The top-five in NHL scoring is chock full of 19-year-olds, 28-year-olds, 29-year-olds, and... 39-year-olds, apparently.
Pittsburgh Penguins' veteran and future Hall-of-Famer Evgeni Malkin entered Monday's game against the St. Louis Blues with two goals and 14 points, which was tied for fourth in NHL scoring. A first-period assist on an Anthony Mantha goal and an empty net goal at the end gives him 16, which now temporarily ties him for the lead in NHL scoring.
With a monster second line of Malkin, Mantha, and Justin Brazeau combining for 34 points in 10 games so far this season, can Malkin contend for the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer this season?
Probably not. It's more realistic to avoid having the expectation of Mantha and Brazeau maintaining a point-per-game pace the entire season.
But, never say never, I guess. They're all at least 6-foot-5 and are plain scary out there this season.
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