PuckSleuth
71Pittsburgh Penguins · Center · Shoots L
Evgeni Malkin
Age 40 · 6'5" · 211 lb · Born in Magnitogorsk, RUS
Cap hit
$5.5M
5.3% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
NMC
Surplus value
+$4.278M
vs. $9.778M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
1
50.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
1
1.00 per game
TOI/GP
15:47
PP 1:58 · PK 0:00
xGF%
80.6
5v5, +27.6 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.82
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 0 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 @ PHI · W 7-0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15:47 | 1:58 | 0:00 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.82 |
| Apr 29 @ PHI · OTL 1-0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19:39 | 3:24 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.35 |
| Apr 27 vs PHI · W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14:25 | 1:26 | 0:00 | 0-1 | 100 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +0.23 |
| Apr 25 @ PHI · W 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15:39 | 2:32 | 0:00 | 1-1 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.05 |
| Apr 22 @ PHI · L 5-2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20:06 | 7:50 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.46 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 748 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
76th percentile
78th percentile
78th percentile
40th percentile
36th percentile
50th percentile
88th percentile
51st percentile
31st percentile
89th percentile
51st percentile
76th percentile
87th percentile
98th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleElite playmaking center
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
A transcendent passer who dictates play through elite vision and rush entry instincts, creating constant scoring chances from high-danger areas. His game relies entirely on finesse and positioning, as he avoids physical engagement and needs careful asset management to maintain offensive impact.
- Shooting volume
- 86
- Playmaking
- 98
- Zone entries(est.)
- 96
- Forechecking
- 25
- Physicality
- 6
- Defensive impact
- 23
- Puck management
- 2
- Speed
- 18
Where he shoots from
Slot 47% · Mid-range 39% · Perimeter 13%(198 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- 98th-percentile playmaking vision drives 42 assists in limited games
- 96th-percentile rush entry efficiency creates immediate offensive zone opportunities
- Generates 53% expected goals share while on ice through positioning
Watch-outs
- Puck management in 2nd percentile suggests careless turnovers and giveaways
- Forechecking in 25th percentile limits his defensive contributions significantly
- Speed in 18th percentile reduces ability to create space independently
Similar style: Trevor Zegras (PHI), Sebastian Aho (CAR)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 56 GP · goals above average
Season total +6.5 goals, or +0.12 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +1.6
- Even strength defense
- -0.7
- Power play
- +0.5
- Finishing
- -0.5
- Playmaking
- +7.2
- Penalties
- -1.3
- Faceoffs
- -0.3
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | PIT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 15:47 | — | +0.82 |
| 2025-26 | PIT | 56 | 19 | 42 | 61 | +13 | 148 | 17:36 | 44.5% | +0.12 |
| 2024-25 | PIT | 68 | 16 | 34 | 50 | -24 | 125 | 17:47 | 45.8% | +0.06 |
| 2023-24 | PIT | 82 | 27 | 40 | 67 | +5 | 199 | 18:35 | 48.6% | +0.08 |
| 2022-23 | PIT | 82 | 27 | 56 | 83 | -12 | 240 | 18:35 | 49.3% | +0.14 |
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Evgeni Malkin Joins Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux in Rare NHL Company
heavy.com · Oct 1
- Malkin scores, Silovs stops 19 shots as Penguins pile on in 7-0 win over Flyers in teams' opener
ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos · Oct 1
- PIT@PHI: Malkin scores PPG against Dan Vladar
NHL.com · Oct 1
- Penguins Forward Evgeni Malkin to Continue “I’m Score for Kids” Initiative Benefiting Ronald McDonald House Pittsburgh Morgantown for Fifth-Consecutive Season in 2026-27
NHL.com · Sep 30
- Crosby, Malkin, Letang to begin 21st season together with Penguins
NHL.com · Sep 30
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.20 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.0 mph
- 25th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 0
- Hardest shot
- 81.0 mph
- 81st pct
- Distance
- 2.7 mi
- OZ time
- 40.8%
- 46th pct
- DZ time
- 41.7%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 40, forwards typically produce —% of their peak (age 24).
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
1 season left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | PIT | $5.5M | 5.3% |
UFA after 2026-27. NMC. $5.5M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).