Long-time Penguins' star Evgeni Malkin is a free agent with an uncertain future in Pittsburgh following their elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This article, ' ' by Craig Custance, originally appeared in the December 8, 2008 i sue of The Sporting News. When it happened, it was hard to imagine the Olsen Pierre Jersey ankle injury Sidney Crosby suffered last season would be good news for the Penguins. But during Crosby's 21-game absence, fellow center Evgeni Malkin emerged as one of the most dominant players in hockey. With Crosby out, the team leaned heavily on Malkin's offense. As one Pittsburgh player put it, Everything ran through Geno. This season, the improbable might be occurring: Malkin could be pa sing a healthy Crosby as the most dominant player on the ice. SN ARCHIVES: They're equally dangerous, says Erik Christensen, a former teammate of Malkin's and Crosby's. Malkin is competing with Ovechkin and Sid to be named the best player in the world right now. Arguably, he might be just as good as Sid. He's exciting to watch. And if that is happening, it's fine with Crosby. Behind Malkin's league-leading 39 points and Crosby's second-place 34, the Penguins have returned to the Eastern Conference's elite after an average start. With both players ranking among the best in the world, the Penguins' top two lines are nearly impo sible to shut down. Which player do you focus your defense on, Crosby or Malkin? SN ARCHIVES: I think either way, it's not an easy decision. That's hopefully what we want, Crosby says. We want to make it tough on other teams. If we can get two lines that are dangerous, that's a great thing to have. SN IN THIS ISSUE: December 8, 2008 Last season, Malkin carried the Penguins through Crosby's injury and was strong in the playoffs until a disappointing 1-goal effort against the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup finals. The consensus in Pittsburgh was that, physically, Malkin hit a wall. The longest season of his career eventually wore him down. Malkin, 22, set out this summer to make sure that doesn't happen again. As good as he was last year, he showed up in better shape this season. Early indications are that his work is paying off. I had a good summer, says Malkin, whose English has improved to the point where he doesn't rely on fellow Ru sian teammate Sergei Gonchar to be his interpreter. It was a tough summer, and I feel great. I'm more strong and skate more. Physically it's better. His goals: No more flameouts in the finalsand become the best player in the world. Nothing like aiming high. I'm trying. It's a good race, Malkin says. It's me, (Alexander) Semin, Ovechkin, Crosbythose are good players. I try to score every game and help my teammates and linemates. SN 140: Despite his scoring touch, coach Michel Therrien says he's most impre sed with Malkin's play on both ends of the icesomething that wasn't always true when Malkin broke into the league. There were times earlier in his career where Malkin's penchant for spending too much time on his own end led to time on the bench. That's no longer happening. His ice time has increased in each of his three NHL seasons to the 22:21 he's averaging now. He's learned a lot. Last year was phenomenal, he had a good playoff, and he faced adversity when he got to the finals, Therrien says. He's still a young player. He's still going to get better. That's the good thing about these young kids. SN's picks for hockey's greatest moments of all-time Justin Hodges Jersey