Ovechkin says Malkin will be top rookie next year...

topshelf · Post by **topshelf** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 3:45 pm

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06029/646095.stm

yeltzen · Post by **yeltzen** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 3:47 pm

Alex is really going out on a limb there!

tluke53 · Post by **tluke53** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 3:55 pm

Next season will not be much better than this season unless he turns into the great player that everyone is predicting.

topshelf · Post by **topshelf** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:06 pm

Next year will be better than this year, period. Even if Malkin has a rough rookie campaign, there is no way we could be worse. It is inevitable that we will move our dead weight, and a camp under MT will be a helluva lot more productive than one under Edzo. I'm not saying that we will be the best team in the NHL, but there is no way we can end up THIS bad.

Post by **Mango Salsa** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:09 pm

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

Post by **Kicksave** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:10 pm

Mango Salsa wrote:
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

Conclusion:

Malkin > Ovechkin

tluke53 · Post by **tluke53** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:18 pm

TopShelf - I thought the same thing after 03/04. I wouldn't assume anything at this point. I have not seen anything that leads me to beleive we will be very good next year. Not that I won't be watching.

topshelf · Post by **topshelf** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:29 pm

tluke53 - Agreed, but there is a difference here. Edzo [as much as I like him as a person], ran a poor camp. Our guys were not conditioned at all. We couldn't keep up with any club. I know seeing us blown out by the Rags is painful, but for the most part we play better and harder than we did under Eddie. MT will have these guys in good shape come next year.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:36 pm

He has to grace Western PA with his presence first.

tluke53 · Post by **tluke53** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:38 pm

TopShelf - I don't know if I agree 100%. Poor conditioning is one thing, but our troubles go much further. This team just lacks talent. Next season will be very interesting. We should see some of the young players mature and hopfully we will get to see Malkin. However, I don't see our record being much better. It will be interesting to see how the sale of the team affects our staff and players. There could be a lot of changes.

DelPen · Post by **DelPen** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:22 pm

Kicksave wrote:

Conclusion:

Malkin > Ovechkin

I don't think I would go that far. Ovechkin is a pure goal scorer and will be the best goal scorer in the NHL for the next 5 or 6 years at least. I won't take that away from him.

Malkin might be a better hockey player though. Hopefully his domination of the RSL translates to the NHL because seldom it has in other players.

Post by **Draftnik** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:41 pm

Hopefully Malkin comes here next season. Ovechkin says "if", not when about Malkin. There is no transfer agreement. Malkin still has another year on his Metal deal. Buccigross says IMG is having a tough time getting him out of his Metal deal. Malkin said he may play in the Spengler Cup next season meaning he would still be on Metal.

Malkin coming to Pittsburgh for the 06/07 is far from a done deal.

DelPen · Post by **DelPen** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:55 pm

All we can do now is take Metallurg and the RSL at their word when they say they will let him go if they wish. I do believe that they held the Olympics over his head to get him to stay and the vacation house had to help make the decision easy too. Fortunately, we will still have a 2 month window to sign him after his contract is up. My only worry is that he would want to be the main guy on his team instead of playing second fiddle to Crosby. It wouldn't be a money issue because all entry contracts are the same.

And you know what would be an huge kick in the balls? If he decided to not sign with us, became a free agent and signed on to play with Ovechkin and the Caps.

Post by **Mad City Mike** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 7:32 pm

Draftnik wrote:
Hopefully Malkin comes here next season. Ovechkin says "if", not when about Malkin. There is no transfer agreement. Malkin still has another year on his Metal deal. Buccigross says IMG is having a tough time getting him out of his Metal deal. Malkin said he may play in the Spengler Cup next season meaning he would still be on Metal.

Malkin coming to Pittsburgh for the 06/07 is far from a done deal.

Also, last night on Hockey Hotstove, JD said it was FAR from certain that Malkin will be there next year. I'll believe it when I see it. I do think the nHL needs to get off the stck on this and work something out. Otherwise, the new (hopefully more proactive) GM will need to figure out a way to make it happen. They should not be forced to wait another year because of politics. CP probably would. Hopefully a new GM won't.

Ovechkin says Malkin will be top rookie next year...

Ovechkin says Malkin will be top rookie next year...

Let's hope so...