Despite being 37 years old, Evgeni Malkin is still worth his weight in gold, much to the relief of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who will need his offensive production to qualify for the playoffs.
The striker fully justifies his four-year, $24.4 million contract signed in the summer of 2022. The fact that head coach Mike Sullivan’s men have regained their strength after a slow start to the season is largely due to the contribution of number 71, who has a .500 record, he has 18 points in as many games and remains a leading asset in the middle of the second row, complemented by Reilly Smith and Alex Nylander.
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According to Sullivan, the Russian has a lot of gas in the tank, which will certainly help in a metropolitan section and leaves little room to breathe.
“He’s an ultra-talented guy and when his game is at its best, I don’t know if there’s a more dangerous hockey player than Geno on the counterattack,” the coach commented to NHL.com. He has unlimited ability to make plays and take advantage of opportunities. He’s a threat himself, he can shoot the puck. We are happy with his efforts so far and he can consistently deliver.”
““Geno” can help us with his offensive skills because the puck seems to follow him when he’s at his best. He did that recently.”
For his part, Malkin’s buddy, Captain Sidney Crosby, knows he has an important ally, both literal and figurative.
“Few people like him, especially with the disc, but also physically. He can represent any style of play through his style of play. He can use a tight forecheck or run more freely. He can use his talent and his size. When he behaves like that, he is difficult to stop,” said the veteran about his 1.95 meter tall teammate.
Anger in the heart
According to Sullivan, the Penguins’ failure to qualify in the final series further motivated Malkin to help his team win. Before 2022-2023, he had always played in the National League playoffs.
“I think he’s a dedicated guy. In my opinion, he took this failure last year personally. These guys have high expectations for themselves and this experience shook us all. I think “Geno” worked hard in the offseason. He showed up to training camp in great shape and worked hard afterwards. He tried to play the right way and will be rewarded for his efforts,” he explained.
The Pens visit the Buffalo Sabers on Friday evening.