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

[Sky04]

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.

Except he has fallen off. Doesn't mean he isn't s good player still but he's definitely dropped a tier, it's been 3 years since he put up good numbers, his team hasn't advanced out of the first round, not sure what else you need to see.

 

[Albatros]

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

Crosby has scored twice as many ES goals and that includes one EN.

 

[Breakers]

100% yes

 

[Artemi Panarin]

A measly 39 points in 42 games. Send this guy to the AHL already.

 

[eXile3]

Elite? Yes his days are done there. He’ll still hang around a point per game and be a good 2C.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Crosby has scored twice as many ES goals and that includes one EN.

Ok, what does this have to do with any of my posts?

 

[Albatros]

Ok, what does this have to do with any of my posts?

That Malkin isn't scoring a lot anymore because he's not that good of a goal scorer, especially on ES not. His stats are not an anomaly based on a lack of EN opportunities or anything alike. Since summer 2018 he has scored 54 ES goals in 239 games so it's not a new development either.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Yes but he's 36 it's expected. Still about a ppg guy though. His last knee injury and ACL surgery was the final nail. His last elite season was 2019-20, where he had 74 points in 55 games.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Yes but he's 36 it's expected. Still about a ppg guy though. His last knee injury and ACL surgery was the final nail. His last elite season was 2019-20, where he had 74 points in 55 games.

I think you can see both Geno AND Sid still have elite hands/vision, but both have lost speed and that's affecting their overall games. They still have the skill/vision to create some chances, but they don't have the speed they once did to do so on a more regular basis.

 

[PaulD]

Seen Habs Pens game Nov 12th. 10th row behind bench.

Malkin and Suzuki were the best two forwards on ice.

Gino aint done yet. Still got it.

 

[Harvey Birdman]

Elite? No. I expect very few athletes of any sport, not none, but very few to be truly elite at their craft at the age of 36. Is he still a very good 2C? Yes.

 

[buffalowing88]

Elite? Yes his days are done there. He’ll still hang around a point per game and be a good 2C.

Eh, I agree but I think the drop-off will make him go from being a "good 2C" to unplayable in a season or two at most. He's a great player to have in a complementary role but I imagine by 2024-2025 he'll be entirely done. He's had such a great career so I'm not trying to diminish, him, just saying I don't think he will have a good back-nine of his thirties and we're already getting into it.

 

[eXile3]

Eh, I agree but I think the drop-off will make him go from being a "good 2C" to unplayable in a season or two at most. He's a great player to have in a complementary role but I imagine by 2024-2025 he'll be entirely done. He's had such a great career so I'm not trying to diminish, him, just saying I don't think he will have a good back-nine of his thirties and we're already getting into it.

I disagree. He’ll be able to get points on the PP and stick around Joe Thornton style for a while. By the last year of his contract though he’ll be ready to go. So I guest my timeline differs from yours by one year.

 

[Three On Zero]

Looks like Malkin took this thread personality

 

[buffalowing88]

I disagree. He’ll be able to get points on the PP and stick around Joe Thornton style for a while. By the last year of his contract though he’ll be ready to go. So I guest my timeline differs from yours by one year.

That's fair. The more I thought about it after my post, the more I started thinking of him as a PP specialist. I guess it's just whether or not he mentally wants to keep playing. But you're right, it's certainly possible he keeps going but with like 14:00 TOI tops at the end.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Looks like Malkin took this thread personality

What a way for the singularity to start.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

That Malkin isn't scoring a lot anymore because he's not that good of a goal scorer, especially on ES not. His stats are not an anomaly based on a lack of EN opportunities or anything alike. Since summer 2018 he has scored 54 ES goals in 239 games so it's not a new development either.

I think you misunderstood point scoring for goalscoring. Malkin has no EN points whereas Crosby and Ovechkin are flirting with double digits. Malkin is on pace for ~29 goals, so his goalscoring is alright too.