What is Malkin missing from being the best player of his generation?

[Varan]

Inspired by illpucks thread on Kane where it is consensus that Kane will never be the best of his generation. However Malkin is interesting because he is on the level of Crosby and OV and is part of the "Big 3" because, he has the accolades, the skill, the performances of 87/8, the most dominant playoff run in recent memory, and many can make the argument that at his best, he is better than 87/8.

The sad thing about Malkin's career is that it has been hampered by injuries, so there aren't more "dominant" seasons that stand out like Crosby and OV, however he did just score 98 points last season, playing at an MVP level, and would have topped 100 points had he played all 82 games.

With that being said, what is missing for Malkin to make him #1 of the Big 3?

Click to read more...

 

[ottawa]

A Canadian birth certificate

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

He’s not better than Crosby, Crosby himself was ravaged by injuries during his peak. Crosby has the better prime and career still.

Malkin only has 4 top 10 finishes in scoring while Crosby has 10.

Simple he’s just not good enough

 

[Varan]

A Canadian birth certificate

ouch

 

[FrozenJagrt]

Probably would have helped if he had played elsewhere. Being a Penguin, he was always going to be in Crosby's shadow and thus doesn't necessarily get the credit he deserves

 

[McGuires Corndog]

He’d have to have been better than Crosby or Ovechkin, which he hasn’t.

 

[HansonBro]

Health

 

[780il]

Not being as good as Crosby or Ovi

 

[Machinehead]

He's missing being as good as Crosby or Ovechkin.

 

[the mcdavid era]

At his peak he was the best player in the world. But he hasn’t been consistent enough and lost a lot of time to injuries

 

[Dondini]

Health and consistency. No doubt he had stretches as the best but not quite long enough. IMO it’s between Crosby and ovechkin with a slight edge to Crosby

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Mostly health.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Not being as good as Crosby or Ovi

His 08-09 and 11-12 i would put up against the best of both Crosby/Ovechkin. He doesn't have their consistency though and is more injury prone.

 

[GreatGonzo]

Playing on the same team as Crosby.
Injuries leading to inconsistent play.
Not being Canadien.

He’s not better than Crosby, Crosby himself was ravaged by injuries during his peak. Crosby has the better prime and career still.

Malkin only has 4 top 10 finishes in scoring while Crosby has 10.

Simple he’s just not good enough

So you mention Crosby having to deal with injuries while ignoring that The reason why Malkin has only 4 top 10 finishes is because of injuries? Might want to add that context....he’s second in PPG with 9 top 10 finishes, 7 of them within the top 5. Injuries definitely robbed Malkin of more top end seasons. It’s hardly him not being good enough. Malkins injuries have plagued him from being in scoring races plenty of times. That’s what causes the inconsistencies.

At their best, it’s obviously close. Closer than people want to admit. Crosby’s prime was longer and he was more consistent, so rightfully so he gets the nod, but in no way is Malkin “not good enough.” That’s ridiculous. Malkin is just as, if not more dominant than Crosby at his finest. Crosby was just dominant for a longer span. Maybe if we saw peak Crosby, maybe it wouldn’t be so close, but the same could be said for Malkin.

Malkins ‘12 season and his ‘09 playoffs are arguably better than any of Crosby’s top seasons.

 

[Benedict Kovalchuk]

Frequently injured, kinda inconsistent, and absolutely hideous to boot.

 

[Beauner]

Consistency. At his best he's better than 87 or 8

 

[Ainec]

Canadian, if Ovechkin never existed

 

[Madifer]

One word: consistency.

During his prime, when he was on, he was second to none. His utter inability to maintain that shape has cost him the title.

 

[ESH]

He has a few seasons as a top player in the league. Crosby and Ovechkin each have like 10+

 

[Bank Shot]

Missing the vaunted Mark Messier Leadership Award

 

[DearDiary]

He has a few seasons as a top player in the league. Crosby and Ovechkin each have like 10+

That's only due to injuries. He's 2nd in career ppg in the regular season, overall he's been better than Crosby and Ovechkin in the playoffs

 

[GlitchMarner]

Consistency. At his best he's better than 87 or 8

I don't know about that.

Was he ever really better than Ovechkin when he scored 65 goals or had 109 points in 72 games? Was he ever better than Crosby in '10-'11 or '12-'13?

 

[TropicalFruitGirl2]

I think Malkin is still a fantastic player, but "best in his generation"?
Not happening. Not with the players that are in his generation.

It's not necessarily a bad thing.

That could be like, years down the road, somebody asking "What is Eichel missing to be the BEST player of his generation?"
The answer would be, "Not be in the same generation as McDavid"

Anyways, as good as Malkin is, I think one of the things that work against him is overall smarts.
Not saying he is dumb, but he does let his emotions get the better of him, teams know this, they bait him, and 8, 9 times out of 10, he bites, goes off, gets put into the box and costs his team a goal.

Guys like Crosby, Ovechkin, already mentioned, are a bit smarter when it comes to "taking bait" teams put in front of them.
Not saying they don't EVER lose their cool, but for the most part, they pick their spots.
Malkin, on the other hand, always seems to be a ticking time bomb waiting to go off if he is agitated enough.....and we ALL KNOW, star players are targets for the agitators. Goes with the territory.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

One of the worst cliches perpetuated on these boards and in the general hockey worlds is that Malkin is "better than Crosby when he cares/wants to" or "when he's on his game"

 

[authentic]

At his best he is as good, not better.