Evgeni Malkin

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Malkin's path to the NHL was blocked by a fierce transfer dispute between his Russian club, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, and the league. On 7 August 2006, he signed a one-year deal under immense 'psychological pressure' but left training camp in Helsinki on 12 August after his team reportedly confiscated his passport. He invoked a law via fax on 15 August to cancel the contract with two weeks' notice, finally signing an entry-level deal with Pittsburgh on 5 September. His resilience shone through early injuries; he dislocated his shoulder colliding with John LeClair in a pre-season game on 20 September 2006, missing the season's start. Despite this, he debuted on 18 October against the New Jersey Devils and scored a goal in each of his first six games, a modern record not seen since Joe Malone in 1917–18.

In Their Own Story

The rivalry between Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin defined the late 2000s scoring chase. In the 2007–08 season, Malkin recorded his first NHL hat-trick on 3 January against Toronto and another on 14 January versus New York. When captain Sidney Crosby suffered an ankle injury mid-season, Malkin led the team with 44 points in 28 games, finishing second in league scoring with 106 points. The following year, he captured his first Art Ross Trophy with 113 points on 18 October 2008, becoming the second Russian-born player to do so. In the 2009 playoffs, Malkin tallied 36 points (14 goals and 22 assists), leading both the regular season and playoffs in scoring—the first feat since Mario Lemieux in 1992. This performance secured the Penguins' Stanley Cup victory over Detroit on 12 June 2009.

Reader's Guide

Malkin's career is marked by specific statistical milestones that highlight his dominance. He finished his rookie season with 33 goals, 52 assists, and 85 points in 78 games. His scoring prowess peaked in 2012 when he won the Art Ross Trophy for the second time with a 12-point lead, the largest margin of victory since 1999. That same year, he was named tournament MVP at the IIHF World Championships while winning gold. Internationally, he represented Russia in three Winter Olympics (Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014) and won gold twice at senior World Championships. In 2020, his legacy was cemented when he was named to the IIHF All-Time Russia Team.

Did You Know?

• Malkin scored a goal in each of his first six NHL games, a modern record not achieved since Joe Malone in the 1917–18 season.
• During the 2006 transfer dispute, Metallurg Magnitogorsk reportedly took Malkin's passport to prevent him from leaving Finland before he invoked a law via fax to cancel his contract.
• In 2009, Malkin became the first player since Mario Lemieux in 1992 to lead both the regular season and playoffs in scoring.
• Malkin won the shooting accuracy segment of the 2009 NHL All-Star Game Skills Competition, initially going four-for-four before beating Dany Heatley in a tie-breaker.
• On 18 October 2008, Malkin scored his 200th NHL point with an assist to Sidney Crosby; Crosby's team trainer cut the puck in half so both could keep a piece.