Evgeni Malkin: The Best In The World
By Drew Shetler
For his entire National Hockey League career, you could say Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has always been second best.
He was drafted No. 2 in the 2004 NHL draft behind Alexander Ovechkin.
Here in Pittsburgh he plays behind the face of the NHL in Sidney Crosby.
But last night Malkin put the NHL on notice that he is second best no longer. He is in fact the best in the world.
Malkin didn’t just capture one, he took home three trophies at the NHL Awards last night.
Malkin was the overwhelming favorite to capture the Hart Trophy, a trophy given to the league’s most valuable player, after his 50 goal and 109 point season. Out of 149 first placed votes, Malkin received 144.
Besides the Hart Trophy, Malkin also took home the Ted Lindsay Award. This award is for he most outstanding player in the regular season, voted on the the players themselves.
Malkin also took home the Art Ross Trophy to his collection. The Art Ross Trophy goes to the player who lead the regular season in scoring. Malkin finished the year with 109 points. This is the second time that Malkin has taken home this prestigious award.
For the Penguins, Malkin has joined the club that has dominated the Hart Trophy the past two plus decades. This was the sixth Hart Trophy in franchise history. Malkin joins Mario Lemieux (1988, 1993, 1996), Jaromir Jagr (1999) and Crosby (2007).