The first week of the NHL regular season is over, and it was quite eventful. Many superstars started their seasons on the right foot, and Evgeni Malkin and Jake Guentzel are among them. However, which player is better to have on your fantasy hockey roster right now or to trade for? Let’s dive into this debate now.
Malkin vs. Guentzel In 2023 Fantasy Hockey
The Case for Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Malkin has been nothing short of excellent for the Penguins this season. The future Hall of Famer has two goals and six points in just three games. Although the season is young, it is hard to ignore that kind of production. It appears that the veteran center is continuing to avoid Father Time.
Malkin, 37, is also coming off a strong 2022-23 season. In 82 games, the 6-foot-3 forward had 27 goals to go along with 83 points. Given how well he has started off this season, it is fair to believe that he will finish the year at a point-per-game pace yet again. As a result, he is surely a player to either keep or add to your fantasy roster if you have the chance.
Malkin’s amazing start has allowed him to be one of the most impactful players in fantasy hockey during this young season. Given his long-term success, he certainly has the potential to carry this kind of play over the whole season.
The Case for Guentzel (Pittsburgh Penguins)
While Malkin has been excellent to start the season, Guentzel has also made a big impact for the Penguins. The 29-year-old has one goal and six points in three games. As a result, he, like Malkin, is tied with many others for second in the NHL in points. This kind of start is exactly what the Penguins were hoping from him. Now, his goal will be to keep it going throughout the season.
Similar to Malkin, Guentzel also had a strong 2022-23 season. In 78 games, he had 36 goals to go along with 73 points. In 2021-22, he also had 40 goals and 84 points. Needless to say, he also has the potential to finish the season at a point-per-game pace given his resume. This is especially so when looking at how well he has started this campaign.
Overall, Guentzel has been just as impactful as Malkin during the start of the season. The one downside of his stats is that he only has one goal, but his impressive five assists make up for that.
Both Malkin & Guentzel Are Players to Keep
In the end, you are lucky if you have Malkin or Guentzel on your fantasy hockey team. You are in an even better place if you have both of them. Their six-point starts cannot be ignored, as they are currently among the NHL’s leading scorers because of it. With that, their previous seasons show that they can keep this kind of play going over an 82-game schedule.
It is going to be a lot of fun to see how these two Penguins perform as the year rolls on. If they continue to produce so well moving forward, Pittsburgh should have zero trouble getting back into the playoffs this spring.