys in that age range that can even see the top of the scoring race from where they're sitting, and they're not close either. The league is going through the changing of the guard it always goes through every decade or so. Nothing is going to stop that no matter how much we root for the guys that we like (or complain about them).
In terms of Malkin himself, he looks like he's lost that extra gear to me, which can happen at age 32. He still does everything well, but when he tries to take on two Dmen there's just nothing there. I think he split them once a few games ago after trying about 4 times a game all year. He just doesn't have the speed he used to have to perform individual feats. Thankfully, he's still very good.
Things change. Players get older. He's not Mario and not quite Sid. That basically sums it up.
This is also true. Just watch him: right after Rust tied 2;2 he came out flying for 4-5 shifts, stealing the puck, moving the play, etc...and the he got penalty and his whole composure changes...he has always been like that...do you ever remember a game where he played well and we lost, unlike Sid who rarely has those kind of deliberate slumps...I see a complete lack of confidence. That's what I see. He fumbles the puck a lot. He passes up shots. He overpasses. He has no clue where his mates are. He's just struggling. That's all.
This is true, one on two or one on one he just skates now around and waiting for a trailer..his pass will always be there. Nothing wrong with that with age, he can still anchor a great line for 5 years but he needs now different type of players on hi wings, he needs elite player that can do somewhat of a dirty work, and a good third wheel that can skate...I said this before, his future could be a better verion of Joe Thornton, no agressive crazy plays, less shots more set ups...However one thing people have wrong here is that he does not care, or his defense, thats lazy watching, he spends most of his minutes in our zone, on the wall trying to fish the puck out, out of 20 shifts probably half of them he just goes for a change after the puck is finally won in our zone and just dumped, only half of his shifts he is really working in OZ.
he just needs you and a few others from this board to join hands and do the care bear stare, and maybe get some family members to do the care cousin's call. Malkin can only survive if you love him enough, talk about him enough, OBSESS OVER HIM ENOUGH. Please, make sure he's having regular movements.Years past we have all seen Malkin not play to his level. A lot of times we find out that he has been playing through an injury which had been 85% of the reason in the past. He started the year Ok almost where he left off last season with his 98 points play.. But this Malkin in the last 10 games is a very slow looking heavy Malkin. Defensive game is way below his actual level and just doesn't pick up speed or control the game. Prior years and even last year Malkin top notch version or not he would control the game, specially on the power play. Which is and was the beauty about having him and Crosby. But this is not good at all. Is this the decline version of Malkin we are seeing? Years past, when either Crosby or Malkin were sort of slumping, coaches would have them play together for a little bit just so they can find their game back.
My question is, what needs to happen with him. Do you guys think he will get out of this terrible state?
Yeah, if you say it every year, eventually it is going to be true. But based on how he played last year and in October of this year, I think it's a little bit panicky to say now is that time. Father Time is undefeated, but I doubt he closes the gap over the course of a month and a half.Hopefully it´s just one of those threads. And hopefully more of those threads are about to come in the future. But there will be a time when one of those threads will not be the same as those previous threads.
He was used to Hags carrying him.
Maybe put Rust with him now if Rust has snapped out of it? Rust has always been kind of streaky, he's played well with Malkin in the past, and he provides a lot of what Hagelin did.I know this is a joke, but I think Malkin's missing Hag's speed, defense, and puck retrieval right now. He can obviously play without him, but he's had the benefit of Hagelin doing the lion's share of thankless jobs for some time, which opened him up to do what he does best. It's a bit of an adjustment.
Maybe put Rust with him now if Rust has snapped out of it? Rust has always been kind of streaky, he's played well with Malkin in the past, and he provides a lot of what Hagelin did.
Good idea in theory, but I'd be hesitant to put Rust anywhere other than where he is right now.