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

[authentic]

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

You mean in 2009 he was?

 

[Turin]

More full seasons, Crosby not existing.

Crosby is sometimes considered to be the 5th best player all time, while Malkin is often ranked nowhere near him. Doesn’t make sense, as their careers are pretty close. Sid has had a better one though.

 

[Maplebeasts]

The last name Crosby

 

[Turin]

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

Years Malkin was better than Crosby in the playoffs: 2009 when he went up against Brad Stuart instead of Lidstrom like Crosby, 2014 when Crosby was playing with a broken wrist.

 

[wetcoast]

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

No shame in the truth here although if healthy he could very well be considered as better than Ovechkin.

Malkin does have, by quite a bit, a better playoff and international resume than Ovechkin.

Sadly Malkin is injured again right now and has only played over 70 (75 and 78) games in 9 seasons since his first 3 healthy years in the NHL.

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

I don't get the "living in Crosby's shadow excuse", as if that's hurt Malkin's case. If you are the best player of the generation you won't be in anyone's shadow, regardless of if they're on your team or not.

 

[Nadal On Clay]

He sacrificed individual recognition by staying in Pittsburgh and by wanting to win cups instead.

Also, injuries.

The biggest myth about Malkin in this forum is people claiming he’s been inconsistent. Injuries and inconsistencies are two different things.

 

[Frosty415]

I'm one of the few who believe he had one of this generations best playoff runs.

 

[NextYear67]

Wasn't born in Canada

 

[bobbyking]

His consistency, yearly

 

[Zirakzigil]

Consistency. He has more offensive skill than Crosby, problem is that hes not consistent. When hes playing at his best, hes the best player in the world. But you only get that for short stretches at a time.

 

[Phil120362]

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?

a Canadian accent

 

[GreatGonzo]

Years Malkin was better than Crosby in the playoffs: 2009 when he went up against Brad Stuart instead of Lidstrom like Crosby, 2014 when Crosby was playing with a broken wrist.

Malkin had 28 points in ‘17 but his finals olt hurt his chances at another Smythe, and was one point behind Crosby in ‘16 while playing injured. In the end both contributed to their teams success.

Also, I’m sorry but that excuse has never made sense to me. Crosby gets a pass for not producing in the finals because he couldn’t handle the tougher match ups? Point is Crosby and Malkin needed eachother to win 3 cups. Both were just as valuable. But as individuals, it’s close.

 

[Plub]

I'd argue he's the most talented of the three. Also the least consistent.

 

[Dominance]

A time machine to go back and interrupt the conception of Crosby and Ovechkin.

 

[Steazy Doo]

A time machine to go back and interrupt the conception of Crosby and Ovechkin.

This is the only correct answer

 

[SotasicA]

If Malkin played his career for the Leafs he'd already be talked about as the greatest to ever play the game. Of course, he'd have 0 Cups, but even then.

Seriously, Malkin on another team might have had a debatable case for being the best, but it's really hard to do when he's on the same team with Crosby and he's not as good. He could, and maybe should, be considered the 2nd best player of this generation. But after Ovechkin shed the loser tag last June, even that claim has kind of lost some of its foundation.

 

[SmellOfVictory]

Career point scoring rate lower than Crosby. Career goal scoring rate lower than Ovechkin. Produces inconsistently. Worse defensively than Crosby. Fewer awards than either.

 

[heysmilinstrange]

I'm one of the few who believe he had one of this generations best playoff runs.

I don't think that's really a controversial opinion, is it? His 2009 run was one of the best playoff runs of all time, not just of this generation.

 

[King Mapes]

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

This. For a short time he was the best but consistency is the only issue (aside from health). He is solidly number 3 of his generation.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Crosby--Ovechkin--Malkin
*not including this season

Hart: 2--3--1
Finalist: 6--5--3
Top 10: 8--8--4
Lindsay: 3--3--1
Smythe: 2--1--1
Calder: 0--1--1
Ross: 2--1--2
Top 10 pts: 10--8--4
PPG leader: 5--3--1
Top 10 PPG: 11--8--9
Rocket: 2--7--0
Top 10 goals: 4--11--3
GPG leader: 2--8--0
Top 10 GPG: 4--11--5
AST (1st+2nd): 7--10--3
Awards: 11--16--6

Pretty obvious what he's missing, he just wasn't good enough.

 

[daver]

You mean in 2009 he was?

And in one playoff series, albeit a very important one.

Other than that, Crosby has the clear advantage in better Cup runs, better SCFs, and better playoff runs.

 

[daver]

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"

Being able to play close to your best for a much longer amount of time should qualify as a talent.

Statistically, the "Malkin, at his best, is better" argument doesn't hold any water. There are no offensive stats that back this up. He was fortunate to put up a longer season than Crosby at their respective peaks, and gets full marks for outplaying Crosby in the 2009 SCF although Crosby was the Smythe favourite coming into the SCF.

 

[Teufelsdreck]

Terrific player, but don't forget that Malkin's "generation" also includes Crosby and Ovechkin, among other notables.

 

[joe dirte]

Hes missing a major injury to ovechkin and crosby. And mcdavid if you consider that the same generation.

I mean, malkin is phenomenal. Hes an easy third best. Those 3 players are the best of that generation, and theyre the 3 that really seperated themselves from the rest of the league. But hes third among them.