Benz Reports Malone prefers Malkin over Sid

[AlexPKeaton]

On 105.9 this morning Tim Benz cited an anonymous player on the Penguins who expressed serious concern about moving Malone to Sid's line. According to Benz, this anonymous player said that it would be a huge mistake by MT, saying that Malone feels he is a much better player with Malkin. The reason given by the anonymous player is that Malone feels that Malkin is much more relaxed about things like missed scoring chances (Benz joked that if he wasn't how would anyone know?) and (apparently) less demanding on his linemates than Sid.

Tim Benz thought that this was highly credible, so I conclude that the anonymous player was either Malone himself or someone very close to Malone. As we all know Benz is in the locker-room quite a bit and interviews many of the players.

Could this be why Colby thrives with Sid... because Sid is less hard on close friends with less talent than people like Sykora and Malone?

[pfim]

He certainly looks like a better player with Malkin. I don't really care why.

[Kovy27]

That's it. Trade Crosby to Atlanta for Recchi.

[tluke53]

He certainly looks like a better player with Malkin. I don't really care why.

Agreed.

"Malone and Malkin go together like peas and carrots" - Forest Gump

[canaan]

+tim benz is the man+

[The U]

I don't see how you can break-up the Malkin line....no matter who Malone wants to play with.

[Spikey]

There's no question he's been playing better with Malkin, but if the reason why he prefers it is because Geno is less demanding than Sid, that doesn't say much for Malone.

[joopen]

He certainly looks like a better player with Malkin. I don't really care why.

Agreed.

"Malone and Malkin go together like peas and carrots" - Forest Gump

They go together like peanut butter and tuna fish

[stopper40]

There's no question he's been playing better with Malkin, but if the reason why he prefers it is because Geno is less demanding than Sid, that doesn't say much for Malone.

I was thinking the same thing.

In other words malone wants to coast some shifts/games. Where as Crosby doesn't expect his linemates to do that.

[pfim]

There's no question he's been playing better with Malkin, but if the reason why he prefers it is because Geno is less demanding than Sid, that doesn't say much for Malone.

I was thinking the same thing.

In other words malone wants to coast some shifts/games. Where as Crosby doesn't expect his linemates to do that.

I don't know if I'd take that from the supposed source. I haven't seen Malone take shifts off this season. Some people don't like a guy constantly in their ear, telling them they suck.

[AlexPKeaton]

There's no question he's been playing better with Malkin, but if the reason why he prefers it is because Geno is less demanding than Sid, that doesn't say much for Malone.

I was thinking the same thing.

In other words malone wants to coast some shifts/games. Where as Crosby doesn't expect his linemates to do that.

I don't think that is what Benz was implying. He seemed to be implying that Crosby is harder on players who fumble a pass and don't bury scoring chances. Malkin is more of a "we'll get 'em next time" type of guy. (This is what I gathered from what Benz said, he didn't say this word for word.)

[Troy Loney]

There's no question he's been playing better with Malkin, but if the reason why he prefers it is because Geno is less demanding than Sid, that doesn't say much for Malone.

It's pretty hard to be demanding when you can't vocally communicate very well. But this is a really stupid explanation and i hope there isnt any validity to this story.

[newarenanow]

He certainly looks like a better player with Malkin. I don't really care why.

Agreed.

[Kovy27]

He certainly looks like a better player with Malkin. I don't really care why.

Agreed.

It won't really matter..if the Pens can get a Winger.

[soljaheas]

+tim benz is the man+

I don't like him much.

[KennyTheKangaroo]

kennythekangaroo reports that everyone prefers everything over tim benz

mostly because benz is a toolbox

[Matthew Monstar]

Does anyone know if Crosby and/or Fleury are returning tonight?

[Troy Loney]

Does anyone know if Crosby and/or Fleury are returning tonight?

Crosby didnt travel with the team, so he wont be playing.

[bill from turtle creek]

I am not buying it. If Sid were harping on his linemates to bury their chances to the point where it made them uncomfortable, we'd have heard of it by now.

Benz is just trying to stir up controversy. I think he's always thought of himself as a mini-Madden.

[Matthew Monstar]

I am not buying it. If Sid were harping on his linemates to bury their chances to the point where it made them uncomfortable, we'd have heard of it by now.

Benz is just trying to stir up controversy. I think he's always thought of himself as a mini-Madden.

Doesnt take alot to be a Mini-Madden

Kidding <345678

[kirk]

On 105.9 this morning Tim Benz cited an anonymous player on the Penguins who expressed serious concern about moving Malone to Sid's line. According to Benz, this anonymous player said that it would be a huge mistake by MT, saying that Malone feels he is a much better player with Malkin. The reason given by the anonymous player is that Malone feels that Malkin is much more relaxed about things like missed scoring chances (Benz joked that if he wasn't how would anyone know?) and (apparently) less demanding on his linemates than Sid.

Tim Benz thought that this was highly credible, so I conclude that the anonymous player was either Malone himself or someone very close to Malone. As we all know Benz is in the locker-room quite a bit and interviews many of the players.

Could this be why Colby thrives with Sid... because Sid is less hard on close friends with less talent than people like Sykora and Malone?

I don't care why Malone wants what he wants. The fact is that he is playing the best hockey of his career on Malkin's wing. My own pet theory is that Sid plays up tempo hockey all of the time, while Malkin slows or pushes the pace depending upon the situation, which is a style better suited in a center to getting the most out of Malone. Whatever the theory, Malone should stay on Malkin's LW, and this reason (and the fact that you could have two top flight scoring lines) are why I call finding a winger for Sid a huge need.

[penny lane]

+tim benz is the man+

I don't like him much.

tim benz~ a boy-punk. just my opinion.

Somebody out there must be willing to play with Sid

[Gaucho]

There's no question he's been playing better with Malkin, but if the reason why he prefers it is because Geno is less demanding than Sid, that doesn't say much for Malone.

I was thinking the same thing.

In other words malone wants to coast some shifts/games. Where as Crosby doesn't expect his linemates to do that.

Please...

[Tico Rick]

There's no question he's been playing better with Malkin, but if the reason why he prefers it is because Geno is less demanding than Sid, that doesn't say much for Malone.

I was thinking the same thing.

In other words malone wants to coast some shifts/games. Where as Crosby doesn't expect his linemates to do that.

I don't think that is what Benz was implying. He seemed to be implying that Crosby is harder on players who fumble a pass and don't bury scoring chances. Malkin is more of a "we'll get 'em next time" type of guy. (This is what I gathered from what Benz said, he didn't say this word for word.)

That's how I would interpret it. To say that Malone doesn't like playing with Crosby because he wants to float is ridiculous. I can imagine Crosby being a much more difficult guy to play with than Malkin is, and part if it has to do with not being able to keep up with Crosby's speed. Malkin has the ability to slow the game down, the way Mario did, but Crosby's game is all about speed. Unfortunately, we've never had a quality goal scorer with speed to go with Crosby.

[Gaucho]

The label "makes his linesmates better" seems to better fit Malkin than Crosy. Uh oh...