No Habs No! - Evgeni Malkin

by PPP on May 20, 2010 12:00 PM EDT in No Habs No

Last year Evgeni Malkin won the Conn Smythe for his efforts in the playoffs. His parents were shown nightly and were credited with his strong play. This year, if they were there then their magic failed. Instead of a repeat performance he instantly became the Pittsburgh Penguins' Tomas Kaberle. Heck, now he might even be overrated. One thing is for sure though: he scored a game winning goal against Montreal. It gave the Penguins the elusive (or is it illusory?) momentum but in the end counted for nothing.

After the jump, I remind Malkin about his last visit to Canada.

Tweet Comment 78 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I really, really hope Malkin reads this and – if he does – I really, really want to be there when he tries to make sense of it.

"My country is the world, my religion to do good" - Thomas Paine

by article1 on May 20, 2010 12:03 PM EDT reply actions

HAHAHA

great Olympic dig

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on May 20, 2010 12:03 PM EDT reply actions

You have perfectly fine handwriting

"...sometimes I wake up cradling a gourd."

by Fergus30 on May 20, 2010 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

slants to the right, I think that means he’s a psychopath.

The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway

by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on May 20, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

it means he’s optimistic about his future

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on May 20, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

My handwriting’s worse. I started writing in block capitals when I left school so it’d be legible. I don’t think I could write lower case now.

My GM’s handwriting is way worse than even mine.

"My country is the world, my religion to do good" - Thomas Paine

by article1 on May 20, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

heh

I am so out of practice in actually writing that my hand started to cramp and my writing was frantic. It ended up much more legible than I expected.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.

by PPP on May 20, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Malkin overrated?

I’d trade Kessel and Schenn for Malkin and laugh all the way home.

I've been looking at the sky

by Back In Black on May 20, 2010 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

Although

Now that I’ve read it, the Wilson article does raise some very good points. I’d still take him, though.

I've been looking at the sky

by Back In Black on May 20, 2010 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

If I was the Pens I wouldnt take that trade. I dont understand the trade Malkin talk. For two years he was the best player in hockey. When he gets going he is in another league. One bad year and you trade him? If I was Ray Shero, the Sharks would have to give me something along the lines of Pavelski+Setoguchi+Cotoure for me to trade Malkin. And the Sharks might still win that trade.

by samspade on May 20, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Too many centers

I think the talk is because he’s playing on the 2nd line and costing $8.7M, while Jordan Staal plays on the 3rd line and makes $4M. Staal is a legit 2nd line center on any team, and a 1st line center on many. Basically the Pens find themselves with 1 too many centers up top and Malkin is the odd man out because of how useful Staal is to them as a shutdown man and on the PK.

I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.

by SkinnyFish on May 20, 2010 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I still don’t know why they moved Staal back to center.
You’d think one of these guys could make the transition to Wing more permanently.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on May 20, 2010 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

True, but they all play the game as natural centers who want the puck on their stick. Crosby played with Malkin on his line before and did alright, but without Malkin he scored 51 goals and Malkin’s numbers declined; albeit it with fewer games played.

I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.

by SkinnyFish on May 20, 2010 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah they are all puck carriers, which is a good point.
I wonder if they’ll trade Malkin for picks and defense, and sign Kovalchuk.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on May 20, 2010 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

they won’t, but that would be interesting.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on May 20, 2010 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah, Crosby needs a winger who’ll open up the ice for him and bury shots like Bobby Ryan or Dustin Penner.

I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.

by SkinnyFish on May 20, 2010 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting.
Malkin for Ryan would be brilliant.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on May 20, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Though that fucks up the Ducks’ first line with Getzlaf.

I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.

by SkinnyFish on May 20, 2010 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah

and you end up with a similar problem as Pittsburgh right now – who’s your #1 C?

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on May 20, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Malkin with Getzlaf playing the role of 2nd line center.

I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.

by SkinnyFish on May 20, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

but to you keep perry and getz together because of chemistry and the fact that Malkin is used to playing with crap wingers?

My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base

by JaredFromLondon on May 20, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

especially since

Ryan’s cap hit is $1.9M and Malkin’s is $8.7M.

no team, without moving significant salary back to the Pens, can afford to take on Malkin. So, hypothetically speaking, if it were the Ducks, Ryan, Blake and Lupul for Malkin might fly from a money standpoint, but the Ducks don’t have the depth on wings to lose that many players.

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on May 20, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

but Ryan is an RFA and due a large raise.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on May 20, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

how about

To Nashville: Malkin
To Pitt: Suter, Hornqvist, Wilson, 1st round pick

To New York Islanders: Malkin
To Pitt: Tavares, Bailey, Comeau, ….?

To St. Louis: Malkin
To Pitt: Perron, Oshie, Pietrangelo, Berglund

by birky on May 20, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

1) On crack

2) On crack

3) On crack

I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.

by SkinnyFish on May 20, 2010 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

it’s pretty tough to gauge the trade value of a 23 year old who’s already won the conn smythe, art ross, calder, and been runner up for the hart twice

by birky on May 20, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

But also has two “only” point-per-game seasons, right? i.e. half his time in the NHL?

Cидни Kросби: Александр Oвечкин, он твой папа теперь
Red Line Station: for Capitals fans who can bear reading something less intelligent than a story at Japers' Rink
(note name change)

by red army line on May 20, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Uh, no.

In his “worst” year, as a rookie, he was 1.09 PPG. 1.15 this year.

by The '67 Sound on May 20, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

1.3 is quite a bit higher

And he was right around 1 for most of this season before he got on a bit of a roll late in the season. I didn’t used to be skeptical to say he’s a top-3 player, but now I am.

by red army line on May 21, 2010 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Think more like Penner and the first overall for Malkin.

I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.

by SkinnyFish on May 20, 2010 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

that’s not nearly enough.

by birky on May 20, 2010 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

1st overall becomes Hall who plays LW, Penner plays right. BAM! You’ve got Crosby’s new linemates for at least the next two years. That’s a monster line.

I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.

by SkinnyFish on May 20, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

The Oilers would probably have to throw in MPS or Eberle and another pick, maybe a 2nd rounder

by birky on May 20, 2010 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

MPS it is then.

I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.

by SkinnyFish on May 20, 2010 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

That I could see. Penner, 1st pick (Hall), MPS, and a 2nd round pick in 2011

by birky on May 20, 2010 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Penner is a joke. He had a hot October (19 points) and a decent November (11 points) and then fell off the map. He’s also already 27, meaning he’s at his peak physical years.

by birky on May 20, 2010 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmmm end of November…. could that have been when Hemsky got injured and the Oilers took an absolute nosedive?

Yup.

Penner still put up 32 goals last year on the worst team in hockey.

I've always wanted to be a PPP Princess. You see kids, you can be anything you want to be; so long as Jay Leno doesn't also want to be that.

by SkinnyFish on May 20, 2010 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d love to see Penner as a Leaf.
Penner for Kaberle!

The Guess Who sucked, the Jets were lousy anyway

by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on May 20, 2010 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry. I’m going to need a bigger sample size than one month to decide if Penner is the answer to Crosby’s winger problem

by birky on May 20, 2010 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Malkin won the Conn Smythe with linemates like Talbot/Dupuis/Fedotenko. When Geno/Sid/JStaal are all at near peak performance they are insanely difficult to matchup against. All they need is the goaltending & d to hold up and they are pretty much unbeatable. They should sign a Hamhuis/Michalek, and a winger better than poni. If Malkin regains the form he had for 2 years, then they will lose the best player in the trade pretty much no matter what.

by samspade on May 20, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Rec, rec, rec.

On the Forecheck: preaching the Predators' gospel to the unwashed masses.
Twitter/Cycle Like the Sedins

by Chris Burton on May 20, 2010 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

No, no, no. Nonononononononononono.

On the Forecheck: preaching the Predators' gospel to the unwashed masses.
Twitter/Cycle Like the Sedins

by Chris Burton on May 20, 2010 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Malkin to Columbus for Vorachek, Tyutin and 2 1sts.

Who says no first?

Resident Capologist

by clrkaitken on May 20, 2010 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

how about

Vorachek, Huselius and Umberger for Malkin?

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on May 20, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

That would turn the Jackets into a one-line team.

Pittsburgh gets a great young player in Vorachek (that they replace in the lineup with Filatov), they can replace Gonch with Tyutin, and 2 first-round picks help restock their prospect cupboard.

Columbus avoids the mistake Calgary made with Iggy – they get their star winger an elite centre right as he’s in their prime. They also announce that they are done being also-rans in the West.

Resident Capologist

by clrkaitken on May 20, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

ya

but you’re forgetting about the cap space needed here. Voracek is $1.9M, Tyutin is $2.8M and they have $1.9M in cap space. That’s only $6.6M to fit in an $8.7M contract…

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on May 20, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

According to Capgeek, they have $9.6M to sign 5 players. The only notable free agent I see is Stralman.

So take away Voracek and Tyutin, they have $13.7 to sign 7.
Add Malkin, and they have $5 to sign 6

Filatov’s hit is 2.1, and Stralman will be due for a raise, but I think it’d be doable.

Resident Capologist

by clrkaitken on May 20, 2010 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

doh

was looking at the Salary Cap Charts page, and just glanced at the last column, not realizing it wasn’t the cap space one…

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on May 20, 2010 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I understand that thinking but on the other hand I don’t think anything good can come out of trading away a generational-type talent, which Malkin is (or at worst is extremely close to being).

leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.

by stucky on May 20, 2010 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

if he's "generational"

we’re talking Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemiuex levels of skill. Not even sure Crosby or Ovechkin could be deemed “generational” when compared with those three.

That said, he’s probably the third best hockey player in the NHL right now. Why any team would trade that away is beyond me, It never fairs well for the team doing the trading.

I have nothing interesting to say.

by blurr1974 on May 20, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Fair point on the “generational” thing… it would take several years to see if Malkin (and Crosby and Ovechkin for that matter) live up to that tag… early returns would indicate Crosby and Ovie are right there and Malkin is just a bit behind.

We pretty much agree otherwise, so… yeah!

leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.

by stucky on May 20, 2010 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Staal is a legit 2nd line center on any team, and a 1st line center on many
the leafs

Unabashed fan of the surprise 2012 Stanley Cup champs

by pevans on May 20, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I hate when people say that
Just because a player is “a 1st line/1st pairing/#1 goaltender” on “insert team with lack of depth at said position” doesn’t make said player a legit number one anything. If a team needs a number one center because they only have a bunch of 2nd line centers and they go out and pick up a better 2nd line center they still need a freaking 1st line center

My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base

by JaredFromLondon on May 20, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

The corollary to that, though, is that if he’s a 3rd line center only because the two centers in front of him are better, then he can be considered better than a 3rd line center.

by Bower Power on May 20, 2010 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

until he proves that he can carry the full load as a second or first line center, yes, yes he is
sure he projects like at the very least a very good second line center, but he isnt one yet.

My Fan Base Can Beat Up Your Fan Base

by JaredFromLondon on May 20, 2010 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

For two years he was the best player in hockey

Disagree.

Twitter!!!1
Reppin' Team Tyler yo.

by Ovechwin on May 20, 2010 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d say only one.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on May 20, 2010 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Malkin play great. No trade Malkin

by Euroclydon on May 20, 2010 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Pittsburgh wins that trade actually but only by a shade. They get the winger for Crosby they need, bump Staal up to second line, get a defensive defenceman that can play tough minutes, and save, right now, about $2m in cap space.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Like reading thoughts confined to 140 characters? I'm on Twitter too.

by PPP on May 20, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions