Wikipedia

Evgeni Malkin

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Vladimirovich and the family name is Malkin.

Evgeni Vladimirovich Malkin (Russian: Евге́ний Влади́мирович Ма́лкин, IPA: [jɪvˈɡʲenʲɪj ˈmalkʲɪn];[2][3] born 31 July 1986) is a Russian professional ice hockey centre and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Geno", Malkin began his career with his hometown club Metallurg Magnitogorsk, playing for their junior and senior teams. He was then selected second overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, though an international transfer dispute delayed the start of his NHL career until 2006.

Evgeni Malkin
Malkin with the Pittsburgh Penguins in April 2019
Born (1986-07-31) 31 July 1986 (age 38)
Magnitogorsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 210[1] lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Pittsburgh Penguins
Metallurg Magnitogorsk
National team  Russia
NHL draft 2nd overall, 2004
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 2003–present

After his first season with the Penguins Malkin was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best rookie. In his second season, he helped lead Pittsburgh to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals and was a runner-up for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's most valuable player during the regular season. The following season saw Malkin win the Art Ross Trophy, awarded to the points leader in the NHL and again place second for the Hart Trophy. He and the Penguins again reached the Stanley Cup Finals, winning the Stanley Cup championship this time around. Malkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the playoffs. In 2012, Malkin was awarded the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award, awarded to the best player as voted on by the players, after winning the Art Ross Trophy for the second time; his 12-point lead was the largest margin of victory since 1999.

Internationally, Malkin has competed for Russia in two IIHF World U18 Championships and three World Junior Championships, capturing one gold, two silvers and one bronze medal, as a junior. In 2006, he was named tournament MVP. As a senior, he has played in four IIHF World Championships, winning gold twice and being named the tournament MVP for the 2012 event. Malkin has played for Russia in three Winter Olympic Games: Turin in 2006, Vancouver in 2010 and Sochi in 2014, respectively. In 2020, he was named to the IIHF All-Time Russia Team.

Personal life

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Malkin was born on 31 July 1986 in Magnitogorsk to Vladimir and Natalia Malkin. Vladimir worked for Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, the largest iron and steel works in Russia and the city's dominant industry, and played in the Metallurg Magnitogorsk youth and club hockey system. Malkin has one brother, Denis, who is older by one year.[4] Malkin began skating at age three. He joined his first organized hockey league two years later. He showed an aptitude for the sport at an early age, as one might expect from the son of a professional. However, because both of his parents were short, no one suspected Malkin would be a world-class athlete.[5]

Malkin owns a restaurant in Magnitogorsk which is designed to look like the inside of a prison.[6]

Malkin became engaged to Russian television personality Anna Kasterova in November 2015. Six months later, on 31 May 2016, their first child, a son was born.[7]

In November 2017, Malkin announced his membership of the PutinTeam social movement, launched by compatriot and fellow NHLer Alexander Ovechkin in support of President of Russia Vladimir Putin during the 2018 Russian presidential election. Malkin stated, "We just try to offer our support because, in 2018, we have the World Cup in Russia; they have elections, too."[8][9]

Playing career

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Early career

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Malkin is a product of the Metallurg Magnitogorsk hockey program. Prior to being drafted, he made his Russian Superleague debut in the 2003–04 season as a 17-year-old.[4] He also made his international debut for Russia during the 2003 U-18 World Championships, where he skated on the top line with Alexander Ovechkin. The team went on to claim the bronze medal.

Transfer dispute

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After his first professional season in Russia, Malkin was drafted second overall (behind national teammate Alexander Ovechkin) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.[10] However, a transfer dispute between the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) delayed his Pittsburgh debut;[4] though he would have stayed in Russia for what would have been his rookie season with the Penguins in any event due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout. On 7 August 2006, it appeared the 20-year-old Malkin had come to a compromise with Metallurg and signed a deal that would have kept him in Russia until May 2007. However, Malkin stated he signed the one-year contract not as a compromise, but because of the immense "psychological pressure" his former club exerted on him.[11] Desiring to play in the NHL, he left Metallurg Magnitogorsk's training camp in Helsinki before it began on 12 August.[4] It would later appear the team had taken Malkin's passport away to prevent him from leaving, but it was eventually given back to him, and Malkin was allowed to pass through Finnish customs. Meeting with his agent, J. P. Barry, the two quickly departed and waited for Malkin's visa clearance from the U.S. Embassy.

In order to legally leave the team, on 15 August, Malkin invoked via fax a law allowing him to cancel his one-year contract by giving his employer two weeks' notice.[12] Having untied himself of obligations in Russia, he was able to sign an entry-level contract with the Penguins on 5 September 2006.[13]

 
Malkin smiling during a practice with the Penguins in September 2006.

Following his first NHL game with Pittsburgh, on 19 October 2006, Malkin's former Russian hockey club filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NHL and the Penguins in the United States District Court for the southern district of New York.[14] The lawsuit claimed Malkin should not be permitted to play in the NHL because he is still under contract in Russia. The claim also sought unspecified damages as well. The motion for an injunction was denied on 15 November 2006, ensuring Malkin would continue play in the NHL that season.[15] The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed on its merits by the District Court on 1 February 2007.[16]

Pittsburgh Penguins (2006–present)

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Early success, first Stanley Cup title and Conn Smythe Trophy (2006–2009)

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In his first pre-season game with the Penguins, on 20 September 2006, Malkin collided with teammate John LeClair and dislocated his own shoulder, which forced him to miss the start of the season. Subsequently, his NHL debut would be delayed until 18 October, against the New Jersey Devils, in which he scored his first goal against Martin Brodeur.[17] Malkin set a modern NHL record when he scored a goal in each of his first six games. No player had achieved this feat since the NHL's inaugural 1917–18 season, when Montreal Canadiens forward Joe Malone scored at least one goal in 14 consecutive games to start his NHL career (Malone, however, had played in the National Hockey Association, the predecessor league to the NHL).[18] Malkin's streak was eventually stopped on 4 November in his seventh game by the San Jose Sharks.[19] Playing on a team with another highly touted prospect, sophomore forward and generational talent Sidney Crosby, Malkin finished his rookie season with 33 goals, 52 assists and 85 points in 78 games played, leading all first-year players and capturing the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie, the second Penguin to win the award after Mario Lemieux in 1985. Malkin was named alternate captain for the Penguins shortly after. When Malkin arrived in the United States, he spoke little English, but through the help of fellow Russian teammate Sergei Gonchar, he eventually started to give short, simple interviews in the language.[20]

Halfway into the 2007–08 season, his sophomore season in the NHL, Malkin recorded his first NHL hat-trick, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, on 3 January 2008. He earned another three-goal performance several games later, on 14 January, against the New York Rangers. Midway through the season, when more heralded teammate and captain Sidney Crosby went down with an ankle injury, Malkin seized the opportunity to lead the Penguins, scoring 44 points in the 28 games Crosby was absent.[21] In total, Malkin completed the season second in NHL scoring with 106 points, six points behind Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals for the Art Ross Trophy. Malkin continued to dominate into the Stanley Cup playoffs as the Penguins made it to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. He scored three points against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Detroit Red Wings in the finals, totaling 22 points overall (14 goals, 22 assists) in all 20 games, but the Penguins were defeated by Detroit in six games. Malkin's sophomore season culminated in a Hart Memorial Trophy nomination as NHL MVP—the award was given to Ovechkin—and First team All-Star honours.

 
Malkin, along with his parents (left), during the Penguins' victory parade for their 2009 Stanley Cup victory.

On 2 July 2008, with one year left in his entry-level contract, he signed a five-year, $43.5 million contract extension with Pittsburgh.[22] Malkin began the 2008–09 season by scoring his 200th NHL point with an assist to Sidney Crosby on 18 October 2008 in just the sixth game of the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The goal was also Crosby's 100th career goal and 300th career point. Crosby had a team trainer cut the puck in half so both players could commemorate the moment.[23] Voted as a starter to the 2009 NHL All-Star Game later in the season, Malkin won the shooting accuracy segment of the Skills Competition, initially shooting four-for-four before beating Dany Heatley three-for-four in a tie-breaker. After having finished runner-up to Alexander Ovechkin the previous season for the Art Ross Trophy, Malkin captured the scoring championship with 113 points. He became the second Russian-born player to win it, after Ovechkin, and the fourth Penguin, after Mario Lemieux, Jaromír Jágr and Crosby. However, he would once again be runner-up to Ovechkin for the Hart Trophy, although this time garnering a few more first-place votes. In 2008, he had just one first-place vote (out of 134 votes) and 659 points to Ovechkin's 128 first-place votes and 1,313 points.[24] In 2009, Malkin had 12 first-place votes (out of 133 votes) and 787 points to Ovechkin's 115 first-place votes and 1,264 points.[25] On 12 June 2009, the Penguins won the Stanley Cup after defeating the Detroit Red Wings 2–1 in Game 7 of the Finals. Malkin tallied 36 points (14 goals and 22 assists) to become the first player to lead both the regular season and playoffs in scoring since Mario Lemieux accomplished the feat in 1992. His 36 points were the highest playoff total of any player since Wayne Gretzky amassed 40 points in 1993. Malkin received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, becoming the first Russian-born and Asian-born player to do so. He is also just the second player in franchise history to win both the Art Ross and Conn Smythe trophies in the same year. The other Penguin to accomplish this feat was Hockey Hall of Famer and team co-owner/president Mario Lemieux (1992).

Hart Trophy, playoff shortcomings (2009–2015)

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Malkin played 67 games in the 2009–10 season and recorded 28 goals, 49 assists and 77 points. Malkin and the Penguins came into the 2010 playoffs as the defending Stanley Cup champions and fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and defeated the fifth-seeded Ottawa Senators in six games in the first round but then were upset by the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens in seven games in the second round.[26]

On 4 February 2011, after missing five games due to a left knee injury and sinus infection, Malkin returned to play against the Buffalo Sabres. At the start of the second period, Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers collided with Malkin against the end-boards, injuring his right knee. He was helped off the ice and went straight to the dressing room, unable to return to the game as he suffered both a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL). On 9 February, it was announced Malkin would undergo knee surgery. The Penguins estimated his recovery period as six months, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2010–11 season and playoffs, but stated he should be ready for training camp in mid-September.[27] According to then Penguins' general manager Ray Shero, Malkin sent him a text message after the incident occurred stating, "I'm sorry." In Shero's words, "I told him he had nothing to apologize for."[28] In Malkin's absence, the Penguins as a team would end the season as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference for the third straight season but their fortunes would change in the opening round of the 2011 playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning as the Penguins would lose in seven games to the fifth-seeded Lightning, despite initially having a 3–1 series lead earlier in the series.[29]

 
Malkin in October 2012. He played with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL during the 2012–13 NHL lockout.

Malkin had a bounce-back season in 2011–12. With post-concussion syndrome limiting team captain Sidney Crosby to 22 games, Malkin led the Penguins on a line with newly acquired winger James Neal.[30] Despite missing seven games due to lingering effects of his knee surgery the previous season, Malkin scored 50 goals for the first time in his career, including three hat-tricks, 59 assists and won his second scoring title with 109 points in the 75 games he did play to collect his second career Art Ross Trophy. He was the only player in the NHL during the 2011–12 season to score at least 100 points.[31] Malkin would go on to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP for his performance in the season beating out Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos and New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, respectively.[32] He also went on to win the Ted Lindsay Award for the most outstanding player judged by the NHL Players' Association, beating out finalists Stamkos and Lundqvist for this award as well.[33] He also became the first player in the past ten NHL seasons to win two scoring titles, putting an end to a streak of nine different players over nine seasons leading the NHL in points. Despite Malkin's impressive season and the Penguins clinching the fourth-seed in the East for the fourth straight season, the Penguins were eliminated in the first round of the 2012 playoffs by the inner-state rival and fifth-seeded Philadelphia Flyers in six games. Malkin scored eight points (three goals, five assists) in all six games. Following the Penguins' early playoff exit, it was announced Malkin would again represent Russia at the 2012 World Championships.[34]

With the start of the 2012–13 NHL season delayed due to the lockout, Malkin went to Russia and played for Magnitogorsk, his former team, who had joined the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) since he last played there.[35] By the time the lockout ended in early-January 2013, Malkin was second in KHL scoring with 23 goals and 42 assists for 65 points in 37 games.[4][36] Though he missed the final part of the KHL season, he still finished third overall in scoring.[37] A concussion suffered on 22 February 2013 in a 3–1 win over the Florida Panthers after getting hit by Panthers defenseman Erik Gudbranson and a shoulder injury on 10 March in a 5–4 shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs caused by a hit by opposing forward James van Riemsdyk limited Malkin to 31 games during the season, rather than the 48 scheduled, in which he scored 33 points (nine goals, 24 assists). In the 2013 playoffs, Malkin and the Penguins faced the eighth-seeded New York Islanders in the first round, eliminating them in six games.[38] Malkin had an excellent series, recording two goals, nine assists and 11 points in the six games.[39] In the next round, the Penguins defeated the seventh-seeded Ottawa Senators in five games, with Malkin scoring two more goals and five points to clinch a third round appearance for the first time since the Penguins 2009 Stanley Cup run.[40] The Penguins were then swept in the Eastern Conference Finals against the fourth-seeded Boston Bruins. The entire Penguins team was kept to two goals in the four-game series against the Bruins, with Malkin held off the scoresheet and posting a −5 plus-minus rating.[41]

In the 2013–14 season, Malkin was held out of 22 games, missing two games with a lower body injury against the San Jose Sharks on 5 December 2013, nine games with another lower-body injury against the Detroit Red Wings on 14 December, and then 11 games with a foot injury against the Phoenix Coyotes on 25 March 2014. In the 60 games he was healthy, Malkin scored 23 goals, 49 assists and 72 points, second on the Penguins behind only Sidney Crosby. In his second-to-last game of the season three days earlier, against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Malkin had two goals and two assists for four points.[42] In the 2014 playoffs, the Penguins met the Columbus Blue Jackets in Round 1, eliminating them in six games. Malkin was unable to score for Pittsburgh in the first five games, and only managed four assists in that time, causing Penguins fans to worry, especially since Crosby was being held off the scoresheet as well. But Malkin broke through with a hat-trick in Game 6, propelling his team to Round 2.[43] In Round 2 against the fifth-seeded New York Rangers, Malkin and the Penguins were eliminated in seven games, despite initially holding a 3–1 lead in the series. The Penguins only managed three goals in the last three games.[44] Malkin had a solid series, scoring three goals and seven points in seven games, leading the Penguins.

 
Malkin with the Stanley Cup following Game 6 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals in Nashville. It was the second-consecutive championship and third overall of Malkin's career.

On 30 October 2014, Malkin recorded his 400th assist on a Chris Kunitz goal in a 3–0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings to become the fifth player in franchise history to reach the mark.[45] On 22 April 2015, in the fourth game in the first round of the 2015 playoffs against the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers, Malkin played his 100th career playoff game becoming the fifth player in Penguins history to do so.[46] The Penguins would eventually fall to the Rangers in five games.

Back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, continued success (2015–2024)

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Malkin had an injury-depleted 2015–16 campaign. On 4 February 2016, Malkin sustained an undisclosed lower-body injury in a 6–5 win against the Ottawa Senators resulting in him missing the next 10 games.[47] On 11 March, in a 3–2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, Malkin suffered what was believed to be an undisclosed upper-body injury after colliding with Columbus’ defenseman Dalton Prout.[48] This injury resulted in Malkin missing the remainder of the season and the first game in the first round of the 2016 playoffs against the New York Rangers. He finished the season playing in 57 games with 27 goals and 31 assists for 58 points. After playing against the Rangers in the opening round for a second consecutive year and third consecutive year altogether and this time defeating them in five games, the Penguins would defeat the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals in six games in the second round and the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third round in seven games before defeating the San Jose Sharks in six games in the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals, as the Penguins clinched the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2009. He ended the run with six goals and 12 assists for 18 points in 23 games.[49]

On 29 October 2016, Malkin recorded his 300th career NHL goal in a 5–4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. On 17 February 2017, Malkin recorded his 500th career assist on a goal by Ian Cole in a 2–1 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He ended the 2016–17 season with 33 goals and 39 assists for 72 points in 62 games. He became the 29th player in the history of the NHL to record 150 points in the playoffs after recording three assists in a 7–0 win in game five of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Ottawa Senators on goals by Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel and Trevor Daley, respectively.[49] He ended the 2017 playoffs by leading the team and league with 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in all 25 playoff games as the Penguins would repeat as Stanley Cup champions.[49]

Malkin enjoyed a healthy and productive 2017–18 season as he would finish the season with 98 points (42 goals, 56 assists) in 78 games. On 15 April 2018, in game three of the opening round of the 2018 playoffs, Malkin recorded his 100th career playoff assist on a Justin Schultz goal in a 5–1 win over the inner-state rival Philadelphia Flyers.[50] After eventually defeating the Flyers in six games, the Penguins would face the Washington Capitals in the second round for the third consecutive year where Malkin and the Penguins would fall in six games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion and second-seeded Capitals.[51]

On 30 January 2019, a Malkin suffered a suspected hand injury in a 4–2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning after he was hit by Lightning’ defenseman Dan Girardi. Despite this, he was able to finish the game recording two assists on goals by Phil Kessel and Kris Letang while also getting into a fight with Lightning forward and captain Steven Stamkos, which was later believed to have aggravated the injury.[52][53] After missing the next four games and returning to the lineup on 11 February, in a 4–1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, Malkin was the subject of a high-sticking call after swinging his stick into the face of Flyers’ forward Michael Raffl, resulting in a one game suspension.[54] On 12 March, Malkin recorded his 1,000th NHL point on a Phil Kessel goal against the Washington Capitals, becoming the 88th player in league history to reach the mark.[55] Malkin would finish the 2018–19 season with 21 goals and 51 assists for 72 points in 68 games as the Penguins as a team finished as the fifth seed in the East. Malkin followed up 2019 playoffs by a goal and two assists for three points in all four games against the New York Islanders as the Penguins would get swept in the first round by the fourth-seeded Islanders.[56]

On 16 March 2021, Malkin suffered a minor knee injury in a 2–1 loss over the Boston Bruins after he collided with Bruins' defenseman Jarred Tinordi, resulting in him missing the next 23 games until recovering to play the final four games of the season.[57] He would end the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season with eight goals and 20 assists for 28 points in 33 games. He re-aggravated the injury in the season finale on 8 May in the Penguins 1–0 win over the Buffalo Sabres, causing him to miss the first two games in the opening round of the 2021 playoffs against the New York Islanders.[58] Malkin returned to the lineup for game three but the Penguins would eventually get defeated by the Islanders in six games, marking the second time in three seasons where the Islanders defeated Malkin and the Penguins in the first round of the playoffs. Malkin finished the playoffs with a goal and four assists for five points in four games.

Malkin underwent knee surgery in the 2021 off-season, resulting in him missing the first 32 games of the 2021–22 season before making his season debut on 11 January 2022, in a 4–1 win against the Anaheim Ducks and recording two goals along with an assist on a Jeff Carter goal.[59][60] On 11 April, Malkin was handed a four game suspension after he cross-checked Nashville Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki the previous day and bloodying him.[61] He would go on to finish the season with 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points in 41 games played while the Penguins as a team finished as the sixth seed in the East. Malkin followed up in the 2022 playoffs with three goals and assists for six points in all seven games as the Penguins would lose in round one once more as they were defeated in seven games by the New York Rangers and surrendering a 3–1 series lead in the series against the third-seeded Rangers in the process.

On 12 July 2022, after initial reports that he would be heading to free agency, Malkin signed a four-year, $24.4 million contract extension to stay with the Penguins.[62] He played his 1,000th NHL game on 23 November against the Chicago Blackhawks, joining Sidney Crosby as the only players to play all 1,000 games with the Penguins.[63] Malkin finished the 2022–23 season playing in all 82 games with 83 points recorded (27 goals, 56 assists) and the Penguins missed the playoffs for the first time since 2006 and it would be the first time in Malkin's career that he missed the playoffs.[64]

Malkin recorded 27 goals, 40 assists and 67 points in all 82 contests played in the 2023–24 season as the Penguins missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season.[65]

Recent years (2024–present)

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The beginning of the 2024–25 season was filled with milestones for Malkin. On 11 October 2024, Malkin recorded his 800th career assist on a goal by Erik Karlsson in a 6–3 win over the Detroit Red Wings, becoming the 34th player in league history to reach the mark.[66] The following day, in a 4–2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Malkin recorded his 1,300th NHL point with an assist on a goal by Rickard Rakell, becoming the 37th player in league history to reach the mark.[67] On October 16, Malkin scored his 500th career goal in a 6–5 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres, scoring the goal on Sabres' goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to become the 48th player in league history to reach the mark and 24th player to do so with one franchise.[68]

Playing style

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Malkin has been described as a centre with elite offensive abilities and above average defensive awareness. He has also been known on rare occasions to play on the wing, and on the point during the power play. He is a good skater with firm balance and above average top speed and agility at the NHL level. In his prime years, Malkin was a physical player who threw big hits and did not shy away from physical contact.[69] He relies on his hockey IQ and athleticism most times to avoid checks by opponents. A very emotionally driven athlete, he has been known to let emotions affect his play both positively and negatively (in the form of taking "bad" penalties). He has an elite arsenal of shots (slap, wrist, backhand, and snap), and has remarkable stick-handling ability. An excellent passer who knows how to open up the game and create space, Malkin is capable of driving the length of the ice to score goals due to his speed, size, and excellent stick handling.

"He's so big and strong and he doesn't mind the physicality. That's what separates him apart from other players that are gifted offensive players. He wants the puck all the time and he'll go through a check or take a check to make a play."[32]

— Steven Stamkos on Malkin, June 2012

"He's just one of those guys that wants the puck all the time. For me, it was get him the puck as much as possible. With his ability to feed me and my ability to shoot the puck, it worked really well. I just got open as much as I could. I'd just get him the puck as fast as I could because I knew I was going to get it back wherever I was on the ice, it was coming back."[70]

— James Neal on Malkin, December 2017

International play

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Malkin during the 2012 World Championships
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing   Russia
World Championships
  2012 Finland/Sweden
  2014 Belarus
  2010 Germany
  2015 Czech Republic
  2005 Austria
  2007 Russia
  2019 Slovakia
World Junior Championships
  2005 United States
  2006 Canada
World U18 Championships
  2004 Belarus
  2003 Russia

Malkin made his first international appearance with Russia at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championships in Yaroslavl. He helped Russia to a bronze medal, scoring nine points in six games. He was named Russia's U18 captain for the 2004 IIHF World U18 Championships the following year and scored eight points as Russia improved to a gold medal in the tournament.

Several months prior to his second and final U18 tournament, Malkin debuted at the under-20 level with Russia at the 2004 World Junior Championships. In his first of three tournament appearances, he contributed five points in six games but could not help Russia reach the podium. The following year, Malkin finished second in team scoring at the 2005 World Junior Championships to Alexander Ovechkin with ten points. Led by the duo of Malkin and Ovechkin (the two had also played together the previous year), Russia won the silver, losing to Canada in the gold medal game. Later in 2005, Malkin made his debut with the Russian men's team at the 2005 World Championships. Despite failing to score a goal in the tournament, Malkin contributed four assists to help Russia to a bronze medal in Vienna.

In 2006, Malkin did triple duty for Russia, competing in his third World Junior Championships, his first Winter Olympics and his second World Championships. He was named the top forward and MVP of the 2006 World Junior Championships in January, captaining Russia to a second straight silver medal and gold medal game loss to Canada. Less than two months later, Malkin was given one of the final spots on Team Russia for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, where he helped the team to a fourth-place finish with six points in seven games. Then in May, Malkin played in the 2006 World Championship, where he led Russia in team scoring with nine points.

Following his NHL rookie campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Malkin was named to the Russia squad for the 2007 World Championships, where he achieved a personal best for the tournament of ten points. Malkin played in the first line of team Russia together with Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Frolov. He also captured his second World Championships bronze.

2010 was an impressive year for Malkin internationally. Malkin was selected to play for the Russian Olympic Team at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, where he led all players at the Olympic tournament in points-per-game average with 1.50 points per game, and led Team Russia in points yet again with three goals and six points in four games. Russia ultimately lost to Canada in the quarter-finals, finishing sixth overall. Malkin then joined the Russian team for the 2010 IIHF World Championship. Despite joining the tournament partway through, as his NHL team was not eliminated until the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Malkin scored at a goal-per-game pace and ended up with the distinction of being the player with the fewest games played who made the post-tournament IIHF World Championship All-star team. His 5 goals and 2 assists in 5 games secured him a place in the tournament's top 10 point scorers, and he was the only player among the top 10 scorers who played less than 6 games. He captured his first World Championships silver medal.

Malkin was named MVP, the best forward and to the All-Star team at the 2012 IIHF World Championship, where he scored 11 goals and made 8 assists, winning the scoring league with a total of 19 points.[71] He recorded at least one point in every game played. He also had two hat-tricks, against Sweden in the preliminary round and against Finland in the semi-final. Russia won the gold medal. The 19 points is a new record for Russian players on World Championships.[citation needed]

In 2014, Malkin was named to the 2014 Russian Olympic Ice Hockey Team. He played all five games for Russia as they finished fifth in the tournament after losing to Finland in the quarter-finals. Malkin had one goal and two assists by the end of the tournament.

In 2019, Malkin played in the 2019 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded the primary assist on Russia's game-winning goal against Team USA in the knockout stage. Russia would lose their next game to Finland in the semifinal, and settle for a bronze medal.

In 2020, Malkin was named to the IIHF All-Time Russian National Team ahead of Russian and Soviet all-time greats such as Sergei Makarov, Alex Ovechkin, and Sergei Fedorov, among others.[72] The list included both Russian and Soviet legends in honour of the 100-year anniversary of the IIHF World Championships.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Bold indicates led league

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2002–03 Metallurg–2 Magnitogorsk RUS-3 28 8 6 14 18 — — — — —
2003–04 Metallurg Magnitogorsk RSL 34 3 9 12 12 — — — — —
2003–04 Metallurg–2 Magnitogorsk RUS-3 2 1 0 1 8 — — — — —
2004–05 Metallurg Magnitogorsk RSL 52 12 20 32 24 5 0 4 4 0
2004–05 Metallurg–2 Magnitogorsk RUS-3 2 1 1 2 2 — — — — —
2005–06 Metallurg Magnitogorsk RSL 46 21 26 47 46 11 5 10 15 41
2006–07 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 78 33 52 85 80 5 0 4 4 8
2007–08 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 82 47 59 106 78 20 10 12 22 24
2008–09 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 82 35 78 113 80 24 14 22 36 51
2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 67 28 49 77 100 13 5 6 11 6
2010–11 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 43 15 22 37 18 — — — — —
2011–12 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 75 50 59 109 70 6 3 5 8 6
2012–13 Metallurg Magnitogorsk KHL 37 23 42 65 58 — — — — —
2012–13 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 31 9 24 33 36 15 4 12 16 26
2013–14 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 60 23 49 72 62 13 6 8 14 8
2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 69 28 42 70 60 5 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 57 27 31 58 65 23 6 12 18 18
2016–17 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 62 33 39 72 77 25 10 18 28 53
2017–18 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 78 42 56 98 87 9 4 4 8 16
2018–19 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 68 21 51 72 89 4 1 2 3 6
2019–20 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 55 25 49 74 58 4 0 1 1 6
2020–21 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 33 8 20 28 24 4 1 4 5 8
2021–22 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 41 20 22 42 24 7 3 3 6 6
2022–23 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 82 27 56 83 82 — — — — —
2023–24 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 82 27 40 67 70 — — — — —
NHL totals 1,145 498 798 1,296 1,160 177 67 113 180 242

International

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Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2003 Russia WJC18 6 5 4 9 2
2004 Russia WJC 6 1 4 5 0
2004 Russia WJC18 6 4 4 8 31
2005 Russia WJC 6 3 7 10 16
2005 Russia WC 9 0 4 4 8
2006 Russia WJC 6 4 6 10 12
2006 Russia OLY 7 2 4 6 31
2006 Russia WC 7 3 6 9 6
2007 Russia WC 9 5 5 10 6
2010 Russia OLY 4 3 3 6 0
2010 Russia WC 5 5 2 7 10
2012 Russia WC 10 11 8 19 4
2014 Russia OLY 5 1 2 3 2
2014 Russia WC 4 2 1 3 2
2015 Russia WC 9 5 5 10 8
2016 Russia WCH 4 1 2 3 2
2019 Russia WC 10 1 5 6 4
Junior totals 30 17 25 42 61
Senior totals 83 39 47 86 81

Awards and honours

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Mario Lemieux joined Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin for the ceremonial puck drop before 13 October 2011 game between the Penguins and Capitals, to honour the victims of the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash.

NHL

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National Hockey League
Award Year
NHL YoungStars Game 2007
Calder Memorial Trophy 2007
NHL All-Star Game 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017
NHL first All-Star team 2008, 2009, 2012
NHL All Star SuperSkills Accuracy Winner 2009
Art Ross Trophy 2009, 2012
Stanley Cup champion 2009, 2016, 2017
Conn Smythe Trophy 2009
Hart Memorial Trophy 2012
Ted Lindsay Award 2012

IIHF

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International
Award Year
World Championship All-Star team 2007, 2010, 2012
World Championship Best Forward 2012
World Championship Most Valuable Player 2012
IIHF All-Time Russia Team 2020

Pittsburgh Penguins team awards

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Penguins team awards
Award Year
Michel Briere Memorial Trophy 2007 (with Jordan Staal)
A.T. Caggiano Memorial Booster Club Award 2008, 2009, 2012
Most Valuable Player Award 2008, 2009, 2012, 2019
The Edward J. DeBartolo Community Service Award 2012

Other awards

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Other awards
Award Year
Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year 2009
Kharlamov Trophy 2012, 2017

Records

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  • First player since 1917–18 to score goals in each of his first six NHL games (first accomplished by Joe Malone, Newsy Lalonde and Cy Denneny in inaugural NHL season)[73] (18 October – 1 November 2006)
  • Longest point streak by a Russian player in the NHL – 15 games (accomplished twice) (surpassed Dmitri Kvartalnov of the Boston Bruins – 14 games in 1992)[74]
  • Most consecutive postseason games with multiple points for the Pittsburgh Penguins – 6 games (9–23 May 2009)
  • Most playoff points in a single season by a Russian player – 36 (2008–09)
  • First Russian player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (2009)

See also

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References

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  3. ^ Molinari, Dave (29 October 2006). "Oh, for good 'ol golden nicknaming days of yore". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 8 November 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2006.
  4. ^ a b c d e McCollough, J. Brady (8 February 2014). "Evgeni Malkin: A Russian tale with roots founded in ice and iron". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Evgeni Malkin.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Pittsburgh Penguins first round draft pick
2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy
2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Art Ross Trophy
2009
2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy
2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy
2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Ted Lindsay Award
2012 		Succeeded by
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