Malkin better than Ovechkin?....(link)

[Mountaineer]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02286.html

Only time will tell. Still, from what I've hear, Malkin is the complete player, offensively and defensively. Like Mario, he has that long reach, something that Ovechkin and Sid don't. I can't wait for this kid to come over.

Let's go Pens!!!!

[ExPatriatePen]

Wow. I this is the first I'd heard about Ovechkin getting a big head.

Interesting, very interesting. This is why I think Marios strategy of having Sidney as a housemate is so wise (even if it isn't working out perfectly)

Ovechkin needs this kind of humility. No, it hasn't gone to his head yet. But when one of his veteran Capitals teammates was asked at a bar after a recent game whether he saw a little of a young Allen Iverson in Ovechkin -- an unbelievably gifted player who fell in love with his own ability while forgetting to include others sometimes -- he replied, "I think that might be a fair assessment."

[Bowser]

I've said it before and I'll continue to say it now, Malkin is a better overall player than Crosby and Ovechkin. Malkin is better at faceoffs, better wrist shot, faster skater, bigger, plays on the #1 PK and PP units, and plays down low in the defensive zone like he's Ron Francis cleaning up loose pucks to start the breakout.

Crosby has the advantage of playing on the NHL-sized ice surface that might force Malkin to play a year learning the style of the North American game but I think if he's flanked by a legit NHL goal scorer, he'll rack up the points like Crosby and Ovechkin have this season.

*Edit NOTE: Better wrist shot than Crosby.

[NIN]

I really cannot wait to see malkin play today! I have it DVR'd so's I can's watch it when I get home from the rat race! It will be my first Malkin game and with all of the hype surrounding him he has to score like 2+2 to even get my attention now!

[Bowser]

I don't know who the Russians will line up with Malkin but I'm hoping its Ovechkin and Datsyuk.

[NIN]

I don't know who the Russians will line up with Malkin but I'm hoping its Ovechkin and Datsyuk.

Definately Ovechkin from what I have read. I think Malkin will have kovalev on his RW. OH man...this is gonna be fun!

[penny lane]

This week I discovered even penguin hockey is better than no hockey!

E Malkin I'll wait until I see him at penguin training camp before
making comparisions. On this penguin team it will only help Malkin's
Pittsburgh adjustment, that Sidney is here. From all that I have
read Malkin doesn't speak english...this allows for him to fly under
the media radar for awhile. Letting Malkin be about his on-ice performance.
Malkin won't have the additional pressure to be the
face of the new NHL.

Do not want to hear rumblings about a jealousy between
Sid & Evgeni before they even breathe on the same continent.

[FallenHero96]

From the few times I have seen Malkin, he doesn't appear to be as flashy as Ovechkin, but seems to be a very smart player that can do it all.

[dman66]

this should tick off caps fans even more

i heard malkin was gonna be in between kovalchuk and ovechkin

imagine having that line

[Mango Salsa]

Here's some numbers I pulled together in another thread...

Just for fun, Ovechkin vs Malkin...

Last two years in RSL...

Ovechkin 90 games - 26 goals - 24 assists - 50 points

-Malkin - 92 games - 32 goals - 47 assists - 79 points

Last two World Juniors

Ovechkin 12 goals - 5 assists - 17 points

-Malkin 7 goals - 13 assists- 20 points

[MrKnowNothing]

To be fair, Ovechkin's numbers from his last RSL year are probably a little skewed because of all the NHLers who played in the RSL last year.

But, Malkin seems to be just as good as Ovechkin, and with each passing day is proving David Conte's words around draft time in 2004 about Malkin and Ovechkin to be right, which isn't much of a surprise considering that Conte is just about always right when it comes to prospects.