What's wrong with Malkin?

[Video Nasty]

Malkin is 38 years old. I'm not sure what you or anyone expected of him, but despite the supposedly shitty season he is having he is still on pace for a top-20 all-time season(by ppg) for a 38-year-old player in line with HOF players like Teemu Selänne and Mark Messier.

I didn’t expect anything from him. In fact, I think I was just as excited by his play as all of you in that thread that started the season. We all knew it was temporary. We can comment on that with glee, but when someone makes a thread about the violent decline, it’s too much for you to handle?

“Supposedly shitty?” It’s shitty. It’s a first half where he’s been god awful for the last 88% of it and his numbers are buoyed by those opening handful of games.

You realize that if he plays at the “pace” he has for the vast majority of this season or is worse, he won’t be inside the top 30 for PPG on your list, right? Players like Selanne and Messier also rebounded and had very good years after the age of 38. Maybe some of us are wondering if something like that is possible for Malkin?

This next part isn’t directed solely at you, but more the people who liked your post and commented after. I don’t get the smugness of most of you. He had a great year in 2022-2023. He closed out last season strong. He started this season sublime. Yeah, he’s old. We’ve all watched sports and the decline. It’s still a fair thing to muse on.

 

[BallardEra]

I didn’t expect anything from him. In fact, I think I was just as excited by his play as all of you in that thread that started the season. We all knew it was temporary. We can comment on that with glee, but when someone makes a thread about the violent decline, it’s too much for you to handle?

“Supposedly shitty?” It’s shitty. It’s a first half where he’s been god awful for the last 88% of it and his numbers are buoyed by those opening handful of games.

You realize that if he plays at the “pace” he has for the vast majority of this season or is worse, he won’t be inside the top 30 for PPG on your list, right? Players like Selanne and Messier also rebounded and had very good years after the age of 38. Maybe some of us are wondering if something like that is possible for Malkin?

This next part isn’t directed solely at you, but more the people who liked your post and commented after. I don’t get the smugness of most of you. He had a great year in 2022-2023. He closed out last season strong. He started this season sublime. Yeah, he’s old. We’ve all watched sports and the decline. It’s still a fair thing to muse on.

I have to agree with you. Another guy was telling me that I should be watching enough games between the Leafs and Caps to know what's up. I probably watch 2-3 games a year at this point. When Ovechkin was trash in the first half of last year, I was asking others on here that were watching as to why he was playing so poorly. Another guy even said I made this as a "dunk" thread. Some people are overly sensitive for sure.

I was also asking more specifically about his drop in goals and shots. Maybe he isn't the trigger man on his line?

Last season he had 27 goals in 82 games with 199 shots for 2.43 shots per game.

This season he has 8 goals in 41 games with 71 shots for 1.73 shots per game.

Even at 38 years old, I'd expect a guy like Malkin to both have more than 8 goals and 71 shots after half a season.

 

[Duffy13]

Last year they had Guentzal, Rust, Rakell, and whatever plug that was doing something at the time in the top 6 wings.

Guentzal has been replaced by Bunting and Crosby is getting Rust and Rakell.

Huge drop in winger quality for Malkin is probably the biggest reason, but age does look like it's starting to really catch him.

Would be nice to see the Pens get an adequate player who can play C/W on the 2nd line to give Malkin the odd break from the full 200' Center duties.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

8 goals after 41 games and only 71 shots in 41 games is mind blowing for a guy with this skill.

He's 38 and has had 2 torn ACLs in his career. It's not mind blowing at all, he's old. He's on pace for 64 points, which would be 11th all time for a 38 year old.

 

[blankall]

He's 38 and has had 2 torn ACLs in his career. It's not mind blowing at all, he's old. He's on pace for 64 points, which would be 11th all time for a 38 year old.

11th all time at his age is very impressive. Especially considering that he's not leaching points of his linemates either, which I presume at least a few of the guys on the list ahead of him were. If he wasn't constantly being compared to Crosby and Ovechkin, this thread wouldn't exist.

 

[BallardEra]

He's 38 and has had 2 torn ACLs in his career. It's not mind blowing at all, he's old. He's on pace for 64 points, which would be 11th all time for a 38 year old.

Would love to see him have a strong second half.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Last year they had Guentzal, Rust, Rakell, and whatever plug that was doing something at the time in the top 6 wings.

Guentzal has been replaced by Bunting and Crosby is getting Rust and Rakell.

Huge drop in winger quality for Malkin is probably the biggest reason, but age does look like it's starting to really catch him.

Would be nice to see the Pens get an adequate player who can play C/W on the 2nd line to give Malkin the odd break from the full 200' Center duties.

Mostly a combination of these, yeah. Obvs if the Pens were a wagon he'd have better production, but he's no longer at the stage where he can prop up average wingers.

 

[1specter]

Still a good player who is just aging and out of his prime, plus has had some serious injuries and is playing without much support. It happens, not everyone can be like LeBron or Sid.

 

[TheStatican]

I didn’t expect anything from him. In fact, I think I was just as excited by his play as all of you in that thread that started the season. We all knew it was temporary. We can comment on that with glee, but when someone makes a thread about the violent decline, it’s too much for you to handle?

“Supposedly shitty?” It’s shitty. It’s a first half where he’s been god awful for the last 88% of it and his numbers are buoyed by those opening handful of games.

You realize that if he plays at the “pace” he has for the vast majority of this season or is worse, he won’t be inside the top 30 for PPG on your list, right? Players like Selanne and Messier also rebounded and had very good years after the age of 38. Maybe some of us are wondering if something like that is possible for Malkin?

I would have thought that this was clear to you, but it seems you need to be reminded of one simple fact: sports performance often fluctuates due to natural variance. Even the best players experience slumps or periods where results don’t align with their efforts or capabilities. How many people thought Ovechkin was washed up after the first half of last season? Or that MacKinnon would soon be left behind in the scoring race after his November slump? A more balanced evaluation requires a holistic approach that considers an athlete’s entire season, not just a third of it, as well as career trends and context. Factors like the quality of teammates, their role on the team, and external circumstances provide crucial insight when assessing why a player might not be meeting expectations.

This next part isn’t directed solely at you, but more the people who liked your post and commented after. I don’t get the smugness of most of you.

Really? You needed to address the likes on my post?

It really bothers you, doesn't it Vid Nasty, when your opinion isn't shared by the majority.

 

[Video Nasty]

I would have thought that this was clear to you, but it seems you need to be reminded of one simple fact: sports performance often fluctuates due to natural variance. Even the best players experience slumps or periods where results don’t align with their efforts or capabilities. How many people thought Ovechkin was washed up after the first half of last season? Or that MacKinnon would soon be left behind in the scoring race after his November slump? A more balanced evaluation requires a holistic approach that considers an athlete’s entire season, not just a third of it, as well as career trends and context. Factors like the quality of teammates, their role on the team, and external circumstances provide crucial insight when assessing why a player might not be meeting expectations.


Really? You needed to address the likes on my post?

It really bothers you, doesn't it Vid Nasty, when your opinion isn't shared by the majority.

So which is it exactly? Is it natural variance or it because he’s 38 and nothing should be expected of him? Or is it the usual Pittsburgh mumbo jumbo where anything goes depending on what if?

There are real people tapping like button, which is generally an agreement without feeling the need to also post. I am addressing them, as well as you.

 

[Machinehead]

People will say Father Time is undefeated.

That's bullshit, he lost to Jagr and Keith Richards.

But he wins most of them.

 

[bobbyking]

1. he's past his prime
2. he looks like Shrek
3. he's on the pens