PHILADELPHIA -- Bryan Rust could only shake his head.
He's been Evgeni Malkin's teammate for almost three seasons. He knows.
Rust doesn't need an opinion poll to know just how good the Russian is and has been.
"I guess sometimes guys don't get the credit they deserve or the recognition they deserve," Rust told me Wednesday morning after the Penguins' morning skate at the Wells Fargo Center. "I think with him you can see over the last how many months, last how many games, he's been so dominant in this league and played so well. I think for a guy like that, it just fuels him a little bit."
A year ago, Malkin was conspicuously left off the list of the NHL's 100 Greatest Players at the league's anniversary. That was the opinion of a "blue ribbon panel comprised of distinguished members of the hockey community - including executives, media members and NHL alumni." Predictably, Malkin's notable omission set off a firestorm in Pittsburgh.
Now, in a poll of the rank and file of the NHL Players Association released Wednesday, the Penguins superstar's name is again nowhere to be found.
He's not "the most difficult forward to play against." That would be teammate Sidney Crosby, barely, over the Oilers' Connor McDavid.
Malkin is not the player you'd "choose to start a franchise with," that's McDavid.
"Anyone in the league would take him on his team," said a bemused Derick Brassard, who has played against and now with Malkin.
Malkin is not the best role model, Crosby again.
He is also not the best team player, yep, it's Crosby.
Malkin is not even among the "most underrated" players, but the Capitals' Nicklas Backstrom, the Blues' Jaden Schwartz and Lightning's Nikita Kucherov are.
Hmm, so what is Malkin?
Right now, he's second in the league scoring race, trailing Kucherov by four points (86-82). He's third in goals with 37, trailing only Alex Ovechkin (40) an Patrick Laine (38).
That's pretty good, but apparently only good enough to win the "prestigious" First Star of the month in January and second star in February.
But if it's any consolation to the Penguins, Rust believes this latest snub will only feed Malkin's fire. And don't let the fun-loving, "I'm score" persona fool you, it's a fire that burns within Malkin.
"It's definitely there," Rust said. "He's definitely a guy who has a lot of pride and he knows he's a great player. I don't say that in a cocky manner, but he's confident and I think every great player is confident. They know they can do great things and he knows he can do great things and he can build off that."