Malkin still consistent force for Penguins, closes in on 1,200 NHL points

CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Evgeni Malkin, four points from 1,200 in the NHL, can still turn heads for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"There's times where it's like, 'Holy cow, how do you stop this guy?'" Penguins general manager Ron Hextall said. "What he brings on the ice is hard to replace."
The 36-year-old center has 1,196 points (463 goals, 733 assists) in 1,030 games heading into Tuesday, when the Penguins host the Colorado Avalanche (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, ATTSN-PT, ALT, ESPN+).
Malkin would become the 51st player in League history to reach 1,200, and would join teammate Sidney Crosby (1,469), Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (1,464) and Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (1,214) as the active players to get there.
"I think it just shows a lot of consistency. It's a big number," said Crosby, the Pittsburgh captain. "To get to it, you've got to put up points every year and be consistent. It reflects that. He's had a couple long-term injuries on top of that, so it could easily be more.
"I think it just shows the player that he's been over the years. He's still producing at a high rate, even at his age. I think it reflects all of that."
Malkin might not be the same as he was in 2011-12, when he had 109 points (50 goals, 59 assists) and won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, but he isn't that far off.
In his 17th season, Malkin is second on the Penguins with 50 points (19 goals, 31 assists) in 49 games, behind Crosby (60 points; 24 goals, 36 assists).
Malkin has three points in two of his past three games and in three of his past six. He has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 10 games since Jan. 10.

Some volatility remains in Malkin's game, coach Mike Sullivan said. His minus-7 is the second-lowest rating on Pittsburgh, just ahead of defenseman Kris Letang's minus-12. Malkin is tied with defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph for third in penalty minutes on the Penguins with 28.
But when Malkin is right, Sullivan said, he can take over a game unlike few in the NHL.
"I think he's put himself in elite company," Sullivan said. "I see a driven hockey player. I think he's playing extremely hard. He's not a perfect player by any stretch, but he's an elite player. He still has the ability to dominate the games. That's what I see.
"There's nights when the puck just follows him around, it seems. That's when he's at his best. I think 'Geno' has quietly been one of our more consistent players. He brings it every night."
That was the case against the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 10, when Malkin had two goals and two assists to guide the Penguins back from a three-goal deficit for a 5-4 win. It was his first four-point game since March 27, 2022, when he had three goals and an assist against the Detroit Red Wings.
"It's his power," said Jason Zucker, who plays left wing on a line with Malkin. "But at the same time, for how big he is, he doesn't get hit. He's able to weave through guys and make somebody turn the wrong way and he's gone the other way. It's pretty impressive the way he can do that for how be he is. That's something special."
As a three-time Stanley Cup champion (2009, 2016, 2017), Malkin's reach goes beyond Pittsburgh. Among Russia-born players in NHL history, Malkin is second in points behind Ovechkin (1,464). He is first in assists (733) and fourth in goals (463), behind Ovechkin (812), Sergei Fedorov (483) and Alexander Mogilny (473).
"He's the top up there," Ovechkin said of Malkin's place among hockey players in Russia. "It's hard to say who is No. 1 and who is No. 2, but he's definitely a top player. I'm happy for him. He's had a tremendous career, won lots of Cups, lots of personal individual trophies."
Nikita Kucherov, who has 688 points in 610 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning, said Malkin's impact on hockey in Russia is comparable to Ovechkin's.
"It's probably 'Ovi' and Geno. Geno is definitely one of my favorite players to watch," the Lightning forward said. "He's always working hard on the ice. He makes you work harder to compete against him. You sit there and watch him do everything well and try to mimic his game."
Malkin's contributions to the Penguins, combined with Crosby's, make Letang thankful to have been their teammate since 2006-07.
"Like I've said a million times, I'm fortunate to have been drafted in this organization and to have played with those two guys for a long time," Letang said. "I'm pretty happy for him to get close to [1,200 points]. I'm sure he's going to get even further than that."
NHL.com staff writer Tom Gulitti and independent correspondent Corey Long contributed to this report