SN Archive (2008): Is Evgeni Malkin better than Sidney Crosby?
If Evgeni Malkin just played his last game with the Penguins alongside Sidney Crosby, just remember he was far more than a sidekick.
SN Archive (2008): Is Evgeni Malkin better than Sidney Crosby? originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Long-time Penguins' star Evgeni Malkin is a free agent with an uncertain future in Pittsburgh following their elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This article, ' In the Penguins' 1-2 punch, Malkin might be No. 1 ' by Craig Custance, originally appeared in the December 8, 2008 issue of The Sporting News.
When it happened, it was hard to imagine the ankle injury Sidney Crosby suffered last season would be good news for the Penguins. But during Crosby's 21-game absence, fellow center Evgeni Malkin emerged as one of the most dominant players in hockey. With Crosby out, the team leaned heavily on Malkin's offense.
As one Pittsburgh player put it, “Everything ran through Geno. ” This season, the improbable might be occurring: Malkin could be passing a healthy Crosby as the most dominant player on the ice. SN ARCHIVES: Access every SN issue since 1886, for free “They're equally dangerous,” says Erik Christensen, a former teammate of Malkin's and Crosby's.