The Magnificent Malkin Drama
June 21, 2015
To say Evgeni Malkin has been in the headlines this off-season would be a grave understatement. Once again, another year where the Penguins were knocked out of the playoffs in an early and disappointing fashion and once again, the wild Penguin rumors begin.
Does the team rebuild from scratch? Is Rob Scuderi and/or Chris Kunitz and/or Brandon Sutter finally going to get traded? Patrick Sharp and Phil Kessel's names are out there, can the Penguins trade Beau Bennett and third round pick to get either?
Some of the questions have some merit and some, like the last one proposed, are completely illogical. The question that is most pressing and most intriguing this off-season, however, is, "Is it time for the Penguins to split up the 'Two-Headed Monster' and part ways with Evgeni Malkin?"
To say Evgeni Malkin has been in the headlines this off-season would be a grave understatement. Once again, another year where the Penguins were knocked out of the playoffs in an early and disappointing fashion and once again, the wild Penguin rumors begin.
Does the team rebuild from scratch? Is Rob Scuderi and/or Chris Kunitz and/or Brandon Sutter finally going to get traded? Patrick Sharp and Phil Kessel's names are out there, can the Penguins trade Beau Bennett and third round pick to get either?
Some of the questions have some merit and some, like the last one proposed, are completely illogical. The question that is most pressing and most intriguing this off-season, however, is, "Is it time for the Penguins to split up the 'Two-Headed Monster' and part ways with Evgeni Malkin?"
Evgeni's Era
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It is very hard to imagine a Pittsburgh Penguins team without Evgeni Malkin. It's practically impossible. After being drafted second behind Alexander Ovechkin in 2004, Malkin has been a cornerstone for the rebuilding of the then struggling franchise.
Often hidden behind Sidney Crosby, Malkin quietly goes about his business, consistently putting up points and leading his team to many victories over the past decade. His stats speak for themselves: 702 points (268G, 434A) in 587 games. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2007, Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2009 as well as the Hart Memorial and Ted Lindsay Award in 2012 as league MVP. He is a two-time Art Ross Trophy winner (2009, 2012), and three-time First Team All-Star (2008, 2009, 2012). Needless to say, his resume speaks volumes, but with the Penguins lack of postseason success since their 2009 triumph, Malkin has been unable to help his team advance past the second round all but one time in that soon-to-be seven year span. Now, I'm not saying that his lack of production is the only reason the Penguins have struggled; that would simply be unfair and completely wrong. |
The team struggled some postseasons with goaltending, others with defense, and most notably over the last two playoff exits, their lack of offense. Malkin is not the problem, but could he be part of the solution?
Geno Must Go?
It seems that Malkin's frustration with the lack of team success has been more prevalent this off-season than it has been in the past, so much so as it sparked controversy that has since been clarified by the Elliotte Friedman. To sum it all up very simply; Evgeni Malkin is tired of losing. He made comments that could me misconstrued as wanting to leave, however, Malkin has repeatedly said in the past that he wants to retire with the Penguins and win more Cups with Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury and Kris Letang; the remaining parts of the mid-2000's rebuild.
One has to wonder, however, would trading Malkin make sense?
Personally, I am as big a fan of Malkin as there is, but in order to get what the Penguins are looking for annually (top six forward, top four defenseman, second line center, etc.) they need to pay up. The rental deals have not panned out. Trading away draft picks for a "win-now" approach has not worked either. No team is going to give up valuable pieces of their team for players on the Penguins roster that fans are sick of seeing. See the names mentioned above.
In order to get a big return, you have to send something big back.
A very interesting hypothetical article popped up on my Twitter timeline a couple weeks back involving the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins:
One has to wonder, however, would trading Malkin make sense?
Personally, I am as big a fan of Malkin as there is, but in order to get what the Penguins are looking for annually (top six forward, top four defenseman, second line center, etc.) they need to pay up. The rental deals have not panned out. Trading away draft picks for a "win-now" approach has not worked either. No team is going to give up valuable pieces of their team for players on the Penguins roster that fans are sick of seeing. See the names mentioned above.
In order to get a big return, you have to send something big back.
A very interesting hypothetical article popped up on my Twitter timeline a couple weeks back involving the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins:
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To Pittsburgh:
F- Logan Couture D/F- Brent Burns |
To San Jose:
F- Evgeni Malkin |
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Getting back to something I said a moment ago, I'm a big Malkin fan. I have his jerseys over Crosby's. I'll argue that at times I think Malkin is the greatest player on the planet, think his 2009 series against Carolina. He was untouchable. He was often deemed untouchable by management. However, if this deal were offered on the table and I'm not saying that it is or will be, this is purely hypothetical, how can one so easily dismiss it?
Take away numbers and fancy stats and all of that jazz, let's get down to brass tax. If you're the Penguins, you add a second line center who is young, a sniper, and will only continue to evolve. You also add a defenseman who can play valuable minutes, but also, if needed, can substitute as a forward and score goals from there. If you're San Jose, you add a center who will have a new fire lit underneath him to prove that his is in the top three in terms of best in the world. He will eventually take over Joe Thornton's number one spot and alleviate the pressure on Thornton. The Penguins clear up some cap space and add valuable pieces. The Sharks add a more lethal weapon. In my eyes, I would have to pull the trigger. If the Penguins could add a second or third round draft pick, even better. But, if the deal is straight up for those two All-Stars, I'd like to think that that is a deal that would be agreed upon. |
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
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Closing Thoughts
I'll keep it very brief. I don't think the Pittsburgh Penguins trade Evgeni Malkin. Even if they wanted to, I don't think Evgeni Malkin would allow it. He feels at home in Pittsburgh. He loves the city. He loves the fans. And the same can be reciprocated from the other side of this discussion. Evgeni Malkin is as valuable to this franchise as Crosby and others, but unfortunately he would be the odd man out if push came to shove on which superstar to move.
I'm not buying into the rumors and I think we fans will be seeing Malkin in black and gold for a long time to come, but the question is intriguing and gets your Armchair GM muscles and thoughts running. "What could they get for Malkin? Would it be worth it?" They are questions that have to be asked at this time of year where any and everything can happen.
Vote in the poll below and respond in the comments section to leave your opinion about this subject. Until next article, is it October yet?
I'm not buying into the rumors and I think we fans will be seeing Malkin in black and gold for a long time to come, but the question is intriguing and gets your Armchair GM muscles and thoughts running. "What could they get for Malkin? Would it be worth it?" They are questions that have to be asked at this time of year where any and everything can happen.
Vote in the poll below and respond in the comments section to leave your opinion about this subject. Until next article, is it October yet?