Is Evgeni Malkin sort-of done as an elite player?

[The Panther]

What a career! But he's 34, soon to be 35, has 4 goals on 45 shots, and is -6 in the past four games. What do ya think?

 

[Gurglesons]

What a career! But he's 34, soon to be 35, has 4 goals on 45 shots, and is -6 in the past four games. What do ya think?

Maybe, but I find it highly doubtful. I imagine just one of the players who is going to have a down year because of COVID.

 

[zar]

Haven't watched him much this year... but that was my guess as soon as a Penguins fan offered him up as the main piece for Leon Draisaitl. To be fair, many Penguin fans even said the OP in that thread was out to lunch.

He's at that age where he will likely move from elite superstar to very good player.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Crosby (18 points in 20 games) and Malkin (12 points in 20 games) have both looked bad, but Malkin moreso.

Hard to get a read on it now. They're getting older, there was no preseason this year, playing tough defensive teams every night (6 games against the isles just in the last 2 weeks), and Sullivan seems to be lost.

Malkin had 74 points in 55 games last season so I don't think he just fell off a cliff in less than a year. Not going to write either of them off as elite players until we get back to a normal season. If they're still underperforming then maybe yea time has caught up to them.

 

[robes1]

That entire team just looks like they've given up. I'm sure Geno (and Sid) could definitely light it up, with a coaching change.

 

[jetsforever]

He's one of those players who could look done and then come back with another monster season, so who knows?

 

[ItWasJustified]

Apparently he couldn't skate in Russia during the off-season. I'm pretty sure a player who was on pace for over 100 points last season suddenly would have a giant drop-off without something like lack of training over the ''summer''.

 

[OysterForever]

Besides lack of skating during the off-season, his recurring elbow injury doesn't help either.

 

[CactusPens]

I'm not counting him out yet.

 

[Albatros]

He hasn't been an elite player more than sporadically since years anymore.

 

[SomeDude]

He also commented early on how much different it is playing in empty arenas. It is hard for some guys to manufacture the adrenaline and energy from playing in front of 18k people.

 

[CapsJunkie]

hes really good, i think hes fine

 

[LionsHeart]

I think the grind of this division is wearing on a lot of teams. I’d imagine it would be especially difficult for older vets (can’t believe I’m talking about Malkin like this).

 

[Amazinmets73]

I'd say he's done as an elite player. However, it's highly unlikely he'll continue to play this poorly (i.e one of the worst players in the league).

A poster here told me he said he's had motivation issues due to lack of fans, but I haven't looked into that.

As you said, hell of a career.

 

[Midnight Judges]

A player like that could always go on a heater. He's not too old for that.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

#1C on the Has Been Team

Skinner Malkin Duchene
Karlsson Subban
Price

$58 million per year for that pile of turds

 

[The Andrew Peeke Fan]

Future Florida Panther

 

[Scandale du Jour]

We'll play Buffalo and New Jersey at some point and his stats will improve.

That being said, he does not look like himself out there.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

#1C on the Has Been Team

Skinner Malkin Duchene
Karlsson Subban
Price

$58 million per year for that pile of turds

Well I am taking the guy with 12 points in 20 games and the guy who just last year was at 100+ points Malkin.

Let's hold off on him joining this all star team.

 

[topshelf15]

Lots of miles on him now...He is slowing...

 

[Beukeboom]

He hasn't been an elite player more than sporadically since years anymore.

74 points in 55 games last season imply that the undefined "sporadically" is pretty darn good? Imagine having a 100point pace while not being an elite player for most of the time.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Well I am taking the guy with 12 points in 20 games and the guy who just last year was at 100+ points Malkin.

Let's hold off on him joining this all star team.

His last 100+ pt season was nearly a decade ago, pace doesn’t matter when you miss that much time

 

[DrewGl]

The "Big 3" are def aging to an extent but this is a very unique season. Let's see what happens come playoff time when the stakes get raised - assuming both teams make it in a tight division at the moment.

 

[Albatros]

74 points in 55 games last season imply that the undefined "sporadically" is pretty darn good? Imagine having a 100point pace while not being an elite player for most of the time.

Since 2012 he's had two seasons with any award votes. All credit for last year, but it's not where he's been with any consistency. I don't see his current play as an anomaly at all minding that.

 

[Pens x]

Maybe, but I find it highly doubtful. I imagine just one of the players who is going to have a down year because of COVID.

Homer excuse right there. I wasn’t aware that the other players weren’t impacted by COVID.