Always Keep the Faith

| Haikyuu!! IN REAL LIFE | 

| Haikyuu!! IN REAL LIFE | 

While Malkin’s comfort speaking English kept him from doing interviews as a rookie, he has understood the language well enough from Day 1 in Pittsburgh to connect with his teammates. This helped the friendship. So, too, did Crosby’s natural understanding of his fellow superstar. Crosby sounds more like a therapist than a friend when analyzing Malkin’s personality. Perhaps, at times, they have been both of those things for one another.

“He’s not someone who is always going to let you know how he’s feeling,” Crosby explained. “He’s not always going to tell you if something’s wrong, so you have to get to know him. He’s just got a ton of pride, more than people realize, I think. I don’t think he’s real comfortable being open about when something is upsetting him. But the more we’ve gotten to know each other over the years, the more open we’ve learned to become. I think it’s just a good, healthy relationship.”

There was plenty of fun along the way, too.

In 2006, many of the young Penguins were together at a bar on Pittsburgh’s historic South Side. Malkin and Crosby, along with others, were having some fun after a game when a group of young women spotted two of Pittsburgh’s most eligible bachelors.

Not knowing many English words, Malkin sheepishly asked Crosby what to say to one or any of the women. Not knowing quite what advice to give, Crosby instructed Malkin to approach them and introduce himself. Already an admirer of Crosby, Malkin’s trust was evident when he quickly walked toward the group and said, “Hi, I Seven-One.”

Standing a few feet away, Maxime Talbot, Malkin’s traveling roommate, future playoff linemate and a longtime friend to Crosby, bent over with laughter. Crosby, himself laughing, approached Talbot and politely jabbed him with an elbow, worried that Malkin would see them and think they were making fun of him.

“Sid was looking out for Geno then,” Talbot said. “It’s those little things that Sid does. He’s the best player in the world. He’s a better guy.”

Malkin agrees. At his apartment in Moscow, his offseason condominium on Florida’s Fisher Island and at his home in Pittsburgh, Malkin displays various memorabilia of Crosby. These include Russian nesting dolls painted in Crosby’s likeness, framed photographs, pucks and sticks from various games, anything and everything the most serious Crosby fan would want for his or her collection. Malkin jokes that Nikita, his son, will probably pick Crosby as his favorite player because of all the stuff.

“Is good,” Malkin said. “Of course, I will be his real favorite. But Sid is the best player, the best teammate. A great friend. I hope Nikita thinks of him as family. I do.”

Clearly, Crosby considers Malkin family.

“Having him around has always made my life better, on and off the ice,” Crosby said. “He has a way of knowing when to make you laugh, knowing when to lighten the room. But at the same time, he knows when to be serious, too. It’s just a great friendship. I just always liked him from the start. Always have. Always will.”

“It looked like you were getting a little emotional there, toward the end of the opening video. What was it like hearing some of those things that Letang and Malkin were saying, and to have them be a part of this night too?”