Malkin needs rest more than a gold medal
Picture this: Evgeni Malkin goes to the Czech Republic this week to play in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships, which start Friday. He plays great and leads Russia to the gold medal for the second consecutive year and the third time in four years. He returns home to Magnitogorsk as a hero. It could happen. Would that bother you? It would bother the heck out of me.
Malkin did nothing in the Penguins’ five-game loss to the New York Rangers in the first round of the NHL playoffs. He didn’t have a goal or a point, stretching his streak of failure going back to the regular season to 15 games without a goal and 10 games without a point. That lack of production is unfathomable for an alleged superstar.
Some have blamed Malkin’s
linemates, but he always played on the first power play with Sidney Crosby and Patric Hornqvist, two pretty capable teammates. Malkin was a big reason the team’s top unit went 0 for 13 against the Rangers. He scored just one power-play goal in his final 48 games, including playoffs.
Malkin apologists blamed injuries. It had to be an injury of some kind, right? Malkin missed eight of the final 14 regular-season games. There’s no way he would play so poorly in the playoffs if he were healthy. Some reports said he had a back problem. Others said it was an ankle. Malkin did nothing to discourage the speculation. He described himself as between 85-90 percent before Game 3.
But Sunday, when the Penguins gathered at Consol Energy Center for the final time before going their separate ways for the summer, Malkin said he did not have a “big” injury. “I just need a little rest. My body is fine.”
Coach Mike Johnston confirmed Malkin was relatively healthy against the Rangers. “Everybody is playing with little things. But there was nothing significant in our lineup that you could say, ‘Well, we didn’t do this because this player was injured.’ No. There are no excuses that way.” My translation: Malkin just stunk in the series.
I guess that makes it OK for Malkin to go to the World Championships, but it still seems very wrong to me.
I understand there is tremendous pressure in Russia for Malkin to play. The World Championships are a huge deal in Europe, and he’s one of his country’s stars. That’s why Russian officials telephoned him soon after the Rangers eliminated the Penguins Friday night with a 2-1 overtime win in Game 5.
Malkin said Sunday he hadn’t made up his mind about playing in the tournament because he hadn’t talked to Johnston about it. But it will be a big surprise if he doesn’t join the Russian team. Hockey players play. That’s what they do even if it makes them look bad on occasions such as this one.
“I know he always likes to go,” Johnston said, adding that he wouldn’t discourage Malkin from playing.
“I think the World Championships are a great opportunity. You’re playing on a world stage.”
Johnston just shrugged at the suggestion that Malkin’s appearance on the Russian team wouldn’t go over big with a lot of Penguins fans. Who knows? Maybe Malkin will do the right thing and skip the World Championships. Maybe Johnston will change his mind and encourage him not to go.
That’s what I’m hoping for, anyway.
I would have greater respect for Malkin’s hockey priorities if he decided not to play in the World Championships, took the rest that he said he needed and then started preparing for the 2015-16 NHL season with a team that paid him $9.5 million this season and will pay him $9.5 million next season.
I guess I’m just funny that way.