Ryan Wilson: Malkin’s self doubt stems from Penguins taking him for granted Malkin’s self doubt stems from Penguins taking him for granted

Fat Fugly Oaf.

it’s all Johnson’s fault. Even though Malkin mentioned to Rob Rossi about loving Phil Kessel the guy but hating him playing on his wing it’s still Johnson’s fault. Even though a Malkin admits to not feeling in the greatest shape, it’s all Johnson’s fault.

I knew this blog was coming as soon as I read that article. Kessel was clearly the problem but RW has to jump to his defense.

Sullivan was using Malkin as a go between because it was his last option in dealing with a locker room cancer. Its unfortunate that Malkin got caught in the middle but at the time he may have been the only person that Kessel was listening too (see Bozak in Toronto).
Its become crystal clear that Kessel is indeed uncoachable, this isnt a claim that he isnt a superstar, its just the truth that Kessel is the bad apple that spoils the bunch and it looks like that spoilage takes about 3 years.

it’s all Johnson’s fault. Even though Malkin mentioned to Rob Rossi about loving Phil Kessel the guy but hating him playing on his wing it’s still Johnson’s fault. Even though a Malkin admits to not feeling in the greatest shape, it’s all Johnson’s fault.
- Grinder47

Sullivan, but yup.

I knew this blog was coming as soon as I read that article. Kessel was clearly the problem but RW has to jump to his defense.

Sullivan was using Malkin as a go between because it was his last option in dealing with a locker room cancer. Its unfortunate that Malkin got caught in the middle but at the time he may have been the only person that Kessel was listening too (see Bozak in Toronto).
Its become crystal clear that Kessel is indeed uncoachable, this isnt a claim that he isnt a superstar, its just the truth that Kessel is the bad apple that spoils the bunch and it looks like that spoilage takes about 3 years.
- stackthepads

LOL

it’s all Johnson’s fault. Even though Malkin mentioned to Rob Rossi about loving Phil Kessel the guy but hating him playing on his wing it’s still Johnson’s fault. Even though a Malkin admits to not feeling in the greatest shape, it’s all Johnson’s fault.
- Grinder47

Lmao you are the most triggered pens fan on this site. (frank)ing soft as (frank).

I knew this blog was coming as soon as I read that article. Kessel was clearly the problem but RW has to jump to his defense.

Sullivan was using Malkin as a go between because it was his last option in dealing with a locker room cancer. Its unfortunate that Malkin got caught in the middle but at the time he may have been the only person that Kessel was listening too (see Bozak in Toronto).
Its become crystal clear that Kessel is indeed uncoachable, this isnt a claim that he isnt a superstar, its just the truth that Kessel is the bad apple that spoils the bunch and it looks like that spoilage takes about 3 years.
- stackthepads

Wow did this blog twist that article! Here's my takeaways. Yeah, it's Rossi, but he is tight with Malkin so this is one time I expect him not to make crap up.

Malkin didn't want to play with Kessel anymore. That's been reported before and people who want to defend Kessel want to ignore it, but if Malkin didn't want to play with him anymore, I say you do what's right by Malkin.

Malkin admitted to skimping on his training during the season and losing his burst. He has rededicated himself and even changed his diet which is good and the type of thing he needs to do to combat the aging curve. Seems like he did some serious soul searching and while I don't think he was terrible, I do agree he got lazy/complacent and is capable of better.

Gonchar and his family being around less seemed to affect him. Hopefully a Russian speaking teammate helps.

Malkin was an MVP level player the 2nd half of 2017-18 playing with guys like Hornqvist, Hagelin, and Rust: guys who were driving play and doing the dirty work to get him the puck even if none were elite scorers themselves. He wasn't that last year. Not Galchenyuk is the fit, but I'm hopeful he can find that level again.

First off... I don't respect Rossi as a "journalist" in the least. Dude has a history of making himself the story. I think he's been a little better at The Athletic, but I always push him into the "sensationalist" category.....and always will.

Secondly, I think you're cherry picking some tidbits on Sullivan and Rutherford to continue a narrative. I don't love the last couple of years of Sullivan and Rutherford, but those parts of the story are fairly minor.

If that column is accurate, the real story is Malkin didn't want to play with Kessel and (supposedly) Malkin requested a trade if Kessel returned. Furthermore, Malkin thought Kessel was content with two cups and he didn't want to be painted with the same brush. I mean, Rutherford has been beaten to a pulp about trading Kessel. If this story is to be believed, it was either Phil or Geno....and let's be honest, that's an easy decision.

Another thing of note... Malkin admits he wasn't in the greatest shape and blamed himself for his "down" year (by his standards). He wouldn't be the first athlete to come to the realization that maintaining excellence requires much more work after 30.

Wow did this blog twist that article! Here's my takeaways. Yeah, it's Rossi, but he is tight with Malkin so this is one time I expect him not to make crap up.

Malkin didn't want to play with Kessel anymore. That's been reported before and people who want to defend Kessel want to ignore it, but if Malkin didn't want to play with him anymore, I say you do what's right by Malkin.

Malkin admitted to skimping on his training during the season and losing his burst. He has rededicated himself and even changed his diet which is good and the type of thing he needs to do to combat the aging curve. Seems like he did some serious soul searching and while I don't think he was terrible, I do agree he got lazy/complacent and is capable of better.

Gonchar and his family being around less seemed to affect him. Hopefully a Russian speaking teammate helps.

Malkin was an MVP level player the 2nd half of 2017-18 playing with guys like Hornqvist, Hagelin, and Rust: guys who were driving play and doing the dirty work to get him the puck even if none were elite scorers themselves. He wasn't that last year. Not Galchenyuk is the fit, but I'm hopeful he can find that level again.
- Tojo.

Ha Ha.... Beat me to it.

There was a weird stat in the Pensburgh article from Micah that maybe one of you guys can explain. It showed Malkin's threat level with 4 defensemen. The surprise was +4 with JJ. He was -6 with Maatta, -15 with Schultz, and +36 with Pettersson. I knew Maatta was bad and Schultz terrible, and Pettersson great, the JJ part surprised me.

https://www.pensburgh.com...ionship-nhl-mike-sullivan

Ha Ha.... Beat me to it.

- madmike71

just barely, but we saw the same thing: RW really altered the article to fit his narrative.

Summary, I think a strong PP masked some decline in Malkin and Kessel and I'm hopeful that's corrected.

Ryan Wilson: Malkin’s self doubt stems from Penguins taking him for granted
Malkin’s self doubt stems from Penguins taking him for granted
- Ryan_Wilson

Fans: "Wow, Geno doesn't look good out there. He seems to be slower, he's making bad plays, and his point totals are below what we expect from him."

Geno: "I know I had a bad year. I need to take better care of myself and play smarter, and things didn't work with Kessel. There were a lot of reasons why it was just a bad year."

RW: "Pft. You're both wrong. Geno is perfect. The only thing the team needs to do is jettison JJ, Rutherford, and Sullivan into the sun."

Lmao you are the most triggered pens fan on this site. (frank)ing soft as (frank).
- Feds91Stammer

You’re really struggling lately.

Fans: "Wow, Geno doesn't look good out there. He seems to be slower, he's making bad plays, and his point totals are below what we expect from him."

Geno: "I know I had a bad year. I need to take better care of myself and play smarter, and things didn't work with Kessel. There were a lot of reasons why it was just a bad year."

RW: "Pft. You're both wrong. Geno is perfect. The only thing the team needs to do is jettison JJ, Rutherford, and Sullivan into the sun."
- mdub71

Yeah. You got that right.

You haven’t parlayed your crap into a gig with a professional hockey franchise yet? Shocker.

You’re really struggling lately.
- Grinder47

lol nah. You took a blog that didn't even mention JJ to talk about JJ. Talk about being a soft millennial

Imagine trolling on this site to defend this crap.

lol nah. You took a blog that didn't even mention JJ to talk about JJ. Talk about being a soft millennial
- Feds91Stammer

Once again. Nothing.

Another item that’s bad about this is the notion that management doesn’t support him with good players. He would have played most of his time with the team’s second best offensive defensemen this year, had he not been injured for half the year. He also played with arguably the team’s best winger, and it didn’t work. To say nothing of his time with Sykora, Neal, and Hornqvist over the years.

Not all teams with two generational centers have enough cap space or talent to surround them both with generational defensemen and wingers.

I usually don't jump on the hate RW bandwagon...but what a poopty article.

I think this article is somewhat sensationalized, and a misinterpretation of the article in the athletic. Despite all of it, Geno is human, and will have ups and downs. He knows what he needs to do to get better..
Locker room drama aside, this team is fairly poorly managed, poorly coached, and Geno has always taken a backseat to Sid despite carrying the team through stretches where Sid was injured. I don't think any player should be untouchable, but I think Geno should be as untouchable as Sid...

This is Tanner level drivel from Ryan Wilson...

Rob Rossi works at the Athletic? Didn’t know they were that desperate

I think this article is somewhat sensationalized, and a misinterpretation of the article in the athletic. Despite all of it, Geno is human, and will have ups and downs. He knows what he needs to do to get better..
Locker room drama aside, this team is fairly poorly managed, poorly coached, and Geno has always taken a backseat to Sid despite carrying the team through stretches where Sid was injured. I don't think any player should be untouchable, but I think Geno should be as untouchable as Sid...
- dunner84

I'm pretty sure RW knew what he was doing with this article. He knows Rossi is a buffoon and just gave his personal touch and reasoning of thinking in the Malkin situastion.

RW knows Rossi sucks.