Pens’ Malkin receives huge honour in his home country
Better than Ovechkin, Bure and Datsyuk?
HockeyFeed
Russian publication Sports-Express has compiled its list of the best Russians to ever play in the NHL and its top choice is raising eyebrows across the hockey world. Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin earned top spot ahead of some pretty big names, including Alex Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, Sergei Fedorov and Pavel Bure.
Malkin is certainly one of the most decorated of all Russian NHLers having tied legends Fedorov and Igor Larionov for the most Stanley Cups by a Russian born player with three. He has also managed to claim two Art Ross Trophies, a Hart Memorial Trophy, a Calder Memorial Trophy, a Ted Lindsay Award and a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP from his team's 2009 Stanley Cup championship.
There's no doubt that Malkin has had an incredible career thus far, but does he deserve to be at the top of this list? Check out the top 10 players and judge for yourself:
1. Evgeni Malkin
2. Sergei Fedorov
3. Alex Ovechkin
4. Pavel Bure
5. Pavel Datsyuk
6. Sergei Zubov
7. Nikolai Khabibulin
8. Alexander Mogilny
9. Sergei Gonchar
10. Sergei Bobrovsky
What do you think? Did Sports-Express get things right? Or, how would your list shake down?