And we’re back!
Happy New Year, everyone. Unless, of course, you’re Evgeni Malkin, who yesterday was once again done dirty by so-called experts who put together lists.
Malkin placed 19th on Sportsnet’s ranking of the top 25 players of this century. It’s not as bad as Malkin being left off the NHL’s 100 toward the end of last decade, but it’s pretty ridiculous.
I have no issue with Nos. 1-4 on this list.
Sidney Crosby is a top-5 all-time player. Alex Ovechkin is about to be the NHL’s top goal scorer. As a scorer, Connor McDavid’s prime ranks behind only the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. Nicklas Lidstrom is the best defenseman since Bobby Orr, and there probably isn’t a close third.
And I’m not going to knock anybody above Malkin on this list. They’re all great players.
But Malkin should be no lower than fifth among players this century, and here’s why:
• Trophies: Calder, Hart, Conn Smythe, Art Ross (twice), Pearson
• Two-time points leader in the regular season and postseason
• Four top-10 finishes in Hart Trophy voting
• Three first-team NHL All-Star designations
• Fourth in regular-season points
• Second in postseason points
Only one player on this list has been honored as the NHL’s best rookie, the regular-season and postseason MVP, topped the league in regular and postseason scoring multiple times, and won the Stanley Cup multiple times. Also, here are the NHL players to appear in at last 1,100 regular-season games and average a minimum of 1.10 points per game and 170 or more playoff games and score at a point-per-game pace: Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Joe Sakic, Crosby, and — yup — Malkin.
Yet Malkin is only the 19th best player this century?
Sure. By the way, I have some beachside property to sell you in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood.
As I’ve often said, if Evgeni Malkin of Magnitogorsk, Russia, were Evan Miller of Hamilton, Ont., Canada, he’d be ranked much higher on all of these lists.
If you missed it a couple years ago, here’s my story on Malkin from The Athletic’s modern-era rankings. It discusses how deeply insulted Malkin has been by past rankings.
Who is in your top 5 from this century? Drop an answer in the comments, please and thank you.
Injuries n’at
The Penguins didn’t practice yesterday in South Florida. That likely means a full morning skate today.
Kris Letang’s return from a lower-body injury is the big item. He was injured during a loss to the Islanders in New York coming out of the NHL’s holiday break.
There was some concern initially that Letang’s injury might keep him out for weeks, but medical evaluations were encouraging. He’s considered day-to-day.
One of the biggest reasons for the Penguins’ 10-5-1 record dating to Thanksgiving Eve is the improved performances of Letang and Erik Karlsson. Those defensemen eat heavy minutes and play in all situations, making them irreplaceable even when they aren’t up to snuff.
The Penguins need Letang back sooner than later to ensure that some trouble trends in the last five games (a 2-3-0 record and hovering around 45 percent in puck possession and offensive zone starts) don’t continue as the schedule toughens beginning tonight against the Panthers.
Touch passes
• Jesse Puljujärvi cleared waivers since our last edition. A lot of fans were upset he went on waivers to begin with, and that’s understandable. It’s been tough to look at who comprises the Penguins’ bottom-six forwards and not conclude that Puljujärvi belongs in the lineup.
He played in only 21 games for the Penguins — the last one way back on Dec. 7. That’s a sure sign coaches are unhappy with aspects of a player’s performance. My educated guess is the coaching staff, particularly Mike Sullivan, likes Puljujärvi’s skill, but not at the expense of perceived unsatisfactory attention to details in other areas — specifically when he doesn’t have the puck.
• Kevin Hayes hasn’t played since Dec. 10. I’d anticipate him getting into the lineup at some point soon, if only because coaches don’t like to scratch any player for too long.
The Penguins were winning a lot without Hayes and Puljujärvi in the lineup. But it doesn’t make sense to have two veteran forwards who aren’t dressing on the 23-player roster, which might explain why Puljujärvi was placed on waivers.
For those wondering: Hayes has a modified no-trade clause that allows him to block a deal to 12 teams of his choosing, and it also does not permit the Penguins to place him on waivers or send him to the minors without approval.
How to watch, listen, follow
The Penguins (17-17-5, 39 points, fourth in Metropolitan Division) face the Panthers (23-14-2, 48 points, second in the Atlantic) at Amerant Bank Arena. The opening faceoff is set for just after 7 p.m. E.T.
Regional TV/streaming: SportsNet Pittsburgh/SNP 360
Local/regional radio: WXDX-FM, Penguins Radio Network
U.S. streaming (outside Pittsburgh market): NHL Network
Odds (as of 9:30 a.m. ET)
Spread: Penguins +1.5 (-145); Panthers -1.5 (+120)
Total: Over 6 (-115), Under 6 (-105)
Moneyline: Penguins (+175), Panthers (-210)
Live posts
@robrossi.bsky.social (Bluesky)
@JoshYohe_PGH (X)
Don’t miss
• Alex Ovechkin is back and back at it — scoring goals, getting closer to The Great One’s goal record. The Capitals play in Pittsburgh to close the regular season. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Sean McIndoe penned this fun breakdown of which games would be best (and worst) for Ovechkin to become the NHL’s Goal King.
• It might take winning the 4 Nations tournament in February to wash away the taste of a second consecutive sour World Juniors for Team Canada, which was bounced from the latter yesterday. Jon Cooper, the coach for Team Canada at the 4 Nations, has been tested by the fire of helping the Tampa Bay Lightning in four Stanley Cup Finals, but pressure hits differently when the maple leaf is the emblem on players’ red and black jerseys. Cooper is a great coach and communicator. Pierre LeBrun caught up with him to discuss the pressure facing Team Canada.
• Letting Evan Rodrigues leave via free agency is one of the lower-key bad decisions from former general manager Ron Hextall’s tenure in Pittsburgh. What happened? Yohe sheds some insight from Rodrigues in this story.
• And speaking of Panthers personnel, here’s a story from Yohe on Patric Hornqvist, one of the biggest difference-makers of the Crosby era in Pittsburgh. I’m not surprised that Hornqvist keeps the Penguins close to his heart. He loved playing here, and he was loved by his teammates and fans.
And finally …
My parents are married 50 years as of today. This has nothing to do with the Penguins. Though, there wouldn’t be a Penguins Today had Bob Rossi and Joanne Oliverio not tied the knot. So, there’s that.
Love you, mom and dad. Enjoy the big day.
(Photo of Evgeni Malkin: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)