We ain't seen nothing yet, Malkin

By Mark Madden 

Special to The Beaver County Times | Posted: Friday, April 5, 2013 12:07 am

http://www.timesonline.com

Penguins center Evgeni Malkin has six goals and 21 assists in 25 games. That’s OK. OK if you’re Dan Quinn. It’s not OK if you’re making $8.7 million. It’s not OK if you’re the reigning and defending NHL MVP and scoring champion.

Malkin often looks frustrated. Or disinterested. Or both. Perhaps his cruise through the Russia-based KHL was too easy. Perhaps his injured shoulder is still bothering him.

But why doesn’t matter. Production does. Malkin’s is unacceptable.

Geno Nation cites Malkin’s good two-way hockey. I’m not sure about that. Petulance is more evident than solid slot-to-slot play.

Anyway, Malkin isn’t a checking center. In fact, he’s being outscored by the local checking center: Brandon Sutter leads Malkin, 9-6.

Malkin doesn’t win draws. Doesn’t kill penalties. He wears the “A” for prestige, not because he’s a leader. Malkin won’t crack the language barrier enough to be a leader.

Every contribution Malkin makes has to be tangible: Points and goals, especially goals. Six goals in 25 games is, frankly, a pathetic amount. It’s not like Malkin is hard done by. Goaltenders aren’t robbing him.

Malkin isn’t playing well. There’s no polite way to put it.

Consider what the Penguins get out of Crosby, who makes $8.7 million just like Malkin: He scores points, leads, makes plays goal line to goal line, wins draws, sells all the tickets, sells a ton of merchandise and serves as the ambassador for his team and for the sport.

Crosby should make $25 million. If he did, he’d be worth every penny.

Malkin just plays hockey, and gets to operate in the shadows to boot. When Crosby plays, Malkin doesn’t draw the other team’s checking center. Malkin doesn’t face their best defensemen. Doesn’t have to deal with Zdeno Chara or Dion Phaneuf. Crosby does the heaviest lifting.

Besides injury, Malkin has no excuse for not producing.

It’s time to stop being impressed when Malkin explodes while Crosby’s out. Excellence isn’t circumstantial. It’s about consistency.

Malkin needs to play better and produce more. He will. He’d better.

Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang each have one year left on their contracts. If the NHL salary cap dictates keeping just one, it’s not an obvious decision. GM Ray Shero and Penguins ownership need to think about who’s more replaceable, and who would fetch the most in a trade. What would a big-market franchise give for ticket-selling star power?

Malkin might want paid more than Crosby. How could the Penguins justify that if Malkin’s sub-par campaign continues? The numbers aren’t there, and Malkin doesn’t pass the eye test most nights.

Shopping Malkin is a notion that shocks people. But if the Penguins don’t win the Stanley Cup this year, or at least make the final, it would raise doubt about the two-superstar model. It’s been a while since 2009.

Some say that keeping Malkin in perpetuity serves as insurance against Crosby getting injured. If that’s the primary reason for keeping Malkin around, it’s not good enough.

All the tickets are sold. All the pieces are in place. The Penguins are a model franchise. The only thing left to achieve is championships. Stanley Cups are all that count with this organization.

By any means necessary.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).