Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
NHL Season 2021
- Thread starter MJ5150
- Start date
Avs vs Sharks tonight
Patrick Marleau now ties for 4th overall for games played (Francis)
April 17th timeline to catch Mr Hockey
Patrick Marleau now ties for 4th overall for games played (Francis)
April 17th timeline to catch Mr Hockey
Man I hate to admit it too but Malkin has been playing so bad. It's not because he's on a major decline or anything but it's like he doesn't give a darn anymore after 2017. I mean, when he tries, he goes BEAST mode but I haven't seen that since the 2018 series vs. WSH.
Trading him would be ideal but I know Mario won't do it. Pens are on the decline anyways so sending him away for some decent returns and letting him be that #1 for the first time in his career might do him some good but I highly doubt he will be traded.
Letang is likely to be yeeted than Malkin. Sigh.
Malkin has always been streaky, and temperamental. Some games he lights up the world, others, he looks like his mind is 1000 miles away from the rink. He's always been one of those players who is easily thrown off his game, and takes bad penalties. But there's so much upside that I'd hate to see him go. He is capable of putting the team on his back and carrying them when he wants to, as he's done in the past when Sid has been out.
But yeah, it might be time to re-stock the cupboard, and he would bring some top prospects. Tough call...glad I'm not the GM.
Malkin is one of those non-debatable players who will retire with the team he's played with for years but also, I can see him being traded. The classic "even Gretzky got traded" argument comes into play. Whoever the GM is, best of luck to them because they're going to catch flak regardless of what they do with Geno or Letang.
Flyers could use a Letang. I don’t know his game much these days. Is he a shutdown guy? Or more offensive? If it’s the later....pass. Flyers need puck movers to transition from D to O. Provy can’t play 60 minutes a game (although I’m sure he’d love to).
I’m having a hard time criticizing the Flyers despite some ugly games. They aren’t living up to my expectations but! Their 1C (coots) is out. His replacement (Frost) was injured shortly thereafter; and they are missing a key piece of their D (Myers). Despite all this and not performing to their full potential they are finding ways to win games.
What is irritating is that their losses are blowouts. The prevalence of blind clears up the boards and of course there’s an opposing player at the point to force a turnover. Would it kill you to handle the puck for a few seconds more and make a more calculated decision with the puck?
I saw some emotion from Giroux last night. When he gets angry he inspires himself and it lights a spark in the team. I like it.
I’m having a hard time criticizing the Flyers despite some ugly games. They aren’t living up to my expectations but! Their 1C (coots) is out. His replacement (Frost) was injured shortly thereafter; and they are missing a key piece of their D (Myers). Despite all this and not performing to their full potential they are finding ways to win games.
What is irritating is that their losses are blowouts. The prevalence of blind clears up the boards and of course there’s an opposing player at the point to force a turnover. Would it kill you to handle the puck for a few seconds more and make a more calculated decision with the puck?
I saw some emotion from Giroux last night. When he gets angry he inspires himself and it lights a spark in the team. I like it.
I was ok putting up with Malkin's temper tantrums and poor decisions when he'd go on one of those streaks and dominate the game. When he did get that way, there were few other players better than him.
My issue is I haven't seen that for 2-3 years now. If he does manage to muster up anything on the ice now, it's for part of a shift, maybe two.
I agree with @dwm74, he's got that far away look. Maybe he's finally done playing second fiddle to Crosby, which I will give him credit for doing for so many years. Early on, he was as good as if not better than Crosby in some aspects of the game, and to play in Crosby's shadow takes humility.
I was thinking back to how Pittsburgh got Malkin and how they had to hide him from the Russians. That probably affected him too.
-Mike
Mike, as you know, I don't really follow the ins-and-outs of the Pens on a regular basis. Usually only when they're going against the Flyers. But I was recently thinking about something I noticed several years ago.
It was at an All-Star game. They were doing a feature on how a lot of the guys were joking around, having fun, and interacting with each other when not actually on the ice. Everybody seemed to be having a good time and actually enjoying each others' company. Except for Malkin. Every time he was seen on camera, he was off by himself and not interacting with anybody.
He's always struck me as an odd duck (despite his obvious talent). Is he really well-liked in his own locker room, or is he always rather sullen and standoffish??
It was at an All-Star game. They were doing a feature on how a lot of the guys were joking around, having fun, and interacting with each other when not actually on the ice. Everybody seemed to be having a good time and actually enjoying each others' company. Except for Malkin. Every time he was seen on camera, he was off by himself and not interacting with anybody.
He's always struck me as an odd duck (despite his obvious talent). Is he really well-liked in his own locker room, or is he always rather sullen and standoffish??
He's been that way from his arrival to the USA, which was an international controversy.
-Mike
I think he could use a change of scenery too. He spent ten years under Crosby’s shadow and did so with the utmost discipline and humility. Maybe he does want to be the #1 before his career is done and I wouldn’t blame him for wanting that experience for a bit. He’s more than earned that opportunity.
Thing is, he has a cap hit of 9.5mil for the next 3 years or so (can’t remember duration). That’s a hefty price to pay. Would he mind going to a bottom dwelling team that CAN afford that or would he strictly want to stay in a competitive market? Because, you know, not all competitive teams can afford 9.5mil.
Vigneault sat Travis Konecny tonight as a healthy scratch. I knew A.V. was unhappy with his top two forward lines; but in fairness, T.K. did have 8 points in 8 games. Nevertheless, message sent. Message received? I guess we'll see tomorrow night...
That game left a lot to be desired. I’m can’t wrap my mind around how this team is managing a 6-2-1 record.
Canucks FINALLY beat the Winnipeg Jets....IN WINNIPEG for the first time in ten whole games vs the Jets. We have had pretty miserable luck against them. What a solid win too! Played perfect hockey for 60 min straight and a lot of the time was spent forcing the Jets' top players to play defense hemmed up in their own zone. Lovely to see for once.
Granted, they were without Laine obviously and without PLD the replacement so this game could've gone different had PLD been eligible to play. Meanwhile, this is a huge morale boost for the team as they go to Montreal on a 4-game winning streak.
Granted, they were without Laine obviously and without PLD the replacement so this game could've gone different had PLD been eligible to play. Meanwhile, this is a huge morale boost for the team as they go to Montreal on a 4-game winning streak.
