Comments on: What’s Wrong With Malkin? http://www.penguinpoop.com/2011/whats-wrong-with-malkin/ Pittsburgh Penguins News - Blog Fri, 17 May 2013 17:32:46 +0000 hourly 1 By: McLovin http://www.penguinpoop.com/2011/whats-wrong-with-malkin/#comment-4905 McLovin Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:33:08 +0000 http://www.penguinpoop.com/?p=6487#comment-4905 I agree the biggest issue seems to be Malkins shape. Particularly his upper body strenth, his shots just don’t have the power behind them that they used to. I don’t know if he has one, but with how much he makes, he may want to look into a personal trainer. Someone that will push him, since he doesn’t seem to have the natural push to improve himself like Crosby does.

As far as Malkin wanting to be “the man”, I think everyone on the team would like to be the man, Malkin has never had trouble playing second fiddle to Crosby as far as interviews an off ice stuff, as he usually shy’s away from it.

I think “gripping the stick to tightly” is meant to be taken literally.

]]> By: jetomlin http://www.penguinpoop.com/2011/whats-wrong-with-malkin/#comment-4902 jetomlin Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:31:45 +0000 http://www.penguinpoop.com/?p=6487#comment-4902 I have a friend who has involvement with the organization through a skates company. He also occasionally hangs out with Lemieux and the training staff. He has told me that Malkin’s biggest issue is that he is not in very good shape. He doesn’t condition train as hard as most, apparently because he’s naturally it pretty good shape, and it gets to him during the year. They say the best thing for him is to have some time off during the season to recharge his batteries.

I also think he likes to try to ‘be the man’, as it were. We have proven time and again that we can play pretty well when Crosby is out for short stretches, but when Malkin has been out, not so much. In fact, when Malkin was at his best was when Crosby was out with the high ankle sprain a couple years ago.

Another thing I’d heard is that it’s a Russian mentality to be the best, so that when you aren’t the best, you get so down on yourself you simply make things worse.

All of that said, I think your ‘gripping the stick too tightly’ argument also has a lot of merit.

Final thought – when was the last time his parents were in town? They always seem to bring out the best in him. Maybe some borscht is what he needs!

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