Penguins Update: The Great Two-Headed Monster Debate

Recently we’ve experienced a rather spirited and passionate exchange of comments involving PenguinPoop founders, staffers and our faithful readers regarding the comparative merits of franchise pillars and fabled Two-Headed Monster Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

I’m jumping into the fray well downstream. And it’s always a bit risky to air laundry publicly, as I’m about to do. But I thought I’d throw my two cents in for public consumption.

Before I begin, I need to be clear. It isn’t my intent to throw either Sid or Geno under the bus or pit them against each other in any way. They’re generational talents, near the very top of a short list of greatest players to ever don the black and gold. Considering the supreme talents who’ve graced our roster over the years, that’s really saying something.

Nor is it my aim to squirt gasoline on an incipient in-house fire. Just the opposite, in fact.

As is almost always the case in a debate, the truth most likely lies somewhere in between the opposing viewpoints. Lodged somewhere between my esteemed colleague Other Rick’s strictly-by-the-numbers evaluation and the impassioned and wholly valid observations of others.

I confess, I was surprised as anyone when Other Rick presented metrics that indicate Geno is the (much) more effective of the two superstars when skating 5v5 between Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust. Which flies squarely in the face of my eye-test observations.

Statistics undeniably have their place. So do intangibles…the kind that can’t be quantified or measured on a slide rule.

In my humble opinion, Sid’s a rock…a marvelously consistent and meticulous two-way player whose attention to detail is off the charts. I began watching him away from the puck a lot more this season and, frankly, was awed. His game is so complete.

If Sid cuts a superb straight line in terms of consistency, Geno’s game is more like a sine wave, oscillating between brilliant, benign and varying points in between. At his best, No. 71 has few peers, possessing a top gear I’ve rarely seen. Magnificent as a Rachmaninoff Concerto.

When not? He can drift into lulls of sloppy and indifferent play.

In fairness to Malkin, with few exceptions Crosby’s always gotten the pick of the litter when it comes to linemates. About the only instance when I recall otherwise? When James Neal skated with Geno, a combination too dynamic and electric to split up.

Perhaps that’s as it should be. After all, Sid’s the face of the franchise.

However, this season the disparity in talent seemed to be especially acute. While No. 87 skated virtually all season with favored wingers Guentzel and Rust, except for a brief stretch when talented trade deadline acquisition Rickard Rakell supplanted the latter, Geno was handed a virtual revolving door of linemates.

Danton Heinen, Kasperi Kapanen, Brock McGinn, Rakell, Evan Rodrigues, Rust, Jason Zucker…even fellow center Jeff Carter…all skated on the rangy Russian’s wing. At times he seemed to have a different set of wingers virtually every game.

Tough to develop any synergy or chemistry under those conditions. Yet Geno still managed to notch 20 goals and 42 points in 41 games coming off major knee surgery. A 40-goal, 84-point pace over a full season. Not exactly chicken feed.

Personally, I’ve often wondered why coach Mike Sullivan didn’t give Malkin more of an opportunity with Guentzel, while Zucker didn’t get more of a look with Crosby. Zucks and Sid play a similar grinding style. Despite somewhat disappointing numbers since arriving in the ‘Burgh, Jason does have hands.

Initially, the former 30-goal man did flank Sid…with decent results. In 15 games following his acquisition in 2019-20, he tallied a highly respectable six goals and 12 points. But the following season Zucker was teamed with Malkin, a combination that blended as seamlessly as oil and water, while Guentzel returned from a severe shoulder injury to reclaim the port side next to Sid.

Crosby’s preference? Sullivan’s? Both?

Dunno.

Although subsequent injuries probably would’ve prevented it, I could easily have envisioned Zucker and Rust forming matching 25-goal bookends for Sid, while Jake would’ve provided Geno with a bona fide scoring threat on his wing.

And who knows? With opponents scrambling to cover Guentzel and Malkin, perhaps Kapanen could’ve escaped detection, affording him more opportunity to slip into open space where he’s historically thrived. In turn, giving us two strong lines instead of one.

But I digress.

So what’s the point of this ramble? Maybe to soothe some jangled nerves. And to say we’ve been so very blessed to watch these two generational talents and brothers in arms lift our Pens to three Stanley Cups. Not to mention the treasure trove of timeless hockey moments and memories the most dynamic of duos have provided.