Malkin's opinions, wit kick into high gear
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Team Chara forward Evgeni Malkin, of the Penguins, questions from the media Friday in Ottawa.
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OTTAWA -- In a crowded ballroom of the Westin Hotel, it was difficult for one player to stand out Friday at the two-hour media scramble with members of the NHL All-Star team. Reporters, cameras, sound booms, podiums and sets for TV shows were everywhere.
Anyone who picked out Penguins center Evgeni Malkin to listen to or follow around had a chance to see and hear a confident, gracious, funny guy, who has greatly shed the veil of shyness and a language barrier.
Malkin, 25, who leads the NHL with 58 points in 42 games, did lengthy interviews in English and Russian, a stand-up interview with a Canadian network and a sit-down interview with an offbeat Canadian TV show, in which he played along with some funny bits. He didn't flinch.
This was Malkin unleashed.
He didn't let it be all about him -- "I don't like to talk about myself," he said -- and he said he wasn't feeling pressure despite drawing a considerable amount of attention.
He did, though, have a lot to say:
• On playing against Penguins linemate James Neal Sunday in the All-Star Game: "It will be fun to play against him. [If we aren't matched], I might stay a little bit longer on a shift and wait for him."
• On the absence of teammate Sidney Crosby (concussion symptoms) and Washington's Alex Ovechkin (suspension): "Fans love these guys, Ovechkin and Crosby, but it's hard. Sidney has an injury. I think people understand. He can't come. Ovechkin said no because he's suspended. I hope people understand. There are lots of good players here. I get to see friends. Ovechkin isn't here. We miss him. But we [get together] as friends. We talk, go out, drink a little bit [laughs]."
• On whether he tried to sway Ovechkin to come: "We texted a little bit. It's not my [decision]. He's not feeling great [about his game] now, but I know he's a strong guy and he will come back to his level."
• On the Penguins' chances of winning the Stanley Cup: "I don't worry about what people think about Pittsburgh. I know we can do it. We can win the Stanley Cup. I believe in my teammates, and my teammates believe we can win. I don't read the newspaper. I don't read what people say. I just know we can."
Former New York Islanders star Pat LaFontaine , whose career was cut short by a series of concussions, expressed concern over Crosby, who missed nearly 11 months because of a concussion, played eight games and now has been out nearly two months because of recurring symptoms.
Crosby's latest problem might have been caused by a hit from Boston's David Krejci.
"I'm hopeful [about Crosby], but I also know science," LaFontaine told the Buffalo News. "I also know what happens if you get multiple head injuries. When you're at this point, and it's taken you not much of a hit to put you that far out, it's very concerning. Very concerning."
Crosby has spent the past week in California seeing a spinal neurologist while continuing to skate and work out.
At the skills competition tonight, all three Penguins All-Stars are entered in the elimination shootout.
Malkin also is in the stickhandling portion of the relay competition; defenseman Kris Letang is in the backward portion of the fastest-skater competition and the one-timer (right-handed) of the relay competition; and Neal is in the target shooting, or accuracy competition.
There could be pressure on Neal, considering Malkin is a past winner of the accuracy competition.
"I think he was mad that he wasn't in it again," Neal said. "I'll take it over for him."
The NHL's Board of Governors will meet this morning. ... Neal, on playing against Malkin: "It'll be fun to play against him. He's definitely a tough guy to get the puck off of." ... Neal had plans to go to Florida this weekend before being named as a replacement late Tuesday night after Ovechkin bowed out. So, he's in a city bogged down by rain, freezing rain and snow. "I could have been on a beach somewhere, but that's all right," he said. "You can never turn down an opportunity like this to be a part of All-Star weekend. I'm honored to be here." ... Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara on the absence of Crosby and Ovechkin: "You're still going to see that these guys -- Malkin, [Detroit's Pavel] Datsyuk -- they're always going to be the faces of the league, a good mixture of guys." ... The inclement weather forced a skating event Friday night on the Rideau Canal to be moved to a rink.
First Published January 28, 2012 12:00 am
