Evgeni Malkin: Is the Pens’ Superstar Already a Hall of Famer?

Championships

Sundin never won a single Stanley Cup – unsurprisingly, considering he spent almost his entire career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Feb 17, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) takes the ice before playing the Washington Capitals during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Modano won only one – with Dallas in 1999.

Sakic and Forsberg each won two (1996 and 2001), both with the Colorado Avalanche.

Shanahan takes the cake in the championship category, having won three Cups in 1997, 1998, and 2002, all with the Detroit Red Wings.

With one Stanley Cup to his own name (won in 2009), Malkin seems to fit in just fine. He isn’t at the level of Sakic, Forsberg, or Shanahan just yet – and he may never be – but he’s certainly not too far behind with one already and plenty of time to get another.

Notably, however, Malkin does have one championship-related accolade that only one of the five previously mentioned greats received – a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP during his championship run.

That puts him in the company of Sakic, who was voted the MVP of the Avs’ 1996 run.

Modano, Forsberg, and Shanahan, however, never received the honour.

Thus, while Forsberg and Shanahan have more championships to their names, they didn’t come without considerable help, as other teammates led the charge.