{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/dd8KNdNy.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "Pittsburgh Penguins' LW Reilly Smith discusses his early success playing with Evgeni Malkin.", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/dd8KNdNy-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/dd8KNdNy.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/dd8KNdNy.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/dd8KNdNy-PleLi0gz.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 182, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 329167, "filesize": 3744284, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/dd8KNdNy-TPyFHjSz.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 272, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 475781, "filesize": 5412020, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/dd8KNdNy-j3UGax3n.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 724, "width": 1280, "label": "720p", "bitrate": 1283786, "filesize": 14603074, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/dd8KNdNy-KwtrUhfG.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 114106, "filesize": 1297963 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/dd8KNdNy-hoWDbBur.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 362, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 496524, "filesize": 5647964, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/dd8KNdNy-TcGp53GP.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 544, "width": 960, "label": "540p", "bitrate": 820584, "filesize": 9334145, "framerate": 30 } ] } } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "With a new season here, there are plenty of top player rankings to go around, but this one from ESPN didn’t shine a great light on the Pittsburgh Penguins." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "According to ESPN’s most recent top 100 NHL players list, multiple Penguins are being misjudged." } }, { "id": "1go5y5dm-9ocxmkc8", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/wyshynski/status/1714268138441769011", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1714268138441769011", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Of the full 100-player long list, forward Evgeni Malkin is nowhere to be found; not even under the honorable mentions." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Has Malkin regressed a little over the years? Sure, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t one of the top players in the league right now." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "After the first week of the season, Malkin is tied for the league lead in points with six (2G-4A) in just three games played." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Malkin is 37 and on the last years of his career, but he is still one of the best around, especially since he’s off to a stellar start to 2023-24." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The other Penguins forward that has been misjudged by ESPN is captain Sidney Crosby who was ranked 23^rd." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "NHL Network placed Crosby firmly in their top 10 and that is exactly where he should sit." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "ESPN stated that his ranking last season was 13; that’s a drop of 10 positions despite still being a point-per-game player and one of the most dominant skaters in the NHL." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "People continuously say ESPN doesn’t know how to handle or scout the NHL, but they also continue to prove those people right with takes like this." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The poll was put together by 50 ESPN broadcasters, analysts, reporters, and editors; one of their main voices in hockey, John Buccigross, was apparently not asked for input." } }, { "id": "xd9zgw6h-qbcmzfxr", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/Buccigross/status/1714278401899634796", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1714278401899634796", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Newcomer Erik Karlsson found himself at 41 on the list after being absent last year and Jake Guentzel took a massive drop going from 56 to 71." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Kris Letang was given all kinds of credit as he improved from 92 to 56." } }, { "id": "qrbjw7rg-pi66usyx", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "playlist.megaphone.fm", "source": "https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=STRAB5283926636", "embed": "https://playlist.megaphone.fm/?e=STRAB5283926636", "caption": "", "height": "200", "width": "100%" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Too Early for Changes to Penguins Lineup" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Former Penguins Champion Closing on New Contract" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Power Play Heating Up for Penguins" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Penguins Forward Named NHL Star of Week" } }, { "type": "list", "data": { "style": "unordered", "items": [ "Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube", "Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins" ] } } ] }

ESPN Overlooks Penguins in Top Players List