Penguins Getting a great season from Evgeni Malkin
The Penguins won a Stanley Cup last season with Evgeni Malkin being very pedestrian offensively and with his body breaking down late in seasons, he played with a bad elbow injury last spring and played injured during the 2015 post-season, it was natural that there were questions even during the Penguins playoff run about how many great seasons if any he still had in him set to enter his 30’s.
Outside of Pittsburgh, there was chatter among league executives this past summer who were certain that if the Tampa Bay Lightning would have knocked off the Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals after going up 3-2, a blow up was going to happen in Pittsburgh and Malkin would have been moved with the Panthers a likely landing spot, others had said Montreal.
All of that talk is for nothing now.
What the Penguins are getting is a great season out of Malkin, in what’s been his most dominant play on a consistent basis since the 2011-2012 season.
Returning from a seven game absence tonight, Malkin led the way with a goal, assist in a 4-0 win over the Canucks. For a borderline playoff team like the Canucks are, when Malkin is going like this, the Penguins are nearly impossible to matchup with.
When he’s going like this, they’re a scary matchup for almost every team.
Malkin has just looked like he’s in a great place all season. His patience with the puck again tonight is just on an all-world level and you can see him imposing his size a lot more below the dots and in the net-front area much like he did as a younger player. Not with an abrasive physical style but with getting proper position for scoring chances.
The weight being off Crosby and Malkin’s shoulders with winning the Cup last June is showing in both of their play this season.
If the Penguins got this Malkin in the playoffs, it could be 2009 all over again in the Penguins just outscoring teams. The first key will be his body not breaking down as the season progresses.
999
— Malkin on Crosby trying to get that 1,000th point: “Hope next game. Too much pressure,” Malkin joked. “I think he’s a little bit nervous right now.”
Right Wing Experiment showing Potential
— In the Coyotes game there were some intriguing signs that Jake Guentzel playing his off-wing will open him up to more individual scoring chances and see him use his shot more effectively coming down the right side.
Tonight he had a goal, and 5 shots, all at even strength. Guentzel probably should have had his first career hat trick. The Crosby line produced a number of grade-A chances.
“I thought he was terrific,” Mike Sullivan said of Guentzel. “We’ve like what we’ve seen so far. Don’t think they’ve [Crosby Line] got rewarded on the score sheet for what they’re doing out there. They’ve created a lot of opportunities. Puck hasn’t gone in for them last couple games but we’ve really liked the line and what it’s been generating offensively for sure.”
Penguins send Big Guns to Avalanche – Devils Game
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While the Penguins scouted the Buffalo Sabres for the third straight tonight, the Penguins had a strong presence at the Avalanche – Devils game.
Assistant General Manager Bill Guerin and Director of Pro Scouting Derek Clancey were in attendance which is notable because Clancey only makes scouting trips at this time of the year to run reports on specific players and Guerin is Rutherford’s top lieutenant when it comes to evaluating personnel/trade targets.
Friedman on Penguins
Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman had some Penguin talk in his Weekly 30 thoughts column this week.
Among them:
[5. Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford on the Penguins: “We’ve played pretty well, and we’ll be even better when everyone gets healthy. We’ve got another gear or two.”
Does he worry about where they finish in the brutal Metropolitan Division?
“I don’t think it’s fair to ask Mike Sullivan to squeeze a group that had so little time off in the summer, like San Jose. We’ll see where we finish and take our chances.”
6. During Saturday’s Headlines, Nick Kypreos brought up the possibility of Pittsburgh getting Duchene. Prior to that, Rutherford shrugged off the idea the club could not add anyone with term. “I’ll do anything to win,” he said Friday. “If we have to fix our cap situation, we can do it after the season.”
I could see Gabriel Landeskog being a fit here, too. The organization does have Trevor Daley, Patric Hornqvist and Chris Kunitz — all of whom make at least $3.3 million — coming off the books in the next two summers. Nick mentioned Derrick Pouliot as bait for a Colorado trade, but if this does happen, a more likely suspect would be Olli Maatta. Rutherford added it is his “preference to keep Marc-Andre Fleury as insurance for Matt Murray. But I recognize he wants to play.”]
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I wonder what it is that Russia has on Trump. Must be good.
how long have you been rolled up in a ball in your closet? That whole Hillary thing was a real set back for your kind.
Funny how you see Democrats carry signs saying share the wealth. But you never see them carry a sign say share the work bunch of lazy fat slobs
I think someone that doesn’t live off of his mom should be delivering this message
Once again stain and npl here same time must had some extra tax money to pay off your 3rd account
Now you can entertain us
Lets run away together. Just you and me.
Get lost fatso
Go back to your pokemon go adventure
Do you even lift bro?
You calling people fat is like you calling other people racist. Chubby
Guys, i dont think this Trump presidency thing is gonna last…
Get lost fatso
Give this fool a thumbs down already
Use one of your three accounts…
Send me a full body pic
You didn’t think he was gonna win either….
I underestimated the amount of uneducated hillbillies in America. I’ll own that.
Like Democrats are very educated with their black lives matter protest.
I agree.
Stanch, do you go full cage for your dek hockey league or half shield? Just not sure how rough the suburban Burgh league is.
He probably has a donut in his mouth to prevent losing his horse teeth
Ba zing sam. Man you’re fucking bad at this
This is the kind of shit that makes the mod pop some corn for hey maloron?
I think given what a vag you are, you should do full cage. If your wife will spring for it. You’re kinda handcuffed there, I know.
Trying to touch on something hockey related that was brought up earlier, I also can’t see fleury going to Colorado. I’m thinking maatta, maybe Sprong and a high pick might get duchene? We would still need to move cap though. I read that duchene might demand a trade in the offseason and the Avs would prefer to move him now before their hands are tied, although there will always be teams interested. With a player of his caliber, even if a team has to move him, he will still fetch a nice package being that teams will be competing for… Read more »
I agree, very unlikely we would see MAF in Colorado so we are looking at a couple moves. Dallas still seems to be the likely move if MAF moves before the draft
Fleury would not wave off his trade to go to the last team
Even arrogant penguins organization should give that respect to fleury
If he wants to start, which he does, he may.
Wave off
Not sure what the fascination is with Duchene. The endless hunt for Crosby’s winger continues. Meanwhile, Geno, argubale the most dangerous 5-5 player gets the leftovers.
Power play would be better without Geno tho… amirite?
DK was just on Madden a little bit ago and said that Sprong is basically untouchable. Take that for what it’s worth.
DK would know. He’s got every Penguin penis is his mouth (Zero, please dont tell)
Your hypocrisy is showing… Again
Interesting… a just received a notification related to comment moderation…
? what do you mean
I tried to continue to slam sam with more facts and attempted to ask him about the timeline of bigoted events in PQ since 2012 and when I hit submit it said something to the effect that it would be reviewed by a moderator before posting
That can’t be there are far more racist people then you here. Maybe you been abusing thumbs down button lately
far more racist people…like sam.
But sammich… you’re the established bigot on this board. Why does this concept elude you?
Maybe you’re boring the moderator like the rest of us
Oh please, grace us with more exciting insights like “this team needs Reeves” or “both goalies suck because I don’t understand how hockey works”.
http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/montreal-named-best-city-for-international-students-1.3286229
Hey zero tool what do you think of Montreal now? Where is Edmonton on the list. Mr shitstain where is your donut land
LOL, what is it you think this means?
I wouldn’t answer anything he asks a question on – since he’s too big of a bitchh to address your post from last week.
I gotta see what he thinks this means… I have an idea and it’s wrong but I need the verification lol.
It’s odd that a blatant racist would be bragging about his city being the best fit for foreign students. Strange for a blatant xenophobe.
Means Edmonton and majority of US are racist
Ya… that is what I thought you thought this means you fucken idiot… Do we have enough data here to completely dismiss your earlier claims? See what you dont get sammich is international, multi-cultural and multi-lingual means exactly that. You are confusing that with multi-racial because you’re a fucken moron. Spain, northern Italy, UK, basically all of Eastern Europe which is predominantly white but speak different languages and have entirely different cultures would count in this kind of a study jackass. McGill is one of the best schools on the planet which helps but it’s no shock you wouldnt know… Read more »
Hate crime on the rise in PQ since the shootings… maybe the victims should just go to McGill. Sounds like a safe haven vs the neanderthals that live near you sammich
http://globalnews.ca/news/3216639/hate-crimes-spike-in-montreal-after-quebec-city-mosque-shooting/
HAHA! Coming from the biggest racist here (who’s from Montreal, mind you), that’s hilarious.
hopefully someone will do the pens a favor and take on the smiley faced saint. if they do, they will no doubt buy him out as soon as the season is over. one thing is for certain, nobody on earth will pay that goof 6 million.
And you know this…because you’re a triggered fraud who’s assshole still hasnt’ recovered from his rogering of it. #TearItDown #TriggeredFraud
I can’t see Fleury being involved involved in a Duchene deal – likely see two separate trades – Maybe Maatta shipped off as part of a package to Colorado for Duchene (if that works), and maybe a depth defenseman, and Fleury moved to Dallas for maybe an Oduya type plus a little more. You can make the numbers work. Not sure why Colorado would have interest in Fleury as long as Varlamov is their long term goaltender option.
okay cultist. you are still thinking your patron saint has value! hahahahaha! i’m sure people are lining up to bring in a 32 year old with a .904% a GAA over 3.00 and a 6 million dollar cap hit! hahahahahahahahaha!
The part of the MAF trade I am most looking forward to… is if he is moved for something of value despite having a terrible season you will not live it down. I for one will be relentless 😉
They’re only going to trade MAF in season if they can strengthen the defense or offense. Like Stanch pointed out, it would have to be a domino effect. If no trade is made the MAF situation will be dealt with prior to the expansion draft.
Maybe because I’m objective as I wasn’t used as his pincushion – not to mention, i’m worlds smarter than you. So…. I do like you bring up his age as if goaltenders flame out at 32.
I don’t see Colorado wanting MAF either, but Varlamov had season ending hip surgery plus other groin issues in the past. He’s been an up and down player for them. If somehow they want him, possibly the Pens could retain some salary over the remaining two years. MAF and Maatta would give the Pens 10mil to play with. Landeskog or Duchene have 5.5 and 6 mil contracts respectively. If and when we move MAF, I have a feeling we’ll need to retain salary because the goalie market is so soft.
wish donut boy stain brings anything like this to this site
chubby – answer the question – you’ve been avoiding it for a week:
Sam – please address
“Sam… back to the turnover conversation. Just statistically… Malkins ratio of GvA to TkA was 0.91 in 2016 (41 TkA to 45 GvA) vs Crosby’s 0.57 (24 TkA to 42 GvA). So please explain how Sid’s gaff last night was his “first” and how Malkin not being there is somehow responsible?
Marchand http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/gotta-see-it-pittsburgh-penguins-sidney-crosbys-giveaway-allow-boston-bruins-brad-marchand-to-score/
Another one… they are available… they happen more often than you will admit to yourself. It was a poor play, period”
Please respond.
Thanks.
Agreed 100%
If only we could get stain on board to give you back your thumbs up with his other account
It’s cute that you give him a thumbs down and then comment on it. Sammich!
How are you of all people going to accuse others of running a second account when it’s all but been verified that you are? Just like calling everyone else racists when you are showing how much of a bigot you are lol.
Well zero, he’s an idiot, ya see?
Maybe some of DePaoli’s worst writing yet.
I wager the thumbs down here came from DePaoli himself lol
Oh ya, sam definitely has more than one account haha.
Little that bandwagons know when same said malkin be gone since 2013. The amount of time it was close call team was hesitant to ship him on several occasions I guess I’m wrong they should strip the C from Crosby and trade him to make donut boy stain happy.
“Close call”… yes D says his sources were in the know yet the team pumps out a cup lol. Plus we seen this teams mini slump just before Malkin came back with Sid going pointless in two! Suddenly they look dominant and Crosby is back on the sheet lol.
Same might have added a third account in response to him not being able to answer the turnover post. Malkin back in Russia same?
Amazing right? Everyone starts with a -3! And then ten minutes later he’ll be on here claiming we all come on to “thumbs down” people. Fatty McFatt Fatt!
Sam – please address
“Sam… back to the turnover conversation. Just statistically… Malkins ratio of GvA to TkA was 0.91 in 2016 (41 TkA to 45 GvA) vs Crosby’s 0.57 (24 TkA to 42 GvA). So please explain how Sid’s gaff last night was his “first” and how Malkin not being there is somehow responsible?
Marchand http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/gotta-see-it-pittsburgh-penguins-sidney-crosbys-giveaway-allow-boston-bruins-brad-marchand-to-score/
Another one… they are available… they happen more often than you will admit to yourself. It was a poor play, period”
Please respond.
Thanks.
Go get us Duchene!
#FatLivesMatter
Sam – please address
“Sam… back to the turnover conversation. Just statistically… Malkins ratio of GvA to TkA was 0.91 in 2016 (41 TkA to 45 GvA) vs Crosby’s 0.57 (24 TkA to 42 GvA). So please explain how Sid’s gaff last night was his “first” and how Malkin not being there is somehow responsible?
Marchand http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/gotta-see-it-pittsburgh-penguins-sidney-crosbys-giveaway-allow-boston-bruins-brad-marchand-to-score/
Another one… they are available… they happen more often than you will admit to yourself. It was a poor play, period”
Please respond.
Thanks.
I’d trade those two, plus MAF, for Duchesne (and a D-Man).
Can Cam Gaunze (sp?)–or one of the other WB D men– bring you what Ollie does, definitely in my mind.
*Gaunce