I have certain people on ignore for a reason, unfortunately the quoted posts can be seen. I guess I’ll address it.
We definitely don’t have two number one lines. And when 71 came back in 2016 from injury we didn’t have two number one lines. Malkin was a third line center and told to deal with leftovers, not negotiable.
Yes, I’d think about stacking his line. He also needs to be deployed in all the situations Sid currently is (key faceoffs, the go to at the end of games, defensive situations, hell I’d have him start games). There is a clear number one and it’s Sid, and if you can’t see it you’re just being obtuse.
I love Sid (and Mike Sullivan by the way), and I’ve never advocated this before. But with few exceptions, Malkin has been the far superior player offensively and defensively this year. I thought Sid would dominate when he got back. But with a month and a half to observe, he clearly can’t. Everything was readjusted except Rust to make room for Sid when he got back, and the lines are f***ed.
Just take the focus off Sid and let Malkin run with it. And no, I would not play Letang with Malkin, not because they are bad together but because Letang is a dumpster fire and Malkin should play with Marino to maximize his talent.
None of this will happen because Mike Sullivan is not capable of adjusting when he gets like this until he gets beaten over the head like a baseball bat with the reality. I think his bias for Crosby based on previous years is too great.