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Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin ranked among top 20 NHL centers

The two-headed monster is still perceived as a major threat to the rest of the NHL.

By Garrett Behanna
NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Even if they are entering their twilight years, both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are still considered very elite players, at least according to a recent NHL Network countdown.

Sidney Crosby came in at four while Evgeni Malkin ranked eighth on NHL Network’s countdown, Top 20 Centers Right Now.

Just like Kris Letang’s recent ranking, this list was created based on player performance from the 2019-20 season and the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The full list is below:

  1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
  2. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
  3. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
  4. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
  5. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
  6. Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres
  7. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
  8. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
  9. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning
  10. Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers
  11. Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
  12. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets
  13. Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
  14. John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs
  15. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues
  16. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
  17. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
  18. Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers
  19. Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders
  20. Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings

These player rankings will culminate with NHL Network’s five-part series, Top 50 Players Right Now, beginning on Sunday, December 6 at 6:00 p.m. ET.

While the Penguins have notoriously flamed out in the postseason over the last few years, Crosby and Malkin’s talent still remains. And as long as both players remain heathy, the Penguins will always have a chance at competing for more silverware.

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