Evgeni Malkin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Evgeni Malkin |
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Malkin with the Pittsburgh Penguins in April 2019
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| Born | 31 July 1986 Magnitogorsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Pittsburgh Penguins Metallurg Magnitogorsk |
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| National team |  Russia |
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| NHL Draft | 2nd overall, 2004 Pittsburgh Penguins |
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| Playing career | 2003–present | ||
Evgeni Vladimirovich Malkin (Russian: Евге́ний Влади́мирович Ма́лкин, IPA: [jɪvˈɡʲenʲɪj ˈmalkʲɪn]; born 31 July 1986) is a Russian professional ice hockey player. He plays as a centre and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League (NHL). People often call him "Geno".
Malkin started his hockey journey with his hometown team, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, playing for both their junior and senior teams. In 2004, the Pittsburgh Penguins picked him second overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. However, there was a disagreement about his transfer, so he didn't start playing in the NHL until 2006.
After his first season with the Penguins, Malkin won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best new player. In his second season, he helped Pittsburgh reach the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. The next year, he won the Art Ross Trophy for leading the NHL in points. He and the Penguins made it to the Stanley Cup Finals again and won the Stanley Cup championship! Malkin was also named the most valuable player of the playoffs, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy. In 2012, he won the Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL's most valuable player) and the Ted Lindsay Award (best player as voted by players), after winning the Art Ross Trophy for the second time.
Malkin has also played for Russia in many international tournaments. As a junior player, he won one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal at the IIHF World U18 Championships and World Junior Championships. In 2006, he was named the MVP of the World Junior Championships. As a senior player, he has won two gold medals at the IIHF World Championships and was named MVP in 2012. He has also played for Russia in three Winter Olympic Games. In 2020, he was chosen for the IIHF All-Time Russia Team.
Contents
About Evgeni Malkin
Malkin was born on 31 July 1986, in Magnitogorsk, Russia. His dad, Vladimir, worked at a big steel factory and also played hockey in his youth. Evgeni started skating when he was just three years old and joined his first organized hockey team at age five. Even though his parents were not tall, Evgeni quickly showed he was very good at hockey.
In November 2015, Malkin got engaged to Anna Kasterova, a Russian TV personality. They had their first child, a son, on 31 May 2016. In 2017, Malkin joined a social movement that supported the Russian president. He said they wanted to show their support, especially with the World Cup happening in Russia in 2018.
Malkin's Hockey Journey
Starting Out
Malkin grew up playing hockey in the Metallurg Magnitogorsk program. He first played in Russia's top league when he was 17, during the 2003–04 season. He also played for Russia's national team at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championships, where his team won a bronze medal.
Joining the NHL
After playing professionally in Russia, the Pittsburgh Penguins chose Malkin as the second overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. However, there was a disagreement between the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) about his transfer. This meant he couldn't start playing for the Penguins right away.
Malkin really wanted to play in the NHL. He left his Russian team's training camp in Finland and worked with his agent to get his visa. On 5 September 2006, he was finally able to sign a contract with the Penguins. His former Russian team tried to stop him from playing in the NHL with a lawsuit, but the court allowed Malkin to continue playing.
Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins (2006–Present)
Early Success and First Stanley Cup (2006–2009)
Malkin's first NHL game was on 18 October 2006, and he scored his first goal! He made an amazing start by scoring a goal in each of his first six games, setting a modern NHL record. He played alongside Sidney Crosby, another talented player. Malkin finished his first season with 33 goals and 52 assists, leading all new players. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie. Soon after, he became an alternate captain for the Penguins. When he first came to the U.S., he didn't speak much English, but his teammate Sergei Gonchar helped him learn.
In his second season (2007–08), Malkin scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game). When Sidney Crosby was injured, Malkin stepped up and led the team, scoring many points. He finished the season second in NHL scoring with 106 points. The Penguins made it to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, but they lost to the Detroit Red Wings. Malkin was nominated for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player.
In the 2008–09 season, Malkin reached 200 NHL points. He won the Art Ross Trophy for leading the league in points with 113. On 12 June 2009, the Penguins won the Stanley Cup by beating the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7. Malkin had an incredible 36 points in the playoffs, becoming the first player since Mario Lemieux in 1992 to lead both the regular season and playoffs in scoring. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP, becoming the first Russian player to do so.
Winning More Awards and Facing Challenges (2009–2015)
In the 2009–10 NHL season, Malkin continued to play well. The Penguins won their first playoff series but were then defeated.
On 4 February 2011, Malkin suffered a serious knee injury during a game. He tore two important ligaments in his right knee, which meant he missed the rest of the 2010–11 NHL season and playoffs. It was a tough time for him and the team.
Malkin made an amazing comeback in the 2011–12 NHL season. With Sidney Crosby out for many games due to injury, Malkin stepped up again. He scored 50 goals for the first time in his career and won his second Art Ross Trophy with 109 points. He was the only player in the NHL that season to score over 100 points. For his incredible performance, Malkin won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's MVP and the Ted Lindsay Award (best player as voted by the players). Even with Malkin's great season, the Penguins were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, when NHL games were paused, Malkin went back to Russia to play for his old team, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, which had joined the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was one of the top scorers in that league. When the NHL season restarted, Malkin faced more injuries, limiting his games. In the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Penguins made it to the Eastern Conference Finals but were swept by the Boston Bruins.
In the 2013–14 NHL season, Malkin missed more games due to injuries. However, when he played, he was still a top scorer for the Penguins. In the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, he had a slow start but then scored a hat-trick in Game 6 to help his team advance. The Penguins were eventually eliminated in the second round.
On 30 October 2014, Malkin recorded his 400th assist, becoming the fifth player in Penguins history to reach that milestone.
Back-to-Back Stanley Cups and Continued Success (2015–Present)
Malkin had another season affected by injuries in 2015–16. He missed several games due to different injuries. Despite this, the Penguins went on to win the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals, their first Stanley Cup since 2009! Malkin played a key role in the playoffs, scoring 18 points in 23 games.
On 29 October 2016, Malkin scored his 300th career NHL goal. He continued to be a strong player, and in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, he led the entire league with 28 points. The Penguins won the Stanley Cup again, making it back-to-back championships!
Malkin had a very healthy and productive season in 2017–18, finishing with 98 points. In the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, he recorded his 100th career playoff assist. However, the Penguins were defeated by the Washington Capitals in the second round.
On 12 March 2019, Malkin reached a huge milestone: his 1,000th NHL point! He became the 88th player in league history to do so. He finished the 2018–19 NHL season with 72 points. In the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Penguins were swept in the first round.
Malkin faced more knee injuries in the 2020–21 NHL season, which was shortened by the pandemic. He missed many games but returned for the playoffs. The Penguins were again defeated in the first round.
In the 2021 off-season, Malkin had knee surgery, causing him to miss the start of the 2021–22 NHL season. He returned in January 2022 and continued to play well. In the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Penguins lost in the first round in seven games.
On 12 July 2022, Malkin signed a new contract to stay with the Penguins. On 23 November, he played his 1,000th NHL game, joining Sidney Crosby as the only Penguins players to play all 1,000 games with the team. In the 2022–23 NHL season, Malkin played all 82 games and had 83 points. However, the Penguins missed the playoffs for the first time since 2006, which was also the first time in Malkin's career. The Penguins also missed the playoffs in the 2023–24 NHL season.
Recent Milestones (2024–Present)
The start of the 2024–25 NHL season brought more big achievements for Malkin. On 11 October 2024, he recorded his 800th career assist. The next day, he reached his 1,300th NHL point. And on 16 October, Malkin scored his 500th career goal, becoming only the 48th player in league history to do so, and the 24th player to score all 500 goals with one team!
How Malkin Plays
Malkin is known as a very skilled centre who is great at scoring goals and setting up plays. He's also good at playing defense. Sometimes, he even plays on the wing or helps out on the power play (when the other team has a penalty). He's a strong skater with good balance and speed. In his best years, Malkin was a physical player who wasn't afraid to hit or be hit. He uses his smarts and athleticism to avoid opponents. He's a very emotional player, which can sometimes help his game and sometimes lead to penalties.
Malkin has amazing shots (slap, wrist, backhand) and can handle the puck incredibly well. He's an excellent passer who knows how to create space for his teammates. Because of his speed, size, and stick-handling skills, he can often skate the length of the ice and score goals all by himself.
"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."
"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."
International Hockey for Russia
 Malkin during the 2012 World Championships |
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| Medal record | ||
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| Ice hockey | ||
| Representing Russia |
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| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 2012 Finland/Sweden | |
| Gold | 2014 Belarus | |
| Silver | 2010 Germany | |
| Silver | 2015 Czech Republic | |
| Bronze | 2005 Austria | |
| Bronze | 2007 Russia | |
| Bronze | 2019 Slovakia | |
| World Junior Championships | ||
| Silver | 2005 United States | |
| Silver | 2006 Canada | |
| World U18 Championships | ||
| Gold | 2004 Belarus | |
| Bronze | 2003 Russia | |
Malkin first played for Russia internationally at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he helped his team win a bronze medal. The next year, he was the captain of Russia's U18 team and led them to a gold medal.
He also played in three World Junior Championships. In 2005 and 2006, Russia won silver medals, losing to Canada in the final. In 2006, Malkin was named the best forward and MVP of the World Junior Championships.
In 2005, Malkin made his debut with the Russian men's team at the 2005 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships, winning a bronze medal. In 2006, he played in his first Winter Olympics in Turin, helping Russia to a fourth-place finish. He also played in the 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships, leading Russia in scoring.
Malkin continued to play for Russia in many World Championships, winning another bronze in 2007 and a silver in 2010. At the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, he led Team Russia in points.
In 2012, Malkin had an amazing performance at the 2012 IIHF World Championship. He scored 11 goals and 8 assists for a total of 19 points, leading the tournament in scoring. He scored at least one point in every game and had two hat-tricks. Russia won the gold medal, and Malkin was named the MVP and best forward of the tournament. His 19 points set a new record for Russian players at the World Championships.
Malkin also played for Russia in the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2014 IIHF World Championship, where Russia won another gold medal. In 2019, he helped Russia win a bronze medal at the 2019 IIHF World Championship. In 2020, he was recognized as one of the greatest Russian players of all time, being named to the IIHF All-Time Russian National Team.
Awards and Honours
NHL Awards
- Calder Memorial Trophy: 2007 (Best Rookie)
- Art Ross Trophy: 2009, 2012 (Most Points in NHL)
- Stanley Cup champion: 2009, 2016, 2017
- Conn Smythe Trophy: 2009 (Playoff MVP)
- Hart Memorial Trophy: 2012 (NHL's Most Valuable Player)
- Ted Lindsay Award: 2012 (Best Player as voted by players)
- NHL All-Star Game: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017
International Awards
- 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
Records
- First player since 1917–18 to score goals in each of his first six NHL games (2006)
- Longest point streak by a Russian player in the NHL – 15 games (twice)
- Most playoff points in a single season by a Russian player – 36 (2008–09)
- First Russian player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (2009)
Images for kids
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Malkin with the Pittsburgh Penguins in April 2019
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Malkin smiling during a practice with the Penguins in September 2006.
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Malkin, along with his parents (left), during the Penguins' victory parade for their 2009 Stanley Cup victory.
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Malkin (foreground) and Alexander Ovechkin participating in a ceremonial puck drop with Mario Lemieux before an October 2011 game, to honour the victims of the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash.
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Malkin in October 2012. He played with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL during the 2012–13 NHL lockout.
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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.
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Malkin during the 2012 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
