Evgeni Malkin

Lore & Background

Malkin was born on 31 July 1986 in Magnitogorsk to Vladimir and Natalia Malkin. Vladimir worked for Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works and played in the Metallurg Magnitogorsk youth and club hockey system. Malkin has one brother, Denis, who is older by one year. Malkin began skating at age three and joined his first organized hockey league two years later. He 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. He also made his international debut for Russia during the 2004 U-18 World Championships, where he skated on the top line with Alexander Ovechkin; the team claimed the bronze medal.

In Their Own Story

The arena buzzed with tension as the Penguins' number 71 took the ice against his rivals from D.C. The Washington crowd roared in anticipation, knowing that stopping Evgeni Malkin was the key to victory. He skated with grace and power, a ghost of Pittsburgh's glory days, leaving no trace on the Capitals' record books but etching his name deeply into their memory as an unyielding foe.

Reader's Guide

Malkin was drafted second overall in the 2004 NHL entry draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. A transfer dispute delayed his NHL debut until 2006. 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 Final and was a runner-up for the Hart Memorial Trophy. The following season saw Malkin win the Art Ross Trophy and again place second for the Hart Trophy. He and the Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2009, and Malkin was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy. In 2012, Malkin was awarded the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award after winning the Art Ross Trophy for the second time. 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. In 2020, he was named to the IIHF All-Time Russia Team.

Did You Know?

• Malkin set a modern NHL record by scoring a goal in each of his first six games.
• He won the Art Ross Trophy twice (2009 and 2012).
• Malkin is the second Penguin to win the Calder Memorial Trophy after Mario Lemieux in 1985.
• He invoked a Russian law to cancel his contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in order to join the NHL.