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

[SkinsFan09]

He's fine, this season is weird. I suspect, he, Crosby and Ovechkin will all end up looking much better towards the playoff stretch.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

When he is on, Malkin is the best player I’ve ever seen. As he’s gotten older, he’s just lost that consistency. Consistency it what makes great players great. McDavid is the best in the world because he is able to do it almost every night.

The talent is still there but the drive is lacking a bit a times.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Sometimes I wonder if Malkin has lost some of his fire for the game since having a kid. Before his son he was able to dedicate all of his focus to hockey (Training, skating, working out, etc.) But now he has something else to focus his time/motivation on.

This is 100% conjecture on my part, but it seems like it could be a reasonable explanation for what seems like a sudden decline in his effort level.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

If he is, he's going to be a Montreal Canadien soon

 

[The Panther]

Sometimes I wonder if Malkin has lost some of his fire for the game since having a kid. Before his son he was able to dedicate all of his focus to hockey (Training, skating, working out, etc.) But now he has something else to focus his time/motivation on.

This is 100% conjecture on my part, but it seems like it could be a reasonable explanation for what seems like a sudden decline in his effort level.

That happens, yes, but there's also the thing called AGE. He'll be 35 this summer, which is when a lot of players retire.

I defer to the experts, but just seeing the game highlights tonight it looks like Gino's line was going great-guns in the first two periods, and then some major defensive no-shows in the third period...

 

[Rodgerwilco]

That happens, yes, but there's also the thing called AGE. He'll be 35 this summer, which is when a lot of players retire.

I defer to the experts, but just seeing the game highlights tonight it looks like Gino's line was going great-guns in the first two periods, and then some major defensive no-shows in the third period...

Oh yeah, age definitely plays into it obviously. The effort level just doesn’t seem to be there.

Geno has been frustrating this year, after he finally got some good momentum with linemates Sully switches it right back when Sid returns. Annoying.

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

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.

I mean if he needs to face NJ and Buffalo to pad stats, that would kind of support the premise of the thread that he's done as an elite, top-5 forward in the league.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

I mean if he needs to face NJ and Buffalo to pad stats, that would kind of support the premise of the thread that he's done as an elite, top-5 forward in the league.

Well, 3 of the top 5 forwards in the game (Matthews, McDavid and Draisaitl) are being accused of boosting their stats in a crappy division... so I would guess that the status of Geno as a top forward will depend on HOW MUCH he boosts his stats

To be fair, it is okay to assume he is done as a top 5 forward. Sid probably is too. The question is, are they still elite? I think they are.

 

[crazy8888]

Malkin has had stretches in his career when his play dropped off. Im sure he will turn it up at some point and by the end of the season his numbers are not going to look bad at all.

 

[MikeK]

Malkin turns 35 in July. Some people have such a hard time accepting the fact that these players are actually human. I am, and always will be, a Malkin fan but people need to get a grip with reality. Of course his best days are behind him and given the type of game he played I predict he's likely only got a cpl more seasons before he's done.

 

[chethejet]

Even in his prime he had off games where he was lazy and just not engaged. Back then when he was engaged he was the best player in hockey. He still has big time talent and skill and can make plays to this day very few even think about. He is still a top 2 center and on some teams a number one.

 

[ViD]

Even at 37, he’s still a PPG player, he’s pretty consistent about that

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Even at 37, he’s still a PPG player, he’s pretty consistent about that

Agreed! He’s 36 though.

Also, strange Necro-bump of an old thread.

 

[wetcoast]

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

Came here to say this was still a decent forward when healthy when OP posted this and is aging okay but he isn't elite.

 

[BallardEra]

How do Pens fans feel he has looked and played this season?

 

[BobCole]

How do Pens fans feel he has looked and played this season?

Pretty good.

He seems to have his legs back after looking mighty slugish for the last season and a half or so. He doesn't motor all over the ice like he used to, but he can still kick into an extra gear that he couldn't as recently as a year ago. His shot is also still lethal. Just wish he'd use it more. Still a high risk/ high reward player. He's good for a few great takeaways per game and will likely have the odd giveaway from an ill-conceived pass, too. Seems to be taking marginally fewer stick infractions (a hallmark of his play), though I haven't looked at the #s to see if they back that assertion up.

Mostly, the Pens have struggled to find the right mix of top-6 wingers to split between Crosby/Malkin. Gunetzel is glued to Crosby, so that usually leaves Malkin with some mix of Rakell, Rust, Zucker, to play with. The problem is that Rust's game has fallen off of a cliff this year and Rakell doesn't seem to gel with Malkin as well as he does with Crosby. I wish there were another bonafide winger of Guentzel's calibre playing with Malkin.

 

[reino]

Malkin's been much better than his numbers are showing. I don't know if he's lost his scoring touch or if it is just bad luck. His skating looks great and that's the most important part

 

[Gurglesons]

How do Pens fans feel he has looked and played this season?

He looks good. Powerplay has been complete shit this year which is where he’s made his living the past few years.

I honestly would say despite the production saying otherwise that Malkin has been the more consistent 5v5 forward over Sid on both sides of the puck.

 

[Hisch13r]

I really don’t get why people ever doubted him. He’s Evgeni f***ing Malkin. Until he actually does fall off it shouldn’t be expected or assumed.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Pretty good.

He seems to have his legs back after looking mighty slugish for the last season and a half or so. He doesn't motor all over the ice like he used to, but he can still kick into an extra gear that he couldn't as recently as a year ago. His shot is also still lethal. Just wish he'd use it more. Still a high risk/ high reward player. He's good for a few great takeaways per game and will likely have the odd giveaway from an ill-conceived pass, too. Seems to be taking marginally fewer stick infractions (a hallmark of his play), though I haven't looked at the #s to see if they back that assertion up.

Mostly, the Pens have struggled to find the right mix of top-6 wingers to split between Crosby/Malkin. Gunetzel is glued to Crosby, so that usually leaves Malkin with some mix of Rakell, Rust, Zucker, to play with. The problem is that Rust's game has fallen off of a cliff this year and Rakell doesn't seem to gel with Malkin as well as he does with Crosby. I wish there were another bonafide winger of Guentzel's calibre playing with Malkin.

All this.

Also, Malkin has zero EN scoring this year, since he hasn’t been given that opportunity playing behind Crosby. If you added Ovechkin’s EN totals to Malkin’s numbers, he’d be pacing for 90 points like Ovechkin is.

 

[Albatros]

All this.

Also, Malkin has zero EN scoring this year, since he hasn’t been given that opportunity playing behind Crosby. If you added Ovechkin’s EN totals to Malkin’s numbers, he’d be pacing for 90 points like Ovechkin is.

Mm. Crosby's ES scoring as a whole stands at 18+20 (16:05 TOI), Malkin 9+12 (14:14). There's more than just opportunity to their difference.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Mm. Crosby's ES scoring as a whole stands at 18+20 (16:05 TOI), Malkin 9+12 (14:14). There's more than just opportunity to their difference.

Empty net scoring (not ES).

 

[Albatros]

Empty net scoring (not ES).

How could he keep up in EN scoring if he can't keep up in ES scoring?

 

[jbeck5]

I really don’t get why people ever doubted him. He’s Evgeni f***ing Malkin. Until he actually does fall off it shouldn’t be expected or assumed.

Huh but he has?

I think people mean "is malkin done with his 100-120 point paces?" Considering it's 3 years in a row of point per game-ish scoring...but point per game scoring doesn't make you elite when there multiple point per game guys on the majority of teams.

So, is malkin done being a top 5-10 player and is now more of a top 50-100 player going forward?

 

[TheGoldenJet]

How could he keep up in EN scoring if he can't keep up in ES scoring?

Malkin can’t keep up in EN scoring because he doesnt get EN opportunities this year.