Malkin arrived in the NHL with a splash and has made plenty of waves ever since.

The native of Magnitogorsk, Russia, was selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2004 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, after the Washington Capitals selected Alex Ovechkin. Malkin played two more seasons in Russia before coming to North America for the 2006-07 season. However, his NHL debut was delayed until Oct. 18, 2006, because of a shoulder injury sustained in training camp, but he scored against future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils in his first game. Malkin went on to set a modern-day NHL record with goals in the first six games of his career; the only other player to accomplish the feat was Joe Malone of the Montreal Canadiens in 1917-18, the League's inaugural season.

That was the first of many notable NHL accomplishments for Malkin, who went on to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie following a 33-goal, 85-point season in 2006-07. He has won three Stanley Cup championships with the Penguins (2009, 2016, 2017) as well as the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP (2011-12), the Art Ross Trophy as the League's leading scorer twice (2008-09, 2011-12), the Ted Lindsay Award as the top player in the NHL as selected by the players (2011-12) and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP (2009).

Malkin also has won three gold medals, four silver medals and three bronze medals playing for his country at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship, the World Junior Championship and the World Championship.

Malkin has been one of the top playmakers and scorers in the world, eluding defenders with finesse and power moves to create scoring chances. He has surpassed 100 points in a season three times (2007-08, 2008-09 and 2011-12), including an NHL career-high 113 points in 2008-09, and scored 50 goals in 2011-12.

He has produced in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as well. Malkin won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2009 with a 14-goal, 36-point postseason performance that helped Pittsburgh dethrone the defending champion Detroit Red Wings.

He had 18 points (six points, 12 assists) in the 2016 playoffs as the Penguins again won the Stanley Cup, then led all scorers in 2017 with 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) to help Pittsburgh become the first team to repeat as champion since the Red Wings in 1997 and 1998.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• NHL All-Rookie Team (2007)
• NHL First All-Star Team (2008, 2009, 2012)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (2008, 2009, 2012, 2016)
• Signed as a free agent by Magnitogorsk (KHL), September 16, 2012.