Jeff Malott

Lore & Background

Malott grew up in Hamilton, Ontario's Waterdown community, playing ice hockey, soccer, and basketball. He began junior hockey with the Caledonia Pro-Fit Corvairs, winning the Sutherland Cup in 2013–14, then spent two seasons with the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL, serving as alternate captain and winning an AJHL championship. He committed to Cornell University in September 2015 and played four seasons there, scoring a hat-trick as a freshman and later being named a captain for his senior year. Malott was a finalist for the ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Forward award after his senior season, during which he was never on the ice for a full-strength goal against his team.

Malott signed with the Manitoba Moose in April 2020 but began his pro career with the Florida Everblades in January 2021 due to the pandemic. In his first AHL season, he led the Moose in goals and ranked second among AHL rookies. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Jets in May 2021 and was promoted to the NHL in March 2022, making his debut that night. After his contract ended, he signed with the Los Angeles Kings in July 2024, then with the Anaheim Ducks in July 2026.

Reader's Guide

Malott's significance lies in his path from college hockey at Cornell to the NHL, where he debuted with the Winnipeg Jets after leading the Manitoba Moose in goals as a rookie. His defensive reliability was highlighted by his senior season at Cornell, where he was a finalist for the ECAC Best Defensive Forward award and maintained a plus–minus of +15 without being on the ice for a full-strength goal against. His professional career began during the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring a stint in the ECHL before joining the AHL. Malott's viral moment in February 2022—winning a shootout and skating off without celebrating—brought him attention. He later moved to the Los Angeles Kings and then to the Anaheim Ducks, signing multi-year contracts with each. His older brother Mike Malott is a mixed martial arts fighter in the UFC.

Did You Know?

• Malott scored a hat-trick against Princeton on January 13, 2017, the first by a Cornell freshman since Matt Moulson in 2003.
• Malott went viral in February 2022 for winning a shootout and skating off without celebrating.
• His older brother Mike Malott is a mixed martial arts fighter who joined the UFC in February 2022.