Is Evgeni Malkin Now The Penguins' Best Player?

[Turin]

By the way just because Crosby was awarded the Conn Smythe in 2017 doesn't mean he played better. Awards are always suspect because of media bias. Just like last year Kuznetsov was the Caps best player in the playoffs and it was awarded to Ovechkin. Neither was a crime (like 2016) but to say that Crosby absolutely played better in the playoffs in 2017 and Ovechkin absolutely played better than Kuznetsov in 2018 would be a crime. Geno has also changed his game this year. No more ramming and playing recklessly. He's playing a little softer to avoid getting hurt and working on his faceoffs. If he can keep it up he should be able to challenge McDavid and McKinnon for the Art Ross.

Crosby was the best player in the 2017 playoffs. He gets the harder matchups and produces the same, provides a better defensive game while dealing with a concussion in the middle of it. Malkin was great too, just not quite as good especially in the finals. Kuznetsov was the best in the 2018 playoffs, that’s unrelated.

 

[NoMessi]

Huh? Crosby is probably the greatest grinder of all time. Calling him a perimeter player contradicts his whole style of play. The dude is freakishly strong for his size.

He was after his concussion and before Sullivan.

Did you watch Penguins-Bruins in 2013? Thats a good example of someone too scared to get into dirty areas.

And yes, hes the greatest grinder of all time, but he hasnt been the same throughout his career. Have you forgotten when he was a playmaking speedster as a rookie up until his first major injury?

 

[NoMessi]

And also, Malkin was better in the 2017 playoffs.

 

[daver]

He was after his concussion and before Sullivan.

Did you watch Penguins-Bruins in 2013? Thats a good example of someone too scared to get into dirty areas.

And yes, hes the greatest grinder of all time, but he hasnt been the same throughout his career. Have you forgotten when he was a playmaking speedster as a rookie up until his first major injury?

You just knew that those four games would be used to paint a whole four seasons. Are you referring to the playoffs where Crosby played with a broken jaw?

I know Malkin doesn't get the recognition he deserves but the lengths some will go to bring down Crosby is hilarious.

 

[Satire]

I think we can conclusively say that Malkin is possibly the best player on the Pens. Maybe.

 

[DickSmehlik]

Crosby was the best player in the 2017 playoffs. He gets the harder matchups and produces the same, provides a better defensive game while dealing with a concussion in the middle of it. .

Like the time he was on the ice for 8 of the 12 Caps even strength goals in the 2nd round last year. Like everything Crosby does, his defense his way overrated.

 

[Turin]

He was after his concussion and before Sullivan.

Did you watch Penguins-Bruins in 2013? Thats a good example of someone too scared to get into dirty areas.

And yes, hes the greatest grinder of all time, but he hasnt been the same throughout his career. Have you forgotten when he was a playmaking speedster as a rookie up until his first major injury?

Crosby’s boardwork and net-front game have always been key staples in his style. 4 games against Chara with a broken jaw doesn’t change that. Crosby got that broken jaw because he was around the net and took a deflected slap shot to the face.. the only time he ever was a perimeter player relatively was last year, and even then that wasn’t every game. Just because Crosby could score from range back then doesn’t mean he was a floater.

 

[snipes]

No. Love Geno. But Crosby is the better all-around player and is far more consistent in the defensive zone. Crosby is the one who gets the tough assignments.

Ask McDavid and Matthews. Sid shut them down 5-on-5.

What?

McDavid owns Sid head to head from a personal performance standpoint. Pens are a better team obviously

 

[Turin]

Like the time he was on the ice for 8 of the 12 Caps even strength goals in the 2nd round last year. Like everything Crosby does, his defense his way overrated.

Yea those were all his fault. Like when Letang went to the entirely wrong side of the ice, totally his fault. Or when Murray gave up that extremely soft bad angle Chiasson goal in game 6, Sid should have had that. Malkin is good defensively when he wants to be, but Crosby is better when the games matter.

 

[Nadal On Clay]

What?

McDavid owns Sid head to head from a personal performance standpoint. Pens are a better team obviously

I wouldn’t say he owns him, but he’s definitely been better when they faced each other.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

He was after his concussion and before Sullivan.

Did you watch Penguins-Bruins in 2013? Thats a good example of someone too scared to get into dirty areas.

And yes, hes the greatest grinder of all time, but he hasnt been the same throughout his career. Have you forgotten when he was a playmaking speedster as a rookie up until his first major injury?

You are right, he wasn't going to the dirty areas for the first 2.5 games of that series. Possibly due to the fact that Bergeron and Chara tag teamed to sucker punch a restrained Crosby the first game he had his face shield removed after returning from a broken jaw. Regardless, if your evidence of being a perimeter player is only 2.5 games, almost every player in history is a perimeter player.

 

[3074326]

He was after his concussion and before Sullivan.

Did you watch Penguins-Bruins in 2013? Thats a good example of someone too scared to get into dirty areas.

And yes, hes the greatest grinder of all time, but he hasnt been the same throughout his career. Have you forgotten when he was a playmaking speedster as a rookie up until his first major injury?

So you're basing your opinion on one series.

Not a good argument man. You're wrong here.

 

[Pi]

Does it matter?

They have three amazing players. Yes, I said three. Kessel is extremely underrated.

 

[DickSmehlik]

. Malkin is good defensively when he wants to be, but Crosby is better when the games matter.

Does this count?

 

[DearDiary]

Did you watch Penguins-Bruins in 2013? Thats a good example of someone too scared to get into dirty areas.
?

Obviously nothing to do with him breaking his jaw, wearing facial protection for 2 months and recommended to stay away from board battles after it was removed in the playoffs. Nothing to do with the classy Bruins players trying to continually sucker punch and elbow his injured jaw in the corners.

 

[Wings4Life]

For three straight playoffs (2016, 2017, 2018), Crosby has been the better player than Malkin. So... But I agree, at this exact moment, Malkin is playing better.

In fact, looking at their entire career, the only two playoffs where Malkin was better than Crosby was 2009 and 2014.

Malkin also had better points per minute than Crosby in 2013 and 2017 playoffs as well. He won the playoff scoring title in 2017 and should have taken home the Conn Smythe.

 

[Novak Djokovic]

Malkin also had better points per minute than Crosby in 2013 and 2017 playoffs as well. He won the playoff scoring title in 2017 and should have taken home the Conn Smythe.

No, he shouldn't have. We can agree to disagree though. Malkin had 11 points in 5 games (!) in opening round against CBJ versus Crosby's 8 in 5. Crosby was more impressive as the difficulty in rounds increased.

Think back to OT goal against Jackets in Columbus, Games 1 and 2 in Washington with multiple goals by Crosby, better against the Sens (incl. assist on GWG), better performance against the Preds in SCF.

 

[Sidgeni Malkby]

Malkin has a higher ceiling, Crosby is more consistent. Crosby's consistency typical beats out Malkin's Lemieux like flashes. This year may be differ

Malkin plays a flashier style, and is better at stringing the puck on a thread and making plays all over the ice. He also has a great slapshot.

Crosby is better down low and better at making plays down low around the net. He also has a by far better overall shot (except for slapshot), and a best in-the-history-of-the-NHL backhand.

Crosby is a faster skater. Malkin is a more deft skater. Crosby will beat you with speed. Malkin won't.

If you have a breakaway, I'd almost always rather have Crosby than Malkin.
If you have a PP, you almost always rather Malkin control it. He just creates space so well for other players around him.

So is Malkin Now the Penguins best player? Right now he is, but that can change on a dime .

Damned spoiled that we have both of them on the Penguins.

 

[Hogan86]

He just might quietly be the best player in the league right now. He's in beastmode, and the guy doesn't even get any recognition, and never has. Geno is unreal.

 

[Ms Maggie]

Just happy to have both of them.

 

[bobbyking]

Crosby is the best Canadian on his team. If Crosby outperforms malkin in the po again this year then it's closer. But malkin was significantly better last season and this. The bias is really pathetic even in the media they made such a big deal about Crosby having 3 goals in 2 games before the Vancouver game. Malkin gets no recognition even though he was better in that game and up until that point

 

[Pengwins]

both are better than Ovechkin

 

[Huck Cheever]

He always was....

And Malkin won his Conn Smythe legitimately.

 

[Taluss]

I’d say he’s #2 in the leauge rn behind McDavid. So yes

 

[Turin]

Malkin also had better points per minute than Crosby in 2013 and 2017 playoffs as well. He won the playoff scoring title in 2017 and should have taken home the Conn Smythe.

Lol points per minute. He scored one more point in 1.5 more games played.