GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Evgeni Malkin has won Stanley Cups and scoring titles. He's been in the Olympics and has accomplished as much as anyone can in the game.
But Malkin is no different than anyone else. Following Thursday's practice at Gila River Arena, he admitted he's been lacking confidence in himself.
"The problem is in my head," he said.
As his coach and a former player, Sullivan sounded sympathetic toward Malkin's plight and gave the star center a vote of confidence.
"It's funny because I think a lot of people would draw the conclusion that a guy as accomplished as Geno is -- he's one of the premier players in the league -- how could he possibly ever struggle with confidence?" Sullivan said. "But I think it just goes to show that all these guys are human and they go through a rash of emotions like all of us do. When they don't play up to their own expectations, which is very high, then sometime players of that stature struggle with confidence. We're trying to reinforce with Geno that's he's a great player."
While the 32-year-old has 50 points in 46 games -- putting him on pace for 90 points -- it's been fairly evident he's not been at the peak of his powers this season
"Tough year for me, tough games the last few games," Malkin said. "Again, I play up and down. One game good, one game not. I need to play a couple more good ones before (the All-Star) break. Little bit rest, come back and play better."
After making serious inroads since the start of the month, Malkin seemed to have taken a sizable step backward the past two games, not coincidentally, losses to the Kings and Sharks. In Tuesday night's 5-2 loss at San Jose, he was arguably the worst player on the ice. He saw his six-game points streak come to an end, and when he wasn't getting knocked off pucks, he was turning it over.
"I tried to beat a couple guys in the neutral zone and lost pucks," he said. "We have turnovers and play in D zone. I need to change my game a little bit."
Though plus-minus is considered a bit of an out-dated statistic, there's no hiding the fact Malkin's minus-16 isn't very good. Along with Patrick Kane (minus-7) and on-gain, off-again linemate Phil Kessel, Malkin is the only player in the top 30 in scoring with a minus rating. Seventeen of his 50 points this season have come on the power play, as he's struggled at even strength. His Corsi For percentage of 50.79 is just north of average. At 5-on-5, he has been on the ice for 344 shots for to 352 shots against. His 12.0 shooting percentage is his lowest in five years.
During Thursday's practice, he was reunited with Kessel on the second line in yet another attempt to jumpstart his game. Those two finished up the game against the Sharks but Sullivan has been reluctant in the past to use the two offensive-minded stars together.
On Thursday, Sullivan said he just wants to see Malkin simplify his approach.
"We try to help him with some of the little insights that we see," Sullivan said. "Not over-think the game, simplify the game. Shoot the puck when he has an opportunity and focus shift to shift and takes what the game gives him. We know he's going to be fine."
• As DK first reported Wednesday, Patric Hornqvist is indeed in Arizona with his teammates. Here's video of Hornqvist at the start of practice:
He started out the session in a red, non-contact jersey but quickly switched to a black, full-contact sweater. Interestingly, he worked on the second power play unit as Jake Guentzel took his regular spot as the net-front presence on the top unit.
After missing the first three games of this west coast trip, Hornqvist is attempting to come back from his second concussion of the season and the fifth documented brain injury he's suffered in the past three seasons.
"It is what it is," he said of his history. "Any time you come back you want to take a hit or give a hit and make sure you're ready. That's why I'm in practice today to take the next step."
Other than having too many players on the ice and not getting enough reps, Hornqvist reported no problems afterward. He will be a game-time decision but, obviously, he didn't fly across the country to not play in either tomorrow night's game or Saturday night's game against the Golden Knights in Las Vegas.
While Sullivan is well aware of Hornqvist's injury history, he says he's not a doctor and it's up to the team's medical staff to clear him to play.
"We're always concerned when one of our players gets a concussion," he said. "The nature of those injuries are that they are all different and all unique. Different people respond different ways to them. Quite honestly, I don't know enough about them to make any sort of assumption or conclusion moving forward. What I do hope for is Patric's well being and that's simply that he's a good player and a terrific person. That's always our priority and concern."
• A night after being acquired from the Ducks, Joe Blandisi joined his new team at practice. He said he was in the locker room of the San Diego Gulls last night when he got the word he'd been traded.
Coming to Pittsburgh is a pretty soft landing spot for the 24-year-old, who says he grew up watching the Penguins, Sidney Crosby in particular, in his native Markham, Ontario.
Here, Blandisi tells me about his style and a comparison to a certain pest in Boston:
Blandisi will be in uniform for tomorrow night's game against the Coyotes and will wear No. 36, a number once worn by former Penguins agitator Matthew Barnaby.
Sullivan said he's still getting to know Blandisi but is looking forward to working with him.
"He's a guy that can skate, he's young, we think he's got his best years in front of him," Sullivan said. "It's just one more young player that we can add to the mix that can play the type of game that we can play."
• Justin Schultz and Zach Aston-Reese joined the practice late as they work their way back from injuries.
• After holding a spirited 45-minute practice with full attendance, the Penguins will not hold a morning skate tomorrow. The Coyotes will hold an optional skate. Sullivan will address the media at 7 p.m.
• Here are the lines and pairs used in practice.
Guentzel--Crosby--Rust
Sheahan--Malkin--Kessel
Pearson--Brassard--Simon
Blandisi--Cullen--Wilson/Hornqvist
Dumoulin--Letang
Maatta--Riikola
Pettersson--Johnson
(Oleksiak--Ruhwedel)
It would appear Juuso Riikola will be back in the lineup and Jamie Oleksiak will be the odd-man out after playing Tuesday in San Jose.