Easily

This isnt even that bad of a team.Pulock is very underrated, so is Morrissey. Flower is the flower. Center depth is pretty solid. A few questions on wings but not that bad

no and neither can McDavid or Crosby or anyone else.
There isn't enough depth here to win a cup.

That's why I said "average team"

Messier played second fiddle to Gretzky for half his career and people thought the same about him; but if the Mess can win a Cup away from the Great One, than Malkin can win a Cup without Sid the Kid's help.

I wouldn't expect it because of the parity in this league and the fact that he only has a handful of runs left to make, but if the question is simply "is he capable of it" then sure. But just because I would have faith in his ability to do so, doesn't mean I'd expect it- Ovi is a player capable of doing that and it took him over a decade. Given that Malkin would have just a handful of years left and all of them being at age 33+, I don't think its reasonable to expect it, but it is reasonable to have confidence that he could do it just as well as anyone else could

messier won 2 without gretzky, one in edmonton and one in NY. impressive.

Messier was wired differently tho

Well since M.A. Fleury was allowed to go to Vegas what if Pitts lets Malkin go to Seattle ?

He was a Curse too. Everybody forgets how he screwed Gretz and Slats over when he left to sign with Vancouver, that one move cursed himself and both teams to fail to make the playoffs. The Mess' last 7 NHL seasons should be erased from history. Fun fact; after the Mess left the 'Nucks, they suddenly returned to playoffs contenders 10 out of 12 seasons, 1 Cup Final, same goes with the Rags, the Mess retires and NYR make the playoffs 11 out of 12 seasons, 1 Cup Final.

I'd cycle Engelland and C. Fleury every game Fleury really has got loads of potential.

i think coming at messier like this is pretty foolish. guy had 295 playoff points in 236 games and won 6 stanley cups

also: "Messier had wanted to finish his career with the Rangers but Dave Checketts, the president of Madison Square Garden, said the team did not think Messier was worth $20 million USD for the next three years, though Messier maintained that he would have signed a one-year contract extension for under $6 million per season. Although public sentiment sided with Messier, as he led the team to two first-place regular season finishes and the Stanley Cup, General Manager Neil Smith was content having Gretzky and Pat LaFontaine as top centremen, and he came close to landing Joe Sakic from the Colorado Avalanche[35] when he signed him to an offer sheet in the summer of 1997. At 36 years old, Messier signed with the Vancouver Canucks to a high-priced free agent contract."

"Keenan was fired from his post as Canucks' coach midway in the 1998–99 season, as the club missed the playoffs during Messier's three years. The team made no attempt to re-sign Messier and he became a free agent after the 1999–2000 season."

Thats an Insanely bold take to say that about one of the best players and leaders to ever play in the NHL

Look it up for yourself, the Mess final 7 seasons = ZERO playoffs....both Vancouver and New York after years of missing the playoffs with "one of the best players/leaders ever to play" suddenly got back into playoff contention the following season after he left (hmm.. locker room cancer/diva maybe ?).

Yes even if you erase the last 7 seasons, Messier is a first ballot HOF'er but those seasons were a disgrace. Just like Lindros should have retired rather than play a couple extra seasons with the Leafs and Stars.