[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

re: Malkin, I'm struggling to think of any Russian superstars that stayed at their elite level into their 30's...Datsyuk, Larionov, Gonchar, Zubov are the only ones that come to mind. (actually looks like Fedorov was still a 30 goal scorer until the lockout - age 34).

Yashin, Bure, Bure, Mogilny, Kovalev, Kovalchuk (fair to say he isn't doing much in the NHL right now...), Semin were all shadows of their former selves (apart from a season or two) once they were in their 30's.

Of course much of this is thanks to injuries, and few players stay as strong into their 30's...but to trade away that much you are really hoping he maintains a Sakic, Yzerman, Messier, Jagr, Francis, St. Louis, Selanne, Lidstrom calibre (of course most of these guys slowed down, but their winning didn't).

2 Bures? Sorry Valeri failed to stay at an elite level his entire career as he never was a superstar. Kovalev was fine in his 30's. Mogilny was good his injury free years. I also fail to see the connection between being Russian and being bad after your 30? what could possibly cause this? Vodka? If anything its a coincidence. Malkin and Ovechkin aren't showing signs of slowng down.