Joe Sakic or Evgeni Malkin
- Thread starter Filthy Dangles
- Start date
BeastoftheEast85
Registered User
Malkin, not as durable and consistent but a better hockey player in his prime.
Flip a coin.
Can't go wrong either way, I liked Joe and saw more of him but Malkin is probably the 2nd best player of his generation behind Crosby.
Can't go wrong either way, I liked Joe and saw more of him but Malkin is probably the 2nd best player of his generation behind Crosby.
Felidae
Registered User
- Sep 30, 2016
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Here are their stats.
Joe Sakic
Points
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PPG
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Goals
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GPG
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Selke finishes: 2, 9, 10, 13, 15, 15, 24.
Hart finishes: 1, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 14, 14, 15
Evgeni Malkin
Points
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PPG
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Goals
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GPG
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Hart finishes: 1, 2, 7
Sakic in the latter half of his career from 1999 to 2006 was defensively sound. Evgeni Malkin is the slightly better point producer and goal scorer. Sakic's competition in the early 2000s was weaker than anything Malkin faced.
On a per game basis it's debatable who was better. But based on what's actually been accomplished, hard not to go with Sakic.
Joe Sakic
Points
| 1989-90 NHL 102 (10th) |
| 1990-91 NHL 109 (6th) |
| 1994-95 NHL 62 (4th) |
| 1995-96 NHL 120 (3rd) |
| 1998-99 NHL 96 (5th) |
| 1999-00 NHL 81 (8th) |
| 2000-01 NHL 118 (2nd) |
| 2001-02 NHL 79 (5th) |
| 2003-04 NHL 87 (2nd) |
| 2006-07 NHL 100 (6th) |
PPG
| 1990-91 NHL 1.36 (6th) |
| 1991-92 NHL 1.36 (6th) |
| 1994-95 NHL 1.32 (5th) |
| 1995-96 NHL 1.46 (5th) |
| 1998-99 NHL 1.32 (3rd) |
| 1999-00 NHL 1.35 (2nd) |
| 2000-01 NHL 1.44 (3rd) |
| 2003-04 NHL 1.07 (7th) |
| 2006-07 NHL 1.22 (8th) |
Goals
| 1990-91 NHL 48 (6th) |
| 1995-96 NHL 51 (5th) |
| 1998-99 NHL 41 (6th) |
| 2000-01 NHL 54 (2nd) |
| 2003-04 NHL 33 (10th) |
GPG
| 1990-91 NHL 0.54 (5th) |
| 1994-95 NHL 0.47 (7th) |
| 1995-96 NHL 0.57 (4th) |
| 1998-99 NHL 0.50 (4th) |
| 1999-00 NHL 0.49 (3rd) |
| 2000-01 NHL 0.56 (3rd) |
| 2003-04 NHL 0.39 (9th) |
Selke finishes: 2, 9, 10, 13, 15, 15, 24.
Hart finishes: 1, 6, 7, 7, 7, 8, 14, 14, 15
Evgeni Malkin
Points
| 2007-08 NHL 106 (2nd) |
| 2008-09 NHL 113 (1st) |
| 2011-12 NHL 109 (1st) |
| 2017-18 NHL 98 (4th) |
PPG
| 2007-08 NHL 1.29 (3rd) |
| 2008-09 NHL 1.38 (2nd) |
| 2009-10 NHL 1.15 (8th) |
| 2011-12 NHL 1.45 (1st) |
| 2013-14 NHL 1.20 (2nd) |
| 2014-15 NHL 1.01 (7th) |
| 2015-16 NHL 1.02 (4th) |
| 2016-17 NHL 1.16 (3rd) |
| 2017-18 NHL 1.26 (3rd) |
Goals
| 2007-08 NHL 47 (4th) |
| 2011-12 NHL 50 (2nd) |
| 2017-18 NHL 42 (4th) |
GPG
| 2007-08 NHL 0.57 (6th) |
| 2011-12 NHL 0.67 (2nd) |
| 2015-16 NHL 0.47 (6th) |
| 2016-17 NHL 0.53 (3rd) |
| 2017-18 NHL 0.54 (3rd) |
Hart finishes: 1, 2, 7
Sakic in the latter half of his career from 1999 to 2006 was defensively sound. Evgeni Malkin is the slightly better point producer and goal scorer. Sakic's competition in the early 2000s was weaker than anything Malkin faced.
On a per game basis it's debatable who was better. But based on what's actually been accomplished, hard not to go with Sakic.
Nathaniel Skywalker
Registered User
- Oct 18, 2013
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GreatGonzo
Surrounded by Snowflakes
I mean was Malkin really that much better than Sakic at their absolute peak? Their best seasons are extremely close, while their best playoff runs are also extremely close.
You can’t go wrong either way. Malkin can be argued as a much more skilled player offensively, but better? I don’t know. Sakic had better longevity while having a better all around game than Malkin, while their peaks are close, Malkin does have two scoring titles and a Hart.
You can’t go wrong either way. Malkin can be argued as a much more skilled player offensively, but better? I don’t know. Sakic had better longevity while having a better all around game than Malkin, while their peaks are close, Malkin does have two scoring titles and a Hart.
GlitchMarner
Typical malevolent, devious & vile Maple Leafs fan
I think maybe some people underrate how skilled Sakic was. He wasn't just a guy who was pretty good that played for a long time. His 2001 and 1996 seasons are very, very good and they compare to Malkin's best seasons.
Also, Sakic didn't play behind Crosby and was better defensively (later on in his career anyway).
Sakic has a Hart and Conn Smythe as well and would also have two Art Rosses if not for Lemieux and Jagr.
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GlitchMarner
Typical malevolent, devious & vile Maple Leafs fan
What area is he better in?
Their respective best two seasons are comparable and Sakic beats him in durability, longevity and defense.
GreatGonzo
Surrounded by Snowflakes
This is true. I meant more on just being a better offensively gifted player. But it isn’t by much, and I can see the argument for Sakic.
I don’t think it matters that Malkin plays behind Crosby. He showed his abilities countless times as a first line center, but the problem is his health and lack of consistency, and although Sakic has had us fair share of missed games, he was still overall a more impactful player due to simply being there.
Sakic did have more competition, but we still have to give Malkin a good amount of credit for having two scoring titles in this era. I think that’s one of the few things that Malkin has over Sakic, but Sakics ‘01 season can still be seen as better overall. His ‘96 seasons was phenomenal as well.
Sidney the Kidney
One last time
- Jun 29, 2009
- 55,750
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Doesn't a segment of HF insist Forsberg is better than Crosby? So, if that's the case, shouldn't having Forsberg shoulder a lot of the load for Sakic be equal to or better than Malkin's benefit playing with Crosby?
22FUTON9
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- Jun 30, 2010
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I don't think bringing Forsberg or Crosby helps either of them tbh. Both got better matchups because of each other.
I don't think anyone really thinks Forsberg was the better player considering everything they've done but their peaks were definitely close and that's maybe where they're coming from. (Don't get me wrong though I definitely think crosbys a top 10 player all time)
I'm going with Sakic here
Mackinnonen
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Leonhard Euler
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Since you're asking about who we think was/is the better player not who had better career i'll take Malkin. And he's not done yet.
When exactly was Malkin a better player than Joe was in 01? Hart, 2nd in Selke voting, 2nd in goals scored (behind Bure), 2nd in points scored (behind Jagr whose stats got bloated up after Mario returned), fantastic in the playoffs without Foppa and with a bum shoulder, played against other team's top lines, etc. Or lets take 96, 2nd highest goal total in the playoffs of all time, 120 points, 34 playoff points in 22 games, Smythe, 5th in goals, 3rd in points behind Mario and Jagr etc.
Jarey Curry
Avalanche of Makar
Wait you just said Malkin is the better player but then said Sakic is has the better career (as a player). I guess you have to pick only one player and not both
KoozNetsOff 92
Hala Madrid
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It's not some huge gap or anything, but I'd say Malkin's 11/12 is definitely the best season between them.
How exactly? In playoffs he played only 6 games, Sakic carried his team offensively to the Cup, one played the role of the go-to shutdown centre on his team and came 2nd in goals (5 behind Bure, while Malkin came 2nd 10 goals behind Stamkos) and points (3 behind Jagr and 22 points ahead of 3rd, while Malkin won with 12 points ahead of Stamkos), 2nd in Selke voting to Madden, won the Smythe, had a higher goals created rating than Malkin with 45.9 compared to 42.6, bested him in adjusted points 128 to 122, point shares, etc.
GlitchMarner
Typical malevolent, devious & vile Maple Leafs fan
Maybe he's been a little bit better on a per game basis in their best 10 seasons or so, but it's not like comparing Eric Lindros to Ron Francis or something.
I agree i didn't say it wasn't close. You can be better while it still being close
Nathaniel Skywalker
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