Ever since he entered the league in 2006, Evgeni Malkin has had many different linemates, found tremendous success with certain teammates and gained the respect of his opponents around the NHL. Here, Malkin's peers share their insights on what makes him such a special player after he reached 1,000 points.
MA1KIN: Malkin's peers share what makes him special
Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby will go down as one of the greatest duos the sport has ever seen. Sid and Geno, 87 and 71, the two-headed monster - the nicknames go on. Their legacies will be forever linked, as the Penguins' two franchise centers have accomplished so much during their time together in Pittsburgh.
"I feel fortunate that I've had the opportunity to play with him and see some of the goals that he's scored and plays he's been a part of, and been able to win with him," Crosby said. "You always want to see your teammates have success, especially someone that's been here basically every year I've been here except for one. It's been fun. It's a great accomplishment."
Crosby is grateful to have grown up alongside Malkin, and gets a smile on his face whenever he thinks back to some of his favorite memories involving the fun-loving Russian - many of which aren't fit to print.
"He's always been a big competitor, funny guy to be around," Crosby said. "To me, he's the same Geno that came in (the league). Things around him change, circumstances change. He's a dad, things like that. But I still see him as Geno."
What makes Malkin so special, in Crosby's own words…
"He's a guy who can change a game. It's one of those things where you play against a team, it's a tight game, you know you can lean on him to make a play and he can come up big. I think playing together for such a long time, there's an appreciation. I feel fortunate to play with him."
The Penguins' franchise defenseman has played every season of his career with Malkin. After seeing Crosby reach the 1,000-point milestone two years ago, Letang can't believe how fortunate he is to witness Malkin do it as well. It's been, as Letang put it, a "treat" to watch Malkin play night in and night out.
What makes Malkin so special, in Letang's own words…
"He's one-of-a-kind. You see so many exceptional players, but that type of player, there's not a lot of them. He's a rare and raw talent. He does things that nobody else has the courage to do on the ice. He makes you look like a fool out there a lot of times. He's a special player."
You'd be hard-pressed to find two more fun-loving guys in the Penguins locker room during their years together. Malkin played the first 11 seasons of his career with the affable netminder, where the pair became close friends. After Fleury was taken by Vegas in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, Malkin posted a photo on Instagram wearing a No. 29 Penguins jersey that said "MY MVP" on the nameplate.
What makes Malkin special, in Fleury's own words…
"He's so good. Since he first came into the league. It's tough to describe. He's a big guy, he protects the puck so well, he shoots so well, he makes plays out there. Pittsburgh is lucky to have these two guys (Malkin and Crosby), having so much success and helping their team throughout all these years. He's been consistent year after year and it's not an easy thing to do, and he's been doing it."
Kunitz rounds out that core group of five who won three Stanley Cups together, with Fleury, Letang, Crosby and Malkin. He spent a lot of time on Malkin's line during his years in Pittsburgh, as the hard-nosed winger was a good complement to the superstar center.
"Off the ice, he's quiet or reserved when everybody else is around but likes to crack the jokes when it's a little bit of a closer-knit group," Kunitz said of Malkin. "But you see how much he enjoys the game and what he likes to learn from other guys. It was interesting to be able to sit beside him for a number of years and pick his brain and see what makes him tick as a hockey player."
What makes Malkin special, in Kunitz's own words…
"As a player, I think it's just that he can do it so many different ways. He's a guy that can do it with the puck on his stick and skating through the neutral zone and cutting through guys at ease. He makes it look like almost anybody should be able to do it (laughs). And then he's got that little fiery edge, when you get him at that level and he gets in that mentality, he becomes one of the best players in the league. And I think everybody realizes that, that he doesn't back down. He has that fire and I think that drives him to be a better player."
Malkin and James Neal had a unique chemistry that endeared them to Penguins fans everywhere. Not only did they have tremendous success together on the ice; they were goofy and hilarious off the ice with their antics, like when Malkin photobombed Neal's interviews and nicknamed him "Lazy."
"He's a fun guy at the rink," Neal said. "He's always laughing, he's always in the mix of whatever's going on. Just an unbelievable player. As I got to know him as a player, it was great. He made the days go by fast and he was fun to play with every day."
Malkin won the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award after scoring 50 goals and 113 points in the 2011-12 season with Neal on his right wing and Kunitz on his left.
"It was amazing," said Neal, who tallied 40 goals himself that year. "It was probably one of the most fun times of my hockey career. To be able to play with a guy like that, first off, but to be able to get to know him as a person and the way he is was just a great time. Very thankful I got to play with him. He made me better every day. Helped me a lot through my career."
What makes Malkin special, in Neal's own words…
"I just think his ability to be able to pass and score and do it at a high speed and a high level. He's dangerous with whatever he's doing, whether it's on the rush or he's below the goal line or he's shooting it off the half wall. He's dangerous in all aspects of the game. Those guys are hard to find, and he's going to go down as one of the best players to play the game."
Malkin and Phil Kessel are two of the biggest folk heroes in Penguins franchise history, so needless to say, fans love the interactions between the two of them - like when they started a prank war during the 2016-17 season. Malkin enjoys giving it to Kessel in interviews, and they're constantly yelling at each other during the card game they play on the team plane.
"We're good buddies," Kessel said. "He's got a big mouth, he likes to chirp a little bit. Obviously, he's a good guy and likes to have fun."
What makes Malkin so special, in Kessel's own words…
"He's a world-class player. Obviously he's a big guy, he has good skills, he sees the game well, shoots the puck well. I guess when you do everything good, it's easy."
Patric Hornqvist has spent many stints on Malkin's line while sitting next to him in the locker room ever since the Penguins acquired him from Nashville in 2014. Like Malkin, the Swedish winger has a big personality, and he loves to engage - sometimes very loudly - with his friend and teammate.
"I think we have a really good relationship," Hornqvist said. "Obviously we like each other and we like to play with each other. We've been part of success, too. That's what brings us together even more. But at the same time, we're competitive guys out there so when we're not on the same line we like to battle and chirp each other and all that. He's such an easy guy to be around. He always has a smile on his face. He always jokes around and he's such a good player and he's a great teammate."
What makes Malkin so special, in Hornqvist's own words…
"When he gets the puck on his stick, it seems like everyone is backing up and then he can make that extra pass. At the same time, he's such a big body, so in the playoffs he just runs over people. He can take games over that way. He has so many different threats in his game for the other team to take care of. Some nights he's a straight passer. Another night he shoots everything. The third night he goes in and runs people. Overall, he's such a good player. When you have that kind of speed and that size, to have that combination, it helps."
Malkin and Alex Ovechkin were the top-two prospects in the 2004 NHL Draft. Washington took Ovechkin with the first-overall pick, while Malkin went second overall to Pittsburgh.
"It was two young guys from Russia," Ovechkin said. "We both knew it was going to be first and second, me or him. We were close enough to understand what the situation was over there, but I'm happy I was first and he was second (laughs)."
Both players have gone on to be generational talents and two of the best to ever play the game. Ovechkin is certainly appreciative of what Malkin has been able to do since that day their names were called at PNC Arena in Carolina.
"He's had an amazing career," Ovechkin said of Malkin. "Top player in the league, has won almost every individual and team award. Three-time Stanley Cup champion. I think it's a pretty good career."
While Ovechkin and Malkin play on different NHL teams, together they have represented Russia in international competition many times and have developed a good friendship over the years.
"He's a funny guy, 100 percent," Ovechkin said. "He knows how to handle a joke and how to give a joke. Everybody loves him and he's a great guy."
What makes Malkin so special, in Ovechkin's own words…
"His talent, his skill. He reads the game pretty well. Obviously, he's a big boy, too."
Fedotenko played two seasons with Malkin from 2008-10. During the 2009 playoffs, he provided a steady presence on Malkin's wing as the Penguins captured the Stanley Cup.
"He has amazing talent and he is such a great player," Fedotenko said. "Just to have the privilege to play with him, it's amazing. It's like you win the lottery."
What makes Malkin so special, in Fedotenko's own words…
"He's such a good player. He's so creative. He can play physical, he can be a great playmaker, he can score. You name it, he can deliver it. He's amazing."
Out of everyone Malkin has played with over the years, Sergei Gonchar has made the biggest impact on his life. When Malkin first arrived in North America, the veteran defenseman offered the young rookie residency in his home.
Gonchar became Malkin's mentor and friend, and helped ease his transition to a new country, new culture and new language. Malkin publicly showed his gratitude when he dedicated his Hart Trophy acceptance speech to Gonchar at the 2012 NHL Awards.
"I remember when I came to the U.S. six years ago," Malkin said. "It's a different language. I cannot speak it. It's a different life and different game. It's not easy. One guy who always supported me, all six years, and is still my friend - I want to give this trophy to him - his name is Sergei Gonchar. He's my best friend right now. We're always together. I'm glad I met him."
Malkin autographed the award - "You're my MVP" - and gave it to his former landlord.
"It sits in my office in my home in Dallas," Gonchar said. "It's something I never expected to happen. It was very nice of him and I was very touched."
Malkin was just a kid when he lived with Gonchar. Over the next decade-plus, Malkin matured into a man, and Gonchar couldn't be more proud of him as both a player and a person.
"I'm happy how he turned out," Gonchar said. "He became a father, a husband and a great hockey player. I'm happy to see that he's still the same guy that loves to have fun and enjoys every moment in life. He hasn't changed much. That's what I like about him. I knew him when he was young. Now he's a superstar, but he's still the same guy with the same attitude."
CONNOR MCDAVID, Edmonton Oilers forward: "It's weird just because I remember when Crosby and Malkin were just coming into the League and they were young guys, and now they're veteran guys with Cups and 1,000 points. It's amazing to see how much they've accomplished in their years in the NHL. Time has definitely flown by."
NIKITA KUCHEROV, Tampa Bay Lightning forward: "He's a great player and I am very happy for him. I had always watched him. It's always fun to watch a player like him. I consider him one of the best players in this league. When he's on top of his game, he's arguably the best in the league with no one even close. It's always cool when Russians play like that."
EVGENY KUZNETSOV, Washington Capitals forward: "One thousand points is a huge deal. It's a milestone very few players with very elite skills and longevity will ever approach. When a guy plays the 'Ural' brand of hockey, which has always stood out among other (hockey) schools - he is fun to watch. People who create various lists and ratings may have their own vision of who belongs and who doesn't, and us, guys from (the region of) Ural, have our own vision. I can't say if he is the best player ever to come out of (there), because before him there were guys like Slava Bykov and Sergei Makarov, but in our generation he is definitely the top one."
NIKITA ZADOROV, Colorado Avalanche defenseman: "Many kids got into the sport because of him. He's a legend for Russian hockey. Sometimes I catch myself thinking, 'I am so lucky to play in the NHL with him being around.' It's a such a thrill to play alongside him, this is something that you had worked for all your life and tried to do your best. One thousand points is a very cool milestone."
ANDREI SVECHNIKOV, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman:"He's a legend. I only played against him once, but you can feel right away he's someone who can fool you easily one-on-one and score. He's one of those guys I followed closely when I was a kid. Watched him playing at the World Championships, some NHL games. Just an excellent player with a super shot, who can also play physically."
DMITRY ORLOV, Washington Capitals defenseman: "With his technique and soft hands, with the way he skates and sees the ice, he is obviously one of the very best players in the NHL. As a Russian, you're always happy to see another guy from your country reach a milestone like that. Malkin has done very well for himself in the NHL. He's got an amazing career going, and his team for all these years has been a very good one. Their three Stanley Cups speak to that better than anything. I'm sure his family is very happy and proud of him and he has enjoyed playing at the level that he has. He is certainly one of the best Russian players to have ever come to the NHL."
