# Merlin Malinowski

Merlin "The Magician" Malinowski (born September 27, 1958) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. Malinowski was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, but grew up in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.

## Playing career

Malinowski was drafted in the 2nd Round, 27th overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft. He played 5 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Rockies, the New Jersey Devils and the Hartford Whalers. He then had a long spell in Switzerland, playing for the EHC Arosa and later the SCL Tigers from 1983 until his retirement in 1991. He also played for the Canadian Olympic Team that finished 4th in the 1988 Winter Olympics.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1973–74 | Drumheller Falcons | AJHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1974–75 | Drumheller Falcons | AJHL | 59 | 23 | 44 | 67 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1975–76 | Drumheller Falcons | AJHL | 59 | 60 | 86 | 146 | 79 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1976–77 | Medicine Hat Tigers | WCHL | 70 | 22 | 48 | 70 | 40 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| 1977–78 | Medicine Hat Tigers | WCHL | 72 | 48 | 78 | 126 | 131 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 16 |
| 1978–79 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 54 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1978–79 | Philadelphia Firebirds | AHL | 25 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1979–80 | Fort Worth Texans | CHL | 66 | 34 | 42 | 76 | 58 | 15 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 34 |
| 1979–80 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 10 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1980–81 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 69 | 25 | 37 | 62 | 61 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1981–82 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 69 | 13 | 28 | 41 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1982–83 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1982–83 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 75 | 5 | 23 | 28 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1983–84 | EHC Arosa | NDA | 32 | 37 | 26 | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1984–85 | EHC Arosa | NDA | 38 | 49 | 33 | 82 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1985–86 | EHC Arosa | NDA | 32 | 25 | 29 | 54 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1986–87 | SC Langnau | SUI.2 | 36 | 29 | 44 | 73 | 50 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 14 |
| 1987–88 | SC Langnau | NDA | 36 | 30 | 35 | 65 | 88 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1987–88 | Canadian National Team | Intl | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1988–89 | SC Langnau | SUI.2 | 36 | 28 | 34 | 62 | 58 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 28 |
| 1989–90 | SC Langnau | SUI.2 | 36 | 31 | 31 | 62 | 60 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 4 |
| 1990–91 | SC Langnau | SUI.2 | 33 | 21 | 29 | 50 | 40 | 10 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 10 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 282 | 54 | 111 | 165 | 121 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NDA totals | NDA totals | NDA totals | 138 | 141 | 123 | 264 | 167 | — | — | — | — | — |
| SUI.2 totals | SUI.2 totals | SUI.2 totals | 141 | 109 | 138 | 247 | 208 | 34 | 30 | 48 | 78 | 56 |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1988 | Canada | OG | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |