Evgeni Malkin was born on July 31, 1986 in the small Ural city of Magnitogorsk. Nationality Eugene Malkin - Russian. His father Vladimir put the boy on skates when he was only 3 years old. Little Eugene Malkin stood out among his peers in height and weight. At 8, the boy is sent to a hockey school. So began the hockey biography of Evgeni Malkin. The first trainers of little Zhenya were Yuri Tukaserov and Sergey Zinov. In all the children's teams, Eugene was the captain. Magnitogorsk is one of the most hockey cities in Russia. For residents of this Ural city, hockey is more than just a game. Therefore, the boy from childhood decided to become a professional hockey player. This is a short biography of Evgeni Malkin.
The first successes of the future hockey star
The boy did not immediately show his unique talent. At one time, he did not even enter the Ural youth team. Sometimes he wanted to quit playing sports. But, thanks to hard training and self-discipline, Eugene was invited to the Russian national team for hockey players under 18 years old. In 2004, this team became the winner of the World Cup. Malkin was one of the best in that team. This is the first big victory in the biography of Evgeni Malkin.
Despite his young age, Malkin participated in the World Cup for players under 20 years old. The team took only 5th place. At the next two championships held in America, Eugene won two silver with the team. Malkin's game attracted the attention of overseas scouts. In the 2004 draft, he was selected as the “Pittsburgh Penguins” at number two. And the first that year was the Dynamo striker A. Ovechkin. He was chosen by Washington.
Performances for Metallurg
The first official match at a serious level Malkin played already in 2003. Magnitogorsk Metallurg met with Lokomotiv in Yaroslavl. Prior to this, the attacker had 2 matches for the adult team at the Romazan Memorial. The first goal in a sports biography of Evgeni Malkin happened in the next match with Lokomotiv.
In this game, the striker scored twice. In the same year, Eugene gets a serious injury - a concussion. Forward Magnitogorsk team played 3 full seasons. With his native club, he won silver and bronze in the Russian championship. In the first adult season, the young hockey player was named the best rookie. And in the third, he received a prize as the best center forward. Malkin was able to become the second scorer of the championship. For three years, Eugenia became the leader of the Magnitogorsk team and its best hockey player.
"The Malkin Case"
This name was given to the scandal that erupted at the beginning of next season. This is a "dark spot" in the biography of Evgeni Malkin. The Magnitogorsk team went to Finland for the first pre-season training camp. Shortly before his departure, the team manager G. Velichkin extended the contract with Malkin for one year. At the same time, the hockey player has repeatedly announced his intention to continue his career in the NHL. The hockey agent said that the player will leave for the NHL, despite the contract signed. But his words were not taken seriously. At the training camp, the player unexpectedly left the team’s location. The club received a letter of resignation from him by mail. But the club manager called this document a fake. Three days later, the player and his American agents were found in Los Angeles. In an interview, Eugene said that he signed the contract under pressure from the leadership of the team. After 2 weeks, Malkin signed an agreement with Pittsburgh. FHR forbade Eugene to play for any hockey team before resolving contract issues with Magnitogorsk. A club from Magnitogorsk filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court of New York with a request to ban a hockey player from playing in the NHL. But the court, having considered this case, ruled in favor of the player.
The Malkin Affair led to the standoff between the NHL and the KHL. As a result, the parties agreed on mutual compliance with contractual agreements. Now a player with a valid agreement cannot play for another club. In 2012, due to a lockout in the NHL, Eugene returned to his home team. Fans forgave him for his act. After all, the forward was recognized as the best player of his team.
The first season for the “Penguins"
In the first exhibition match for the “Penguins”, the striker was marked by a transfer to the Russian Sergei Gonchar. This player helped Eugene adapt in the team. In the second period, Malkin received a shoulder injury after an unsuccessful collision with a teammate. The player missed several championship matches. The first match in the new league, Eugene spent in October 2006, Pittsburgh took on his ice, “New Jersey”. Malkin managed to score a goal in this game. In the next five matches, the attacker does not leave the ice without an abandoned puck. The team of Eugene for the first time in 5 years gets into the playoffs. In the first round, the Pittsburgh lost to the Ottawa Senators. Malkin scores 5 points in the series. The young player received the Calder Trophy prize (best rookie of the season). In the same year, Eugene took part in the first All-Star Game.
Second season in Pittsburgh
In January 2008, in a match with Washington, Eugene accused his compatriot A. Ovechkin of intent to injure him. Both hockey players gave an emotional interview after the match. The team from Pittsburgh was considered one of the main favorites of the championship. The club exchanged with “Atlanta” M. Gossa, team leader S. Crosby recovered from his injury. The team was a confident leader in its division. In the playoffs, the Penguins met with Ottawa again. But this time they did not give their opponents a single 4–0 match. Then the team alternately beat the New York Rangers and Philadelphia. Both series ended with a score of 4 - 1. For the first time in 26 years, Pittsburgh reached the NHL finals. But he was not destined to win the cup. The champion was the Detroit Red Wings. Malkin signed a new 5-year agreement with the club for $ 43.5 million.
First championship
The next season, “Penguins” begin medium. In the middle of the championship, the club changed its coach. “Pittsburgh” reached the playoffs from 5th place in the conference. This championship has become one of the best for Malkin. The forward received the Art Ross Trophy as the best NHL scorer. At the All-Star Game, Eugene played in the top five of his team. The game was very successful for Malkin. He won one of the contests and made peace with Ovechkin. In the playoffs, “Penguins” are “Philadelphia”. Then, in a bitter struggle, “Washington” is defeated. In the semifinals, the club Eugene leaves no chance for “Carolina”. In the finals, the Malkin club again confronts Detroit. Penguins lose the first matches, but in the end they managed to equalize the score in the series. Then the clubs exchange victories. The decisive game Penguins wins with a minimal advantage. Malkin deservedly gets the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Career in the NHL
The next championship was not so successful for Eugene. The Russian team loses to Canada in the quarterfinals of the Olympics. The attacker is chased by constant injuries. In the 2010/2011 season, Eugene spent only 43 matches due to knee damage. The next season, Malkin again becomes the top scorer, scoring more than 50 goals. This is a fantastic result. The player receives three awards: “Art Ross Trophy”, “Hart Trophy”, “Ted Lindsay World”. Forward extends the contract with the team for 8 years on favorable terms. In October 2006, Eugene reaches 300 goals in the NHL. In 2017, the striker becomes the top scorer in the playoffs and raises another cup above his head. “Penguins” wins the championship for the second year in a row. In January 2018, Malkin set the Pittsburgh record for goals in overtime (12).
Eugene is considered one of the best strikers in the world. Unique physical data, filigree technique, accurate throw, vision of the court help him not to notice his rivals. A lot of controversy on both sides of the ocean caused Malkin to not be included in the ranking of the 100 best NHL players in history. The best answer to this injustice was the phenomenal game of Eugene in the playoffs of 2017 and the victory in the cup.
Team appearances
For the first time, Eugene was called to the national team for the 2003 World Junior Championship. Russia won bronze medals in the tournament. The following year, Eugene with the team becomes the champion. That season, he receives a call to the youth team. With the “youth team” Malkin won two silver medals.
For the adult national team, the hockey player makes his debut in 2005. In the final of the Eurotour he scores the first goal of Sweden. Russia wins this tournament for two years in a row. Malkin's contribution to these victories was considerable. Eugene participated in 7 world championships. The Russian team won the 2012 tournament, which was held in Sweden and Finland. Malkin became the best player in this championship. Two years later, the team repeats the success in Minsk. In the collection of awards Eugene 2 gold, silver and 2 bronzes of the world championship. For his impressive game for the Russian national team, the striker received the title of Honored Master of Sports.
Player's personal life
An attacker rarely gives interviews to reporters. Therefore, little is known about the biography and personal life of Evgeni Malkin. The athlete leads a closed lifestyle. It’s hard to find personal photos of Yevgeny Malkin’s wife and child online. Even though the wife is a public person. Wife of Evgeni Malkin - TV presenter A. Kasterova. They bring up two-year-old son Michael.
Interesting Facts
Evgeni Malkin: age, height and weight: 32 years, 190 cm, 84 kg. Eugene Leo according to the zodiac sign. Malkin has an older brother, Denis. He is one year older than him. Malkin took 6th place among Russian athletes in the 2017 Forbes ranking. His annual income was 9.5 million US dollars.