Player Profile: Evgeni Malkin

Evgeni Malkin was chosen as the No. 2 pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, following the selection of Alex Ovechkin by the Washington Capitals. He spent two additional seasons playing in Russia before making his move to North America for the 2006-07 season. Due to a shoulder injury suffered during training camp, his NHL debut was postponed until Oct. 18, 2006. However, he managed to score in his first NHL game against the legendary goalie Martin Brodeur from the New Jersey Devils, who would later go on to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Early Days

Born on July 31, 1986, Evgeni Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Malkin’s journey in the world of ice hockey began at the young age of three when he first laced up his hockey skates. At the age of five, he joined his first organized hockey league, showcasing his undeniable talent and passion for the sport from an early age. Affectionately referred to as “Geno” by fans and teammates, Malkin kickstarted his career with the Metallurg Magnitogorsk team in his hometown.

Pre-Draft Analysis

“Good, strong skater with fine balance and agility. Has a good change of pace. Excellent stickhandler and a smart player. Good, smooth hands and an excellent playmaker. Carries the puck with confidence. Has a quick, accurate wrist and slap shot. Can score in many ways. Outstanding hockey sense. Creative player. Works hard on every shift. A good competitor who can play both a finesse and physical game. Competes hard for the puck and is willing to pay the price to score or set up a goal. Played on Team Russia at the Under-18 World Junior championships. Had a fair World Junior tournament with Team Russia in 2004. Played better as a regular with top team Magnitogorsk in the Russian league. Great mix of size, skills and hockey sense. A leader on the ice. Has all the tools needed for a great career.” –Central Scouting

He possesses a high-quality range of shots including slap, wrist, backhand, and snap, along with outstanding stick-handling skills. Malkin excels as a playmaker, adept at expanding the game and generating opportunities. With his combination of speed, size, and superb stick handling, he is able to carry the puck the full length of the ice to score goals.

Evgeni Malkin Stats & Salary Cap

NHL Career Start

After completing his initial professional season in Russia, Malkin was selected as the second overall pick (after fellow national team member Alexander Ovechkin) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Nevertheless, a disagreement regarding his transfer between the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) postponed his debut with Pittsburgh. Malkin utilized a legal provision to terminate his one-year contract with his Russian team by submitting a notice via fax, enabling him to free himself of obligations in Russia. Subsequently, in September 2006, Malkin signed an entry-level contract with the Penguins.

Upon his arrival in the United States, Malkin faced the challenge of language barriers as he had limited proficiency in English. Fortunately, with the guidance and support of his fellow Russian teammate Sergei Gonchar, Malkin gradually improved his English skills, enabling him to conduct brief and simple interviews in English.

International Career

Evgeni Malkin has achieved great success in international competitions, earning a total of three gold medals, four silver medals, and four bronze medals while representing his country at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship, the World Junior Championship, and the World Championship.

After completing his debut season in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Malkin earned a spot on the Russian team for the 2007 World Championships. During the tournament, he set a new personal record by tallying ten points. Malkin was a key player on Russia’s top line alongside Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Frolov. Additionally, he secured his second bronze medal at the World Championships.

Malkin decided to join the Russian team for the 2010 IIHF World Championship after the Penguins were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. Despite entering the tournament late, Malkin displayed an impressive performance by scoring a goal-per-game. This led to him earning a spot on the post-tournament IIHF World Championship All-Star team, a remarkable feat considering he had the fewest games played among the selected players. With five goals and two assists in just five games, Malkin secured a position among the top 10 point scorers of the tournament. Remarkably, he was the only player in the top 10 to have played less than six games. His outstanding contributions helped his team secure a silver medal.

In 2014, Malkin played for the Russian Olympic Ice Hockey Team, scoring one goal and two assists. In the 2019 IIHF World Championship, he assisted Russia’s game-winning goal against the USA and Russia would go on to win a Bronze medal. In 2020, Malkin was named to the IIHF All-Time Russian National Team in celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the IIHF World Championships.

Career Milestones

Playing alongside another highly regarded prospect, then sophomore Penguin Sidney Crosby, Malkin wrapped up his first season in the NHL with impressive stats. He scored 33 goals, provided 52 assists, and accumulated a total of 85 points in 78 games. These outstanding numbers not only led all rookies but also earned him the prestigious Calder Memorial Trophy, recognizing him as the league’s top rookie. Malkin became the second player from the Penguins to receive this award, following in the footsteps of Mario Lemieux in 1985. Shortly after, Malkin was appointed as the alternate captain for the Penguins.

Evgeni Malkin further made history in the NHL by establishing a modern-day record with a goal in each of the first six games of his career. This accomplishment joined him with Joe Malone, Newsy Lalonde of the Montreal Canadiens, and Cy Denneny of the Ottawa Senators, who all achieved the same feat in the League’s inaugural season in 1917-18.

He was also the first player in the last decade of NHL seasons to secure two scoring titles. This accomplishment marked the conclusion of a streak where nine different players held the top position in points over nine consecutive seasons. Despite Malkin’s remarkable performance, the Penguins were ousted in the initial round of the 2012 playoffs by their in-state rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers. However, Malkin managed to contribute eight points throughout the six-game series.

His impact extends to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he earned the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2009 with a remarkable 14-goal, 36-point postseason display that helped Pittsburgh claim victory over the defending champions, the Detroit Red Wings.

Malkin has exceeded the 100-point milestone in a single NHL season on three occasions (2007-08, 2008-09, 2011-12), reaching a peak of 113 points (35 goals, 78 assists) in 2008-09 and netting 50 goals in 2011-12.

Malkin continued to excel in the postseason, contributing 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in the 2016 playoffs to aid the Penguins in securing the Stanley Cup. He followed this up by leading all scorers in 2017 with 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists), propelling Pittsburgh to become the first team to successfully defend their championship since the Detroit Red Wings achieved the feat in 1997 and 1998.

On March 12, 2019, Malkin achieved his 1,000th NHL point when Phil Kessel scored a goal against the Washington Capitals. This milestone made him the 88th player in league history to reach this achievement.

On October 16, 2024, Evgeni Malkin netted his 500th goal in the National Hockey League (NHL). This achievement makes him the third player in Pittsburgh Penguins history to reach this milestone entirely while playing for the team.

In the 2023-24 season, Malkin scored 27 goals, provided 40 assists, and accumulated a total of 67 points in all 82 games played, as the Penguins failed to make the playoffs for the second year in a row.

“I Am Score” for Kids – Ronald McDonald House

Prior to the start of the 2022-23 season, Malkin initiated a philanthropic gesture by pledging to donate $710 for each regular-season point he scores to the RMHC of Pittsburgh and Morgantown. Excelling on the ice, Malkin secured the second spot on the Penguins roster with a total of 83 points during the 2022-23 season. His charitable contributions amounted to $58,930 that season, a figure that was matched by local McDonald’s establishments, resulting in a grand total donation of $117,860.

He later announced the continuation of the ‘I’m Score for Kids’ program for a second season (2023-24), emphasizing the importance of giving back to the community. Malkin shared his passion for playing in front of fans, highlighting that his main inspiration stems from the opportunity to positively impact children’s lives, serving as a driving force for him to deliver his best performance every game.

In the 2023-24 season, Malkin, who was second in scoring for the Penguins with 67 points, continued his tradition of giving back by pledging $710 for each of his regular-season points to RMHC of Pittsburgh and Morgantown. This resulted in a total donation of $47,570 from Malkin alone. Moreover, local McDonald’s outlets once more matched Malkin’s contribution, effectively doubling the season’s total donation to RMHC to $95,140.

Throughout the past two seasons, in collaboration with the partnership he had established with McDonald’s, Malkin played a significant role in raising a total of 213,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown.

RMHC provides families traveling for their children’s medical care with a comforting place to stay. Families at RMHC are in close proximity to their sick children, receive warm meals, essential items, and a secure setting. In 2023, the RMHC in Pittsburgh and Morgantown accommodated 876 families, totaling 23,726 nights of stay. Families from 42 counties in West Virginia, 51 counties in Pennsylvania, 34 states, and six countries were hosted for stays ranging from a few days to several months.

Awards

• IIHF World UA18 Championships Bronze Medal (2003)
• IIHF World UA18 Championships Gold Medal (2004)
• IIHF World Junior Championships Silver Medal (2005, 2006)
• NHL All-Rookie Team (2007)
• NHL First All-Star Team (2008, 2009, 2012)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (2008, 2009, 2012, 2016)
• Stanley Cup (2009, 2016, 2017)
• Art Ross Trophy (2009, 2012)
• IIHF World Championships Gold Medal (2012, 2014)
• IIHF World Championships Silver Medal (2010, 2015)
• IIHF World Championships Bronze Medal (20005, 2007, 2019)
• Calder Memorial Trophy (2007)
• Conn Smythe Trophy (2009)
• Hart Memorial Trophy (2012)
• Ted Lindsay Award (2012)

Quotes

“He likes to poke fun at guys, but he’s also really supportive. Like, he’ll be the first guy to tap a guy or say hello to a guy. He’s got a big heart. I think that part you probably don’t see as much, but there have definitely been lots of examples of that over the years.” – Sidney Crosby (NHL.com)

“Obviously, to get to where he is and have the career he’s had and be the type of player he’s been, you got to have that competitive side, and you got to have that fire and that edge that kind of makes you that way on the ice. But then off the ice, it’s kind of like the switch is flipped, and he’s just a great guy.” – Bryan Rust (NHL.com)