Is Evgeni Malkin slipping?
That seemed like a perfectly valid question entering the 2019-20 season. Sure, Malkin still managed to score more than a point per game last season. But the big Russian wasn’t his usual, dominant self. He didn’t create as much offense as in years past. He was careless with the puck and penalty-prone. His GM didn’t exactly quell offseason trade talk. It was enough to make you wonder whether the 14-year pro was entering the decline phase of his career—and starting to close the Penguins' championship window in the process.
Instead, Malkin is playing inspired hockey. At age 33, Malkin is driving the Penguins toward the top of the Metropolitan Division standings. He's generating offense at a clip not seen since his MVP season in 2011-12, cutting down on turnovers and unnecessary trips to the penalty box and even turning in some of the best defensive play of his eventual Hall of Fame career. In a young man's league, the Penguins' oldest player has been their best.
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