Evgeni Malkin Evgeni " Geno " Vladimirovich Malkin ( , born July 31 , 1986 ) is a Russia n professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Chosen second overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins , Malkin ' s career in the NHL was delayed because of an international transfer dispute until 2006 – 07 , in which he captured the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league ' s best rookie . In his second season , he helped carry Pittsburgh to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals and was a runner - up for the Hart Memorial Trophy . The following season , Malkin totaled 113 points and won the Art Ross Trophy , awarded annually to the top - scorer in the NHL . He then led all players in playoff scoring , en route to a Conn Smythe Trophy and the Stanley Cup championship . Internationally , Malkin has competed for Russia in two IIHF World U18 Championships and three IIHF World U20 Championships , capturing one gold , two silvers and one bronze medal , as a junior . In 2006 , in addition to a silver medal , he was also named tournament MVP . As a senior , he has played in four IIHF World Championships , winning the gold medal and being named the tournament MVP for the 2012 event . In addition he has won the bronze medals in two other World Championships and has played for team Russia during the last three Winter Olympic Games , in Turin , Vancouver , and Sochi . Early life . Evgeni Vladimirovich Malkin was born on 31 July 1986 in Magnitogorsk , a Russian city in the Soviet Union to Vladimir and Natalia Malkin . Vladimir worked for Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works , the largest iron and steel works in Russia and the city ' s dominant industry , and played in the Metallurg Magnitogorsk youth and club hockey system . Malkin has one brother , Denis . Evgeni began skating at age 3 . He joined his first organized hockey league two years later . He showed an aptitude for the sport at an early age , as one might expect from the son of a pro . However , because both of his parents were short , no one suspected that Evgeni would be a world - class athlete . His favorite players are Sergei Fedorov , Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg . Malkin owns a restaurant in Magnitogorsk which is designed to look like the inside of a prison . He became engaged to Russian television personality , Anna Kasterova in November 2015 . Six months later on 31 May 2016 their first child , a boy named Nikita , was born . Playing career . Transfer Dispute . Malkin 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 2003 U - 18 World Championships , where he skated on the top line with Alexander Ovechkin . The team went on to claim the bronze medal . After his first professional season in Russia , Malkin was drafted 2nd overall ( behind national teammate Alexander Ovechkin ) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins . Upon being drafted , Malkin would remain in Russia through to the 2005 - 06 season . In the midst of a dispute between the NHL and the IIHF , the Russian Hockey Federation refused to ratify a transfer agreement , forcing Malkin to honor his existing contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk . Pittsburgh Penguins ( 2006 - present ) . Before the start of the 2006 – 07 season , it appeared Malkin would remain in Russia another season after signing a one - year contract with Metallurg , but after some legal maneuvering , Malkin relieved himself of his Russian obligations and signed an entry - level contract with the Penguins . On September 20 , 2006 , in his first preseason game as a Pittsburgh Penguin , Malkin collided with teammate John LeClair and dislocated his shoulder , which forced him to miss the start of the season . Subsequently , his NHL debut would be delayed until October 18 , against the New Jersey Devils , in which he would score his first NHL goal against Martin Brodeur . To begin his NHL career , Malkin set a modern - day record as the first player to score at least one goal in each of his first six games . No player had achieved this feat since the league ' s inaugural season in 1917 – 18 , when Joe Malone scored at least one goal in 14 consecutive games to start his NHL career . Malone ' s mark , however , was set when technically every player was playing in his first NHL season ; he had already played almost a decade in the league ' s predecessor , the NHA . Malkin ' s streak was eventually stopped in his seventh game by the San Jose Sharks . Playing on a team with fellow phenom Sidney Crosby , Malkin finished his rookie season with 33 goals and 85 points , leading all first - year players and capturing the Calder Trophy as the league ' s top rookie . When Malkin arrived in the United States , he spoke no English , but through the help of fellow Russian and teammate Sergei Gonchar , and his cousins , he eventually started to give short , simple interviews in the language . In his sophomore season , Malkin recorded his first NHL hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs , on January 3 , 2008 . He earned another three - goal performance several games later , on January 14 , against the New York Rangers . Midway through the season , when more heralded teammate and captain Sidney Crosby went down with an ankle injury , Malkin seized the opportunity to lead the Penguins , scoring 44 points in the 28 games Crosby was absent . In total , Malkin completed the season 2nd in NHL scoring with 106 points , six points behind Alexander Ovechkin for the Art Ross Trophy . Malkin continued to dominate into the playoffs as the Penguins made it to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals . He scored three points against Detroit in the finals , totaling 22 points overall , but the Penguins were defeated by Detroit in six games . Malkin ' s sophomore season culminated in a Hart Memorial Trophy nomination as league MVP — the award was given to Ovechkin — and First Team All - Star honors . On July 2 , 2008 , with one year left in his entry - level contract , he signed a contract extension with the Penguins for $ 43 . 5 million over five years . Malkin began the 2008 – 09 season by scoring his 200th NHL point with an assist to Sidney Crosby on October 18 , 2008 . The goal was Crosby ' s 100th career goal and 300th career point . Crosby had a team trainer cut the puck in half so both players could commemorate the moment . Voted as a starter to the 2009 NHL All - Star Game later in the season , Malkin won the shooting accuracy segment of the Skills Competition , initially shooting four - for - four before beating Dany Heatley three - for - four in a tie - breaker . After having finished runner - up to Alexander Ovechkin the previous season for the Art Ross Trophy , Malkin captured the scoring championship with 113 points . He became the second Russian - born player to win it , after Ovechkin , and the fourth Penguin , after Mario Lemieux , Jaromír Jágr , and Crosby . However , he would once again be runner - up to Ovechkin for the Hart Memorial Trophy , although this time garnering a few more first - place votes . In 2008 , he had just one first - place vote ( out of 134 votes ) and 659 points to Ovechkin ' s 128 first - place votes and 1 , 313 points . In 2009 , Malkin had 12 first - place votes ( out of 133 votes ) and 787 points to Ovechkin ' s 115 first - place votes and 1 , 264 points . On June 12 , 2009 , the Penguins won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Detroit Red Wings 2 - 1 in game 7 of the finals . Malkin tallied 36 points ( 14 goals , 22 assists ) to become the first player to lead both the regular season and playoffs in scoring since Mario Lemieux accomplished the feat in 1992 . His 36 points were the highest playoff total of any player since Wayne Gretzky amassed 40 points in 1993 . Malkin received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP , becoming the first Russian - born player to do so . He is also just the second player in franchise history to win both the Art Ross and Conn Smythe trophies in the same year . The other Penguin to accomplish this feat was Hall of Famer and team co - owner / president Mario Lemieux ( 1992 ) . On February 4 , 2011 , after missing five games due to a left knee injury and sinus infection , Malkin returned to play against the Buffalo Sabres . At the start of the second period , Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers collided with Malkin against the end - boards , injuring his right knee . He was helped off the ice and went straight to the dressing room , unable to return to the game as he suffered both a torn anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) and medial collateral ligament ( MCL ) . On February 9 , it was announced that Malkin would undergo knee surgery . The Penguins estimated his recovery period as six months , sidelining him for the remainder of the 2010 - 11 NHL season and playoffs , but stated he should be ready for training camp in September . According to then Penguins ' General Manager , Ray Shero , Malkin sent him a text message after the incident occurred stating , " I ' m sorry . " In Shero ' s words , " I told him he had nothing to apologize for . " Malkin had a bounce - back season in 2011 - 12 . With post - concussion syndrome limiting team captain Sidney Crosby to 22 games , Malkin led the Penguins on a line with newly acquired winger James Neal . Despite missing seven games due to lingering effects of his knee surgery , Malkin scored 50 goals for the first time in his career including three hat tricks , and won his second scoring title with 109 points . He was the only player during the 2011 – 12 season to score 100 points . Malkin would go on to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league ' s most valuable player for his performance in the 2012 season . He also became the first player in the past ten NHL seasons to win two scoring titles , putting an end to a streak of nine different players over nine seasons leading the NHL in points . Despite Malkin ' s impressive season , the Penguins were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers . Malkin scored eight points in the six - game series . Following the Penguins ' playoff exit , it was announced that Malkin would again represent Russia at the 2012 World Championships With the 2012 - 13 NHL season delayed due to the 2012 - 13 NHL lockout , Malkin went to Russia and played for Magnitogorsk , his former team , who had joined the Kontinental Hockey League ( KHL ) since he last played there . By the time the lockout ended in early January , Malkin was second in KHL scoring with 23 goals and 65 points in 37 games . Though he missed the final part of the KHL season , he still finished third overall in scoring . A concussion and shoulder injuries limited Malkin to 31 games during the NHL season , rather than the 48 scheduled , in which he scored 33 points . Malkin and the Penguins faced the New York Islanders in the first round , eliminating them in 6 games . Malkin had an excellent series , picking up 2 goals and 11 points in just these 6 games . In the next round , the Penguins beat out the Ottawa Senators in 5 games , Malkin picking up 2 more goals and 5 points . Finally , the Penguins were swept in the conference finals against the Boston Bruins . The entire Penguins team was kept to 2 goals in the 4 game series , and Malkin was held off the scoresheet , and a −5 . In the 2013 - 14 NHL season , Malkin was held out of 22 games , missing 2 games with a lower body injury on 5 December , 9 games with another lower - body injury on 15 December , and then 11 games with a foot injury on 25 March . In the 60 games he was healthy , Malkin picked up 72 points , 2nd on the Penguins behind only Sidney Crosby . In his 2nd last game of the season , against Tampa Bay , Malkin had 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points . In the playoffs , the Penguins met the Columbus Blue Jackets in Round 1 , and eliminated them in 6 games . Malkin was unable to score for Pittsburgh in the first 5 games , and only managed 4 assists in that time , causing Penguins fans to worry , especially since Crosby was being held off the scoresheet as well . But Malkin broke through with a hat - trick in Game 6 , propelling his team to Round 2 . In Round 2 against the New York Rangers , Malkin and the Penguins were eliminated in 7 games , despite holding a 3 – 1 lead in the series . The Penguins only managed 3 goals in the last 3 games . Malkin had a good series , scoring 3 goals and 7 points in 7 games , leading the Penguins . Malkin spent the 2014 - 15 and 2015 - 16 seasons plagued by injuries , but managed to record his 700th career point on March 12th 2015 in a game against the Edmonton Oilers . In 2015 - 16 , The Penguins qualified for the playoffs for the tenth consecutive season , advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals against the San Jose Sharks . On June 12 , 2016 , the Penguins defeated the Sharks in a 4 - 2 series to win their fourth Stanley Cup title . Malkin recorded 18 points during the playoff run . Player profile . Malkin is primarily a center with very good offensive abilities and decent defensive awareness . He has also been known to play on the wing alongside Sidney Crosby , and on the point during the power play . A good skater with firm balance and exceptional speed , he is not generally physical when it comes to seeking out contact , although he will on occasion deliver heavy hits for a particular purpose . He rather relies on his athleticism most times to avoid checks by opponents . A very emotionally driven athlete , he has been known to let emotions affect his play both positively and negatively ( in the form of taking " bad " penalties ) . He has a strong arsenal of shots ( slap , wrist , and snap ) , and has remarkable stick - handling ability . An excellent passer who knows how to open up the game and create space , Malkin is capable of driving the length of the ice to score goals due to his speed , size , and excellent stick handling . International play . Malkin made his first international appearance with Russia at the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championships in Yaroslavl . He helped Russia to a bronze medal , scoring 9 points in 6 games . He was named Russia ' s U18 captain for the 2004 IIHF World U18 Championships the following year and scored 8 points as Russia improved to a gold medal in the tournament . Several months prior to his second and final U18 tournament , Malkin debuted at the under - 20 level with Russia at the 2004 World Junior Championships . In his first of three tournament appearances , he contributed 5 points in 6 games , but could not help Russia reach the podium . The following year , Malkin finished second in team scoring at the 2005 World Junior Championships to Alexander Ovechkin with 10 points . Led by the duo of Malkin and Ovechkin ( the two had also played together the previous year ) , Russia won the silver , losing to Canada in the gold medal game . Later in 2005 , Malkin made his debut with the Russian men ' s team at the 2005 World Championships . Despite failing to score a goal in the tournament , Malkin contributed 4 assists to help Russia to a bronze medal in Vienna . In 2006 , Malkin did triple duty for Russia , competing in his third World Junior Championships , his first Winter Olympics , and his second World Championships . He was named the top forward and MVP of the 2006 World Junior Championships in January , captaining Russia to a second straight silver medal and gold medal game loss to Canada . Less than two months later , Malkin was given one of the final spots on Team Russia for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin , where he helped the team to a fourth - place finish with 6 points in 7 games . Then in May , Malkin played in the 2006 World Championship , where he led Russia in team scoring with 9 points . Following his NHL rookie campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins , Malkin was named to Team Russia for the 2007 World Championships , where he achieved a personal best for the tournament of 10 points . He also captured his second World Championships bronze . Malkin was selected to play for the Russian Olympic Team at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games , where he led Team Russia in points yet again with 3 goals and 6 points in 4 games . Team Russia ultimately lost to Canada in the quarterfinals , finishing 6th overall , which incidentally is their worst placing ever at an Olympic Games ( including the former Soviet Union and Unified Team teams ) . Malkin was named the Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) , the best forward and to All - Star Team at the 2012 IIHF World Championship , where he scored 11 goals and made 8 assists , winning the scoring league with a total of 19 points . He recorded at least one point in every game played . Evgeni also had two hat tricks : against Sweden in preliminary round and against Finland in semifinal game . Team Russia won the gold medal . In 2014 , Evgeni Malkin was named to the 2014 Olympic Ice Hockey Team . Malkin played all six games for Russia , and they finished 5th in the tournament , after losing to Finland in the quarter - finals . Malkin had one goal and two assists by the end of the tournament .